The Academic Affairs Team
The mission of Academic Affairs at the Columbia University School of Professional Studies (CUSPS) is to provide a high-quality education that supports the academic and professional aspirations of our student community. Key to the success of this mission is a faculty community of scholar-practitioners working closely with a dedicated core of professional staff, from support and training experts to instructional designers and education technologists.
How to Browse the Staff Directory
The Staff Directory on this site is limited to those individuals and teams that interact with faculty as a key component of their responsibilities. The directory can be searched alphabetically by an individual's last name, by Staff Group (e.g., Online Support & Academic Technology, Instructional Design, etc.), or by Staff Role (Senior Leadership, Team Leads, Staff). Each individual's profile includes a bio, accessed by clicking the profile name's link.
Dr. Zach Kornhauser is the Senior Director of Faculty Assessment and Development at the Columbia School of Professional Studies. In this role, Kornhauser oversees faculty assessment in relation to reviews and promotions, and faculty development in relation to training opportunities for teaching effectiveness, technology in the classroom, and faculty satisfaction.
Kornhauser previously served as an Associate Director at the Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL) at Columbia University. At the CTL, he was responsible for demonstrating evidence for effective practice and evaluating the impact of innovations in curricular development, professional development programs, and online and digital projects. Prior to joining the CTL, Kornhauser was as an Associate Measurement Scientist at the Council for Aid to Education (CAE), a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping institutions measure and improve learning outcomes for their students. At CAE, he was the primary investigator on a number of initiatives focused on measuring students’ cognitive growth in college. Kornhauser also worked at the Community College Research Center (CCRC), where he was the Co-Primary Investigator for program evaluation of a government-funded initiative aimed at improving education within community colleges.
Kornhauser received his doctorate in Applied Developmental Psychology from Fordham University. He has conducted research on a number of topics related to higher education including issues related to teaching and learning, grade inflation, college student outcomes, and motivation on low-stakes assessments. Kornhauser has been teaching in the Applied Analytics program at SPS since the Fall of 2017. He also served as a teaching fellow at Fordham University between 2012 and 2014, and was named the graduate teacher of the year for the 2012-2013 academic year.Yijun (Diana) Dai is an Instructional Designer at Columbia University's School of Professional Studies (SPS). She has over five years of experience in instructional design and teaching for a wide range of audiences at both higher education institutions and EdTech companies.
At her previous institutions, Yijun collaborated closely with faculty to design and develop courses for undergraduate, graduate students, and professionals. In addition to course development, she has worked on technical and instructional support for instructors and students to ensure the best learning experience for individuals.
As an advocate of student-centered learning and student agency, she is passionate about creating active and personalized learning experiences to enhance learning outcomes and engagement. She also believes purposeful use of new media and emerging technologies can make learning more accessible and effective to all.
Yijun holds an M.S.Ed. in TESOL from the University of Pennsylvania. As a life-long learner, she keeps learning new knowledge and skills in different fields, which gives her lots of inspiration. She would love to bring the benefits of life-long learning to more individuals.Dr. Tiffany Hughes is the Associate Dean of Graduate Programs at Columbia University's School of Professional Studies (SPS), where she assists in the oversight of 18 master’s programs. In this role, she collaborates with program directors to strategically shape academic offerings that align with current market demands, while also leading operational oversight to ensure daily functionality and uphold academic quality across programs.
Since joining the SPS community in 2017, Dr. Hughes has been a champion of student success. In her previous roles focused on Advising, Student Life, Wellness, and Academic Support, she made foundational contributions to the SPS Student Affairs Division. Dr. Hughes established the school’s first Academic Advising unit, Student Life and Wellness teams, and Academic Support resources. She also founded the school’s CARE team, created a student emergency fund, and laid the groundwork for the HBCU Fellowship program, initiatives that continue to impact students positively.
With over a decade of experience at prominent institutions such as Stevens Institute of Technology, CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice, and SUNY University at Buffalo, Dr. Hughes brings extensive expertise in higher education administration. A respected voice in the field, she has presented at numerous conferences worldwide and published on innovative student support and engagement strategies, with a focus on the graduate student experience.
Dr. Hughes holds a Doctor of Education in Higher Education Administration from Northeastern University and a Master’s in Higher Education Administration, with a Student Affairs concentration, from SUNY University at Buffalo. She also earned a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology from Quinnipiac University. Her research explores the pivotal role of extracurricular programming and engagement in shaping a holistic experience for graduate students.
Outside her professional commitments, Dr. Hughes enjoys spending time with her family, discovering new travel destinations, and relaxing at the beach with her golden retriever, Zoey.
Steven has a somewhat unique story with Columbia University.
He started working at Columbia in 2011 and left in 2015. After two years of working between NYC and out of state, he returned to Columbia and joined the Instructional Support team in 2017.
Steven is an out-of-the-box thinker who thrives off of his interactions with people, and builds valuable relationships across all levels. Having earned a Bachelor in Corporate Communication from Baruch College, you can find him demonstrating what he learned as he chats it up with any Columbia employee or affiliate throughout the campus. And, it's highly likely they'll all be wearing large smiles because Steven brings out the best in everyone.When he’s not at work you can find him trying all types of new activities from indoor rock climbing to resting at the Montauk Salt Cave Downtown, to brunching in Astoria or Williamsburg.
Steven is a jack-of-all trades, and a master-of-all. Yes, of all.Sheila Song is currently a senior instructional designer with SPS. Prior to joining SPS, Sheila worked for the GlobalEd 2 for five years, providing design and development support to an interdisciplinary problem-based curriculum. She has also worked as an adjunct instructor at the University of Connecticut, where she taught undergraduate Introduction to Educational Psychology course in both face-to-face and online formats. In her role as a program evaluator for UConn’s WiSTEM Mentoring program, she conducted process and outcome evaluations through surveys and focus group interviews.
