Fashion Institute of Technology Administration

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Robin Burns-McNeill, Chair
Jaqui Lividini, Vice Chair
Mona Aboelnaga Kanaan
Richard A. Anderman
Judith I. Byrd
Gabrielle Fialkoff
Nina Garcia
Joan B. Hornig
Beverly S. Mack
Denise V. Magida
Elizabeth T. Peek
Deirdre Quinn
Sally Singer
Isabella FitzSimmons, Student Trustee

FIT Trustee Emeritus

John J. Pomerantz, Trustee Emeritus

ADMINISTRATION

Jason S. Schupbach, President
BS, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; MCP, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT

Jennifer LoTurco, Deputy to the President
BS, State University of New York at Albany 

Deliwe Kekana, Chief Diversity Officer

Constance C.R. White, Senior Executive Director, Social Justice Center at FIT
AAS, Miami Dade College; BA, New York University; MBA, Northwestern University

Nicole Finigan Ndzibah, Executive Director of the Social Justice Center
BS, Johnson and Wales University; MBA, Suffolk University

ACADEMIC AFFAIRS

Yasemin Jones, Interim Vice President for Academic Affairs
BA, University of California–Irvine; MA, PhD, Graduate School and University Center, City University of New York

Sidney Alfonso Grimes, Jr., Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs Operations
AA, BA, MSEd, Baruch College, City University of New York; EdD, Southern New Hampshire University

Deborah Klesenski-Rispoli, Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs
AAS, Fashion Institute of Technology, State University of New York; BS, Empire State College, State University of New York; MSEd, Baruch College, City University of New York; EdD, Northeastern University

Devon Vidal, Assistant Dean for Curriculum
BA, MS, State University of New York at Albany

Myla Skeiker, Executive Director for Faculty and Academic Affairs
BA, Pennsylvania State University; MA, University of South Florida, PhD, Temple University

Academic Deans

School of Art and Design

Troy Richards, Dean, School of Art and Design
BFA, University of the Arts; MFA, Cranbrook Academy of Art

Mary Wilson, Associate Dean, School of Art and Design
BFA, Parsons the New School for Design

Jay and Patty Baker School of Business and Technology

Shannon Maher, Dean, Jay and Patty Baker School of Business and Technology
BA, Marymount University; MA, Marist College

Carolyn Comiskey, Assistant Dean, Jay and Patty Baker School of Business and Technology
BA, Swarthmore College; PhD, University of Michigan

School of Graduate Studies

Brooke Laurin Carlson, Interim Dean, School of Graduate Studies, Associate Professor, Cosmetics and Fragrance Marketing and Management
BS, MBA, Sacred Heart University; PhD, University of New Haven

School of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Patrick Knisley, Dean, School of Liberal Arts and Sciences
AB, Harvard College; MA, PhD, University of Colorado

International Programs

Vanessa Nichol-Peters, Dean for International Education
BBS, University of Zimbabwe; MBA, Ohio University; MS, University of KwaZulu-Natal; PhD, University of the Witwatersrand

Helen Gaudette, Assistant Dean for International Education
BA, Boston College; MA, Hunter College, City University of New York; PhD, The Graduate Center, City University of New York

Directors and Coordinators

Lisa Mulligan, Coordinator, Academic Skills Center
BA, St. John’s University; MSEd, Metropolitan College of New York

Frantz L. Alcindor, Director, Career and Internship Services
BA, Wheeling Jesuit University; MS, University of Scranton

Jacqueline M. Jenkins, Executive Director of the Center for Continuing and Professional Studies
BA, Spelman College; MBA, The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania

Michael Ferraro, Executive Director, FIT DTech Lab
BFA, Syracuse University; MFA, University of Massachusetts, Amherst

Judith Bowens, Managing Director, FIT DTech Lab
BA, The University of California, Los Angeles

Brian Fallon, Director of Faculty Development, CET; Professor
BA, University of Kansas; MA, Colorado State University; PhD, Indiana University of Pennsylvania; 2016–17 SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Professional Service; 2024–25 FIT Faculty Excellence Award

Vacant, Faculty Services Manager

Lucia DeRespinis, Executive Director for Grants Administration
BA, Sarah Lawrence College; MS, The New School for Social Research

Sabrina Lenzen, Grants Manager
BBA, Pace University

Susan Hayes, Executive Director for Institutional Research, Effectiveness, and Strategic Planning
BA, Syracuse University; MPA, New York University; PhD, Caldwell University

