Deniz Dennery works as Program Assistant in Rowan University’s Office of Career Advancement, where she is a cheerleader for student employment. Deniz manages career fair events, the off-campus Federal Work Study program, engages with employers and co-manages Rowan’s electronic job site “ProfsJobs” to support students and alumni in their professional journey. Deniz joined Rowan University’s Women’s Advisory Board in 2019 and now serves as its enthusiastic Board Chair. Successful delivery to the Rowan community and the general public of events covering topics on health, well-being, leadership, networking are attributed to the fantastic workings of the members of this board, their expertise, time and effort. Consider becoming a part of this movement!

After graduation from the University of Utah with a degree in political science, Deniz's interest in working overseas led her on a journey to join the Foreign Service where she ultimately landed a work assignment in France. Her desire for working with culturally diverse populations and travel has never waned. Deniz honed her communication and problem solving skills working in a variety of environments including a busy 700 room Manhattan, NY hotel with heavy international clientele, the Turkish Embassy, the U.S. State Department and the American Embassy in Paris. Deniz’ adaptability to various work environments over the years allowed her to be successful in various roles within government, healthcare, higher education and career development growth of students.

A two-time graduate of Rowan University, Jessica earned her bachelor’s degree from the Ric Edelman College of Communication & Creative Arts in 2008 and completed her master’s degree in higher education administration in 2015. She has been with Rowan since 2016 in the role of Assistant Director of Alumni Engagement. In her role, Jessica coordinates alumni programs and services designed to foster and strengthen the relationship between the University and its alumni-base of over 100,000 Profs!

Jessica manages alumni volunteers; serves as the primary point of contact for campus partnerships; acts as the event lead for several signature programs such as Homecoming, Run for Rowan 5K and Golden Profs Reunion; and is the team liaison to the Office of Advancement Communications.

In addition to serving as the Board Vice Chair for the Women’s Alliance Network, Jessica is also proud to contribute as an active member of several university-wide committees including: Homecoming (Chair), Flying First, first generation college students (Chair for Alumni Engagement) and Martin Luther King Jr. scholarship breakfast and day of service.

In her spare time, Jessica enjoys “bad” reality tv, the beach, music and podcasts, being with family and spending quality time with her husband Brian ’08 and her son’s Leo and Noah.

Brandi Blanton is the Associate Director of Student Financial Aid at Rowan -Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine. She earned a Bachelor’s degree from Temple University and a Master’s Degree in Higher Education Administration at Rowan University. With over 15 years of experience in the field of college financial aid counseling and administration, she has helped countless undergraduate, graduate, and medical school students navigate the complex world of financial aid and financial literacy. She is a Certified Educator in Personal Finance, a QPR Gatekeeper for Suicide Prevention, and has earned the Diversity, Equity, and Injustice Certification. She is a member of several professional associations, including The National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA), The Eastern Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (EASFAA), and The New Jersey Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NJASFAA). Brandi brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to her role. As a first-generation college student, she understands the complexities students face in college and is committed to helping students transform their lives through higher education.

She began her journey at Rowan University in the Glassboro Financial Aid Office, where she assisted students for 7 years as a Loan Manager and Financial Literacy Specialist. She has lovingly received the nickname “The Face of Financial Aid” as a result of hosting financial literacy workshops around campus, starring in Financial Aid educational videos, and from her work engaging students via the @RowanFinAid social media platforms. Brandi currently serves on the Rowan University Affordability Task Force and the SOM Scholarship Committee. She is a co-founder of The SHOP and successfully helped open locations on the Sewell and Stratford SOM campuses. Brandi is also passionate about traveling, enjoying live music, and dancing. She is the mother of two young kings, Wyatt and Zavien.

Dr. Lakeisha Carter is originally from Buffalo, NY. She has worked in education for over 15 years at various private and public higher education institutions and P-12 schools. Dr. Carter is currently the Education Coordinator for the M3 curriculum at Cooper Medical School of Rowan University in Camden, NJ, and part-time Adjunct faculty in the Educational Services and Leadership Department.

Dr. Carter earned her Ed.D. in Educational Leadership from Rowan University, M.S. in Student Personnel Administration from Buffalo State College (SUNY), and B.A. in Health and Human Services from the University at Buffalo (SUNY). She recently earned a Foundations of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion certificate from Rowan University.