Sheila holds a Master degree in Educational Psychology and a Graduate Certificate in Program Evaluation. Sheila earned her Ph.D. candidate in Educational Psychology with a concentration in Cognition, Instruction, and Learning Technology. Her research expertise is in motivation, problem-based learning, and technology-integrated teaching/learning. Sheila views teaching and learning through a constructivist lens. She believes that learning is active, collaborative, and situated in context. Her pedagogical beliefs play a significant role in her practice of teaching and instructional design.
Sean Netzel is a Course Developer at Columbia University's School of Professional Studies with a wide range of experience in education including teaching, instructional design, digital accessibility, and LX/UX.
In his previous experiences, Sean taught internationally at several institutions for eight years before moving back to the U.S. to pursue an M.S.Ed. He currently manages the course facilitation of ASU's Universal Learner and Study Hall programs.
Sean has a B.A. in Philosophy from UCLA and certification in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages from Trinity College London. He also holds a Master of Science degree in Education from California State University Fullerton.Sam is a webinar specialist at the School of Professional studies. He has been at SPS since 2015. In his role, he is responsible for providing technical support during live sessions, and maintaining the support, coaching, and feedback cycle during the SPS course execution phase. Prior to working at SPS, Sam spent time as an audio engineer and also had a stint in academic publishing, on the editorial side.
Outside of SPS, Sam is a part-time student in Columbia’s GSAS, where he is studying sociology. He also plays subtly unsettling music in a not-particularly-well-regarded Brooklyn band.
Roya Heydari is the Associate Director of Faculty Assessment at Columbia University School of Professional Studies. She has a background in education and education research spanning from secondary education to varying degrees of higher education. In her role as Associate Director, Roya manages the assessment process of SPS faculty; specifically student course evaluations. She also works collaboratively with faculty to develop their pedagogy and overall teaching effectiveness.
Roya received her doctorate in Science Education from Columbia University, Teachers College. Her work focused on the identity development of marginalized students in informal science settings. Roya has a wide range of experiences in educational assessment; specifically combining quantitative and qualitative methods to holistically assess teaching and learning in the classroom, as well as working with teachers to improve learning in a range of classroom settings. She is passionate about working with students and faculty to make high-quality education accessible for all.
Rafael is a proud and dedicated Boston sports fan who thrives on friendly competition. A graduate of Boston College, he also spent two enriching summers at Columbia University, interning for the SPS High School Program. His experiences in higher education deeply influenced his career path, as he has always been passionate about the transformative power of academia.
Born and raised in Dorchester, MA, the youngest son of Dominican immigrant parents, education became Rafael's greatest vehicle for personal growth. As a preschooler, he was accepted into the METCO, Inc. program, which allowed him to attend school in an affluent suburban community. This opportunity dramatically shaped his childhood and adolescent years. While he faced numerous social challenges, Rafael credits much of his success to the METCO, Inc. program, which pushed him to excel even in the face of adversity.
Outside of his professional life, Rafael is committed to his graduate studies as a current SUMA student, set to graduate in May 2025. In his free time, he enjoys spending time outdoors, whether hiking or skating, and he’s passionate about playing a variety of sports. As an avid fan of the arts, Rafael can often be found drawing, reading manga, or watching his favorite anime series.
Rachel Lapkin is an enthusiastic professional who joined the Faculty Affairs team at SPS as of December of 2022. After obtaining her Bachelor's degree in Social Science with a concentration in work, labor, and organizations from Ramapo College of New Jersey, Rachel is excited about the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on the faculty community and contribute to the institution's academic excellence.
Before joining the team, Rachel worked as a Human Resources Generalist for Sea Pearl, Inc, an Arthrex sales distributor where she led benefits open enrollment as well as developed the first-ever Sunshine Act compliance training for new and existing employees.
In her free time, Rachel finds joy in cooking, hiking, traveling, and spending time with friends and family.
Phoebe Ballard joined SPS in April of 2017. In her role, Phoebe oversees the work the Online Curriculum and Instruction (OCI) team, leads cross-functional discussions about online learning operations at SPS -- including coordination with other SPS teams, and partners with senior leadership, academic directors, faculty, and staff to plan, develop, and maintain high-quality online programs, courses, and services.
Prior to joining SPS, Phoebe enjoyed a 14-year career at the The University of Toledo as the Director of Instructional Design and Development for one of the largest online learning operations in the state of Ohio. In that role, she managed course design, strategic planning, assessment, and research initiatives for the instructional design, multimedia, and assistive technology teams, spearheaded the design, implementation, and assessment of online faculty development programs, and oversaw the QM review process and its University-wide implementation.
Phoebe has been an active member of the Quality Matters community since 2011. She is a QM Certified Peer and Master Reviewer for Higher Education, CPE, and K-12 programs, as well as a Certified Facilitator for QM’s Applying the Quality Matters Rubric (APPQMR) and Improving Your Online Course (IYOC) workshops. Most recently, she served as the State Lead and Professional Development Coordinator for the Ohio QM Consortium's Executive Committee, and the Member-at-Large on the national leadership team of the QM Instructional Designer Association (QM-IDA).
Phoebe has extensive online teaching experience in higher education. Since 2010, Phoebe has taught online and web-assisted courses in The University of Toledo’s Department of Art and Department of Communication, as well as online faculty development courses for The University of Toledo's University College. As faculty, Phoebe was named the 2013 Emerging Outstanding Alumna for The University of Toledo’s College of Communication and the Arts' and a two-time recipient of an international Blackboard Catalyst Award for Exemplary Course Design.
Phoebe holds an M.Ed. in Educational Technology and a B.A. in Studio Art, both from The University of Toledo. Her presentation and research interests include online faculty development, academic support services for online learners, legal and ethical issues impacting online delivery, and quality assurance at scale.