Marjorie Silverman, Chair for Internship Studies and Associate Professor
BS, Boston University; MA, Columbia University

Greta K. Earnest, Associate Professor; Director, Library
BA, Bard College; MLS, State University of New York at Albany

Tamara Cupples, Executive Director, Online Learning and Academic Technologies
BA, Pace University; MS, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences; MS, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute School of Management

Jasonpaul McCarthy, Executive Director for Precollege Programs
BA, University of East London School of Education and Communities; MA, Royal College of Art 

Katelyn Prager, Executive Director, Presidential Scholars Programs, Associate Professor, English and Communication Studies
BS, Pittsburgh State University

Margaret Joseph, Associate Director for Student Learning Assessment; Associate Professor
BA, Brown University; MBA, Columbia University; PhD, University at Buffalo, State University of New York

Sarah M. H. Blazer, Associate Professor, Director, Writing and Speaking Studio,
BA, South Carolina Honors College at the University of South Carolina; MA, Long Island University; PhD, Indiana University of Pennsylvania; 2022–23 FIT Faculty Excellence Award

Writing and Speaking Studio Non-Classroom Faculty

Stephen Keating, Associate Director, Assistant Professor, Writing and Speaking Studio
BA, Keystone College; MA, West Chester University of Pennsylvania

COMMUNICATIONS AND EXTERNAL RELATIONS

Beth Mitchell, Interim Associate Vice President for Communications and External Relations and Executive Director of Media and Public Relations
BA, Manhattanville College

Johanna Kendrick-Holmes, Director of Event Productions and Facilities Licensing

Lonnie Cooper, Deputy Director of Events Management and Facilities Rental
BA, Michigan State

Kristen Guiter, Director, Communications
BFA, Iowa State

Lisa Wager, Director, Communication and Government Relations
BA, Vassar College

Roberto Villanueva, Director, Operations, Community and External Relations
BA, SUNY Buffalo

Heather McCarron, Project Manager

DEVELOPMENT AND ALUMNI RELATIONS

Philips McCarty, Vice President for Advancement and Executive Director, FIT Foundation
BA, University of Mississippi; MS, Mississippi College

Elizabeth Manalio, Assistant Vice President for Advancement
BS, Boston University

Julie Sygiel, Director of Alumni Relations and Development
BA, Brown University

Claire Gilvar, Director of Corporate Engagement
BEd, Westminster College, Oxford

Kseniya Baranova, Assistant Director of Alumni Relations
BA, Pratt Institute; MA, Christie's Education

Christopher Alonzo, Assistant Manager of Strategic Philanthropy

ENROLLMENT MANAGEMENT AND STUDENT SUCCESS

Tardis Johnson, Vice President for Enrollment Management and Student Academic Support, Student Support Services
BA, State University of New York at Albany; MSEd, Baruch College, City University of New York; EdD, Northeastern University

Corie McCallum, Assistant Vice President for Student Success and Dean of Students
BS, M.Ed, Ohio University; PhD, The Graduate Center, City University of New York

Directors and Coordinators

Nedean Wilson, Director, Academic Advisement Center
BA, Boston College; MS, University of Pennsylvania

Joseph Plutz, Associate Professor; Director, Accommodative Services
BA, North Central College; MA, City University of New York School of Professional Studies

Richard Sunday, Associate Professor; Director, Admissions and Strategic Recruitment
BA, Fordham University; MA, Long Island University, Brooklyn; 2020–21 FIT Faculty Excellence Award

Vernon Goodman, Associate Professor; Assistant Director, Admissions and Strategic Recruitment
BFA, New York University; MBA, Kaplan University

Keith Heron, Director, Athletics and Recreation
AA, Nassau Community College; BA, Queens College, City University of New York; MSEd, CW Post

Jayoung Choi, Assistant Professor; Director, Counseling Center
MS, Case Western Reserve University; PhD, The University of Akron

Taur D. Orange, Assistant Professor; Director, Educational Opportunity Programs
BA, Wesleyan University; MPS, New York Institute of Technology; 2003–4 State University of New York Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Professional Service

Devendra Dindyal, Director of Financial Aid Services; Associate Professor
BS, St John’s University; MA, Columbia University

Anne Miller, Executive Director of Health Services
BSN, MSN, State University of New York at Stony Brook

Marie Mekari, Director; Associate Professor, International Student Services
BA, Madonna University; MS, Central Connecticut State University

Rita Cammarata, Professor; Director, Registration and Records
BA, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, City University of New York; MSEd, Bernard M. Baruch College, City University of New York; 2018–19 FIT Faculty Excellence Award

