Meet the Team
I started working for Stony Brook University's Graduate School as of February 2024. I hold a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration Management from Farmingdale State College. I am a Graduation and Admissions Processing Specialist, I process degrees for graduation or any graduation related forms for Masters and PhD level students. I also process future Stony Brook students admissions paperwork. I am here to make these processes go as smoothly as possible and in a timely manner.
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`https://www.stonybrook.edu/commcms/studentaffairs/stu/_images/_staff/holder.blank.gif`,
`Sandhya Rani Avvaru`,
`Systems Support Analyst `,
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`, `https://www.stonybrook.edu/commcms/grad/_images/headshots/elizabeth_boon.jpg`, `Elizabeth Boon`, `Associate Dean of Strategic Initiatives`, `
Liz Boon has been a Professor of Chemistry at Stony Brook University since joining the institution in 2006. Over the past seven years, Liz has served as co-director of the interdisciplinary Chemical Biology Training Program (CBTP) supported through the National Institute of General Medical Sciences T32 training grant. Her contributions to the program and course design has earned the grant successful renewal. Liz Boon holds her Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry from Kenyon College, her PhD in Chemistry from Caltech and served as a Postdoctoral Fellow in Biochemistry at UC Berkeley. During her time at Stony Brook, the goal of her research has been to understand nitric oxide (NO) signaling in bacteria from a molecular level to a community level. As Associate Dean for Strategic Initiatives, Liz will support the development of grant proposals and contribute to the execution of the Graduate School strategic plan. `,
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`Ally Brasino`,
`Student Services Specialist`,
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The CBTP provides Stony Brook graduate students who are focused on research in chemistry and biology with ongoing training and support with the goal of developing students into professional and ethical PhD scientists. Part of the program includes providing an inclusive environment for trainees and building a culture that aligns with Stony Brook’s DEI mission. Liz has worked frequently with the Center for Inclusive Education and is committed to supporting diversity recruitment and programs. Liz’s dedication to this program and consideration of mentor training and assessment of graduate programs has produced 40 students who have gone on to have successful research based careers at Brookhaven National Laboratory, the National Cancer Institute, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and other major institutions and organizations.
Ally began working at the Graduate School as a student employee in 2020 and was offered a full-time position after graduating with her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology in 2022. In her current role, she is responsible for project management, record maintenance, and processing graduate course catalog updates. Ally also assists with general records and graduation transactions as needed.`, `https://www.stonybrook.edu/commcms/grad/_images/headshots/vernon_caldwell.png`, `Vernon Caldwell`, `Assistant Director of External Fellowships and Scholarly Development`, `
Vernon A Caldwell began as the Assistant Director of External Fellowships and Scholarly Development in June 2024. Vernon has nearly 2 decades of experience supporting students as an educator, including roles in primary and secondary level schools in the United States and Brazil, and work in the CUNY system with undergraduate and graduate students. Most recently, Vernon launched a private teacher-training college in Zambia, Africa, and has led the program as the acting Director since 2018. As the Assistant Director of External Fellowships and Scholarly Development, Vernon will continue advising and supporting students, alumni, and postdocs who are pursuing competitive merit-based awards. Vernon received his Bachelor of Science in Molecular Biology from Haverford College. For his next degree, a Master of Science in Education in International Educational Development from the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education, he critically analyzed the effectiveness of the economic development models employed by grassroots non-profit organizations in Botswana and Zambia to determine if they bolstered social and cultural capital and improved educational progress in sub-Saharan Africa as designed. When not on campus, Vernon enjoys playing piano and learning new languages.`,
`https://www.stonybrook.edu/commcms/grad/_images/headshots/colin_carron.jpg`,
`Colin Carron`,
`Student Services Specialist`,
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Colin started working for Stony Brook University's Graduate School as of April 2023. He is a Graduate Student Services Specialist who strives to delvier in-depth knowledge in regard to Graduate Records and Accelerated Participant Programs. With always being in constant touch with students and program coordinators/directors, I feel the need to make sure every issue/topic gets resolved in a timely manner.