Nyesha is an accomplished professional with a wealth of experience in faculty affairs and social advocacy. As the Associate Director of Faculty Affairs, she excels in managing complex academic processes and fostering collaboration across diverse teams. Prior to this role, Nyesha dedicated over eight years to Sanctuary for Families, where she provided critical support to individuals and families navigating the challenges of gender-based violence.
Driven by a passion for empowering others through education and support, Nyesha leverages her expertise to create meaningful change. Her commitment to fostering growth, inclusivity, and resilience defines her approach to leadership and collaboration.
Nicole Behman is a Course Developer for Columbia University's School of Professional Studies (SPS). She earned her Master’s Degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Kean University. Prior to entering the Instructional Design field, Nicole worked as an English as a Second Language public school teacher and Curriculum Developer, teaching grades K-12 for nine years. During the pandemic, she began her instructional design career while assisting in building and designing over 3,000 online courses for Essex County College, and has worked frequently with SMEs on course developments in various institutions. She has also been the instructional designer for the remote ESL classes she teaches for Hudson County Community College. Nicole has also been employed as an instructional designer for Relay Graduate School of Education.
Nick started at SPS in the Summer of 2018. He first started working in the realm of education as a children’s ESL teacher in Taiwan. Once he returned stateside he started working at the University of Florida as an education technologist during their transition from Sakai to Canvas, which coincided with a governmental push to put seven degree programs online in seven months. To meet these goals, Nick was pulled into multiple areas of course production; he built and supported courses, recorded lectures, tested software, and in the process forged the first link of his Canvas maester chain.
After talking to Nick for any length of time, he will mention his dog (Mermaid) or his veganism. You can usually find him at free events, Taco Bell, concerts, or just getting pulled around Brooklyn on various dog-sitting adventures.
Monique Williams, also known as Mo, brings over six years of experience in Human Resources Management within the Manufacturing and Shipping industry. She has been with Columbia University for approximately a year and a half and was recently promoted to a Senior Generalist role in the Faculty Affairs department. Outside of work, Monique enjoys knitting scarves, a hobby that showcases her creativity and attention to detail!
Michael joined SPS in 2012 as the school’s first webinar specialist. As online offerings grew, there was a greater focus on web-conferencing and synchronous social interaction in online courses. In his current capacity as Director, Michael is responsible for scaling up support operations and developing an Online Support division responsible for learning management system support, in-meeting online class session support, and helpdesk support for various academic technologies.
Outside of SPS, Michael is very involved in the art world. He is a visual artist and Founding Director of MOUNTAIN, a contemporary art gallery run out of his loft in Brooklyn. He holds a Master of Fine Arts in Studio Art (Performance) from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Painting from the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana.
Megan took on the role of Academic Affairs Specialist August 2019. She joined the Columbia School of Professional Studies community in April 2018 where she was a member of the Instructional Support team. Prior to arriving at SPS, she exclusively managed and coordinated events, drafted written content for release, and essentially kept a nonprofit labor organization afloat on Long Island.
Megan completed her Bachelor of Arts in Media and Communication with a focus on Public Relations and Marketing, from The City College of New York. During her spare time, she enjoys reading, watching movies, baking, and spending time at parks and beaches.Meg has been with the School of Professional Studies since 2018 and currently serves as an Associate Director for Faculty Affairs. In this role, she supports and manages a growing team of six while overseeing payroll and onboarding processes for both part-time and full-time faculty.
A passionate advocate for higher education, Meg earned her Master of Arts in Higher and Postsecondary Education from Teachers College, Columbia University, in 2022. She is dedicated to positively influencing the sector through her work, striving to create meaningful and impactful experiences for educators and students alike.
Outside of work, Meg is focused on personal growth and becoming the best version of herself. She enjoys nature, staying active, playing and coaching softball, and diving into a good book.
Matthew Vaughan is the Associate Director of Instructional Design and Operations. He comes to SPS with an interdisciplinary background in religious studies and education. He is a former public school teacher from Tennessee, and he came to NYC in 2011. His PhD dissertation was a philosophy of education, asking questions about what it means to learn through dialogue. Matthew's research and writing center around the intersection of theology, teaching and learning, and media studies. His work has appeared in Restoration Quarterly, the Journal of Scriptural Reasoning, and the Christian Scholar’s Review. He is active in the American Education Research Association and the American Academy of Religion.
Mariah earned her Bachelor of Arts from the Historically Black College, Lincoln University in Pennsylvania. She bridges the line of communication between faculty and administrators to get any project or task done. With over 10 years of experience in Customer Support, Team Building, Event Planning, and Collaborations; she is no stranger to making impossible tasks possible. A native of Harlem, Mariah is proud to be working in her community on the prestigious campus of Columbia University. When not at work, she is an avid World Traveler and die-hard Chicago Bulls fan.
Prior to joining SPS Instructional Support, Lucas worked within the beer industry, nuts / dried fruits quality control, and customer service. Lucas’ varied work experience is attributed to his determined work ethic and creative outlook to life. He studied Music Production and Engineering at County College of Morris in Randolph, New Jersey (not far from his humble hometown Dover). Lucas’ free time can vary from watching his favorite football club Manchester United to jamming out with his band at the Sweat Shop in Brooklyn. He is eager to learn and expand his ever growing horizons here at Columbia SPS.
Kayleigh joined Faculty Affairs in March 2022. Before that, she worked in Customer Support in the manufacturing industry for over 3 years.
She has her Bachelor's degree in Psychology from James Madison University and her Master's degree in Social Organizational Psychology from Teachers College, Columbia University.
In her free time, she likes to read and go for long nature walks.
