Students Affairs: Staff Directory

Angie Tissi-Gassoway

Angie Tissi-Gassoway

Chief Student Affairs Officer and Dean of Students

Keefe Campus Center
Carolyn Coulter

Carolyn Coulter

Executive Assistant to the Chief Student Affairs Officer

Accessibility Services

Larissa E. Hopkins

Larissa E. Hopkins

Director of Accessibility Services

Converse Hall Room 201
Precious S. Parham

Precious S. Parham

Accessibility Services Specialist

Converse Hall Room 201
Raphaela Moreno

Raphaela Moreno

Access Coordinator

Converse Hall Room 201

Raphaela coordinates academic accommodation logistics, including Peer Note Takers, testing accommodations, and assistive tech. 

Brian Hutchins

Brian Hutchins

Administrative Assistant

Converse Hall Room 201

Case Management Team

Scott D. Howard

Scott D. Howard

Associate Dean of Students

Andy Tew

Andy Tew

Director of Student Care

Class Deans

Charri J. Boykin-East

Charri J. Boykin-East

Senior Associate Dean of Students

Converse Hall Room 201E

Dean Boykin-East has special responsibilities for the Peer Tutoring Program. She is also available for general and academic counseling for the Class of 2022. Dean Boykin-East is also a member of several of the College’s committees.

Jess Caldwell-O'Keefe

Jess Caldwell-O'Keefe

Senior Associate Dean of Students & Class Dean

Converse Hall

Provides personal and academic counseling of students in the Class of 2025E and 2024.

David E. Schneider

David E. Schneider

Georges Lurcy Professor of Music; Dean of the Class of 2023

Arms Music Center Room 225

Provides personal and academic counseling of students in the Class of 2023E/2023; Georges Lurcy Professor of Music & European Studies

Rick A. Lopez

Rick A. Lopez

Anson D. Morse 1871 Professor of History and Professor of Environmental Studies; Dean of New Students; Chair of Latinx and Latin Amer Studies; Chair of Latinx and Latin Amer Studies

Chapin Hall

Dean López has special responsibilities for the personal and academic counseling of students in the Class of 2025 and first year new transfer scholars. He may be consulted on matters relating to the general and academic counseling of first-year students, college regulations and requirements, and the First-Year Seminar courses.

Michelle L. Welles

Michelle L. Welles

Senior Academic Support Coordinator

Michelle provides all aspects of administrative support for the 2023/2023E Class Dean David Schneider and for the 2025/2025E Class Dean Jess Caldwell-O'Keefe.   Michelle oversees the implementation of processes and policies used by the Team of Class Deans.  Michelle also provides support and training for the staff of Academic Support Coordinators.

Stefani Sleczkowski

Stefani Sleczkowski

Academic Support Coordinator

Converse Hall Room 201

Stefani provides all aspects of administrative support for the New Dean of Students, Rick A. López and for the 2024/2024E Class Dean Charri Boykin-East.  

Center for Counseling and Mental Health

The Center for Counseling and Mental Health staff provides assessment, counseling, brief psychotherapy, and referral to Amherst College students on a voluntary and confidential basis. Stop by the Center for Counseling and Mental Health located in Scott House (directly across the street from Orr Rink), or call us at 413-542-2354 between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.

Health Education

Amanda C. Vann

Amanda C. Vann

Director of Residential Engagement and Wellbeing

Health Services: Keefe Health Center Building

Emily M. Jones

Emily M. Jones

Director of Student Health Services

Immigration

Hanna Bliss

Hanna Bliss

Director of Immigration and Visa Services

Converse 202

Pronouns: she/her/hers.  Hanna serves as the director of the Office of Immigration Services.  Her work focuses on immigration advising, tracking and interpreting immigration policy, and maintaining compliance with the federal regulations affecting international students.

Office of Residential Life

Residential Life at Amherst advances academic priorities, encourages both socialization and community-building, and supports students’ well-being and safety.  Residence life staff are here to assist you. Both professional and student staff are available to answer any of your questions and point you in the right direction.

