MVCC announces new hires, employee title changes, and promotions

Mohawk Valley Community College recently announced a number of appointments, title changes, distinguished retirees and promotions, approved by the Board of Trustees at its August meeting:

  • Shahida Dar, PhD., Interim Dean of the School of STEM-Transfer
  • Susan Johnston, Director of Opportunity Programs
  • Steffani DiPierro, Coordinator of Student Engagement
  • Madeleigh Place, Instructor, Fashion Design
  • Anne Nolan, Dean of Institutional Research and Organizational Performance
  • Heather Roberts, Programmer
  • Stephanie Bush, Associate Director of Human Resources for Benefit and Labor Relations
  • Krista Colucci, Coordinator, Center for Accelerated Pathways
  • Alexandra Almanzar, Coordinator, Center for Accelerated Pathways
  • Sean Lanning, Coordinator-Workforce Development
  • Donald Cinque, Assistant Director of Public Safety and Emergency Management
  • Jennifer R. Adams, Interim Associate Director of Human Resources for Employment and Compensation

In recognition of their many years of outstanding service to MVCC:

  • Donna Felitto has been named Distinguished Retiree.
  • Gabriel Melendez has been named Professor Emeritus.
  • Lori Hughes has been named Associate Professor Emerita.
  • Mary Kate LaPaglia has been named Associate Professor Emerita.
  • Karin Capuana has been named Distinguished Retiree.

Dr. Shahida Dar has been named Interim Dean of the School of STEM-Transfer for the academic year through August 2026. In this role, she will lead the academic school by providing strategic direction and operational oversight, while upholding standards of intellectual rigor, academic integrity, and scholarly excellence. Dar has been a member of the College’s faculty since 2008, teaching physics. She earned her master’s degree in Physics from the University of Punjab in Lahore, Pakistan, and holds a Ph.D. in Theoretical High Energy Physics from the University of Delaware.

Susan Johnston has been appointed Director of Opportunity Programs at MVCC. In this role, she will oversee the administration of the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) and other supplemental opportunity initiatives. Her responsibilities include supervision, strategic planning, implementation, budget management, compliance with grant requirements, and program evaluation. Johnston brings extensive experience working with federally and state-funded programs that support low-income, first-generation college students, students with disabilities, and underrepresented minorities. Most recently, she served as Director of TRIO Student Support Services at Utica University and previously led the CSTEP and STEP programs at SUNY Morrisville. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Black Studies and English from the University at Albany and a master’s degree in Student Affairs in Higher Education from Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

Steffani DiPierro has been appointed Coordinator of Student Engagement in the Student Life Office. In this role, she will lead initiatives to enrich the student experience by managing a vibrant array of student clubs and organizations, campus events, student governance, and leadership and applied learning programs. DiPierro has been with the College since 2016, most recently serving as Coordinator for the Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP), in collaboration with the Rome City School District. She holds a bachelor’s degree in World History from the University at Albany and a master’s degree in Liberal Arts Education from SUNY Empire State University in Saratoga.

Madeleigh Place joins the Art Department as an Instructor of Fashion Design. She will teach students creative, technical, and traditional skills related to apparel ideation, construction, and production. Her courses will prepare students for careers in fashion design, garment technology, and fashion merchandising, or for transfer to four-year degree programs. Place holds a bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts with concentrations in Illustration and Creative Writing Immersion from the Rochester Institute of Technology.

Anne Nolan has transitioned into the role of Dean of Institutional Research and Organizational Performance. She will lead the Institutional Research Department, overseeing compliance coordination, data management, assessment, and analysis to support strategic planning and continuous improvement across the College. Nolan previously served as Director of Compliance. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University at Albany and a master’s degree in Strategic Human Resource Management from Bellevue University.

Laura Goff has been named Dean of the School of Public and Human Services. In this role, she will provide strategic vision and operational leadership to foster intellectual engagement, academic integrity, and achievement within the School. Goff will guide the development of the School’s Strategic Plan in alignment with the College’s goals, supporting innovation and responding to the needs of faculty, staff, and students. Prior to this appointment, she was Director of Social Work at the Norwich Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Norwich, Conn., and has extensive higher education experience, including Associate Dean for the School of Undergraduate Students and Assistant Dean for the School of Health Sciences at Excelsior University in Albany. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Northern Illinois University and a master’s degree in Human Services Counseling from the University of Illinois.