Katherine joined Columbia University in November 2023 as a Human Resources Generalist with Columbia World Projects, now known as Columbia Global. In this role, she specialized in the recruitment and onboarding of both New York-based and global staff. In February 2024, Katherine transitioned to the Faculty Affairs team at the School of Professional Studies, where she focused on managing faculty appointments. Before her tenure at Columbia, Katherine worked in the tech industry as a Talent Acquisition Specialist with Via Transportation, a New York City-based transportation startup that also provides shuttle services for Columbia University.
Karen McFadden is the inaugural Associate Dean of Academic Services & Innovation at Columbia University's School of Professional Studies (SPS). In this role, she leads a centralized academic services unit comprising over 50 full-time staff across key areas including academic operations, curriculum and instruction, online support and academic technology, faculty assessment and development, faculty affairs, faculty recruitment, and instructional support. Her collaborative, solutions-oriented leadership has been pivotal in fostering innovation, scaling value-added services, and enhancing operational excellence to support SPS’s diverse portfolio of programs, including 18 graduate degrees, Columbia Pre-College programs, Columbia Summer Sessions, and an extensive range of non-degree offerings.
Karen’s career at SPS has been marked by a series of diverse roles that have allowed her to build rich relationships through the school and the larger university. As Director of Academic Innovation, she led the development of new program initiatives that aligned academic strategies with institutional goals. She also served as Deputy Director of Career Services for the Applied Analytics program and was the school’s first Director of Faculty Recruitment, shaping policies and practices to attract and support a world-class faculty of scholar practitioners.
Before joining Columbia, Karen gained significant experience in corporate roles and as the founder of a boutique executive recruiting firm. These experiences honed her ability to lead teams, develop strategy, manage complex change initiatives, and drive innovation across products, platforms, and processes.
Karen is a proud Columbia University alumna, with a Master of Science degree in Applied Physiology and Nutrition. She earned her undergraduate degree at the University of Pennsylvania.
Justin Peppars is an Educational Technologist at SPS and has a background and experience in the role of IT in education institutions and environments. He previously worked at West Hills College, California Polytechnic State University, and Brandon University (Canada). As a first-generation college graduate, Justin’s research and passion center around promoting accessibility and equity in Education. Policy Analysis of Voluntary Desegregation in the Bakersfield City School District was published in 2017.
Justin is a lifelong learner who enjoys reading and traveling. As a soldier, he was selected as a U.S. Army Green to Gold Scholar attaining degrees in French (B.A.), International Relations (M.A.), and Education (Ed.D). He is currently pursuing a JD. When not working, his life is consumed with writing, hanging out in libraries, and spending time with his 5 children.
Prior to joining the SPS Instructional Support team at Columbia University, Julissa spent 14 years working in the Fashion District. She brings years of experience in customer support, coordination and communications to her team. Within her first year here, Julissa exceled and was promoted to Supervisor. She recently entered her new role as Assistant Director and focuses on the operational aspects of the team. Outside of being the Assistant Director for Instructional Support, Julissa leads the Academic Affairs Team-Building working group. Her goal as lead is to carryover the skills she has learned from being on the IS team and enhance the culture of the AA division. Her focus is on building transparency, supporting collaboration, and building teams up to work with one another.
Born and raised in Brooklyn, Julissa is a native New Yorker. She completed her undergraduate degree in Childhood Education and Sociology at Hunter College. She's an avid traveler and loves to get away whenever she can.
Julie Santana’s background in English education and educational technology aids her in the instructional design process. Julie has prior experience as an English teacher in the K-12 setting and as an educational workshop leader. She strives to implement technology in meaningful and intentional ways to transform how instructors deliver content and how students demonstrate an understanding of key competencies. Julie is particularly interested in assistive technology, strategies for creating a spirit of community and collaboration in learning spaces, Universal Design for Learning (UDL), and Social Network Analysis (SNA).
Joni joined SPS as a Webinar Specialist in May 2018 after working in a freelance Webinar Assistant with SPS for a number of years as well as teaching English and Humanities at New Jersey City University, Maryland Institute College of Art and The Poetry Center. At SPS she facilitates online class sessions and provides in instructional and technical support to faculty and students and is passionate about aiding in the creation of active, rigorous, and open learning environments.
Outside of SPS Joni writes novels and various other bits of fiction. She has an MFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Though she has been declared an honorary Canadian for her many years living north, she’s originally from New Mexico.
Jennifer (Jen) Southard, J.D., M.Ed., is a Course Developer for the School of Professional Studies at Columbia University.
Jen’s strong commitment to education and the holistic development of students began in 2012 when she became a volunteer tutor to academically struggling students in local elementary schools. In this capacity, she was assigned a third grader who detested multiplication, but was a wicked card player. After a quick purchase of a deck of cards, coupled with some even quicker thinking, Jen began to appreciate the value of effective instructional design as she crafted card games that incorporated multiplication into their rules. Soon, that same reluctant student not only remembered his times tables, but also was able to apply them such that he won game after game.
This experience inspired Jen to make a career pivot into curriculum design and she began teaching writing classes at colleges on and around Long Island. Alongside her work at Columbia, Jen also serves as an Instructional Designer, Adjunct Professor, and Clinical Educator in the Learning Resource Program at Adelphi University.Jennie Johnson is a Senior Associate Director of Instructional Design and Special Projects at Columbia University’s School of Professional Studies. She has over ten years of experience designing and developing impactful and innovative learning experiences in higher education and corporate training contexts.
In her current role, Jennie provides end-to-end design support on high-profile, complex course design projects that further School and University priorities. She also supervises the day-to-day work of the School’s instructional designers, and manages an immersive internship program designed for graduate students seeking to learn more about the instructional design field and gain hands-on practice completing course design tasks.
Prior to joining Columbia, Jennie was most recently an instructional designer at Manhattan College where she assisted in the creation and delivery of faculty course design workshops, helped establish an integrative learning community of practice for faculty, and co-created a set of hybrid course development and delivery standards.
