Hans E. Hageman, Esq. became Executive Director of Boys & Girls Harbor, Inc. in January 2002.   His decision to pursue a career that would improve the lives of children and their families was formed by his personal experiences.  

Raised in East Harlem, the importance of education and community service were instilled in him at an early age.   As a child he was raised within a building that also housed Exodus House a residential treatment center for drug addicts that was established by his pioneering parents.   Thus living with and helping others in the community cemented his commitment to service and education.

His strong focus, determination, persistence and the importance his parents placed on education lead Mr. Hageman to graduate with honors from Collegiate School for Boys, receive his B.A. from Princeton University and his J.D. from Columbia University School of Law.  

His professional career includes extensive experience in both the public and private sectors.   Mr. Hageman's law experience encompassed several successful years at two of New York's finest firms.    He also served as Assistant District Attorney in the Office of Special Narcotics Prosecution for New York, Chief Counsel for the Neighborhood Defender Service of Harlem and as the Minority Chief Counsel and Staff Director for the United States Senate Subcommittee on the Constitution.

It was during his legal career Mr. Hageman decided that educating children was his life's mission. In 1992 he co-founded and served as the Executive Director for The East Harlem School at Exodus House. The unique private school for children of East Harlem and Harlem provides 65 students and their parents an affordable model of cooperative private education for those who normally would not be able to afford it.

In 2002, Hans also founded the Sulaxmi School for Girls in Lucknow, India.   During his visit to Lucknow in 2000, Hans met hundreds of out-of-school children, especially girls and witnessed the absolute poverty (families with earnings of less than $1 per day) of the families.   In spite of the size and scope of the problem, Hans felt compelled to do something to improve the lives of the children he met.   Hans knew that, by himself, he could not eliminate the staggering illiteracy rates and poverty in the villages.   However, he could, over time, educate hundreds of girls and significantly improve their lives.   Upon returning to New York City, Hans committed his savings to build a free school for girls.

Mr. Hageman has been honored with a 2001 Essence Award, the Hero Award from the Robin Hood Foundation, and numerous community service awards from the New York Law School, the New York City Council, Princeton Alumni, and Columbia BALSA, the Boy Scouts of America among others.   Mr. Hageman has also been featured on ABC, CBS, CNN, NBC, WNEW and New York 1 among others.   He has also been featured in the New York Times, Essence Magazine, New York Magazine, People Magazine, the Christian Science Monitor and numerous other publications.

Mr. Hageman is the Treasurer of the Board of the Harlem Congregations for Community Improvement; Chair of the Board of the Salus Foundation, Inc., Trustee of the Harlem Episcopal School and Advisory Member of the Bill Traylor Foundation.