Meet the CFA

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De Angela is an Associate Vice Provost at NYU and Industry Professor in Integrated Design & Media at NYU Tandon. In her role as Associate Vice Provost, De Angela works closely with Vice Provosts Charlton McIlwain and Clay Shirky. She serves a leadership role in setting and executing the strategic vision for the Faculty Resource Network (FRN) in collaboration with the Vice Provosts’ team, the CFA, and FRN member institution liaisons. She aides and reviews work on technology-enhanced education with a particular focus on schools developing or managing online undergraduate courses or degree programs. She also assists with other leadership or teaching & learning initiatives, managed by the Office of the Provost. She holds an MFA in Studio Art (Photography) from Maryland Institute College of Art (MiCA), a BFA in Graphic Design from Georgia State University, and a BS in Textiles from Georgia Tech.

Usheevii (U-she-va) serves as the primary liaison between the Center and NYU’s Schools, Colleges, Campuses and Units through the University Faculty Affairs Council. Further, she  represents the Vice Provost with internal and external constituents when necessary, and is responsible for ensuring that all the affairs of the Center are consistent with its mission to advance faculty professional success and achievement in the areas of faculty recruitment, development and engagement. Additionally, she is a subject matter expert in the area of diversity, inclusion, & equity. Prior to joining NYU, Usheevii served as Deputy Diversity Officer at her alma mater, New York Law School. There, she assisted the law school in developing and implementing its first Institutional Diversity Plan while managing all aspects of faculty development, governance, recruitment and retention.

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Niyati works closely with Charlton McIlwain, Vice Provost of Faculty Engagement and Development, and the CFA, to manage programs that expand pathways for early career faculty. She leads the Early Career Faculty Institute, welcoming its first cohort in fall 2021.

Niyati is a Professor of Public Health Nutrition, School of Global Public Health (GPH), where her research and teaching are motivated by a deep commitment to reduce nutrition-related disease outcomes in at-risk groups. At GPH, Niyati held two key leadership roles. She served as the inaugural Director of the Public Health Nutrition-MPH program and as the Executive Director of Doctoral Programs. She developed a vision for both programs, expanded student enrollment, and developed an innovative curriculum and professional development workshops.

Niyati earned a BS in Life Sciences and Biotechnology, and an MS in Foods, Nutrition, and Clinical Dietetics, from Mumbai University, India. She earned a PhD in Nutritional Sciences (minor Population Health Sciences) from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison.

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Mickey works with the NYU College & Career Lab (CCL), a college access and career readiness program for low income, first generation youth of color in New York City. The program was launched by Charlton McIlwain, Vice Provost of Faculty Engagement and Development and the CFA. Mickey manages logistics and program implementation, including outreach to NYU faculty, offices, and departments for program participation. She helped design the student-centered and equity based curriculum, and through her grant writing work she raises funds for CCL to increase opportunity and access for students. Mickey received her MA from NYU’s International Education program at Steinhardt, and her BA from Colby College in International Studies.

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Autumn plans and implements faculty development and enrichment programs for the NYU community and Faculty Resource Network (FRN) partner institutions. Through the FRN, she oversees a domestic Student Exchange Program, a partnership between NYU, Historically Black Colleges and Universities, and Hispanic-Serving Institutions. Prior to joining NYU in 2014, Autumn worked in the nonprofit sector, specifically in fundraising; program development and execution; and major events. Her tenure in education includes work with first-generation, low-income students, improving student outcomes and college access from high school to college. Autumn earned an MSW degree from NYU Silver School of Social Work, and a BA degree in psychology and women’s studies from Skidmore College. In addition to her work across NYU schools, her passion for mental health and extensive training in evidence-based treatments led to her licensure to practice psychotherapy in New York State.

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DeeSoul Carson currently serves as the Administrative Aide to the Center for Faculty Advancement, providing operational support to the office. He graduated from Stanford University in 2021 with a B.A. in Social/Cultural Psychology and brings with him several years of clerical, administrative, and educational experience.

Additionally, DeeSoul is currently a graduate student in the NYU Creative Writing MFA Program, honing and developing his skills as both a poet and educator. You can find more about him and his work at deesoulpoetry.com

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Tarun leads the CFA’s Multimedia Design Team, helping to plan, manage, and create media content including virtual reality simulations, animated videos, graphic design, and other educational media across the university. He combines an artistic eye with a knack for technology, focusing his lifelong training in fine arts into a career in 3D animation and visual effects. Tarun has worked for more than 15 years in New York's animation industry, serving as a digital artist and producer for many high-profile advertising and television projects. He holds a BFA in Film & Television from NYU Tisch School of the Arts. Outside of his career in animation, Tarun focuses on writing music, honing his painting skills, and exploring technology to find ways to keep creating.

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Selly Djap conducts UI/UX research; and utilizes the latest data analysis and visualization tools to help articulate program narratives linking mission to impact. She conceptualizes the brand identity and creates visual assets—from logo design to website development—for the Center’s programming including College & Career Lab, Early Career Faculty Institute, Alliance for Public Interest Technology, Faculty Resource Network, and Big Ideas Course Series.
 
Prior to joining NYU, Selly founded her own fashion line: a contemporary, Christian evening-wear brand focused on sharing the message of Grace and creating empowering clothing for women. She is proud to share some of her accomplishments such as showcasing her designs at New York Fashion Week and being featured on Teen Vogue.
 
