Student Affairs Leadership & Teams
Laura M. Coleman (she/her)
Director, TC NEXT
Laura M. Coleman (she/her) is the Director of TC NEXT at Teachers College, Columbia University, where she spearheads the strategic vision for student and alumni professional development. She leads a multi-functional team dedicated to scaling career impact through strengths-based coaching, robust employer partnerships, meaningful on-campus employment opportunities, and integrated digital systems, ensuring TC talent is both market-ready and connected to global industry leaders.
Laura’s expertise is built on years of leadership in career services, enrollment management, and alumni relations. This broad perspective allows her to navigate the complexities of the student lifecycle with a unique, holistic lens. A frequent speaker on graduate student career pathways and higher education sector transitions, she is an active member of the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) and serves on the Executive Committee of the Columbia University Graduate Career Collective.
Laura holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Bucknell University and a Master of Arts degree in Anthropology & Education from Teachers College, Columbia University, where her research focused on the motivations behind adult continuing education. Beyond her professional work, she is a gardener, weightlifter, and theater enthusiast who loves spending time with her favorite humans and pets, and occasionally escaping the concrete jungle of New York City for the mountains of Denver, Colorado.
Alana Crosby (she/her)
Director of Student Development
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
Fanny He (she/her)
Director of Student Success
Fanny has worked and interned at various higher education institutions including: New York University, Marymount Manhattan College, Brown University, and SUNY Fashion Institute of Technology. Fanny has earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology with a minor in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Studies, and her Master of Arts degree in Higher Education and Student Affairs, both from New York University.
- Academic Engagement
- New Student Orientation
- Student Success
Lema Moliga (she/her)
Director, Student Support & Advocacy
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.