As a former student at Stony Brook, Colin understands how important it is to feel comfortable when you go to someone for help. He is grateful towork for an inspring and inclusive University and will always appreciate how Stony Brook prioirtizes diverse environments.`,
`https://www.stonybrook.edu/commcms/grad/_images/headshots/coyle_dawn.JPG`,
`Dawn Coyle`,
`Admissions Advisor`,
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`, `https://www.stonybrook.edu/commcms/grad/_images/headshots/kathleen_flint.jpg`, `Kathleen Flint Ehm`, `Assistant Dean for Graduate and Postdoctoral Initiatives`, `
Currently on leave with the Division of Graduate Education at NSF
Christine Greenberg started at Stony Brook in 2011 with the Graduate School. She holds her Bachelor of Business Administration Management from New York Institute of Technology and her Master of Arts in Higher Education from Stony Brook University.
Christine advises on and enforces Graduate School policy and guidelines pertaining to admissions. She oversees all administrative processes for graduate students and manages all aspects of the degree clearance process for masters and PhD level students. Christine also serves as a mentor and manager of the Student Assistant team and is a member of the CARE Team on campus. In 2022, Christine was recognized at the Student Employee and Intern of the Year Awards with the Impact Award.
Hanna completed her PhD in Chemistry at Stony Brook in December 2023. During her PhD, she worked under the guidance of Dr. Christopher Johnson conducting cryogenic, gas-phase UV-Vis and IR spectroscopy on gold nanoclusters, materials that have been increasingly gaining traction over the last couple of decades due to their potential in catalysis, energy storage, sensors and more. Their goal was to connect the changes in chemical structure to changes in electronic structure, and consequently, to changes in electronic properties. Hanna also participated in the Ph.D. Career Ladder Program (PCLP) as leader and leader coordinator, and supported recruitment efforts in the Center for Inclusive Education (CIE). In this new role, Hanna hopes to increase her network connections, gain new skills, and create valuable contributions to the Stony Brook community. During her free time, Hanna likes to go to the gym, work on paint-by-numbers projects, play dominoes with her grandmother and friends [or parché (better known as parcheesi) if it's just the two of them], and watch true crime shows/documentaries.
Melissa is the Senior Assistant Dean for the Office of Student Services. Her tenure at the Graduate School began ten years ago in July 2013. Melissa holds a Bachelor of Science in English from SUNY Oneonta (2003) and a Master of Arts in Higher Education Administration from Stony Brook University (2012).
Melissa is involved with organizations such as the Council of Graduate Schools and MSACROA. Her role at the Graduate School includes overseeing the admissions of graduate and health science applicants, onboarding students once they are admitted, and overseeing the lifecycle of their graduate career including anything related to their academic success through degree clearance. The Office of Student Service is a resource and experts for anything related to the graduate student admissions process, record keeping and policies surrounding graduate education.
Gianna has been working in higher education for a total of 16 years with the past 5 years at Stony Brook University. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Organizational Management in 2014 followed by an Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA) in 2016, both from St. Joseph's University.
Gianna started working at The Graduate School in 2018, in the position of Executive Assistant to the Dean. In her role she assists the dean with scheduling and provides support with various projects, plans and organizes all Graduate School events and manages many administrative and office management tasks for the Graduate School staff.
Fred started at Stony Brook in July of 2022 and is currently the Director of Graduate Admissions within the Graduate School. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Management and Marketing from SUNY Plattsburgh and a Master of Business Administration in Marketing from Hofstra University.
Fred has been working in Higher Education since 2009 having first started as an undergraduate admissions counselor and has been working in the graduate admissions field since 2014. During this time he has gained experience in recruitment, marketing, admissions operations, international admissions and working with student athletes. His role as Director of Graduate Admissions includes overseeing the admissions processes for graduate and health science applicants as well as creating and implementing a graduate recruitment strategy. He is also currently a member of NAGAP, the Association for Graduate Enrollment Management.
I graduated Stony Brook University with both my Bachelor and Master degrees. In 2024 I was hired by the university I love. I am a Graduate Admissions Specialist within the Graduate School. My role is primarily looking over applications and making sure all the proverbial ducks are in a row so the applicants can be accepted to Stony Brook. Also, I will answer phones and emails to help answer both student and department questions.
