Student Engagement

Educational Background

• M.A. in History, Minnesota State University, Mankato
• B.S. in History, Frostburg State University

Areas of Focus

• Student Life & Development
• Student Government & Advocacy
• Student Organizations & Clubs
• Civic Learning & Democratic Engagement
• Deliberative Pedagogy
• Diversity, Inclusion, & Belonging
• Community Engaged Learning
• Leadership Development
• International Student Support & Advocacy
• Policy Development
• Title IX Advisor
• Student Conduct & Community Building
• eGaming/eSports

Teaching

• First Year Experience (FYE), Transfer, Fairfield University, Fall 2020
• Leadership Academy, Fairfield University, Spring 2020
• Club Development Webinar Series, Fairfield University, Spring 2020
• First Year Experience (FYE), Leadership through Service, Fairfield University, Fall 2020
• First Year Experience (FYE), Leadership, Fairfield University, Fall 2019
• Exploring Leadership, Fairfield University, Spring 2019
• COMPASS Leadership Society, Spring 2019 Cohort
• First Year Experience (FYE), Civic Leadership, Fairfield University, Fall 2018
• COMPASS Leadership Society, Spring 2018 Cohort
• Redefining Leadership, Fairfield University, Spring 2018
• First Year Experience (FYE), Civic Engagement, Fairfield University, Fall 2017
• First Year Experience (FYE), Exploration, Fairfield University, Fall 2016

Presentations

• “CliftonStrengths 101” at Council for Advancement & Support of Education: Affiliated Student Advancement Programs (CASE ASAP) District 1 Conference (February 2020)
• “Gen Z: Understanding & Adapting” for Fairfield University Professional Enrichment Society (April 2019)
• “Moral Foundations: Understanding Self & Others” for Fairfield University Student Leadership Conference (August 2019)
• “Challenging Others: Disrupting & Reframing Assumptions to make Positive Change” for Fairfield University Student Leadership Conference (August 2018)
• “Free Speech & Hate Speech at Jesuit Institutions” Roundtable Discussion at Jesuit Association of Student Personnel Administrators (JASPA) Annual Conference, Philadelphia, PA (March 2018)
• “Free Expression & Demonstrations: A Workshop” for The Breakfast Club, Fairfield, CT (December 2017)
• “Male Engagement: A Study” for Fairfield University Professional Development Series, Fairfield, CT (August 2017)
• “Free Expression & Student Affairs” for Fairfield University Professional Development Series, Fairfield, CT (August 2017)
• “Work-Life Balance for Student Affair Professionals” for Fairfield University Professional Development Series, Fairfield, CT (August 2017)
• “#WordsMatter: Free Speech v. Harmful Speech on College Campuses” at Fairfield University Student Leadership Conference, Fairfield, CT (September 2017)
• “Civic Engagement: Make America Civil Again” at Fairfield University Student Leadership Conference, Fairfield, CT (September 2016)
• “The Art of Branding” at National Jesuit Student Leadership Conference at Regis University, Denver, CO (July 2016).

Committees

• Leadership Development Committee
• Community Engagement Committee
• Committee on Free Expression
• Student Support & Relief Fund Committee

Professional Organizations

• NASPA, Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education
• ACPA, America College Personnel Administrators
• JASPA, Jesuit Association of Student Personnel Administrators
• NAFSA: Association of International Educators
• Campus Compact of Connecticut (CCC)

Service

• JASPA Chair, Member Services (2018-2020)
• JASPA Liaison, Fairfield University (2016-2020)
• Community Associate, First Year Experience program (2016-2020)
• Town of Fairfield Election Day Registration (EDR) Host Organizer (2016 General Election & 2018 Mid-Term Election)
• Voter Registration & Mail-In Ballot Drives (2008-2020)
• American Red Cross Blood Drive Host Organizer (2008-2015)
  

Hobbies

• Learning
• Reading
• Computers & Technology
• Video Games
• Movies

Favorite TV Shows(s)

• Futurama
• Battlestar Galactica
• Big Bang Theory

Favorite Movie(s)

• 12 Angry Men

Favorite Book(s)

• But What If We’re Wrong? by Chuck Klosterman

Favorite Quote

• “I have striven not to laugh at human actions, not to weep at them, not to hate them, but to understand them.” — Baruch Spinoza, Tractatus Politicus, 1676

Advice for Students

• Challenge everything, but challenge for the right reasons.  