Heather Roberts has been appointed Programmer in the MVCC Information Technology Department. In this role, she will assist with daily programming tasks, report writing, and troubleshooting, working under the general direction of the Manager of IT Administrative Computing Services and the Executive Director of Information Technology. Roberts holds a bachelor’s degree in Computer and Information Science from SUNY Polytechnic Institute.

Stephanie Bush has been promoted to Associate Director of Human Resources for Benefits and Labor Relations. She will oversee all benefit programs — including health care, dental, vision, retirement, life insurance, FMLA, workers’ compensation, and other mandated benefits — educate employees on their options, conduct new employee orientations, serve as retiree liaison, and manage retiree benefits. Additionally, Bush will handle labor relations inquiries, process grievances under collective bargaining agreements, and support the overall goals of the Human Resources department. She has been with the College since 2021 as Recruitment and Employment Specialist and brings extensive HR and staffing experience from previous roles at Express Employment Professionals, Carbone Auto Group, Robert Half International, and Manpower Inc. Bush holds a bachelor’s degree in Hospitality and Food Service Management from Syracuse University.

Krista Colucci has recently stepped into the role of Coordinator for the Center for Accelerated Pathways. In this role, she will develop and nurture collaborative relationships between the College, local K-12 schools, and regional trade union training centers. Colucci will play a key role in ensuring students have seamless access to quality college-credit programs through strong coordination and dedicated support. She will also support the Director of the Center by helping to implement and enhance accelerated programs, with a focus on improving student access and success. Colucci joined the College in 2021 as the Assistant to the Office of Human Resources, bringing a broad range of experience from previous roles in HR support, onboarding, bookkeeping, customer service, caregiving, and management, demonstrating her versatility across multiple industries. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Business Communications from Florida State University.

Alexandra Almanzar has also taken on the position of Coordinator for the Center for Accelerated Pathways. She is responsible for fostering partnerships between the College, K-12 organizations, and regional trade union training centers to promote student access to college-credit programs. Almanzar will collaborate closely with the Director to help launch and refine accelerated programs, prioritizing student success and program accessibility. Almanzar’s tenure at the College began in 2018, where she has gained valuable experience in roles such as data processing clerk, College services associate, and most recently, Assistant Registrar. She holds bachelor’s degrees in Communications and Foreign Language from Utica University.

Sean Lanning has been appointed Coordinator of Workforce Development within the Center for Corporate and Community Education. In this role, he will oversee the coordination and delivery of educational programs aimed at addressing regional workforce needs. Lanning brings a wealth of experience from previous roles including Community Development Specialist and Education Workforce Coordinator at Tioga County Economic Development Planning, as well as YESS Supervisor, Development Assistant, and YESS Program Coordinator at Catholic Charities Tompkins/Tioga, building a strong background in community development, youth empowerment, and workforce education. He earned a bachelor’s degree in International Studies from Arcadia University in Glenside, Pa., and a master’s degree in Public Administration from Binghamton University.

Donald Cinque has been named Assistant Director of Public Safety and Emergency Management. In this role, he supports the Executive Director by overseeing procedures, policies, and protocols related to security operations, law enforcement, emergency management, and the supervision of uniformed personnel and supervisors. He manages daily law enforcement activities and is authorized to act on behalf of the Executive Director when needed. Cinque brings extensive law enforcement experience, having served as a patrolman, school safety officer, senior confidential investigator, and ultimately rising to the rank of Captain in the Utica Police Department after 21 years of dedicated service. He holds an associate degree in Criminal Justice from MVCC, a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from SUNY Polytechnic Institute, and a master’s degree in Public Administration from the American Public University in Charles Town, West Virginia.

Jennifer Adams has been appointed Interim Associate Director of Human Resources for Employment and Compensation. In this role, she will oversee a range of HR functions at the College, including managing employment and compensation processes, supporting recruitment and onboarding, handling employee data and payroll inputs, coordinating performance feedback, probation, renewals, promotions, retention monitoring, unemployment processing, exit interviews, and leading the compensation process, all while effectively representing HR to advance departmental goals. Adams brings extensive experience in higher education, having served as faculty, Director of Residential Life and Housing, Assistant Vice President, Vice President for Student Affairs, and Dean of Students at SUNY Polytechnic Institute. She has also held leadership roles at Colgate University, West Liberty University, and Heidelberg University, where she progressed to Director of Residence Life. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration Management from Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania, a master’s degree in Student Personnel/Higher Education Administration from Bowling Green State University in Ohio and a master’s degree in Business Administration from Heidelberg University in Ohio.