Lisa joined the Graduate School in April 2023 as the Assistant Director, Finance and Administration. This role supports and advises Fellowship, Awards and Scholarship administration; Finance, Accounting, and Budget management; Staff Management and Development; and Graduate Student and Program Support. Prior to joining the Graduate School, Lisa worked in the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences as the Human Resources Budget Coordinator. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from St. John's University and is licensed as Certified Public Accountant.
Molly Lotz is a new member of the Stony Brook University Graduate School; she began the role of Director of Research Training Initiatives in July 2023. In this capacity, Molly will expand Stony Brook’s support for training grants and for the research training needs of grad students and postdocs. Previously, Molly was founding director of the Center for Advancement of Faculty Excellence (CAFE) at St. Francis College and, before that, Assistant Dean in the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences at St. John’s University. She holds a Ph.D. in English and a Master of Library and Information Science (M.L.I.S.) degree from St. John’s University and has taught undergraduate literature and writing courses at St. John’s University, St. Francis College, and SUNY Farmingdale State College.
Ivy joined the Graduate School's Finance and Administration team in October 2024, transitioning from her previous role as a student assistant where she served since her undergraduate freshman year. She earned her bachelor's degree from Stony Brook University in May 2024 with majors in Business Management and Psychology, and minors in Accounting and China Studies. Her responsibilities include assisting with Graduate Tuition Scholarships, Graduate Council Fellowships, Graduate Awards, NSF GRFP COE processing, and other tasks related to Finance and Administration.
Rich joined the Graduate School in September 2023. He has served as a Systems Analyst at Stony Brook University since September 2014, previously in the Health Sciences Office of Student Services and then in the Office of Graduate and Health Sciences Admissions.
Rich received his Bachelor’s in computer science from Dartmouth College in 2002. In 2006, he received his Master of Fine Arts in Photography and Digital Imaging from the Maryland Institute College of Art. His thesis, The Surveyed Portrait, can be viewed at richmacdonald.com, along with other artwork, commissions and archaeological documentation.
Celia Marshik is a product of the Midwest and the Big Ten: she holds a B.A. from the University of Minnesota (English/Women's Studies) and a Ph.D. in English and Graduate Certificate in Women's Studies from Northwestern University. She is a first generation college graduate and the first in her extended family to receive an advanced degree.
Her research focuses on British modernism, including the relationships between literature and the law and between modernism and cultural studies. She is the author of British Modernism and Censorship (Cambridge UP, 2006), At the Mercy of Their Clothes: Modernism, the Middlebrow, and British Garment Culture (Columbia UP, 2017), and, with Allison Pease, Modernism, Sex and Gender (Bloomsbury, 2018) as well as the editor of The Cambridge Companion to Modernist Culture (2015). She has published articles on modernism in Modernism/modernity, Feminist Modernist Studies. James Joyce Quarterly, and other venues and recently co-edited a special issue of ELN on the topic of “Fashion’s Borders.”
Dr. Marshik has played leadership roles in the Modernist Studies Association and on a Modern Language Association forum. She is a former department chair and graduate program director at Stony Brook and proudly holds the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Faculty Service (2020-2021), the Dean’s Award for Excellence in Service by a Graduate Program Director (2010), and the Dean’s Award for Excellence in Graduate Teaching (2007). When she’s not on campus, she enjoys gardening, live music, and getting outside for a run, a bike ride, or a trip to the beach.
Elizabeth Ann Moon is currently the Director of Marketing and Communications for the Stony Brook University Graduate School. She is responsible for overseeing the marketing and communications strategy for all events, services, programs, and initiatives of the office using both traditional and digital methods. Elizabeth holds her Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing from Iona College and her Master of Arts in Higher Education Administration from Stony Brook University. She is currently pursuing her Master of Business Administration from Stony Brook University.