Before transitioning to higher education, Jennie worked as an instructional designer for Management Concepts where she designed instructor-led courses for multiple modalities, supported the implementation of a Learning Content Management System and reusable content strategy, and championed a design approach that emphasized learning transfer and behavior change back on the job.
Jennie holds an M.A.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction and B.A. in English from The College of William and Mary. Her teaching experience includes classroom and online instruction at the secondary level. Additionally, she is a Quality Matters-certified Peer Reviewer and Applying the Quality Matters Rubric Online Facilitator.
Jamie Douglas, Senior Director of Faculty Recruitment and Planning, supports and oversees full-time and part-time faculty recruitment across M.S. degree programs and non-degree programs at the School of Professional Studies. In this role, Jamie serves as a senior member of the Faculty Affairs team, working closely with Program Directors and program teams to identify experts to teach specific courses by developing robust recruitment strategies. He is also the school’s subject matter expert on faculty search policy, process, procedures, and proven practices in advertising, sourcing, interviewing, and other topics related to faculty recruitment and retention strategy.
Jamie comes to us from 2U, where he worked as the Northeast Regional Academic Manager of the bootcamp program. In that role, he was responsible for instructional team staffing and performance management, leveraging data analytics and insights to drive decision-making. Before taking on that role, Jamie recruited faculty for several key 2U bootcamp programs and Kaplan Test Prep.
Before entering recruitment, Jamie taught Kaplan SAT and LSAT prep courses for pre-college and adult learners. He also taught English to Chinese university students as a Peace Corps Volunteer.
Jamie is a graduate of the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law.
Jalisha Jenifer is the Associate Director of Faculty Development at Columbia University School of Professional Studies. In her role, Jalisha supports faculty in their pedagogical development and manages training opportunities focused on teaching effectiveness.
Jalisha has a background in psychological research with a focus on learning sciences and student motivation. In addition to publishing research relevant to the teaching and learning domain, Jalisha has experience teaching a variety of psychology and pedagogy-based courses both in person and synchronously online at the pre-college, undergraduate, and graduate level.
Prior to joining SPS, Jalisha taught and conducted research as a postdoctoral fellow at Barnard College, Columbia University. She has also served as a teaching fellow for the Chicago Center for Teaching and as a learning consultant at the McGraw Center for Teaching and Learning.
Jalisha received her Ph.D. in Psychology from the University of Chicago with certifications in education sciences and college teaching and with fellowships through the National Science Foundation and the Institute of Education Sciences. Jalisha also holds a B.A. in Psychology with a certificate in Neuroscience from Princeton University.
Born and raised in the Bronx, Jacmel is a native New Yorker who loves the fast pace of the city and enjoys a NY slice of pizza any day of the week. Jacmel is a first-generation college graduate who earned her Bachelor of Arts in Communication from SUNY University at Albany.
Before Columbia, Jacmel worked for a non-profit organization that strives to provide housing and services for the homeless population in NYC and Westchester. While working with the organization, Jacmel held various roles such as Case Manager and Program Assistant at a Rapid Re-housing Men’s Shelter in the Bronx.
During Jacmel’s spare time she enjoys traveling to new places, spending time with family/friends and brunching. Fun facts: She hopes to have traveled to at least 30 countries before the age of 50. Jacmel’s dream is to own an abandoned church or courthouse and convert it into a beautiful wedding venue where she can fulfill her lifelong dream of being a Wedding Planner (when she wins the lottery of course).
Ms. Freeman, a 24-year nonprofit sector professional, joined Columbia University's School of Professional Studies in 2009. She serves as Assistant Dean of Graduate Programs, focusing on portfolio planning and evaluation, academic governance, and strategic initiatives such as annual program reviews and program development. Before Columbia, Ms. Freeman worked in arts administration, higher education, and HIV prevention and research at institutions such as the Pennsylvania Academic of Fine Arts, the University of Pennsylvania, and Prevention Point Philadelphia.
Ms. Freeman serves on the Board of Trustees for the Perkins Gardens Trust of Wave Hill Public Garden & Cultural Center, a 28-acre nonprofit estate in the Riverdale section of Bronx, NY. She holds a B.A. in Cultural Anthropology from Temple University and an M.S. in Nonprofit Management from Columbia University.As the Assistant Director of Graduate Programs, Erin supports cross-disciplinary master’s degree programs and non-degree offerings through strategic initiatives and administrative projects. She collaborates with program directors and stakeholders to implement best practices, optimize programs, and ensure alignment with academic goals. Erin also oversees academic reviews, program assessment, and curricular development cycles.
A native of eastern Long Island, Erin earned a Bachelor of Science in Applied Mathematics and Statistics and a Master of Arts in Higher Education Administration from Stony Brook University. She is a proud mentor through Stony Brook's Mentor Connect Program, helping students and alumni navigate their professional journeys.Outside of work, Erin enjoys reading, participating in a book club, spending time with her cat, Mango, and watching NHL games.
Dr. Erik Nelson is the Senior Associate Dean of Academic Affairs at Columbia University in the School of Professional Studies (SPS). Dr. Nelson is charged with establishing a unified vision for the Academic Affairs unit, providing curricular leadership to the school’s portfolio of academic offerings, including 6 academic divisions, 14 master’s degree programs and a growing suite of professional programs.
Focusing on developing best in class, academically rigorous face-to-face, hybrid, and online learning programs, he models and supports an entrepreneurial mindset throughout the organization, assisting colleagues to produce and deliver market-driven cross-disciplinary programming. Dr. Nelson also leads the effort to build a constant culture of assessment at the school, ensuring that all SPS programs attain academic excellence. Additional responsibilities include chairing the Academic Excellence Committee, developing academic policy, coordinating Middle States Accreditation reporting, establishing an outcomes-oriented educational research agenda, as well as overseeing institutional, state, and national regulatory matters.