Amber Carpenter-Lagattuta, Associate Professor; Assistant Director, Registration and Records
BA, State University of New York at Albany; EdM, EdD, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey; 2022–23 FIT Faculty Excellence Award

Christie Graziano, Director, Student Life
BA, Loyola University; MSEd, Baruch College, City University of New York

Meghan Davis, Associate Director, Student Life; Assistant Professor
BA, BS, MA, University of Connecticut; EdD, New England College

Academic Advisement Center

Percess H. Jonas-Atteloney, Assistant Professor; Counselor 
BS, York College, City University of New York; MSEd, Bernard M. Baruch College, City University of New York

Jared Ciborowski, Counselor Associate
BA, Long Island University Post; MA, Stony Brook University, State University of New York

Aisha Cornelius, Counselor Associate
BA, Temple University; MA, Fordham University

Elizabeth Fucci, Counselor Associate
AAS, Nassau Community College; BS, Farmingdale State College, State University of New York 

Tracy Gambles, Counselor Associate
BS, Rochester Institute of Technology; MA, New York University

Benita Jones, Assistant Professor; Counselor
BA, State University of New York at Old Westbury; MPA, Metropolitan College of New York

Marcia Lezama, Counselor Associate
BS, John Jay College of Criminal Justice 

Nicky Mar, Counselor Associate
AAS, BS, Fashion Institute of Technology, State University of New York

Giselle Puello, Counselor Associate
AAS, BS, Fashion Institute of Technology, State University of New York

Scott Schwartz, Counselor Associate
AA, Kingsborough Community College; BS, Brooklyn College, City University of New York

Rajasekhar R. Vangapaty, Assistant Professor; Counselor
B Eng, Osmania University, India; MTech, Institute of Technology, India; Diplôme d'Ingénieur Expert, Institut National Polytechnique de Lorraine, France; MS, Lehman College, City University of New York

Career and Internship Center Non-Classroom Faculty

Stratton Bouloukos, Counselor
BA, Sarah Lawrence College

Josephine Jee, Assistant Professor; Counselor
BID, MPS, Pratt Institute

Jeanne Golly, Associate Professor; Counselor
BS, University of Texas at Austin; MA, Michigan State University

Adrian Jones, Counselor
AAS, Grahm Junior College; BS, Boston University; MA, New York University

Amy Mato, Assistant Professor; Counselor
AAS, BS, Fashion Institute of Technology, State University of New York

Bonnie Recca, Internship Counselor
BA, Stony Brook University, State University of New York

Nancy Ross, Associate Professor; Counselor
BA, Hamilton/Kirkland College; MEd, Goucher College

Gladys Marcus Library Non-Classroom Faculty

Joseph Anderson, Digital Initiatives Librarian; Assistant Professor
BA, Columbia College; MLIS, Dominican University

Sara Belasco, Cataloging and Metadata Librarian; Assistant Professor
BA, Skidmore College; MLIS, Pratt Institute

Lana Bittman, Head of Periodicals and Electronic Resource Services Librarian; Associate Professor
BA, Washington University; MS, Rutgers, State University of New Jersey; MA, Fashion Institute of Technology, SUNY

Naomi Schwer Bricker,  Research and Instructional Services Librarian
BA, The City College, City University of New York; MS, Columbia University

Helen Taylor Lane, Instructional Design Librarian; Associate Professor
BA, Earlham College; MLIS, Pratt Institute

Leslie Preston, Head of Acquisitions and Metadata Services Librarian; Assistant Professor
BA, University of Georgia; MS, University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Maria Rothenberg, Instructional Services and Assessment Librarian; Associate Professor
BFA, Carnegie Mellon University; MFA, MLS, Queens College, City University of New York

Miyo Sandlin, Instructional Services and Student Engagement Librarian; Assistant Professor
BA, Vassar College; MLS, University of Maryland

Hiroko Suda, Digital Assets Librarian; Assistant Professor
MA, The City College, City University of New York

Carli Spina, Head of Research and Instructional Services Librarian; Professor
AB, Harvard University; MLIS, Simmons College; EdM, Harvard Graduate School of Education; JD, University of Chicago Law School, 2022–23 SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Librarianship

Yiwen Wang, Continuations and Metadata Librarian; Assistant Professor
BA, Shanghai University; MA, University of Wisconsin–Madison

Tiffany Nixon, Head of Special Collections and FIT Archives; Librarian; Assistant Professor
MA, MLS, San Jose State University