Erica Chirico has been a faculty member at Cooper Medical School of Rowan University (CMSRU) since 2015. She teaches physiology and is an active learning facilitator to medical students. She also is a member of several committees including the Admission’s Committee and a subcommittee of the Curriculum Committee. 

Erica completed her undergraduate and master’s degrees in Physiology at Temple University and obtained her PhD at the University of Lyon (Lyon, France). She then completed 2 postdoctoral fellowships at the University of Pennsylvania; one of which included a teaching postdoc position. This drove her passion of teaching and mentoring students. 

Erica has 3 young daughters, 2 dogs, and 1 cat and enjoys baking, running, and all things Eagles!

Jo Colontonio, MBA, PCC, CELE has over two decades of experience in the business sector with a diversified background in Human Capital, Business Development and Higher Education. Her expertise in business and marketing strategy, organizational culture and change management, executive coaching, leadership, and team development create a bridge between people, strategy, and culture.

She holds dual degrees in Economics and Business, an MBA in Marketing, and post-graduate certification in Change Management, Team Performance Executive Coaching and Leadership Development. She is an Award-Winning Executive Business Coach, Professional Certified Coach with the International Coach Federation and Founder of an International Coaching Federation Accredited Coach Education & Training Program. Jo is also the CEO of Ignite Business Partners, a consulting, coaching, and education company that is known for disrupting the status quo to grow high-energy organizations with extraordinary people, vibrant cultures, enlightened leadership.

An avid volunteer, passionate about sharing her expertise to support others. She currently holds Board of Director positions of President with the International Coach Federation NJ and Vice President of Learning & Development with the Great Careers Group. In addition, she works with Braven Inc. as a Leadership Coach Facilitator and Capstone Project Judge, where she works with college students individually and through workshops to design their vision, goals, career, and roadmap to roadmap to success. She is passionate about sharing her insights with individuals and organizations all over the world.

Allison Gainer, M.A, LAC, NCC, and doctoral candidate in educational leadership, serves as a Nursing Program Mentor at Rowan University. She provides recruitment, student services, and support for students in the B.S. in Nursing (RN to BSN) and M.S. in Nursing (MSN) programs, with a focus on partnering with select healthcare organizations and advising non-traditional, online, and adult learners. Allison brings a comprehensive background in education and mental health to her role, along with a passion for aligning careers with individuals' morals, values, and skills. As a first-generation college student, she is deeply committed to mentoring and supporting underrepresented groups. In addition to her work as a Nursing Program Mentor, Allison serves as an Adjunct for Rowan University's psychology undergraduate course and has had the opportunity to adjunct for the College of Education's Wellness & Inclusive Services Department (WISE). She is pursuing her Ed.D. in Educational Leadership and aims to integrate animal-assisted therapy into counseling practices. Allison is dedicated to helping diverse populations find their unique 'spark' and achieve a balance between mental health and career success.

Erica Garcia Conway is a proud first generation Rowan University graduate.  She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology in 2003 and a Masters of Arts in Counseling in Educational Settings in 2008. During her time as a student, she had the privilege of being influenced by many influential supporters who guided her to success, including mentors, advisors, employers, communities, and organizations.  She also held many leadership positions including Sociology Club President, Campus Rec Building Manager, and Graduate Coordinator for the Office of Volunteerism.  

Prior to returning professionally to Rowan University, her roles included Individual & Family Counselor, Anti-Trafficking Advocate, Community Organizer, Trauma-Informed Yoga Instructor, Mother, and Partner. She dedicated her time to serving the community, youth, and advocating for prevention services in human trafficking, domestic violence, LGBTQIA+ equality, and homelessness.

Since returning to Rowan in 2019, Erica has served as an Academic Advisor, Academic Support Coordinator, and is currently the Assistant Director of Success Coaching and Student Development within Academic Support Programs. She is a proud member of Rowan’s Flying First Task Force, Student & Employee Wellbeing Committees, SMART Response team, and NASPA.  

When she is not working at Rowan, you will most likely find her at a sporting event watching one of her four children play soccer, hockey, baseball, basketball, or run track. She also enjoys spending time with her golden retriever, recharging at the beach, or running to support her mental well-being.