Dr. Nelson is also tasked with building coalitions within the University, raising the visibility of SPS Academic Offerings at Columbia, establishing productive working relationships across a wide variety of individuals and groups, and is a leading voice for the organization in both internal and external settings. Prior to this position, Dr. Nelson was the Associate Dean for Online Learning at Columbia University.
Eric Clausen is the Associate Director of Learning Management Solutions at SPS. He previously served in the department as Webinar Assistant and later Senior Platform Support Specialist for several years. He has held a broad range of instruction and support positions at several institutions including Rutgers University, The Cooper Union, Texas A&M University, and Christian Brothers University. In his current role, Eric provides administrative support for our current LMS, Canvas, as well as designs faculty training for the ever-changing online learning landscape.
Outside of SPS, Eric spends lots of time drawing, riding his bike, anecdoting, and baking. He received a Master of Fine Arts from Rutgers University in 2009.Known for her problem-solving skills and approachable nature, Elaine Antigua enjoys helping faculty and students navigate technology and resources to enhance their academic experiences. Born and raised in NYC, she takes pride in contributing to the Columbia community, which feels like home.
Outside of work, Elaine is passionate about spending quality time with family and friends and loves traveling, meeting new people, and exploring different perspectives and experiences.
Ebi is a Junior Instructional Designer at Columbia SPS who finds joy in helping individuals achieve their learning goals and creating positive and meaningful learning experiences.
Before her current role, Ebi gained valuable experience at SPS as a Course Developer and Instructional Design Intern. As a Course Developer, her primary responsibility involved revising and updating online courses across various disciplines, ensuring courses passed quality assurance tests for each academic cycle. As an Instructional Design Intern, she applied her education from her M.A. degree in instructional technology and media to complete assigned tasks while learning and developing her skills in the instructional design field. Ebi holds an M.A. in Instructional Technology and Media from Teachers College, Columbia University, a J.D. from the University of Wisconsin Law School, and a B.A. from Brandeis University.
Donna Holder is a Recruitment Specialist of Faculty Recruitment and Planning. She manages the sourcing, recruitment and screening of a diverse pool of high caliber candidates for full-time and part-time faculty roles and instructional positions across the School of Professional Studies.
Donna has held various roles at Columbia University including: Associate Director of Student and Alumnae Education at Barnard College and Career Counselor at Columbia School of Social Work. Most recently Donna served as a Human Resource Recruiter at Carnegie Hall and The Rainbow Room at Rockefeller Center. During Donna’s spare time she enjoys traveling, jazz, crafting, and the arts. She also supports several animal rescue organizations in NYC.
Donna holds an MA in Communication and Education from Teachers College, Columbia University and a BS in Communications from Cornell University.
Domi started working at SPS in March 2016, as a consultant to the Curriculum & Instruction team, focused on shaping and supporting strategic initiatives--notably Modularity by Design. In October 2016, she joined the team full-time.
Her first career was devoted to the professional practice and teaching of architecture and lighting design. This work eventually led her into a second career in education technology, first as a consultant to McGraw-Hill, and then as a founder of an open education tech startup. Her journey from first to second career evolved through a series of unexpected and serendipitous twists and turns, features ocean sailing, and is best left for a chat over coffee.
Alway on the lookout for awesome phở.
Dominique Studer, Senior Associate Director of Faculty Affairs, leads strategic initiatives in faculty development, engagement, and assessment in a growing Faculty Affairs department. She oversees comprehensive faculty lifecycle processes, from onboarding to performance management, while directing the implementation of critical systems and managing sensitive employee relations. With expertise in data governance and process optimization, she collaborates with senior leadership to drive faculty excellence and retention through innovative programs, including the FT Faculty Milestone Series, Dean's Applied Research Award and faculty mentorship frameworks. Dominique fosters strategic partnerships across departments and committees, championing faculty excellence through targeted engagement initiatives while advancing the school's DEIA and research priorities.
Previously, Dominique served as Director of Recruitment & Admissions at Glasgow Caledonian New York College (GCNYC), a pioneering foreign institution with degree-granting authority in the United States, where she established comprehensive recruitment strategies and admissions processes. Earlier in her career, she spent four years in Student Advising at Columbia's School of Professional Studies.
She holds a Bachelor's in Business Management from Marymount Manhattan College and a Master's in Negotiation and Conflict Resolution from Columbia University, with plans to pursue a Doctorate in Organizational Leadership & Development. A true thrill-seeker at heart, she's always chasing the next adrenaline rush – from parasailing to mountain climbing – alongside her adventurous rescue dog, Jaxon, and her equally spirited family and friends!
Dave McAlinden has worked with several education groups and brings a wealth of knowledge about instructional design and theory to his position with the Columbia University School of Professional Studies (SPS). Dave joins SPS from Columbia University’s Center for Veteran Transition and Integration. While there, he served as an instructional designer and supported the development and implementation of a massive, open, online course. He also brings with him a global perspective on education and several years of teaching experience as a head instructor for one of the largest private education companies in the Republic of Korea.
Dave has a Bachelor’s degree in Arts and Letters and a Post-Bac Certificate in Speech and Hearing Sciences from Portland State University. He also holds a Master's Degree in Instructional Design and Delivery from Manhattan College in New York City.
