Executive Board
President
Katie La Vecchio (she/her)
Area Coordinator
University at Buffalo
108 Lehman Hall, Buffalo, NY 14260
(716) 645-2135
presidents@cspanys.org | klavecch@buffalo.edu
Katie La Vecchio is currently an Area Coordinator for Governors Complex at University at Buffalo in Residential Life. Katie has worked previously as Complex Director in Residence Life at SUNY Buffalo State College and Assistant Director of Alumni Relations at Adelphi University. Katie is a dual alumna of SUNY Buffalo State obtaining a B.S. in Childhood Education and Reading in 2012 and an M.S. in Higher Education and Student Affairs Administration in 2014. Since returning to student affairs in 2018, Katie has been involved with CSPA-NYS and has held various roles such as Silent Auction Committee Chair, Virtual Conference Committee, VP of Membership, and most recently serving as the 2023 Annual Conference Chair. Her personal interests include bargain shopping (She loves a good deal!), and spending time with her son, Joey, and husband, Mike.
President Elect
Courtney Owen (she/her)
Director of Housing and Residence Life
SUNY Monroe Community College
West Canal Hall
Brighton Campus
Phone Number: 585-292-3009
presidents@cspanys.org | cowen7@monroecc.edu
With quality experience in Residence and Student Life, policy and protocol development, curriculum writing, and program planning and assessment, I am eager to be a part of an ever-growing and lifelong-learning higher education and student affairs field. (More to come as I transition fully into my role!)
Past President
Megan W. Lennon (she/her)
Associate Chief Student Affairs Officer
Amherst College
220 South Pleasant Street, Amherst, MA 01002
(413) 542-2000
presidents@cspanys.org | meganwyett@gmail.com
Vice President for Professional Development
Frank Parsons (he/him)
Area Coordinator
SUNY Geneseo
1 College Circle, Geneseo, NY 14454
585-245-5785
prodev@cspanys.org | fparsons@geneseo.edu
Frank Parsons is currently an Area Coordinator for the South Village at SUNY Geneseo. Frank has worked previously as Residence Hall Director in Residence Life at SUNY Cortland. Frank has received an Associates Degree in Liberal Arts/Social Sciences and a Bachelor's Degree in Human Services Management from Alfred State College. In May 2024, Frank received his Masters in Higher Education Administration from SUNY Brockport. Frank has worked in Higher Education for six years, and is excited to step into his first professional role of Vice President for Professional Development for CSPA-NYS. In his personal time, Frank enjoys hanging with friends and his cat (Mandy). Frank Also enjoys acting in Theater, playing video games, and exercising to clear his mind.
Vice President for Communications
Jeremy Howard (he/him)
Online Academic Advisor
Alfred State College
10 Upper College Drive, Alfred NY 14802
607-587-3453
communication@cspanys.org | howardj@alfredstate.edu
Jeremy is the Online Academic Advisor for Alfred State College, serving as primary advisor for online Healthcare Management and Individual Studies students as well as a general advisor for all other online students. He has served as a Leadership Education and an Academic Integrity grad assistant at University at Buffalo, as well as the Assistant Program Coordinator for UB’s Intercultural and Diversity Center. Jeremy earned his BA in Linguistics and Music at UB in 2021, and his MEd in Higher Education and Student Affairs in 2023. He is on the Logistics team of the Annual Conference committee, specializing in mobile app development. Jeremy enjoys spending his free time singing, playing D&D, and reading tarot, and is a meditation and yoga aficionado - otherwise, you’ll find him enjoying downtime with his husband and their cat and three dogs.
Vice President for Communications Elect (Vacant)
This could be you!
TBD
TBD
TBD
TBD
communication@cspanys.org | TBD
Bio coming soon!
