Student Affairs Leadership Team

Born and raised in Queens, NY, Denise Boneta joins Teachers College as the Executive Director of Graduate Student Life and Development. Denise is a facilitator and student affairs practitioner with experience in social justice education, orientation, commuter affairs, and leadership development. With a focus on infusing social justice principles into advising and programming, Denise strives to bring intentional reflection and dialogue into co-curricular spaces. Prior to Teachers College, Denise has worked at Hofstra University, Barnard College, New York University, and UMass Amherst. Denise holds an M.Ed in Social Justice Education from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and a B.S. in Childhood/Special Education from New York University.

Denise currently serves as the New York Metro Representative on the NASPA Region 2 Board. In her spare time, Denise enjoys visiting the Catskills, frequenting a Broadway show, and spending time with friends and family. 

Originally from York, Pennsylvania Whitney is a graduate of the Clinical Psychology Program at Teachers College and currently serves as the Associate Director for Strategic Initiatives & Communication for the Division of Student Affairs. Beginning at TC in 2017, she has previously served as an Assistant Director and the Manager of Operations for Graduate Student Life and Development (GSLD). She is committed to providing accessible and inclusive programming from point of entry at New Student Orientation through Commencement. 

Currently, Whitney serves on the Staff Advisory and Support Council (SASC) at Teachers College and the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA) Region II Conference Committee as the conference chair for Marketing & Communications. 

Selema Moliga, who goes by 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 came to 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. Lema loves to travel, try new foods, and spend every minute free with her husband and daughter.

Sabeen Sheikh is the Associate Director of Advising and Programming at TC NEXT. She has an Ed.D. in Educational Policy and Leadership and a Master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling. Her research is focused on reporting behaviors, campus policies and the impact of institutional culture on Muslim college students. Sabeen’s greatest passions are career and student development in higher education, and addressing mental health issues in various communities. Her experience includes work in strength-based counseling, career coaching, social justice, domestic violence, undoing racism, and student leadership development. She currently serves on the founding board of a grass roots non profit, Heal Collective NY, and is a Certified Youth Mental Health First Aid Instructor with the National Council of Behavioral Health.