Ph.D. Students
Michael Klein
Mike is the director of government relations for the New Jersey Association of State Colleges & Universities. He joined ASCU in 1998 and is responsible for managing legislative, regulatory, and labor affairs. A doctoral candidate in the Higher Education Ph.D. program, Mike’s research interest is in governance, particularly of public institutions. He is also interested in intellectual property issues. Currently, he is a member of the national Task Force on Higher Education Government Relations. Mike was born in Bloomfield, New Jersey. He received a bachelor’s degree in history cum laude from Princeton University, and a law degree from Boston College Law School.
Chera Reid
Chera Reid is a Ph.D. student and Steinhardt Fellow in the higher education program. Before coming to NYU, she was a faculty member at Phillips Academy (Andover), where she directed the Institute for Recruitment of Teachers, a national program that supports diverse college students who pursue careers in teaching and academia. She earned a B.A. from the University of Virginia and an M.A. from the University of Michigan. Her research interests include access to undergraduate and graduate education, particularly among students of color and low-income populations, academic transitions, and cross-sector educational partnerships. She recently received the the 2011 K. Patricia Cross Future Leaders Award, which is made annually by the Association of American Colleges and Universities graduate students who show exemplary promise as future leaders of higher education.
EdD Students
Shawn O'Riley
Shawn O'Riley is the Executive Director of University College at Adelphi University and has spent the last several years of his career working with adults in higher education. University College is Adelphi's college for the working adult and includes associate, bachelor, and graduate degree programs, continuing education, and professional development programs. Prior to his current position at Adelphi, Shawn was Associate Director of Continuing Education at Hunter College, and Educational Program Director for the New York Foundation for Senior Citizens. He holds an M.S. in Higher Education Administration from Baruch College, an M.A. in Teaching from Pacific University and a B.B.A. in Marketing from the University of Iowa.
Shadia Sachedina
Shadia Sachedina has worked as a Student Affairs professional for the past 15 years. She is currently the Associate Director of Student Life at Baruch College. In this role Shadia is responsible for the development of First Year student programs. She also coordinates student leadership initiatives on campus and runs the TEAM Baruch leadership training and development program for Baruch students. Prior to this, Shadia worked in Residence Life at the School of Visual Arts as well as at SUNY Stony Brook and SUNY Cortland. Shadia received her M.S. in Higher Education Administration at Baruch College and her undergraduate degree in English at SUNY Stony Brook. Currently, Shadia is pursuing her Ed.D. in Higher Education Administration at NYU. Her focus is on commuter student engagement.
MA Students
Jimmy Suarez
Jimmy Suarez graduated with a B.S. from Cornell University in 2009. He majored in Development Sociology with a minor in Education and a concentration in Latino Studies. While a student at Cornell, he was involved with several student organizations and was on the executive board for Quisqueya: Dominican Student Association and Black Students United. Jimmy is a proud brother of Lambda Theta Phi Latin Fraternity, Inc. He also worked for the Office of Minority Educational Affairs and the Latino Studies Department as a student administrator and graphic designer. During his summers, he worked for Cornell's Pre-Freshman Summer Program where he served as the Activities Coordinator for the residence hall. After graduation, Jimmy spent a year teaching third grade at the Ascension School (Manhattan), the same school he attended during Junior High. Currently, as a full-time student, Jimmy works for NYU's Center for Multicultural Education and Programs as a Graduate Assistant. His primary duties involve coordinating the Cultural and Social Justice Programs. Jimmy also serves as the Treasurer for the Association of Student Affairs (ASAP) at NYU. When it comes to research, he is interested in the Intergroup Dialogue initiative.
Rachel Frint
Rachel Frint graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration with a concentration in International Business from Muhlenberg College in Allentown, PA. On-campus she worked as a Career Assistant in the Muhlenberg College Career Center where she specialized in providing resume critiques and leading job search workshops to undergraduate students. She also spent a semester abroad at Maastricht University in the Netherlands. After graduation, Rachel worked as a legal recruiter in a small boutique firm while continuing to pursue opportunities in higher education. In 2008, she joined the NYU Stern School of Business and is currently the Career Counseling Coordinator for the Office of Career Development. She provides career counseling to full-time MBA students, manages the Career Development Program, and presents workshops on all aspects of the career search. Rachel also serves as the Life Skills Advisor on the Alpha Chi Omega Alumni Board at Muhlenberg College. She is a part-time student pursuing a Master's Degree in Higher Education Administration. Her interests include international student populations and career services in higher education.
Natalia Salazar
Natalia Salazar graduated from Queens College in 2006 with a B.A. in Psychology and a minor in Student Services & Counseling. While there, she served on the executive board of QC's Student Government and worked as the Student Coordinator for the Peer Advisement Program. Upon graduating, Natalia leapt into the world of Public Relations and while it was a great learning experience, she missed the collegiate environment and her interactions with students. So, in 2010, Natalia enrolled as a full-time student in the M.A. program at NYU.
Natalia is currently the Graduate Assistant at NYU's College of Dentistry in the Office of Student Affairs. In addition to classes and her assistantship, Natalia will begin teaching a Freshman Seminar at Baruch, as well as participate in a fieldwork at NYU's Center for Multicultural Education and Programs. In her spare time, she serves as the Communication Chair for the program's professional organization, ASAP. For the 2011 summer, she interned at The Rhode Island School of Design in the Office of Residence Life. Her research interests include the freshman year experience and student success programs.
Julia Esser
Julia is originally from the small town of Genesee, Idaho. She graduated from Gonzaga University (Spokane, Washington) with a B.A. in Public Relations, a minor in Business, and a concentration in Entrepreneurship from the Hogan Entrepreneurial Leadership Program. At Gonzaga, she was extremely involved in the Gonzaga Student Body Association holding several offices including Senior Class President and Vice President. She also spent a year leading university SEARCH retreats, managed social media for Gonzaga's Marketing and Communications Department, and served a year as Gonzaga University's Orientation Coordinator. Positive that she wanted to continue a career in student affairs, Julia sought an experience completely different from what she had previously known and NYU was a perfect fit.
Currently, Julia is interning in NYU's Office of Residential Life and Housing Services as the Graduate Assistant for Leadership and Staff Selection. She helps advise the Inter-Residence Hall Council (IRHC), participates in RA selection and much more. She LOVES her job and the chance to work with students every single day. Outside of her internship, Julia serves as one of two Recruitment Co-Chairs for the program's professional organization, ASAP, and just began a term as the Publicity Chair for the Journal of Student Affairs (JoSA).