TBD
Vice President for Membership
Matt Briars (he/him)
Assistant Director, Housing & Residence Life
Monroe Community College
1000 E. Henrietta Rd. Rochester, NY 14623
(585)-292-3674
membership@cspanys.org | mbriars001@monroecc.edu
Matt Briars currently serves as the Interim Assistant Director for Housing & Residence Life at Monroe Community College. Matt has previously worked in residence life and housing at Stony Brook University, Monroe Community College, SUNY at Fredonia, and SUNY Geneseo. Matt received his B. S. in Biology at SUNY Geneseo in 2014, and his M. S. in Higher Education and Student Affairs Administration from SUNY Buffalo State in 2017. Matt is a longtime CSPA-NYS member and presented at the CSPA-NYS Conference in 2016 and 2023. Matt’s hobbies include spending time with friends, antiquing, reading, listening to music, and playing with his cat, Sir Chubbs.
Vice President for Membership Elect
Cliff-Simon Vital (he/him/they)
Associate Director, BIPOC Unity Center
Ithaca College
953 Danby Road, Ithaca NY 14850
607-274-5105
membership@cspanys.org | cvital@ithaca.edu
Cliff-Simon Vital is a scholarly student affairs practitioner who describes themselves as a student-first and mission-driven professional. With a demonstrated history and experiences in various functional areas, they are currently practicing in DEIB. Before moving to Ithaca, they graduated with their Master of Science from the Higher Education and Student Affairs Administration (HESAA) program at Canisius University in Buffalo, NY and Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences from State University of New York at Oswego. Vital is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Educational Administration with specialization in Higher Education from the University of Rochester. Outside of Higher education, Cliff-Simon likes Tuesday movies at the local Regal, attending weekly farmers markets, and Lake Cayuga Boat Tours.
Vice President for Educational and Strategic Relationships
Ashlee Downing-Duke (she/her)
Senior Associate Director of Campus Activities & Residential Engagement
St. Lawrence University
Sullivan Student Center 328 | 23 Romoda Drive Canton, NY 13617
315-229-5135
educationalpartners@cspanys.org | adowning@stlawu.edu
Ashlee Downing-Duke is currently the Senior Associate Director of Campus Activities and Leadership at St. Lawrence University (SLU). Ashlee has worked at SLU for ten years serving as Coordinator of Volunteer Services and Associate Director of Student Activities. She has a B.A. in Political Science from Fairfield University and a M.A. in College Student Personnel Administration from James Madison University. Ashlee has been involved with CSPA-NYS since attending her first conference back in 2018. She then served as the VP of Membership for two years and was excited to return to the board in November of 2023 as the VP of Ed Partners. In her spare time, Ashlee enjoys spending time with her wife and their three lovely children.
VP for Educational and Strategic Relationships Elect
This could be you!
TBD
TBD
TBD
TBD
membership@cspanys.org | TBD
Bio coming soon!
TBD
2024 Annual Conference Chair
Laura Dulski (she/her)
Director of Campus Life
Keuka College
141 Central Avenue, Keuka Park, NY 14478
(315) 279-5412
annualconference@cspanys.org | ldulski@keuka.edu
Bio coming soon!
Learn more about Laura on LinkedIn
Member at Large | Professional Development
Denise Dawkins
Internship Coordinator, Division of Business Administration
Dominican University
470 Western Highway Casey 104, Orangeburg NY 10962
914-768-3778
mal@cspanys.org | denise.dawkins@dc.edu
Denise Dawkins is a Higher Ed Professional with over 10 years of experience and counting. She’s originally from North Carolina with Jamaican heritage. Denise has held various positions for HBCUs, Minority owned-businesses, private HIED institutions, State funded agencies, grant funded organizations, and health disparity programs.
She relocated to NY to advance her career in Higher Ed. Currently she holds a BS in Human Resource Management from Winston Salem State University and a MS in Adult Education – HIED Administration from North Carolina A&T State University. She is in her second year of Educational Leadership doctoral program at Manhattanville University.
Currently employed at Dominican University, where she serves with great aspiration to create more efficient opportunities of office administration, build long term rapport with the student body, but emphasize on creating a forging relationship with the brown and black student body of Dominican, continue marketing for the Business Administration program and most importantly providing student advocacy to the body.
Member at Large | Communications
Cassie Sanzotta
Area Coordinator
SUNY Geneso
1 College Cir 319 MCU, Geneseo, NY, 14454
mal@cspanys.org | csanzotta@geneseo.edu
Bio coming soon!
