Stay up to date on the latest from your fellow Violets! Read about what alumni are up to in education and social sciences, from being named teacher of the year to humanitarian efforts to improve the lives of people in your communities and more.

Please note: Class notes are organized first by school (you may use the links on the right to jump to a school or college you'd like to view notes from) and within each school or college, notes are organized by class year (most recent graduates to older graduates).

College of Arts & Science

Jumoke Opeyemi (CAS ’18) became a first generation college student in his family. He was recently highlighted by Let’s Get Ready organization who selected Mr. Opeyemi to do a documentary on his life. (Spring 2020)

Mary Rice-Boothe (CAS ’98) is celebrating the publication of her first book, Leading Within Systems of Inequity in Education: A Liberation Guide for Leaders of Color published by ASCD. The book provides concrete competencies and actions for leaders working to create different outcomes for minoritized students in all K12 school settings. (Winter 2023)

Gallatin School of Individualized Study

Dante Cantú (GAL ’03) is now the Vice President and Dean of Student Affairs at SUNY Westchester Community College. In this role, Mr. Cantú will provide leadership and vision for a comprehensive student experience agenda designed to promote belonging, well-being, and achievement for the diverse student body at SUNY WCC, SUNY’s first Hispanic Serving Institution and the most diverse of SUNY’s 64 campuses. (Winter 2023)

Alexis Haselberger (GAL ’03) has been lucky to be able to serve 30,000+ people throughout the pandemic to help them increase productivity and decrease stress and burnout through her online courses and via 1:1 coaching, group coaching and corporate workshops. (Winter 2021)

Global Liberal Studies

Rina Madhani (GLS ’14) was selected as one of 2022's ten L'Oréal Paris Women of Worth. This prestigious award recognizes the achievements of non-profit leaders making a profound difference in the lives of others by tackling some of our society’s most pressing issues. (Fall 2022)

Graduate School of Arts & Science

Daniel Menely (GSAS ’07, STEINHARDT ’18) is a writing professor at NYU-Tisch, where he has taught for the last 12 years. He is also a psychotherapist (danielmenely.com) with private practices in NY and OR, and runs an admissions essay editing business. (Summer 2022)

Parama Chaudhury (GSAS ’03) has been appointed Pro-Vice-Provost Education (Student Academic Experience) at University College London, the UK's largest university, where she will support faculties and departments to address issues in their student satisfaction data, with a particular focus on aspects of Assessment & Feedback and Teaching Quality. (Fall 2022)

Melissa M. Morris (GSAS ’00) is a music teacher at James Madison High School in New York City. She was honored with $10,000 in recognition of her work supporting student development and achievement. Ms. Morris now joins winners from all 50 states and the District of Columbia as one of the nation’s top inspiring teachers. (Summer 2020)

Shannon Reed (GSAS ’00) will publish her first book, Why Did I Get a B? And Other Mysteries We're Discussing in the Faculty Lounge (Simon & Schuster). (Winter 2020)

Carlos O. Cortez (GSAS ’99) is a nationally recognized educational leader who has been President of the San Diego College of Continuing Education (SDCCE) since 2015. He will be the next Chancellor of the San Diego Community College District (SDCCD). (Fall 2021)

Stefanie Solow Glennon, Ph.D. (GSAS ’91) gave a successful talk last June at an international psychoanalytic conference (IARPP) entitled "Psychic Ramifications of the Assault on Truth". (Fall 2020)

Joseph H. Moskowitz (GSAS ’71, ’83) is a Professor of Political Science at New Jersey City University and past President of the Northeastern Political Science Association, the New Jersey Political Science Association, and the American Federation of Teachers Local 1839. (Winter 2023)

Andy Rose (GSAS ’82) retired after 42 years in public education. From 1984-2009, he was Chief School Administrator of the Norwood Public School District in Bergen County, New Jersey.

Nancy Krasa (GSAS ’76) and Colleen (Uscianowski) Maas (CAS ’06) announced the publication of their book, How Children Learn Math: The Science of Math Learning in Research and Practice, by Nancy Krasa, Karen Tzanetopoulos, and Colleen Maas (Routledge, 2023). Written in plain English for teachers, special ed teachers, and parents, it is a comprehensive review of the research in mathematical cognition and includes research-compatible home and classroom activities. (Fall 2022)

School of Law

Lauren Burke (LAW ’09) co-founded Camp Equity, a virtual camp to teach young people about social justice by connecting them with lived-experience leaders and other youth from around the country. Camp Equity was founded in the wake of George Floyd's murder and in the midst of the global pandemic. So far they have engaged over 225 young people from over 30 states. (Spring 2021)

School of Professional Studies

April Cardena (SPS ’22) is coming onboard as the new Assistant Director of Advising for University Programs at NYU. She has also recently been named on the Power Player Rising List for AMNY and PoliticsNY.com. (Fall 2022)

Aulston Taylor (SPS ’16) is the President of St. Augustine High School in New Orleans. (Spring 2021)