Cassandra (Cassie) Scannella is a senior instructional designer for Columbia University's School of Professional Studies (SPS). Cassie earned her Master’s Degree in Curriculum and Instruction, Adult Education and Training, from Point Park University in Pittsburgh, PA. While at Point Park, Cassie interned with the University of Pittsburgh’s Pitt Online team assisting the instructional designers with course development processes. After completing her degree, Cassie moved to Boston, MA and worked for Suffolk University as an Educational Development Specialist with the Center for Teaching and Scholarly Excellence. She also worked as a consultant for IRETA- Institute for Research, Education and Training in Addictions- as an online course developer. Cassie’s most recent experience prior to Columbia was with Saint Peter's University in Jersey City, NJ where she was the Instructional Designer. At Saint Peter's, Cassie worked very closely and frequently with faculty on course developments for the School of Professional and Continuing Studies.
Cassie has a profound interest in PBL (Problem-Based Learning) as she strongly believes in the pedagogical approaches that encompass student-centered learning experiences.
Camilo Irizarry is a Senior Instructional Designer at Columbia University's School of Professional Studies (SPS). Prior to SPS Camilo Irizarry was an Instructional Designer at New York University's Center for Academic Excellence and Support. Camilo has worked with faculty on course redesigns, instructional support, and various faculty development workshops, helping to improve the learning experience for both students and faculty. Camilo is an advocate of a student-centric approach to learning, believing that learning should be an active process. Prior to NYU Camilo was a social worker advocating for youth within the educational system, dealing firsthand with many of the trials and tribulations facing youth in the inner city.
Camilo holds a Master's Degree in Instructional Design and Delivery from Manhattan College, and a Bachelor's Degree History from the University at Albany, State University of New York.
Cali began her career at universities in Canada, where she developed a strong foundation in talent acquisition, employee development, and organizational strategy in a higher education context. There, she gained extensive experience in the higher education sector and a passion for fostering inclusive, dynamic work environments. She joined SPS in November of 2023, where she has continued to hone her skills, focusing on enhancing faculty onboarding and supporting their success across the academic year. With a deep commitment to supporting both individual and institutional growth, she brings a unique blend of international experience and dedication to supporting our faculty at SPS.
Cailyn McCarthy, Director of Faculty Affairs at the Columbia University School of Professional Studies (SPS), oversees all areas of faculty support, including the hiring and onboarding process for faculty, new hire orientation, and the management of the full-time faculty recruitment process and the full-time faculty review process.
Cailyn first joined SPS in April 2016 as the Faculty Affairs Specialist. Before joining SPS, Cailyn served as the Academic Appointments and Payroll Assistant at the Harvard University Graduate School of Design (GSD), managing the hiring/appointment process for all faculty and non-faculty academic appointments. Prior to the GSD, Cailyn worked as the Human Resources Assistant at NEPC, LLC., an independent, full-service investment consultant firm in Boston Massachusetts, where she supported all human resource and operations functions.
Prior to working at SPS Brennon has a diverse 8 years of working throughout the customer service Industry including banking, retail, hospitality/Food and Sales. Using his People skills and unwavering comedic spirit he thrives in meeting new people, building relationships, and being a resource of help and positive energy wherever he goes.
Born and Raised in Harlem not far from Columbia University, Brennon enjoys working in close proximity to campus for the benefits of walking to and from work.
Outside of work in his free time Brennon is a huge movie, sports and tv show buff. Brennon enjoys exploring and traveling the world looking for new things to learn and new food to try.
After completing 15 years in the customer service/retail field, with 12 of those years being in a leadership role, Astrith (she/her) is excited to bring her skills to Columbia University. A Brooklynite, through and through, she achieved her Bachelors of Science in Psychology from Brooklyn College, and has a passion for learning, and mentoring. In her free time, Astrith enjoys reading Stephen King books, listening to true crime podcasts, learning any arts and craft, and spending time with her dog, Bella, and cat, Peaches.
Ariel Fleurimond is the Senior Director of Instructional Design and Curriculum Support at Columbia University, where she leads a team of associate directors, instructional designers (IDs), freelance course developers (CDs), instructional media developers (IDM), and interns in end-to-end development and project management for online and hybrid courses at Columbia University.
In 2005, Ariel Fleurimond began her first assignment as an NYU student observer in a 2nd grade class for NYC Park Avenue elementary school. Soon after, she began facilitating small groups within ICT Special Education classes in Brooklyn New School, and she has been working in education ever since.
Prior to becoming a Senior Director, Ariel has held various roles at Columbia University, including Director, Associate Director, Instructional designer/Faculty Development Specialist, and Course Developer. Ariel has helped develop courses in the School of Social Work, Technology Management, Applied Analytics, Strategic Communication, Information and Knowledge Strategy, Human Captial Management, SPS’ High School Program, and Union Theological Seminary. She has also worked on special projects in faculty development and conference presentations in coaching, professional development, executive education, and human resource leadership for the office of the former SPS Dean.
In collaboration with other units at SPS, Ariel and the instructional design team members partner with both internal and external faculty to manage launch timelines, align course learning objectives with activities and content, develop syllabi, storyboard engaging activities and media, and build and test robust Canvas course sites.
Prior to joining Columbia, she was most recently the Faculty Development Specialist at Adelphi University. In this role, she maintained the Faculty Center’s department website and coordinated the development and rollout of online courses. She served as the primary point of contact for all instructional design and course development requests for face-to-face, hybrid and online courses. Her largest project in that role involved coordinating, providing instructional design, and course build support for the first pilot in graduate online education at Adelphi University. Additionally, she was also a guest lecturer for courses in the Ruth S. Ammon School of Education at Adelphi University. Leading these sessions gave her the opportunity to lecture and facilitate workshops in curriculum design for K-12, assessment, instruction, pedagogy, and web development skills for education. Most recently, Ariel began teaching graduate courses in the Mathematics, Science, and Technology department to new master's degree students at Columbia University, Teachers College. Learn more about her current courses and TC projects here.
