Wasserman Center Staff Biographies

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Trudy Steinfeld
Trudy Steinfeld has worked in non-profit, higher education and career development for over twenty years. She holds a BA in American Studies and Education from Ramapo College of New Jersey, a MA in American Civilization from NYU GSAS and has extensive graduate course work in Counseling Psychology. Trudy oversaw the design and development of the new Wasserman Center and has worked with students, faculty and administrators from all NYU schools to offer a wide range of services to the diverse NYU community. She is considered a national leader and expert in the field of career development and has been interviewed and widely quoted in leading publications and on air news programs. Trudy has spoken at many national and international forums and is on the faculty of the Career Services Institute. Trudy enjoys cooking for friends, loves playing tennis, and is devoted to her dog "Lenny" and her family.

DIRECTOR

Paula Lee
Paula has worked at the Wasserman Center since 1987. She holds a Master of Science, Rehabilitation Counseling from Hunter College and a Bachelor of Arts, Psychology from Barnard College. Paula enjoys "b" activities including baking, bowling, Brooklyn, and baseball.

ASSOCIATE DIRECTORS

Robert Caparaz
Robert has a Master's in Counseling, a Bachelor's in Finance, and numerous other graduate school credits from Columbia's Business School to Pratt's Library Science program. He has worked at the Center since 1996. He is a multiple career changer, as well as an aspiring, though undisciplined, poet, fair-weather biker, and fierce ping-pong player.

Diana Gruverman
Diana is an Associate Director and the Director of Employer Services at The Wasserman Center. She holds a Bachelors degree in Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania and a Master's degree in Industrial/Organizational Psychology from NYU. Diana has worked at NYU since 2001, though her ties to the University go back much further. Her parents met as freshmen at NYU when her father was running for class president. In her spare time, Diana loves reading books and doing cartwheels.

Michelle Knopf
Michelle is an Associate Director and serves as the lead on NYUeVita. Michelle holds a Bachelors degree in Education from Cornell University and a Masters of Higher Education from NYU. Michelle has worked at the Wasserman Center for Career Development since 2003. In her free time, Michelle enjoys traveling, running, and spending time with friends/family/her dog.

Christopher Thunberg
Christopher serves as an Associate Director at the Wasserman Center, which he joined in 2005. He has worked in the field of career services since 2002. He holds a Master's Degree in Counseling Psychology from CIIS, and his Bachelors Degree in Psychology from New York University (WSC). His previous experience includes work in mental health, corporate recruitment, and HR. In good weather, he very much enjoys biking to work across the Brooklyn Bridge.

ASSISTANT DIRECTORS

Allyson Kapadia
Allyson is an Assistant Director at the Wasserman Center, who joined the staff in 2007. Previously, Allyson worked as both an Account Manager and Senior Service Manager for a global telecommunications corporation, in both New York and London. She holds both a Master of Arts and a Master of Education degree in Psychological Counseling from Teachers College Columbia University and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Vermont.

Cheryl Mazlen
Cheryl Mazlen is an Assistant Director and has worked for the Wasserman Center since 2001, and has 10 years experience in the field of Career Counseling. She holds a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology from SUNY Albany and an M.S. Ed. in Guidance and Counseling from Hunter College. Cheryl has past experience in both the legal and fashion industries.

Mary Snowden
Mary Snowden, Assistant Director, Multicultural Career Programs, works very closely with the Wasserman Center's Diversity Programming, among many other career development initiatives. Mary's previous work varies from her role as Acting Program Manager for Sociocultural Programming at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM) to her experience as a part-time, fill-in News Anchor, Producer, and Programming Assistant for Jammin' 98.3 (WJMR). She holds a M.S. in Administrative Leadership (Adult and Continuing Education), and a B.A. in Journalism and Mass Communication (Broadcast), with an English minor from UWM. She enjoys a mean coffee bean, great conversation and books, and experiencing many cultural and artistic opportunities in this lovely city and world.

Lisa Wong
Lisa is an Assistant Director at the Wasserman Center. Previously, she has worked as a Coordinator of an advisement center, an academic advisor and a biology counselor at a community college. She has a Masters of Education and Masters of Art in Counseling Psychology from Teachers College, Columbia University. She is also an alumni of Hamilton College. In her spare time, Lisa enjoys reading fiction novels, catching up with good friends, and watching reality television.