Frances Kweller (SPS ’02, STEINHARDT ’04) announces that in collaboration with a sponsorship between the Stuyvesant Alumni Association's "Stuy Prep" and the director of Kweller Prep Tutoring Services, Inc., 25 top-performing 7th-grade students received full scholarships into Kweller Prep's rigorous Specialized High School SHSAT program this summer. (Summer 2020)

Tiffani Bell (SPS ’90, WSC ’92) joined the Board of Directors for Leadership Sandy Springs, which develops, educates, and connects leaders through community engagement, innovative programming, and volunteer opportunities. (Summer 2022)

Silver School of Social Work

Teshera Russell, LCSW (SSSW ’17) was promoted to Assistant Clinical Director at Greenwich House Center for Resiliency and Wellness, a mental health program that provides inter-generational, trauma-informed mental health services for 350 clients ages 3 to 103. (Fall 2022)

Nicole Devivo (SSSW ’17) has worked as a Medical Social Worker in a hospital setting for almost three years. Her mission has always been to share the importance of social work in an acute medical setting. On December 4, she will be receiving an award through New York State NASW for Exceptional Social Work Service. (Fall 2020)

Patricia Lee (SSSW ’13) moved to sunny Arizona, where she has been providing therapeutic services to foster children in the State foster care system.

Heidi Wiste (SSSW ’00) became president of Children’s Home Society of Minnesota (Children’s Home) on August 19. She was also named associate vice president for Adoption and Foster Care at Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota (LSS). The two organizations have been partners in Adoption Services since 2012. (Fall 2021)

Steinhardt School of Culture, Education and Human Development

Rochelle Jackson-Smarr (STEINHARDT ’12) has been selected as the recipient of the LEAD California 2022 Richard E. Cone Award for Emerging Leaders in Community Engagement, which recognizes an exemplary early-career individual who is an emerging leader in the field of community engagement. (Spring 2022)

Fabian Garcia (STEINHARDT ’09) was welcomed to the Red Oak Middle School Family as the new middle school principal. Mr. Fabian Garcia joins Red Oak ISD with 20 years of educational experience including the past four years as assistant principal in Manor ISD. (Summer 2020)

Jill Moses (STEINHART ’07, ’08) is the founder and CEO of The Inspired Community Project, Inc., transitioning from a 15-year special education teaching career to full-time nonprofit leader and education innovator. She will be presenting at the NYU BeTogether Alumni Conference on Saturday, February 11, 2023. (Winter 2023)

Krista Quinn (STEINHARDT ’02, ’06) won the 2022 SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Adjunct Teaching at Rockland Community College. (Winter 2023)

Jamie Warner (STEINHARDT ’05) was recently named Union County Teacher of the Year in New Jersey. (Fall 2020)

Reena (Gold) Kamins (STEINHARDT ’03) recently launched the Ark of Dreams Foundation, a non-profit with the mission of providing scholarships for students who have lost a parent before college. She has been in the higher education space for two decades as an admissions professional and independent educational consultant. Just before the pandemic, she also launched College, Career & Laugh to bring some levity to the stress of the process. (Spring 2022)

Dr. Bonnie S. Molina (STEINHARDT ’98) earned a Doctor of Education degree in K-12 School Administration from Seton Hall University in December 2020 and is currently a district program supervisor for the Perth Amboy Public Schools in NJ. (Fall 2021)

Julia Fallon (STEINHARDT ’93) became the Executive Director of the State Educational Technology Directors Association (SETDA) in January, where she works with U.S. state and territorial digital learning leaders to empower the education community to leverage technology for learning, teaching, and school operations. (Winter 2021)

Todd Daley (STEINHARDT ’81) retired last year after a 50-year career teaching high school and junior college. He has written five novels including Fable, Blue Collar Works, The Mariners Harbor Messiah, and The Pulaski Prowler. (Summer 2020)

Janet Goldner (STEINHARDT ’81) has received a Fulbright Specialist Award to Uganda at Makerere University. (Spring 2022)

Stern School of Business

Will Robalino (STERN ’06) has been named Chief Financial and Administrative Officer of Little Kids Rock, a national nonprofit dedicated to transforming lives by restoring, expanding, and innovating music education in public schools across the country. (Summer 2022)

Harry Prassakos (STERN ’98) was elected as a Trustee to the Wayne Township (NJ) Board of Education alongside being voted in as the Board's Vice President for 2023. (Spring 2023)

Gerry Ginsburg (STERN ’77) was ordained as a Rabbi and received his M.A. in Jewish Studies from The Academy for Jewish Religion (NY). He is a rabbi at Temple Beth El in Stamford, CT. (Winter 2020)

Robert F. Wagner School of Public Service

Walter Fields (WAG ’90) was appointed to the Prince George's County (MD) Board of Education by County Executive Angela Alsobrooks. Fields is also Co-Chairperson of Strong Schools Maryland, a statewide education equity organization, and has helped establish the National Center for the Elimination of Educational Disparities (NCEED) at Morgan State University. (Winter 2023)