Student Affairs Leadership & Teams

Laura Coleman (she/her) is the Senior Associate Director of TC NEXT, the career and professional development center at Teachers College, Columbia University (New York, NY). In this role she leads a team whose scope of work encompasses employer relations, data and systems management, marketing and mass communications, and on-campus student employment. Laura spearheads relationships with a network of thousands of TC NEXT employer partners and develops opportunities for students and alumni to connect with hiring managers across a wide variety of industries. 

Previously Laura was the Associate Director of Alumni & Employer Relations at Sotheby’s Institute of Art (New York, NY) where she developed new alumni engagement initiatives, oversaw campus recruitment programs, and produced professional development events. Laura began her career in higher education at Valparaiso University (Valparaiso, IN), primarily serving in the role of Associate Director for International Admission, leading strategic planning for international undergraduate student enrollment and overseeing application review and scholarship awarding. 

Laura is an active member of several regional and national career services and student affairs professional organizations and has given talks and presented at conferences on career services curriculum development, a pathways model of success for graduate students, and career transitions within the higher education sector. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree, magna cum laude, from Bucknell University and a Master of Arts degree in Anthropology & Education from Teachers College, Columbia University, where she undertook an independent research project focused on working adults’ decisions to pursue additional education. In addition to her professional endeavors she is a proud aunt, pet lover, gardener, and avid reader.

Alana Crosby has been working in Graduate Student Life and Development since 2018. Alana holds an M.A. in Higher Education & Student Affairs from New York University. Before starting at TC, Alana had full-time positions and internships in student affairs at various schools within NYU as well as the New Jersey Institute of Technology and Baruch College. Alana grew up in Reno, Nevada, and studied psychology at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. 

Alana enjoys people-watching in Washington Square Park with her friends, reading fantasy novels, and eating the fluffiest croissants from the Hungarian Pastry Shop near TC's campus.

Primary areas of focus: 

• Student Organizations
• Student Senate
• Community Programs 

Selema (Lema) received her Masters of Education in Student Development & Administration from Seattle University and since graduating has worked in Housing and Residential Life for over 15 years in both the west and east coasts. In 2015, Lema joined Teachers College and served as the Associate Director in the Office of Residential Services (ORS), until October 2022 where she transitioned to the Division of Student Affairs as the Director of Student Support and Advocacy. Lema is committed to making the TC student experience a positive and successful one for all students.

Sabeen Sheikh is the Director of TC NEXT at Teacher College, Columbia University, working in student affairs, career services, and higher education for 15 years. Sabeen has an Ed.D. in Educational Policy and Leadership,  a Master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling, and her Career Counseling Certificate with NCDA. Sabeen is a Lecturer at Alfred University and Stony Brook University as well as previously teaching in Hofstra University’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. She served on the founding board of a grassroots nonprofit, Heal Collective NY, and is on the Mental Health Committee for American Muslim Health Professionals (AMHP). Sabeen is a Certified Mental Health First Aid Instructor with the National Council of Behavioral Health and AMHP.