Kim Johnston has been a proud member of the Rowan University community since 2015 and currently serves as the Grant Coordinator for the Henry M. Rowan College of Engineering. As a first-generation college student Kim earned her Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies from Rowan University and is now pursuing an MBA at Rowan to further enhance her leadership and strategic skills.

In her professional role, Kim supports innovative research and academic success within the College of Engineering, contributing to the university’s overall research mission. 

Beyond her job, Kim is passionate about creating a supportive and inclusive environment at Rowan. One proud accomplishment being the initiative to increase lactation spaces on campus to support nursing mother’s at Rowan. As a member of the Women’s Alliance Network Board, she hopes to further advocate for and empower women across campus.

At home, Kim balances her professional life with a busy household of four kids and two dogs. She loves spending her “spare time” watching her daughters in their cheer and dance performances.

Seung Eun “Sunny” McDevitt is an Associate Professor of Early Childhood Education in the College of Education at Rowan University. Born in South Korea, she immigrated to the U.S. during her adolescent years. Her research focuses on understanding and supporting diverse teachers of color, particularly immigrant women of color and other minoritized teachers, and their inclusive pedagogies in early childhood and teacher education settings. She earned her doctorate in Curriculum and Teaching from Columbia University with a focus on early childhood education and teacher education.

Dr. McDevitt’s work is grounded in the principles of equity and inclusion and is significantly informed by the many years of working with young children, families, and teachers from marginalized immigrant communities in New York City as a teacher, early interventionist, and professional developer. She is a recipient of several grants from prestigious institutions such as the American Educational Research Association, the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation, and the European Educational Research Association. Additionally, she has published extensively in a wide range of journals, including Teachers College Record, Teaching and Teacher Education, and the Journal of Research in Childhood Education.

Michelle Mignot (she/her/hers) has been in the field of higher education since 2006. Starting at a community college in Ontario, Canada, Michelle gained experience in career development and online learning as a Career Advisor and Program Coordinator. After moving to the Philadelphia area where she initially worked in the Steinbright Career Development Center at Drexel University, Michelle is now an Academic Advisor at Rowan University. As a member of the Rowan Global team, Michelle assists non-traditional students in partnership and degree completion programs.

Michelle completed her undergraduate studies at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario and obtained her Masters in Higher Education from Drexel University. In addition to the Women’s Alliance Network, Michelle is also active on campus as a member of the Anti-Racism Coalition (ARC), the UAS/OASIS DEI Subcommittee, and is a Rowan University Career Advocate. Michelle has two children in elementary school, and in her spare time enjoys travel, cooking, and gardening.

Brittney O’Connor is an Academic Advisor in the Rohrer College of Business for upper-class Accounting and Finance majors. She is also the coordinator for the Accounting Mentorship Program and is an instructor for the College of Business first-year seminar courses as well as Career Planning and Development. Prior to being an Advisor, Britt served as the Recruitment and Development Associate for the Center for Professional Development, which services all business students. Her knowledge of careers and internships in business is especially helpful and utilized while advising students. Britt’s advising and student services career began in 2014 when she earned her M.S. in Higher Education Counseling and Student Affairs from West Chester University. She has experience working with a wide variety of students in her former roles as Student Counselor for Rutgers University, School of Nursing and Admissions Counselor for Widener University Delaware Law School.

Aside from advising and teaching, Britt has another rewarding position as one of the founding members of the St. Peter’s Community Pantry. The food pantry, which opened in May 2023, services all Gloucester County residents. When it first opened, they were assisting 30 families, and it has grown to assist over 120 families monthly. It is a true labor of love for her, and her husband and daughter, who also help at the monthly food distribution and food drive.

Britt is the happiest when she is with her two favorite people, her husband and daughter, and of course their three pups! In her “free time” she makes a conscious effort to take care of her mental and physical health by going to Burn Boot Camp after work, bike rides with her daughter, or taking her dogs for a walk.

My background is as a management consultant and educator with over 20 years of industry and education experience. As a management consultant, I focus on emerging technologies in the Financial Services, Biopharm, communication and technology sectors.  I love the way technology continues to challenge us and improves our daily lives.

