About Us
2012-2013 Community Development Team
Residential Services Coordinators
Buenas! Ciao! Ahlan wa Sahlan! Bonjour! Guten tag! Bom dia! I am a language-enthusiast. I have a background in foreign languages and I thrive on circumlocution. I am generally interested in all things language, and I believe a means of communication is one of the most powerful things a person can have. This belief is part of why I am pursuing a career as a bilingual Speech & Language Pathologist. I also believe in the balance between work and play. When I’m not studying or working, I like to go running, hang out at home in Connecticut with my family and my dogs, spend time with the youth groups at my home parish, visit friends and loved ones who live long-distance, watch movies, travel, and read books not assigned for class. Faith, culture, diversity, music and the Yankees are huge themes in my life, and I’m always up for learning new things.
Amy Liss, Email Address: arl2140@tc.columbia.edu
Greetings! My name is Amy Liss, and I am excited to begin my fifth year as a Residential Services Coordinator (RSC) at Teachers College! As an RSC, I am here to support you in your personal and academic endeavors and to serve as a resource in navigating the campus and local community, along with our wonderful team of Community Assistants (CAs). In addition to working for the Office of Residential Services, I am a doctoral student in the Health Education program and work as a birth/postpartum doula, childbirth educator, and lactation counselor. In my free time, I enjoy hanging out with my cats Henry & Seamus, playing Scrabble, cooking, and practicing yoga. Please don't hesitate to contact me with any concerns, program ideas, or questions. I wish you all a wonderful start to your school year and look forward to getting to know you!
Whittier Hall Staff
JP Passero, Floors 2-4. Email Address: jpp2129@tc.columbia.edu
JP grew up on Long Island with his parents and two brothers, all of whom averaged out to be second favorite in their parents' eyes. After a pretty typical upbringing, he shipped up to Boston where he attended the business school at Bentley University, for four years. Sometime in the middle of those years, he came to the conclusion that he hated business, but decided to finish out his bachelor's degree anyway. Thinking to pursue new avenues, he completed two long and grueling years of AmeriCorps, working first with elementary and then high school students. Feeling that education was the way to go, he came back to his native state to attain a Masters in English Education, toward which he is now working. A self proclaimed nerd, you can usually find him wearing a Superman shirt, with his nose sniffing the pages of a book.
Erica Colmenares, Floors 5-7. Email Address: eec2146@tc.columbia.edu
Erica is currently a second-year doctoral student pursuing an E.d.D. in Educational Leadership and School Change. Originally from Venezuela, Erica grew up in the capital city, Caracas, but spent her last three years of high school in Kuwait. Passionate about teaching, particularly elementary education, Erica graduated from Vanderbilt University and then, lured again by the wonders of the Middle East, taught grade five there for three years. After a brief break to pursue her Masters degree at Harvard’s Graduate School of Education, Erica went back overseas, this time teaching third grade in Indonesia. Erica absolutely loves traveling and can frequently be found plotting her next adventure. She is absolutely thrilled about the prospect of serving the diverse and incredible community of residents at Teachers College. Erica, however, has issued out a warning: She has an identical twin sister who frequently visits. So, if think you happen to see “Erica,” but she doesn’t smile back or say hi, it’s most likely her twin, something which has already happened numerous times over the past year!
Janet Jang, Floors 8-10, Email Address: jsj2117@tc.columbia.edu
Janet is currently pursuing her M.A. and teaching degree in the TESOL K-12 Program at Teachers College, Columbia University. Her other passion is in educational technology and curriculum development. In her free time, she volunteers as a graphic designer for Project by Project, goes on photo walks around the city, and makes handmade pretty things for people. Janet's future aspiration is to travel the world and teach language, creativity, and benevolence.
New Residence Hall Staff
Michael Laucello, Floors 2-4, 6-7, 9-10N. UAH Floors: 2-6S, Email Address: mjl2172@tc.columbia.edu
Originally from Upstate NY, Mike Laucello is an Ed.M. student in the School Psychology Department. Before joining Teachers College, he spent two terms with AmeriCorps, performing home repairs for low income families in St. Louis, and working with high risk youth in Upstate NY. In his free time Mike enjoys skiing, soccer, and tennis. He is looking forward to his new role as a Community Assistant.
Serge Romero, Floors 11-18N, UAH Floors: 7-11S. Email Address: srr2138@tc.columbia.edu
Serge Romero is an Ed.M. student in the Organization and Leadership department. Before joining Teachers College, Serge lived in Washington D.C. where he consulted for various agencies within the Federal government in the fields of change management, communications, and learning. He is currently using his background as the starting point for his exploration of different research topics. Work and school aside, Serge is an avid learner and listener. He feels that everyone’s story is unique and is often fascinated by the different ways in which these stories are told. He looks forward to his role as a Community Assistant in New Residence Hall for just that reason and can’t wait to get started.
Bancroft, Grant, and Sarasota Halls Staff
Originally from Georgia, Jeffrey Fletcher is a Ph.D. student in the newly formed department of Education Policy and Social Analysis pursuing a degree in Economics and Education. Before making his way to New York, Jeff attended Johns Hopkins University, taught middle and high school in Louisiana and Los Angeles, and was a full-time mentor and college access team leader in Boston with the non-profit Summer Search. Jeff is one of four siblings and a proud uncle of a 7 year old niece and 4 year old nephew. The other (better half) of your Bancroft Community Assistant is his wife Melanie, an HR consultant who’d rather be baking or running in Central Park. Both are fans of the winter and taking really long walks all over NYC.
Karin Van Orman, Grant and Sarasota Halls. Email Address: klv2108@tc.columbia.edu
Karin grew up in Vermont and completed an undergraduate degree in English and French at Boston University. After a brief but successful career in marketing, she decided to turn her attention to education. She taught English in public, private, and independent schools in Vermont, New Jersey and California before taking up her doctoral studies in English Education here at Teachers College in 2010. Karin appreciates any chance to travel, cook, speak French, explore New York, and see great movies or plays. When she's not studying, Karin most often enjoys watching her daughter make new discoveries about the world. She looks forward to getting to know her fellow residents!