For eight years, Elizabeth has combined her passion of marketing and communications with higher education to support students and elevate the branding of departments in both student and academic affairs. She has presented on topics related to best practices in marketing in higher education at the HighEdWeb Conference October 2022, the National Society for Experiential Education September 2021 Conference and the AU3CP Annual Conference Summer 2022 and 2021 for Communicating Careers, and a CareerFair+ Town Hall in 2020. In 2022, she received the MNYCCPOA Alva Cooper Award for her marketing on the event Not All SHEroes Wear Capes. Elizabeth's work was also featured in a Handshake article on marketing virtual job and internship fairs titled Virtual Fair Marketing Tips From Stony Brook University in 2020.
Colleen joined the Graduate School in 2013 where she works in the Office of Student Services as a data analyst. She is also a member of the curriculum management team and serves as a member of Graduate Council. Colleen holds her Bachelor of Arts in English Literature from the University of Maryland, Master of Science in Rhetoric and Communication from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and Master of Arts in Higher Education Administration from Stony Brook University.
Previously, she was personnel director at Stony Brook’s Center for Survey Research where she hired, trained, and developed data collectors for academic research studies.
David A. Rubenstein is currently an Associate Professor of Biomedical Engineering. He has most recently served as the Graduate Program Director for Biomedical Engineering (2016-2021), where he principally focused on redeveloping and modernizing the Biomedical Engineering graduate curriculum with a core focus on developing pathways that would promote student career and professional development in the biological sciences. Dr. Rubenstein’s research focuses on the mechanisms associated with the development of cardiovascular diseases, the interactions of cardiovascular risk factors, the convergence of innate immunity and coagulation and the development of novel fabrication techniques, materials or scaffolds for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine applications.
Dr. Rubenstein has published approximately 50 peer-reviewed publications in these fields, with nearly 100 conference presentations. He is also the lead co-author (with Dr. W. Yin and Dr. M. D. Frame) on the first textbook geared to training undergraduate students in the field of biofluid mechanics (Biofluid Mechanics: An Introduction to Biofluid Mechanics, Macrocirculation and Microcirculation 3rd Edition; Elsevier, 2021). He has also contributed to the widely popular Heat and Mass Transfer Engineering: Fundamentals and Applications textbook (McGraw Hill, 2020). Research that Dr. Rubenstein has contributed to has been funded by the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation and the American Heart Association, generating more than $6 million. Dr. Rubenstein also serves on many grant, manuscript and textbook review panels for various international agencies.
David Rubenstein was born and raised on Long Island, receiving a BE, MS and PhD in Biomedical Engineering from Stony Brook University. He spent 6 years as an Assistant Professor in the School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at Oklahoma State University, before returning to Stony Brook University in 2013. Woodworking, biking and tinkering with anything and everything mechanical help to keep him grounded outside of academia.
Thomas joined the Graduate School in January of 2023, as the Assistant Dean for Finance and Administration. He holds his MSEd in Higher Education Leadership and Policy Studies from Hofstra University and has over a decade of leadership experience in higher education, including public and private organizations.
Dr. Ashley Staples joined the Graduate School team at Stony Brook University in 2022 to support students seeking funding through external fellowships (e.g., Fulbright U.S. Student Program, NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program, Marshall Scholarship) and offer related professional development programming. She has been supporting students through their university experiences for over 20 years as a student affairs scholar-practitioner.
Ashley completed her doctorate in educational studies with a focus in higher education and student affairs at Ohio State and transitioned into grant-funded postdoctoral scholar positions, first with the Interfaith Diversity Experiences and Attitudes Longitudinal Study (IDEALS) and then the Interfaith, Spiritual, Religious, and Secular Campus Climate Index (INSPIRES Index) project. Her dissertation work used critical sense making to examine how students at public universities processed their experiences with religious diversity on campus and personal encounters across belief systems, and her research interests center around organizational innovations of practice and policy to support university students holistically as they pursue their academic goals.
In 2021, Ashley was selected as a U.S. Fulbright Scholar and conducted research at Durham University in England during the 2021-2022 academic year. Ashley received her Master’s in higher education administration from North Carolina State University and earned Bachelor’s degrees in logistics and international business from the University of Maryland – College Park. She is a member of the National Association of Fellowship Advisors, the Association for the Study of Higher Education, and ACPA-College Student Educators International.