Education

• University of Rhode Island – M.S. College Student Personnel
• Eastern Connecticut State University – B.S. Sport & Leisure Management

Areas of Focus

• FUSA Advisor
• Clam Jam
• Alumni Family Weekend

Profession Organizations

• NACA – National Association for Campus Activities
• NASPA – Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education

Hobbies

• Exercise
• Sports
• Reading
• Family Time

Favorite TV Show(s)

• One Tree Hill
• Friends

Favorite Movie(s)

• Harry Potter films
• Fever Pitch
• Big Daddy

Favorite Book(s)

• Harry Potter series

Favorite Thing About Fairfield

• Community – Everyone is so welcoming in Stag Country.

Favorite Quote

• “The most important this is to try and inspire people so that they can be great in whatever they want to do.” — Kobe Bryant

Advice for Students

• Get involved.
• Make mistakes and learn from them.
• Get out of your comfort zone.
• Make new friends.

Education

• Master of Education in Student Personnel Administration in Higher Education, Springfield College
• Bachelor of Arts in German and English (majors), Judaic Studies and Women’s Studies (minors), Fairfield University
• Summer Semester at Stuttgart University in Germany

Areas of Focus

• Onboarding & Transition Communications
• Fall Welcome
• First Year Experience
• First Year & Transfer Orientation
• Parent/Guardian Engagement
• Retention Initiatives

Professional Organizations

• National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA)
• Association for Orientation, Transition, and Retention in Higher Education (NODA)

Hobbies

• Hiking
• Reading
• Watching TV
• Walking my dog
• Knitting/crocheting
• Seeing Broadway shows
• Spending time with family and friends

Favorite TV Show(s)

• Schitt’s Creek
• The Good Place
• House M.D.
• Grace and Frankie
• The Golden Girls

Favorite Movie(s)

• Dear Evan Hansen
• Mamma Mia!
• Beauty and the Beast (animated and live-action)

Favorite Book(s)

• The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
• Anxious People by Fredrik Backman
• Under the Whispering Door by T.J. Klune

Favorite Thing About Fairfield

• The sense of community—once a stag, always a stag!

Favorite Quote

• “We don’t see things as they are, we see them as we are.” — Anais Nin

Advice for Students

• Transitions and the unknown can be stressful and difficult, but try to stay positive, focus on your strengths, and don’t be afraid to reach out for support!

Education

• University of Connecticut ’21 – BA (Honors) in Psychological Services
  
  • Minor: Gerontology
  • Minor: Human Development & Family Studies
• Fairfield University ’25 – MA in Marriage & Family Therapy
  
  • Certificate in Queer & Trans Mental Health

Areas of Focus

• Graduate & International Student Life

Hobbies

• Hiking
• Traveling
• Baking
• Decorating cookies & cakes
• Volunteering at Everybunny Counts Rabbit Rescue
• Watching anime
• Attending renaissance fairs
• Spending time with friends & family

Favorite TV Show(s)

• One Piece (NOT the live action)
• Hunter x Hunter
• Vox Machina

Favorite Movie(s)

• Anything from The Conjuring cinemaverse
• Godzilla: King of the Monsters

Favorite Book(s)

• Draw the Dark by Ilsa J. Bich
• Faith No More by Phil Zuckerman

Favorite Thing About Fairfield

• How warm and welcoming the staff and faculty are. The Fairfield University community is truly like a family :)

Favorite Quote

• “You’re only given a little spark of madness. You mustn’t lose it.” — Robin Williams
  

Advice for Students

• Be kind to yourself.