As an educator, my research interests are squarely in emerging technologies and business models and how these interact to change corporate value chains. I have taught Undergraduate, Graduate, and MBA classes in Business Analytics, Artificial Intelligence, Leadership, Corporate Strategy, Marketing, International Business and Project Management among others and have published in the areas of Artificial Intelligence (Natural Language Processing).

My classes at Rowan University include Design of Database Systems, Advanced Database Management, Applied Database Technologies and E-Business in the Rohrer School of Management, Department of Marketing and Business Information Systems.

As a New Jersey girl, born and raised, I did my graduate work at NYU and have an M.A. and AbD  and a B.A. from Hofstra University. My management training was obtained at the The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, Aresty Institute where I became interested in technology impact on business models.

Outside the classroom, I enjoy spending time with my family and pets- a feisty Cairn Terrier named Bogey and a couple of cats, cooking, yoga and travel.  I am an avid amateur photographer and weekends can usually find me outdoors photographing something.

Sheena Pierce received her Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from Rowan University in 2010 and her Master of Arts in Liberal Studies from Rutgers University in 2015. Sheena has been with Rowan University since 2016. Sheena is a Technical Trainer and Instructional Designer at Rowan University in IRT - Training Services. As part of the IRT - Training team, Sheena helps to create and design diverse training formats and effective online training for the Rowan community. In her spare time, you can find her at Eagles and Sixers games. In addition, she enjoys traveling the world, shopping, reading, podcasting, and spending time with family and friends.

Mary “MJ” Schultes serves as an Academic Advisor for Rowan Online undergraduate students (including the 3+1) enrolled in the Computer Systems Technology, and the Computing and Informatics programs. MJ provides comprehensive support and guidance with a strong commitment to student success as they navigate their academic journey.

MJ holds a Master’s degree in Higher Education: Administration from Rowan University. Her academic background is complemented by over 5 years of experience in higher education, including positions in human resources and student affairs. MJ also has prior experience from the corporate world as a former HR professional handling full-cycle recruitment, employee engagement and relations, and some benefits and compensation.

MJ is a current Glassboro resident, and a proud Prof, as a Rowan University Alumnus she really enjoys volunteering within the campus community! MJ also volunteers for the surrounding Gloucester County area with the United Way of Gloucester County (Events Committee and Women United), St. Vincent de Paul Society (ministry), Genesis Counseling Centers (Events Committee) and much more. She is a proud board member of Rowan University’s WAN (Women’s Alliance Network), the award-winning committee that works hard to promote impactful events to encourage leadership amongst employees and students across campus.

MJ believes in a holistic approach to advising, focusing on a personal, academic, and professional development of each student. In her free time, MJ enjoys trips down to the Jersey Shore, exercising, listening to podcasts, reading and spending time with family and friends.

Dr. Mina Sedaghatjou is an Assistant Professor of STEAM (Math/CS) Education in the College of Education at Rowan University. She is dedicated to nurturing computational thinking and modeling within a Collaborative Engagement (CE) learning environment and is particularly passionate about the impact of authentic STEAM experiences and teamwork on the STEM identity development of underserved students, such as girls. She believes that empowering underserved students with strong STEM identities contributes to closing the gender gap in these fields and creating more equitable opportunities for them. Through her teaching, research, and service, she aims to break down barriers and provide the resources and encouragement needed for all students to succeed in mathematics and science.

In addition to her academic and research commitments, Dr. Sedaghatjou is actively involved in professional organizations. She currently serves on the Research Committee at the National Association for Research in Science Teaching (NARST), the Association of Mathematics Teacher Educators (AMTE) - NJ, and the Computer Science Teacher Association (CSTA). She also serves on the Mentorship Committee of the Rowan University Women's Alliance Network (WAN) and is thrilled to contribute to WAN’s mission and vision.

Sanaz holds an MBA, an MA in Higher Education, and is currently a PhD candidate in Education, with a passion for social activism and diversity. She works for the Technology Commercialization Office at Rowan University and she is responsible for managing invention disclosures, patent docketing, and patent data analysis. Her skills in Database Management, NIST/iEdison Reporting- Invention Reporting to the Federal, Management of Invention Disclosures, Patent Docketing, Patent Data Analysis, and Marketing.