CAREER DEVELOPMENT COUNSELORS

Erin Chamlee
Erin joined the Wasserman Center as a Career Development Counselor in 2008. She has experience working in both the nonprofit sector in student advising, as well as the corporate sector in project management and marketing. Erin holds a Master of Arts degree in Higher and Postsecondary Education from Teachers College, Columbia University and a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. Although she has lived in NYC for over 5 years, she still holds pride in her Midwestern roots. She enjoys spending time with her family and friends, and won't pass up the chance to hike/camp, watch football, play tennis or read a good novel.

Kevin Grubb
Kevin joined the Wasserman Center staff as a Career Development Counselor in 2009 and has been working at NYU since 2008. He has worked in several different capacities in higher education and held internships working in organizational development and human resources. Kevin holds a B.S. in Psychology from Saint Joseph's University and M.A. in Higher Education/Student Personnel Administration at NYU. Outside of Wasserman, Kevin enjoys karaoke, kayaking (free in the summers in NYC), and loves walking through Astoria Park.

Courtney Hirsch
Courtney Hirsch joined The Wasserman Center as a Career Counselor in September 2007. Prior to joining Wasserman, Courtney provided crisis counseling and advocacy to crime victims and victims of domestic violence in the Brooklyn District Attorney's Office, and served as a Residence Hall Manager at NYU's uptown residence halls. Courtney received both her M.A. in Counseling Psychology and her B.S. in Communications from NYU.

Kristin Ostrem
Kristin joined the Wasserman Center as a Career Development Counselor in 2009. She has a broad array of past work experience, including international and educational sales and management, alumni relations and development, and financial aid counseling. She holds her B.A. from Middlebury College in Vermont, and her M.A. in Higher Education / Student Personnel Administration from NYU. Outside of life at Wasserman, Kristin loves reading, running, traveling, attending cultural events in the city, and most of all, spending time with friends and family.

Diana Richter
Diana has worked for NYU since 2006, joining the Wasserman Center in 2008. Her past professional experiences include working in corporate marketing as an Editorial Manager, and serving as the assistant director of a K-8 educational center. She earned her Master's degree in Higher Education/Student Personnel Administration, and her Bachelor's in Communication Studies from New York University (Steinhardt '04, '08). Outside of the office, Diana is an avid fan of the 92 Street Y's dance classes, fusion food, and adventure travel.

Gracy Sarkissian
Gracy has worked at NYU since 2004 and joined the Wasserman Center in 2008. She previously served as an admissions committee member in the Undergraduate Admissions Office and traveled across the country recruiting top talent. She holds a Master's degree in Organizational Communication and a Bachelor's in Psychology and Politics from New York University. In her free time, Gracy enjoys entertaining friends and family with elaborate dinners and funny stories.

James Sillcox
James joined the Wasserman Center as a Career Development Counselor in 2008. Before working in career development, he provided crisis counseling and case management as a hospital chaplain, assistant pastor, and youth counselor. He received his B.A. in Psychology from Eastern University, his M.Div. in Religion from Princeton Seminary, and his M.A. in Counseling Psychology from NYU. In his free time, he enjoys rock climbing, meditation, traveling, and reading.

SYSTEMS ADMINISTRATOR

Dexter Hazelton
Dexter's Duties involve the Administration, maintenance and technical support of all Computer Hardware (Servers, Workstations, PDA), Printers, Copiers and software including the administration of all databases for the Career Development staff, students and employers. He holds a BS from Bellevue University in Business Information Systems and a Diploma from the US Army School of Information Technology in Systems and Database Administration. He enjoys playing soccer, visits to Trinidad & Tobago Carnival and watching his son play football for the University of Southern California. "Go Trojans."

STUDENT EMPLOYMENT SPECIALIST

Shirley Harvin
Shirley has worked at the NYU Office of Financial Aid 1977-1994 and The Wasserman Center for Career Development since 1994. She holds a Bachelor's Degree in Sociology from Mercy College; Associate in Management from Collegiate Institute. She served in Frankurt Germany 1972-1974 and Operation Desert Storm 1990. She retired from the US Army/USAR 1994. She enjoys playing basketball and dancing.