TBD
Member at Large | Educational & Strategic Partnerships
Allecia Spencer (she/her)
Area Director
Hamilton College
198 College Hill Rd, Clinton, NY 13323
mal@cspanys.org | aspencer@hamilton.edu
Allecia is an Area Director at Hamilton College and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology and a Master of Arts degree in Higher Educational Management from the University of the West Indies, Mona in Kingston, Jamaica. Since starting her higher education career in 2020, Allecia has been dedicated to enhancing residential experiences, student development, and inclusivity. She is deeply committed to advocacy and community engagement, believing that strong relationships are the foundation for positive change. Her leadership philosophy centers on empowering others to reach their full potential through collaboration and empathy. Outside of work, she enjoys cooking, visiting museums, spending time at the beach, and practicing yoga. She aspires to create more inclusive, healthy, and supportive residential communities where every student feels valued and empowered to succeed. Allecia is excited to serve as Member-at- Large on the CSPA-NYS Executive Board and looks forward to contributing to the organization’s continued growth and success.
Coordinator of Finance and Administration
Spencer Cottman (he/him)
Student Conduct Coordinator
Buffalo State University
Bengal Hall 14 | 1300 Elmwood Ave, Buffalo, NY 14222
716-878-3051
mal@cspanys.org | cottmast@buffalostate.edu
Spencer Cottman is currently the Student Conduct Coordinator at Buffalo State University. Spencer is an alumnus of SUNY Brockport and the University at Buffalo, earing his B.S. in Adolescent History Education (’18) and M.Ed in Higher Education Administration (’20) respectively. Spencer has been with CSPA since 2019 and has served on various Conference Committees in Accessibility & Inclusion and Logistics & Volunteers sub-committees. Spencer is a lifelong WNY-er, a proud cat parent, and drinks too much coffee for his own good.
Faculty Liaison
Susan Iverson (she/her)
Professor and Director, Doctoral Program in Educational Leadership
Manhattanville University
School of Education, 2900 Purchase Street, Purchase NY 10577
(914) 798-2712
susan.iverson@mville.edu
Dr. Susan V. Iverson is Professor of Higher Education Leadership, and Director of the EdD Program, at Manhattanville University. Iverson's research interests include equity, diversity, status of women, leadership in higher education. Before her current position, Iverson served as faculty of Higher Education Administration & Student Personnel at Kent State University where she was also an affiliated faculty member with both the Women’s Studies and LGBT Studies Programs. Prior to becoming faculty full-time faculty in 2006, Iverson worked in student affairs administration for nearly 15 years at institutions in Massachusetts, Virginia, and Maine. Iverson holds a B.A. in English from Keene State College (NH), a M.A. in Higher Education Administration from Boston College, a M.Ed. in Counseling from Bridgewater State College (MA), and earned her doctorate in higher educational leadership, with a concentration in women’s studies, from the University of Maine. Iverson's daughter was born while she was a doctoral student, and developed her critical consciousness of being a mother in higher education.
Learn more about Susan on LinkedIn and follow Susan on Twitter @susaniverson1
Historian
Peter Smith (he/him)
Assistant Director of Residential Life
University at Buffalo
123 Richmond Quad, Buffalo, NY 14261
(716) 645-6304
historian@cspanys.org | ppsmith@buffalo.edu
Peter Smith is currently the Assistant Director of Residential Life at the University at Buffalo in Buffalo, NY. Peter has previous experience from Appalachian State University, Rochester Institute of Technology, Eastern Illinois University and Queens University of Charlotte, NC. Peter has an B.A. in Fine Arts from St. Lawrence University and an M.S.Ed. in College Student Affairs from Eastern Illinois University. He is currently working on his PhD. in Educational Culture, Policy, & Society at the University at Buffalo. Involved in CSPA-NYS since 2001, Peter has held many roles including President, Conference Chair, and Member at Large as well as his current role as Historian. Peter’s professional interests include: professional staff supervision, men’s development, spirituality and faith development, leadership, and presentation and workshop development. His personal interests include: his Faith, travel, movies, cooking, the outdoors, gardening & landscaping, and spending time with his wife and two children.