Prior to working in higher education, Ariel was a tutor in Computer Programming at NYU and Graduate Assistant for Adelphi University. Ariel earned her NYS certification in K-12 visual art curriculum and instruction and has previously taught as a substitute teacher and full-time teacher in Technology, Art, and General Education in Tier 1 schools. Ariel holds a B.A. from New York University in Psychology, with a double minor in General Education and Computer Programming. She also holds an M.A.Ed. in Art Education (Curriculum & Instruction for K-12) and an M.Ed in Educational Technology.
Ariel is currently a doctoral candidate completing the final phase of her dissertation at Teachers College, Columbia University (Ed.D in Instructional Technology). Her doctoral research interests build on the conclusions drawn from her master's thesis in computational thinking. Ariel's current research interests revisit some that work and touch on related fields of study, including online learning, change management, support strategy development, and the future of work. Ariel’s previous research focused on key questions in K-12 education and teacher performance in a changing educational landscape. In 2011, she was selected by the National Art Educators Association as a presenter for the Seattle Conference to discuss her research hypothesis. Her findings outlined the inevitable shift in the U-curve of artistic development due to increased access to technology, as evidenced by her work and observations in New York public school districts. Ariel most recently co-presented with Dr. Delores Amorelli at the Association of American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) 2022 Annual Conference on democratic education in Washington D.C. Their topic related to inclusive language and inclusive teaching practices as avenues for democratic education. Read more about their session here.
In October 2023, Ariel will present at the OLC Accelerate Conference with her colleagues Michael Fleming and Dr. Zach Kornhauser. Their presentation will focus on the stories of their respective faculty-facing support units as they navigated the management challenges brought forth by the COVID-19 pandemic, how their units and operations transformed as a result, and what they want leaders, faculty, and staff to keep in mind as they approach similar challenges at their organizations. Learn more about their session here.
During her spare time, Ariel enjoys a handful of passion projects such as creating traditional and vector art, musical endeavors, crochet, and gaming. In addition to these activities, Ariel served on the Board of Directors for B~STEM, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting educational access, particularly in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Ariel also served on the advisory board for We Connect the Dots, Inc., a Long Island-based organization dedicated to supporting students' aspirations in STEAM-related fields and higher education.
Annette Bhatia has worked with Columbia University’s School of Professional Studies since April 2017. As Associate Dean of Continuing Education, Dr. Bhatia currently oversees the Pre-College Programs, which include Immersion (non-credit), College Edge (for credit), and Youth in STEM. Dr. Bhatia launched the Academic Year Immersion Program in the fall of 2020, offering over 40 courses covering 10 weekends during the height of the pandemic, leading to a successful year-round non-credit college exploration program for high school students. She has expanded opportunities for Summer Immersion to include online offerings as the programs transition back to on-campus course offerings, and works with the University's undergraduate departments to increase enrollment in the College Edge programs. Dr. Bhatia launched and currently leads the Programs’ Committee on Instruction, which evaluates all Pre-College curriculum and faculty appointments. Additionally, in partnership with the Dean’s office, she launched the Program’s first Advisory Board, bringing together principals and headmasters of several New York City public, private, and charter schools.
Dr. Bhatia has increased access initiatives to provide scholarship funding for underrepresented groups which is a lifelong passion of hers as a first generation college graduate. She has also previously led the publication of the Academic Program Review, chaired the School’s Assessment Committee during the 2019-2020 Academic year, and led program discovery and review processes leading to more streamlined practices for course management and faculty hiring. Dr. Bhatia has extensive experience in higher education and comes with a strong student affairs background, previously working in our Student Affairs Division as the Director of Student Services. Dr. Bhatia has held positions at BMCC/CUNY and the University of Arizona prior to joining Columbia University.
A loyal wildcat, Dr. Bhatia holds a Ph.D. in Higher Education, M.A. in Political Science, and her B.A. in Political Science and Mexican American Studies from the University of Arizona.
Angelica joins Columbia University with over a decade of experience in project management and a commitment to driving positive change. In her previous role as a Project Development Specialist, she secured grants, engaged funders, and cultivated international collaborations. As a program coordinator, she has valuable experience in recruitment, program development, and budget management. Angelica is thrilled to bring her expertise and enthusiasm to SPS, contributing to its vibrant community while continuing to inspire impactful initiatives.
Amy has been with SPS since 2018 - previously in the Dean's office as a coordinator for the Senior Associate Dean of Academic Affairs, and with the Academic Services & Innovation team since 2021. She manages documentation, workflows,andcentral communications for Academic Affairs around program business processes such as class scheduling and curriculum management, and she has developed a focus on business process excellence and building greater operational efficiency for Academic Affairs and beyond. She is passionate about improving knowledge management practices at SPS and leading cross-team collaborations to streamline operations and build capacity for academic programs and ASI teams.
As a Curriculum Design Specialist at Canon USA I have had the opportunity to design, develop and launch a variety of performance-based learning solutions for new program launches, products, sales skills, business processes, and systems.
I've also had the opportunity to work at Columbia as a Course Developer at Columbia for over 5 years where I helped populate courses and conduct quality assurance checks and usability testing to identify and resolve any issues or inconsistencies in course materials, ensuring a seamless learning experience for students.Amber is a powerhouse of creativity and organization, with 12+ years of experience turning big ideas into polished realities across industries like IT, digital media, and event planning. She’s a pro at tackling chaos with a smile, blending strategy, collaboration, and a dash of magic to get things done. When she’s not leading teams to success, Amber is a film lover, a foreign language fan, an accounting enthusiast, and an ongoing student of sociological studies. Amber’s collaborative leadership inspires innovation and empowers teams to shine.
Akai Sterling Ramsey is an Instructional Support Assistant with experience in Education and Operations. He has worked with charter schools and after school programs in previous roles supporting operational needs. His goals are to align in harmony with success and creating opportunities for others to gain professional experience and learn the skills needed to create their own professional environments, solutions and institutions for the modern world.