Karian Wright joined the Center for Inclusive Education in 2013 as the program manager for the NSF-funded Alliances for Graduate Education and the Professoriate (AGEP) program titled "The Stony Brook-Brookhaven AGEP Frontiers of Research and Academic Models of Excellence (FRAME) Alliance for Transformation. Since then, Karian has also served as the program manager for the NIH-funded Institutional Research and Academic Career Development Award (IRACDA) New York Consortium for the Advancement of Postdoctoral Scholars (NY-CAPS) program and the AGEP Alliance Model to Advance Underrepresented Minority STEM Faculty at Predominately Undergraduate Institutions. Prior to Stony Brook University, Karian served as Assistant Director of Undergraduate Admissions and Adjunct Faculty of Information Technology at Monroe College in New Rochelle, NY. Karian has over 20 years of experience in higher education including admissions, recruitment, student advising, and retention. She also managed a College Jumpstart program serving over 500 high school students annually and developed a female empowerment program for over 300 young women, most of whom were first-generation college students from minoritized backgrounds. Karian has a firm commitment to the advancement of students who have been historically underrepresented in higher education. She holds a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Monroe College and is currently pursuing a PhD in Higher Education Leadership at Colorado State University.
Diana Champney serves as the Program Coordinator at the Center for Inclusive Education since January 2024. In this role, she manages the NSF-funded Alliance for Graduate Education and the Professoriate (AGEP) and the NIH-funded Institutional Research and Academic Career Development Award (IRACDA) Postdoctoral Fellowship. Additionally, Diana contributes to the Community of Student Mentors (CSM) program, as well as the Summer Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) in Nanotechnology and SUNY Summer Opportunities for Academic Research (SOAR). Leveraging her expertise in flexible office space management for entrepreneurs, Diana brings a diverse skill set to the CIE. With a background in art history and museum studies, she holds an undergraduate degree in sociology with a minor in family studies from Wagner College in Staten Island. Diana is dedicated to fostering genuine connections and collaborating with faculty and staff to address the unique needs of scholars and postdocs.
Rosalia Davi joined the CIE in March 2016 as the CIE Diversity Outreach Coordinator, where her primary focus was to grow the successful recruitment of underrepresented scholars for graduate and postdoctoral study across the STEM disciplines, and for the CIE's suite of externally funded programs. Rosalia is now the Program Manager for the NIH IMSD MERGE T32, Dr. W. Burghardt Turner, and GEM Fellowship programs. Prior to her time in higher education, Rosalia worked for a college access non-profit helping to bridge the opportunity gap for underresourced students at Let's Get Ready. With over 15 years of experience in higher education and non-profit management, specifically in experiential education, diversity graduate and postdoctoral recruitment, and program management, Rosalia has a demonstrated commitment to supporting scholars from historically marginalized communities. She has a dual master’s degree in Gender and Cultural Studies and Communications Management from Simmons College, and is a Stony Brook University alumna.
Dr. Michelle Juarez joined the CIE in Aug 2023 as the CIE Diversity Outreach Coordinator, to cultivate PhD recruitment and outreach activities through the CIE and Institute for Advanced Computational Science (IACS). Dr. Juarez has over 25 years of experience in Biomedical research, STEM Literacy, DEIAJ, and higher education administration. Her previously held roles include Assistant Professor at the CUNY School of Medicine, Science Education Fellow at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, and Assistant Director of Diversity and Research Readiness for the DNA Learning Center at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory. Dr. Juarez earned her PhD in Genetics at Stony Brook University and was a recipient of the Dr. W. Burghardt Turner Fellowship. She continued her training as an IRACDA postdoctoral scholar at the University of California, San Diego, and San Diego State University. Dr. Juarez is a member of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB), American Society for Cell Biology (ASCB), the Society for Developmental Biology (SDB), the Genetics Society of America (GSA), Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS), and National Research Mentoring Network (NRMN). In 2020 Dr. Juarez was featured in100 inspiring Hispanic/Latinx scientists in America, in recognition for her scholarly achievements, mentoring excellence, and commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Kennelia Mellanson joined the Center for Inclusive Education (CIE) team as a postdoctoral associate in 2024. Kennelia is CIE scholar and recent graduate of the PhD program in Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology at SBU with 10 years of experience in Biomedical Research. She focuses on evaluation and assessment projects for the CIE, while also pursuing her professional goals. Since 2018, Kennelia has been actively involved in the community as an instructor and mentor for the Center for Inclusive Education and Equal Opportunity Programs. As a scholar alumna of the IMSD and Bridge to Doctorate programs, she is passionate about supporting minority and women-led communities. Outside of work, Kennelia enjoys art, crafting, and spending time with her two cats, Leah and Boo.