Selly graduated from NYU Gallatin School of Individualized Study with an BA concentration in data analytics and visualization, as well as a minor in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Studies.

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Sharon works closely with instructors to design technology-enhanced education, and specializes in storytelling and video. For more than 7 years, she has produced course content for online and hybrid teaching environments, and multimedia content for communications and training across NYU. Prior to working in educational design, Sharon was a journalist and documentary filmmaker for NOVA, the American Museum of Natural History, and ABC News among others. She was awarded a Knight Science Journalism fellowship at MIT from 2000-2001. She earned an MA in Journalism from NYU, and a BA in Russian and East European Studies from the University of Michigan.

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Dave is a technology specialist with 16 years of experience in design and development for applications, games, simulations, and websites. His responsibilities include X-Reality (eXtended Reality - VR, AR, MR), and expansion efforts for CFA’s iTLAB - Immersive Technology Lab. He provides training, guidance, and mentorship for virtual reality, as well as workshops, presentations, and content creation for immersive experiences, along with growing iTLAB. He attended the School of the Museum of Fine Art in Boston, Massachusetts, studying film and animation.

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As a seasoned administrator with 19 years of professional experience at NYU, Melissa has held several administrative leadership roles in the Faculty of Arts and Science, as Department Administrator for Steinhardt's Department of Media, Culture, and Communication, and most recently as Chief of Staff to the Dean at Steinhardt. Melissa earned an MA in Higher Education Administration from NYU’s Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development, and a BA degree in Liberal Arts from The New School in NYC. She is also currently enrolled in the Masters of Human Resource Management and Development in NYU’s School of Professional Studies.

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Alexandria steers the strategic vision, operations, and development of the CCL program. Prior to developing CCL, she led Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) Initiatives for NYU Steinhardt’s Media, Culture, and Communication Master's program in conjunction with Vice Provost Charlton McIlwain. The programs she manages are aimed at closing the equity gap to degrees and professional outcomes for historically excluded populations. She completed her MA in International Education in 2017 and will begin her PhD in the Sociology of Education program in fall 2021 at NYU Steinhardt: School of Culture, Education, and Human Development.

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Alessandra supports the coordination and implementation of summer and yearlong programming, including processes related to communications, admissions, and program development. Alessandra is passionate about equity and education policy, especially concerning improving access to opportunity in education. She has an MPA in Public Policy and Nonprofit Management from NYU’s Wagner Graduate School of Public Service with a concentration in education. She earned her BA in Neuroscience from Pitzer College.

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César is a multimedia producer who creates content to support teaching and learning, professional development programs, and educational institutional events. He supports the pre-production, production, post-production, and delivery process in its entirety for CFA. César has distinguished himself as an educator for several New York City under-resourced neighborhoods and minoritized public schools. While pursuing graduate studies at Teachers College, César was a faculty member of the Creative Arts Laboratory where he taught digital media and video production as a tool for capturing, enhancing, and documenting learning experiences, and as a catalyst for meaningful collaboration.

César has successfully collaborated with Cornell University, CUNY Graduate Center, Columbia University, New York State Department of Education, PBS, NPR, MTV, Nickelodeon, and Adobe Systems, among others. He is an active member of the computing/digital maker movement and the raspberry pi community in particular.

Samanta has a diverse set of experiences across the higher education, non-profit, and startup industries. Her strengths include building new initiatives, iterating on processes, and driving operational excellence upon execution. She has over a decade of experience working at her alma mater, New York University, in lab management, as the administrative lead at the Center for Neuroeconomics within the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, and as the founding Associate Director of the provostial Institute for the Study of Decision Making.

Recently, she co-founded a life sciences tech start-up and held various leadership positions. She is now full time at NYU’s Center for Faculty Advancement where she collaborates closely with the Assistant Vice Provost and Business and Operations Manager to manage initiatives, projects, and events that further the center’s mission.

Samanta holds a BA in Psychology and is a life-long learner. She was also a member of the NYU Management Fellows inaugural class.

Andrew is an extended reality software engineer and supports the expansion efforts of the CFA’s Immersive Technology Lab. For over six years, he has worked at the forefront of interactive software blending art, design, and computer science together creating immersive XR solutions for all industries. He has extensive experience working hand in hand both in public and private sectors educating and training all levels of XR technology. Andrew has also designed and developed a wide range of applications including educational augmented reality apps, multi-user VR training simulations, and web-based art exhibits. He studied screenwriting and directing at the University of Art in San Francisco, California. With his background in film combined with a passion for technology, Andrew is constantly pushing to expand his work past the traditional methods of storytelling and onto the frontiers of interactive art.

Brenda specializes in the design and development of WordPress websites and Google Sites, drawing on her extensive knowledge of HTML, CSS, and other web technologies and tools. After graduating from NYU with a BA in journalism, she worked in the fields of book publishing, technical and business writing, computer training, and website publication, making a career change to web development in 2016. Brenda returned to NYU as a full-time IT consultant in 2017, and became an employee of the University in 2019.

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Jonathon specializes in 3D animation, motion graphics, and multimedia design. He began working with NYU in Feb 2016, and has worked on a variety of projects to help advance pedagogy within courses that have a heavy foundation for visual graphics and interactive content including extensive work for the Dental School showcasing a variety of 3D content. Along with his work at NYU, Jonathon keeps busy making music videos and creating clothing. He has a  BFA in Animation and Interactive Design from East Carolina University.