STUDENT EMPLOYMENT ADMINISTRATIVE AIDE

Jenny Idiculla
Jenny joined the Wasserman Center in August of 2008. Prior to joining NYU, Jenny was an Assistant Buyer for Macy's Home Store. She holds a BBA in marketing from the Lubin School of Business at Pace University. In her free time, Jenny enjoys playing the guitar, cooking, reading, and singing.

RECRUITMENT MANAGER

Daila Ham
Daila Ham is the Recruitment Manager of the Employer Services Team at the Wasserman Center. She works closely with both students and employers through the On-Campus Recruitment Program. Daila completed her undergraduate degree in 2007 from the College of Arts and Science at NYU; she majored in History and Spanish, and minored in Classical Civilizations. Outside of work, Daila is very passionate about traveling; she also enjoys working out and dining with family and friends.

MANAGER OF EMPLOYER SERVICES AND SPECIAL EVENTS

Annette Tucker
Annette has worked at the center since 1998: She holds a Master's Degree in Elementary Education from New York University, a Bachelors Degree in Sociology and an Associate Degree in Business Administration from NYU. She enjoys working with students, employers and listening to music. Her leisure time is spent organizing trips for her fifteen year old daughter, a USA Junior Olympics Championship participant.

BUDGET ANALYST

Carrie David
Carrie joined the Center in 2007, and brings over 7 years of experience in budgetary and financial anlysis. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Public Administration, as well as a BA in Criminal Justice from John Jay College. Outside of the Center, she is actively involved with numerous volunteer activities, including AIDS Walk, Breast Cancer Walk, March of Dimes and NY Cares, among others.

ASSISTANT TO THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Isaac Amad
Isaac joined the Wasserman Center staff in 2009 and enjoys being both an employee and student at NYU. He is currently a graduate student obtaining a masters in environmental conservation education which is a program within the Steinhardt School. Isaac has previous experience in a fast paced work environment, having worked as a patent paralegal in an intellectual property law firm. In his free time he loves to read, write, watch movies, go on nature getaways, and cook.

RECRUITMENT ASSISTANTS

Leah Lattimore
Leah is a Recruitment Assistant at the Wasserman Center and who assists with the On-Campus Recruitment Program (OCR). She finds interacting with students and helping them obtain their dream jobs and internships extremely rewarding. She graduated from NYU with a Bachelor's degree in English and American Literature and a minor in Law and Society and has worked in the advertising and recruiting industries. In her spare time, she's an avid reader who loves spending time in parks when the weather is nice.

Heather Maffeo
Heather is a Recruitment Assistant at the Wasserman Center and joined the NYU staff in August of 2008. Her Bachelors degree is from Saint Joseph's University with a major in English and a minor in Italian. Previously, she worked in both the media and the hospitality industries. Writing, traveling, cooking and exploring the great city of Manhattan are a few of Heather's various interests.

EMPLOYER ACCOUNT REPRESENTATIVE

Lyndsey Purchon
Lyndsey has been the Employer Account Representative since August 2008. She received her B.A. from the Gallatin School for Individualized Study here at NYU in 2007. Her concentration was "Nature in the Western Imagination" which spanned a wide range of disciplines such as biology, ecology, philosophy of science, art and film-making. Her studies brought her to far off places such as Tanzania and Brazil, where she learned Swahili and Portuguese.

FRONT DESK RECEPTION

Tanya Hodges
Tanya has worked at the Wasserman Center since 1998, and coordinates the staff and services at the Center's main reception area. With her numerous years in customer service, Tanya will be sure to greet you with a smile and assist you with your needs.

Sheila Lynch
Sheila began working at Wasserman in 2009 after earning her B.A. in Psychology from NYU. Prior to joining the Wasserman team, Sheila worked in NYU's Department of Residential Education as a Peer Educator and Resident Assistant, and as an intern at the NYC Alliance Against Sexual Assault. In her free time, she enjoys baking, singing, reading and translating pop songs and church hymns into Spanish.