Operations and Finance

Chad M. LaDue

Chad M. LaDue

Director of Office of Student Affairs Finance and Operations

Keefe Campus Center

Office for Identity and Cultural Resources

Jxhn T. Martin

Jxhn T. Martin

Interim Assistant Dean of Students for Identity and CulturalResources

Keefe Campus Center

Pronouns: they/them/theirs

Jxhn serves as the director of the Queer Resource Center (QRC), whose primary role on campus is to support queer* and trans students throughout their journey at Amherst (*queer is used here as an umbrella term for the LGBTQ+ community). Jxhn works to bring change to campus through community building, stemming from programming, queer/trans inclusivity trainings, to policy implementation and beyond. Reach out to them regarding how to navigate resources on campus, to schedule a training, ask questions concerning collaborative programming with the QRC, and/or booking the QRC space. In their free time, you can find them talking about desirability politics, affects/effects of student debt, and/or some combination of Netflixing, eating, cooking, or attempting to bake.

David Dongseong Ko

David Dongseong Ko

Director, Center for International Student Engagement

Keefe Campus Center

Pronouns: he/his  

David Ko serves as the Director of International Student Engagement. The Center for International Student Engagement (CISE) supports students of international experience through advocacy, centralized resources, and space for community building and critical reflection. With his own personal experience of living in the U.S. as an international student, David is passionate about creating an inclusive, connected, and purposeful campus environment for international students and build bridges between international students and the larger community.

Hayley G. Nicholas

Hayley G. Nicholas

Director of Gender and LGBTQ+ Equity and Engagement

Keefe Campus Center
Pronouns: she/they
 
Hayley is the Director of the Women's and Gender Center (WGC) which supports, uplifts, and celebrates women, femmes, and nonbinary students on campus and beyond. The Center also serves as a resource for all students who want to deepen their understanding of gender identity and feminism. Before her time in the WGC, Hayley was an Assistant Dean in the Amherst College Admission Office, where she oversaw outreach initiatives for prospective and admitted students of color as well as first-generation and/or low-income students. In her free time, she loves hiking with her dog, throwing clay on the wheel, road tripping, cooking, and listening to music and podcasts.
Harrison A. Blum

Harrison A. Blum

Director of Religious and Spiritual Life

Staff members of the Office of Religious Life are happy to support you in your religious and spiritual exploration and practice.

Lupita Mendez

Lupita Mendez

Director of Race and Class Equity and Engagement

Keefe Campus Center
Pronouns: she/her
 
As the Director for the Class & Access Resource Center, Lupita provides education, support, and advocacy to and on behalf of first-generation, low-income, veteran, and transfer students. Prior to this role, Lupita managed a National Science Foundation grant supporting community college transfer students in STEM majors at the University of Arizona. She has also worked in both a Queer Resource Center and a Multicultural Resource Center in Oregon. She holds a B.A. in anthropology from the University of Notre Dame and an MSW from Portland State University. In her free time, Lupita loves to spend time outdoors with her wife.

Student Activities: Campus Center

The Student Activities Office, develops distinctive, high quality student programs and activities. Staff also provide advisement, direction, and leadership training to the Campus Activities Board (CAB), Association of Amherst Students, Budgetary Committee, WAMH Radio Station, Olio Yearbook, and more than 100 recognized student organizations.

Student Affairs Operations

Dean J. Gendron

Dean J. Gendron

Senior Associate Dean of Students

Dean Gendron is responsible for assisting the Amherst College community with informal and formal conflict resolution.  He collaborates closely with students, faculty, and staff to examine community standards and to provide opportunities for the redress of alleged violations of those standards in conjunction with the Committee on Discipline. Dean works closely with several groups and committees, including the Title IX Team, the Case Management Team, and the Alcohol and Other Drugs Task Force.

Marie Lalor

Marie Lalor

Director of Housing and Operations

Keefe Campus Center
Corey J. Michalos

Corey J. Michalos

Director of Community Standards

Zara S. DiZoglio

Zara S. DiZoglio

Assistant Director of Community Standards

Mimi Odgers

Mimi Odgers

Special Projects Manager