Dr. Abigail Nishimura joined the CIE as a Program Manager in Fall 2024 to oversee core CIE activities. She manages three programs: CIE SBU Scholars, Community of Student Mentors, and SUNY SOAR. Abi holds a PhD in Biological Anthropology from Stony Brook University. As an SBU graduate student, she researched human evolution while working with several different teams to implement DEI programs across campus. She is excited to support the growing community of talented CIE students as a Program Manager.
Lisa Ospitale joined the Center for Inclusive Education in July 2021 as a Program Coordintor. In September 2022, Lisa became the Program Manager for the NSF-funded Alliance for Graduate Education and the Professoriate (AGEP) and the NIH-funded Institutional Research and Academic Career Development Award (IRACDA), Postdoctoral Fellowship. Lisa also coordinates the Community of Student Mentors (CSM) program and the summer Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) in Nanotechnology and SUNY Summer Opportunities for Academic Research (SOAR). Lisa came to the CIE with over 20 years of higher education experience, with a background in student affairs, communications, and mentoring students while also providing support to families. Lisa has her BA in Philosophy with a minor in Gender and Women’s Studies and her Master’s in Social Work from Stony Brook University. Lisa has a focused commitment to mentoring students, providing mental health and wellness support, and networking with faculty in order to support the needs of their students and postdocs.
Bremelin Romero joined CIE as a Program Coordinator in January 2024, where she will be coordinating The Turner Fellowship, the Initiative for Maximizing Student Development: Maximizing Excellence in Research for Graduate Education (IMSD-MERGE), and the GEM Fellowship. Bremelin brings a wealth of unique skills and multidisciplinary professional experience to CIE, ranging from teaching and fintech to entrepreneurial pursuits as an Apiarist (a fancy word for beekeeper) for which she managed 25 hives in various locations in Suffolk County, and she is a candidate for a “Master Beekeeping” certificate program with eCornell University. Bremelin holds a BA in Mass Communication from Hofstra University, which paved the way for many years as a journalist covering Southeast Asia. She also holds a graduate degree in International Trade and Economic Cooperation from Kyung Hee University in South Korea, where she worked and lived for seven years. In her spare time, Bremelin loves to travel (she would love to share stories with fellow adventurers), and she enjoys sharing good food and the culinary arts with friends and family.
Karian Wright joined the Center for Inclusive Education in 2013 as the program manager for the NSF-funded Alliances for Graduate Education and the Professoriate (AGEP) program titled "The Stony Brook-Brookhaven AGEP Frontiers of Research and Academic Models of Excellence (FRAME) Alliance for Transformation. Since then, Karian has also served as the program manager for the NIH-funded Institutional Research and Academic Career Development Award (IRACDA) New York Consortium for the Advancement of Postdoctoral Scholars (NY-CAPS) program and the AGEP Alliance Model to Advance Underrepresented Minority STEM Faculty at Predominately Undergraduate Institutions. Prior to Stony Brook University, Karian served as Assistant Director of Undergraduate Admissions and Adjunct Faculty of Information Technology at Monroe College in New Rochelle, NY. Karian has over 20 years of experience in higher education including admissions, recruitment, student advising, and retention. She also managed a College Jumpstart program serving over 500 high school students annually and developed a female empowerment program for over 300 young women, most of whom were first-generation college students from minoritized backgrounds. Karian has a firm commitment to the advancement of students who have been historically underrepresented in higher education. She holds a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Monroe College and is currently pursuing a PhD in Higher Education Leadership at Colorado State University.