Jennifer Turner, Counselor Associate
BS, Saint Michael's College

Non-Classroom Faculty

Mercedes Cepeda-Williamson, Assistant Professor; Admissions Counselor
BA, Binghamton; MSEd, Brooklyn College, City University of New York

Deanna Cruz, Assistant Professor;  Assistant Director, Financial Aid Services
BS, MBA, Manhattan College

Patrice Goumba, Associate Professor; Financial Aid Counselor
BS, MS, Adelphi University; MPM, Keller Graduate School of Management

Rebecca Hoffman, Counselor, Counseling Center
BA, Oberlin College, MSW, Hunter 

Gloria Waitt, Assistant Professor; Counselor to Students
MSW, University of Tennessee Knoxville 

Catherine Lavelle, Assistant Professor; Admissions Counselor
BS, Virginia Commonwealth University; MA, Lesley University

Frank Mitchell, Assistant Professor; Admissions Counselor
BA, Wilkes University; MSEd, Bernard M. Baruch College, City University of New York

William Park, Assistant Professor; International Student Advisor
BA, Emory University; MA, Columbia University

Julia Romano, Assistant Professor, Orientation and New Student Programs
BA, MA, Sacred Heart University

Jennifer Stachacz, Assistant Professor; Counselor to Students
BSW, University of Southern Indiana; MSW, New York University

Nottoya Thelusma; Assistant Professor; Financial Aid Counselor
BS, Bloomfield College; MBA, Devry College

Ilona Tykotski, Financial Aid Counselor
BA, Montclair State University; JD, New York Law School

Residential Life

Angela Brown, Director of Residential Life
BS, MS, University of Buffalo

Ashley Wolfe, Associate Director of Residential Life
BA, Augustana College, MS, Western Illinois University

Adam Sanchez-Gray, Assistant Director of Housing Operations

Destini Young, Assistant Director of Community Standards & Student Support

John Rowell, Assistant Director of Residential Education for CoEd, Nagler, and Alumni Halls
BA, Northeastern University, MS, University of Kentucky

Richard Moreno, Assistant Director of Residential Education for Kaufman Hall

FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION

Sherry Brabham, Treasurer and Vice President for Finance and Administration
BA, University of North Carolina; MDiv, Princeton Theological Seminary

Shelci Graham, Senior Associate Vice President for Finance and Administration
BA, Howard University

Mario Cabrera, Executive Director, Public Safety
BA, John Jay College, City University of New York

Ishmael Kwawununu, Deputy Director of Public Safety
BSc, Empire State University, MPA, Metropolitan College of New York, DSc, New Jersey City University

Samuel Jimenez, Lieutenant, Training & Tech, Public Safety                                                                               
BS, ITT Technical Institute

Ian McDonald, Lieutenant, Public Safety                                                                                                                      
AS, ASA Institute

Philip Baxter-Dennis, Lieutenant, Public Safety

Allen King, Executive Director of Facilities and Construction Management
BE, Pratt Institute

Jerome Isako, Assistant Director, Facilities Operations and Construction Management
BS, Johannesburg College

Caroline Samuels, Director of Strategic Policy and Operations
BA, Johns Hopkins University; MRP, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill

Maria Camilo-Almanzar, Director of Payroll 
BA, City Herbert H. Lehman College, City University of New York; MA, Baruch College, City University of New York

Ronald Quach, Associate Director of Payroll

Margaret Lindo-DeFranco, Director, Office of the Bursar
BS, Fashion Institute of Technology, State University of New York

Bijal Shah, Associate Director, Office of the Bursar
BS, New Jersey City University,  MBA, New Jersey City University

Karen Hall, Acting Collection Manager, Office of the Bursar                                                                                    
BA, Mercy University

Deslyn Sertima, Manager, Cashiering Operations
BA, The City University of New York, AA Borough of Manhattan Community College

Sam Li, Director of Procurement Services
BS, Stony Brook University, State University of New York; MBA, Mercy College

Candida Poinsette, Associate Director, Procurement Services
AS, College of Westchester; BS, Concordia College

Paul DeBiase, Director of Environmental Health and Safety
BS, State University of New York at Stony Brook; MS, Long Island University/CW Post

William Ansong, Executive Director of Operational Services
BBA, Lehman College, City University of New York

Warren Smart, Assistant Manager of Operational Services

Patrick Watson, Manager, Mail Operations         
AA, Excelsior Community College

Albert Place, Director of Capital Budget and Financial Analysis
BS, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey

