Our Teams

Originally from the Finger Lakes Region of New York State, Tom has over 30 years of experience in higher education. In his role as Vice President for Community & Student Affairs at Teachers College, Tom provides strategic leadership and vision for cultivating a vibrant, inclusive and supportive College environment for students, faculty and staff.  He oversees the offices that create programs, services, and initiatives that build community, enhance student life, and foster an overall sense of belonging at Teachers College.

Tom leads the offices and staff members in the departments of Student Affairs & , which includes oversight for the , Title VI, VII, ad IX, and Community Programming and Engagement. Together, these offices and teams are integrated to advance a more cohesive framework for campus engagement, community development, and student success. 

A long term community member at Teachers College, and an Elaine Brantley Memorial Award Recipient for Community and Civility, Tom earned his Ed.D. from Teachers College in 2002 and has worked at the College since 2003 in various roles including the Director of Admission, the Vice Provost for Enrollment Services, the Vice Provost for Student Affairs and most recently as the Associate Vice President & Chief Student Affairs Officer. 

He is an Adjunct Faculty member in the Higher & Postsecondary Education program where he has been teaching a Student Affairs course since 2004.  Previous to his work at Teachers College, Tom worked in various roles at the University of Dayton, Alfred University, The Albany Academy, Columbia University and Hofstra University. He also received a Certificate of Completion from the Harvard Graduate School of Education for participation in the Institute for Management and Leadership in Education (MLE).  Tom was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship in 2018 where he traveled to Japan as part of the Fulbright Administrator Scholarship Program.  

In his spare time, Dr. Rock enjoys running (he's finished 15 NYC marathons), pickleball, tennis (he is a USTA certified tennis official), spending time with his family and traveling. 

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 

An alumna of the Psychology in Education program at Teachers College, Columbia University (TC), Whitney serves as the Director for Strategic Operations & Communication within the Division of Community & Student Affairs. Since joining the TC community in 2017, she has been instrumental in driving operational excellence and student engagement, previously holding key leadership roles within Student Affairs Administration and Graduate Student Life & Development (GSLD).

Whitney is a champion for digital transformation, specializing in leveraging technology to deepen community connection and enrich the student experience. Her commitment to institutional advocacy is reflected in her tenure as Secretary and Co-Chair for TC’s Staff Advocacy & Support Council (SASC), where she continues to represent staff interests on the President’s Committee for Community & Diversity.

Beyond campus, Whitney is a recognized leader in the NASPA Region II community. Currently serving as the 2026 Annual Regional Conference Co-Chair elect, her previous contributions include roles as Registration Co-Chair, Chief of Staff, and Chair for Marketing & Communications.

Outside of her professional life, she is a dedicated advocate for animal welfare, managing operations for New York City’s Waggytail Rescue. An outdoor enthusiast, Whitney can often be found exploring local green spaces with her dog (and current foster pets).

Karen is a dedicated administrative professional with a passion for optimizing administrative processes.  With 15+ years of experience, Karen has a strong focus on client services and collaborating with offices and departments across the College, to build community while fostering positive relationships.  

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.