Education

• M.Ed in Higher Education and Student Affairs, Merrimack College, 2018
  Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Anna Maria College, 2016

Areas of Focus

• Fairfield@Night Late Night Programming
• Senior Week
• FUSA Advisor
• Student Life Financial Assistance

Profession Organizations

• National Association of Student Affairs Personnel Administrators (NASPA)

Hobbies

• Playing the drums
• Trying new restaurants
• Spending time with family and friends
• Going on walks

Favorite TV Show(s)

• The Bachelor/Bachelorette
• Chicago Fire
• Schitt’s Creek
• Mostly all reality TV shows

Favorite Movie(s)

• Fever Pitch

Favorite Book(s)

• Who Moved My Cheese? By Spencer Johnson, M.D.

Favorite Thing About Fairfield

• The community – it immediately feels like home.

Favorite Quote

• “The only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work, and the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking, and don’t settle.” — Steve Jobs

Advice for Students

• Don’t worry about what everyone else is doing, this is your time to create your own journey.

Educational Background

• Bachelor of the Arts, Political Science, Fairfield University, 2018

Areas of Focus 

• Civic Engagement
• Leadership Development
• Graduate Student Life

Presentations/Programs

• “The Leadership Paradox” Student Leadership Conference
• Leadership Academy
• Club Development Webinar Series
• COMPASS Leadership Seminar
• Strengths 101 Learning Strengths
• Strengths Basements and Balconies

Committees

• University Programming Committee
• Student Leadership Conference Planning Committee
  

Hobbies

• Reading
• Pretending to not be a foodie
• Playing video games
• Watching TV

Favorite TV Show(s)

• The Office
• VEEP
• The Sopranos
• Trailer Park Boys
• Avatar: the Last Airbender
• Naruto
• Watchmen
• Scandal

Favorite Movie(s)

• The Princess Bride

Favorite Book(s)

• The Trouble with Being Born by E.M. Cioran

Favorite Thing About Fairfield

• Fairfield University has the best collegiate swag.

Favorite Quote

• “We learn from history that we do not learn from history.” — Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel

Advice for Students

• Get to know yourself before you get to know others.

Education

• Connecticut Business Institute
• Fairfield University, Real Estate Paralegal Certificate
• Fairfield University, Real Estate Principles/Practices
• IETS F-1 SEVIS Essentials-Level II and Level III
• NAFSA – Spring Immigration Workshop

Areas of Focus

• Graduate and International Student Onboarding
• Orientation

Professional Organizations

• NAFSA: Association of International Educators (related to former immigration advising)

Hobbies

• Spending time with family and friends (especially my granddaughter)
• Baking and cooking
• Shopping
• Traveling

Favorite TV Show(s)

• Hallmark Channel movies
• Magnolia Table
• Food Network/Cooking Channel
• HGTV

Favorite Movie(s)

• It's a toss up between The Wizard of Oz, Dirty Dancing and Mamma Mia! - all are great!

Favorite Book(s)

• Any books by Elin Hilderbrand

Favorite Thing About Fairfield

• The amazing level of support that both staff and faculty provide for students.

Favorite Quote

• “The only person you are destined to become is the person you decide to be.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson
  

Advice for Students

• You never know what battles people are fighting. Always be kind.

Education

• Institute of Culinary Education – Pastry & Baking certificate
• Housatonic Community College – AA in Fine Art
• Fairfield University – BA in Art History
  
  • Minor: Anthropology

Areas of Focus

• Office support
• Student services

Hobbies

• Baking
• Nature walks
• Crafty projects
• Being a foodie

Favorite TV Show(s)

• Doctor Who
• Great British Baking Show
• Frasier (original series)
• Mandalorian
• Schitt’s Creek

Favorite Movie(s)

• Airplane!

Favorite Thing About Fairfield

• The strong sense of community, especially within Student Life.

Favorite Quote

• “It’s not so much what we have in this life that matters. It’s what we do with what we have.” — Mister Rogers

Advice for Students

• Don’t be afraid to ask for help!