Julia Salerni, Director of Campus Planning and Design
AAS, Parsons the New School for Design; BS, BA, Binghamton, State University of New York

Anthony Lugo, Director of Contracted Services, Real Estate, and Campus Card Management
BA, Queens College, City University of New York; MPS, Baruch College, City University of New York

GENERAL COUNSEL

Stephen P. Tuttle, General Counsel and Secretary of the College
BA, Franklin and Marshall College, JD, Syracuse University

Eric Odin, Associate General Counsel
BA, Northwestern University, MA, George Mason University, JD, George Washington University

Alicia S. O'Connor, Associate General Counsel
BA, University of Scranton; MA, CUNY Queens College; JD, St. John's University School of Law

Stephen Peoples, Director Legal Support & Division Administrative Manager
BS, University of Illinois, JD, Howard University

Griselda Gonzalez, Director of Policy and Compliance
BS, State University of New York, Empire State College

Helena Minerva, Manager, Policy and Training
BA, Syracuse University, MA, Adelphi University

Joseph Iannini, Executive Director for Internal Controls and Management Analysis
BS, MBA, Seton Hall University

Terrence Clarke, Internal Audit Manager
BS, MS Association of Chartered Certified Accountants

Beth Nitzberg, Coordinator, Internal Controls
BA, University at Albany, MPA, New York University 

HUMAN RESOURCES

Vacant, Vice President for Human Resource Management and Labor Relations

Esther Oliveras, Assistant Vice President, Human Resource Management and Labor Relations
BA, Lehman College; MSEd, Baruch College, City University of New York; 2013–14 State University of New York Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Professional Service

Monica Lemkowitz, Director of Benefits
BA, State University of New York at Oneonta   

Randi Miller, Human Resources Director
BA, Stony Brook University

BA, Long Island University 

Ronald Quach, Associate Director, Payroll

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

Laurence Baach, Vice President for Information Technology and CIO
BS, Georgetown University

Rakesh Kumar, Assistant Vice President, IT Infrastructure Services and CISO
BS, Mysore University, India

Steven Willner, Assistant Vice President, Education and Enterprise Technology
BS, Brooklyn College

Dimitri Cohen, Executive Director, Infrastructure Services, IT Operations and Systems

Deborah Sartin, Executive Director, IT and Program Management
BA, Howard University, MS, George Washington University

William Hokien, Acting Executive Director of the Unified Help Desk Client Services
AAS, Fashion Institute of Technology, State University of New York

Michael Gluck, Executive Director of Enterprise Applications and Services
BS, SUNY Buffalo

Michael Turner, Deputy Director, Endpoint and Cyber Security
BS, Western Governors University; MS Cyber Security and Information Assurance 

Vacant, Executive Director, IT Portfolio Management

THE MUSEUM AT FIT

Valerie Steele, Director and Chief Curator of the Museum, The Museum at FIT
BA, Dartmouth College; MA, PhD, Yale University; 2018 State University of New York Honorary Medallion of Distinction

Patricia Mears, Manager, Curatorial & Museum, The Museum at FIT
BA, MBA, The George Washington University; MA, Fashion Institute of Technology, State University of New York

EMERITI ASSOCIATES

Irene Buchman, Professor Emeritus of Presidential Scholars and Educational Skills, 1973–2015
BA, MA, EdD

Judith Ellis, Professor Emeritus of Toy Design, 1984–2023
SUNY Distinguished Teaching Professor; BFA, Parsons School of Design, The New School; 1998–99 State University of New York Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching; 2004–5 State University of New York Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Faculty Service

Alan Fishman, Professor Emeritus of Fine Arts, 1968–1991
BFA

Barry S. Ginsburg, Professor Emeritus of Science and Mathematics, 1956–1992
BA, MA, EdD

Hilde W. Jaffe, Professor Emeritus of Fashion Design, 1959–1992
AAS, BA

Arthur H. Kopelman, Professor Emeritus of Science, SUNY Distinguished Service Professor, 1981–2020
BA, MPhil, PhD

Richard J. Meagher, Dean Emeritus for Continuing Education, 1965–1994
BA, MA, EdD

Katherine Michaelsen, Professor Emeritus for History of Art, 1976-2025
BA, MA, PhD, Columbia University

Gilbert Schaye, Professor Emeritus of English and Communication Studies, 1960–2020
BS, MA

Arthur A. Winters, Professor Emeritus of Advertising and Marketing Communications, 1959–1992
BA, MBA, EdD­