She is a council member of the "Women’s and Gender Studies Program" (WGS), a volunteer in the "DEI Strategic Priority Council 1" (SPC1) at Rowan University, and an active committee member of "Small Offices" at Association of University Technology Managers (AUTM).

Sanaz remains committed to social activism. She has also been recognized for her outstanding contributions to diversity and social activism, winning both the Senate Diversity Award for Excellence in Social Activism and the Rowan Excellence in Diversity Award for a Group Project. Also, She has been awarded the prestigious Susan Keyes Technology Transfer Career Transition Fellowship by the AUTM Foundation.

Sanaz's research is focused on the experiences of Iranian doctoral international students in the current socio-political environment in US universities.

Nicole Surace is an accomplished professional who has excelled in the Hospitality Management field. She graduated from Fairleigh Dickinson University in 2020, amidst the pandemic, with a Bachelor of Arts in Hospitality & Tourism Management. Beginning in 2014, Nicole worked for our campus partners, Gourmet Dining as their Catering Coordinator. Working for Gourmet Dining helped Nicole cultivate prosperous relationships with many faculty, staff and students across Rowan University’s campuses. 

In 2022, Nicole joined the Rowan University family as a Program Assistant for Rowan University’s Henry M. Rowan College of Engineering in the Chemical Engineering Department. Nicole made several efforts to help improve the climate of the department by participating in homecoming contests, planning celebrations, and hosting monthly student socials that enhanced the morale of all who attended. In 2024, Nicole started a new role as the Dean’s Office Operations Coordinator for the College of Science & Mathematics. With her strong interest in events and professional development, it came as no shock that she would join Rowan University’s Women’s Alliance Network, (WAN). Nicole has been a member of the Advisory Board since 2023 and has now taken on the role of Special Events Chair as well as Programming Chair. 

Outside of work, Nicole is a proud member of the Wicked Warriors of East Greenwich where she enjoys staying active and being part of a team. The Wicked Warriors of East Greenwich are a group of strong women making a difference by fundraising, community service and the sport of Dragon Boat racing.

In her “spare time,” Nicole is found cheering on and/or coaching her kids soccer games as well as serving on the Swedesboro-Woolwich Soccer Board on the Fundraising/Event & Media/Communications committee. She has a blended family with five very active children that keep her and her husband Vinnie on their toes.

Melissa Ulmer (she/her/hers) joined the Rowan family in August 2015 and currently serves as the Assistant Director of Marketing & Student Programs on the Chamberlain Student Center & Campus Activities (SCCA) team on the Glassboro campus. In this role she wears multiple hats. First, Melissa serves as the primary staff advisor for the Student University Programmer’s (SUP), Rowan’s on-campus student programming board. In collaboration with a graduate coordinator, Melissa helps co-advise the organization on event planning, marketing strategies, student leadership and advocacy, campus service, and more. SUP plans & executes over 50 events each year including live performances, charitable events, off-campus trips, movie nights, special events, and more. Some of SUP’s biggest traditions include the fall comedy show, Hollybash, St. Baldrick’s Day, Holiday Helper, Last Lecture, the Food Truck Festival, Lil’ Sibs Weekend, and more.

In addition to SUP, Melissa oversees all marketing for the SCCA. This includes supervision, with the support of a graduate coordinator, of the SCCA Marketing Team – a creative powerhouse comprised of student graphic designers and photographer/videographers. The Marketing Team is responsible for all digital (including social media and web) and printed content for the department. In addition to departmental marketing, Melissa also manages all facility marketing initiatives including signage and community posting. Finally, in her role Melissa also oversees and supports large-scale campus programming, including serving as one of the Co-Chairs for the university-wide Homecoming Committee, as well as helping steer Welcome Week activities.

Beyond her role at Rowan, Melissa is an active volunteer with several associations including the Association for College Unions International (ACUI) and the National Association for Campus Activities (NACA) and has served in several regional and national volunteer roles. On-campus she serves as a Rowan 101 course instructor, as a long-standing member of the Rowan Thrive & University Well-being committee, and as a member of the Programming Council. More personally, Melissa is the proud mom to her son, Miles and daughter, Riley – as well as her dachshund Tater Tot. Melissa earned her Bachelor of Arts in English, Communication, and Political Science from Alvernia University in Reading, PA and her Master of Arts in Strategic Communication from George Mason University in Fairfax, VA.