Higher Education & Student Affairs Careers

Involvement on Campus is the First Step...

Without realizing it, many college students develop skills related to careers in higher education and student affairs. Student involvement in academic and social activities on campus as well as experiences as club leaders, CA/RA/RDs, campus government representatives, orientation leaders, research assistants, or work-study students all foster skills relevant to higher education and student affairs. Please use this page to explore the possibilities of a career in higher education or student affairs and contact any of the alumni or staff listed below if you have questions or the three primary contacts below.

- John Sauter, Ph.D., Assistant Dean for Academic Affairs, College of Arts & Sciences

- Student Affairs / Campus Activities / Office of Multicultural Affairs / Residence Life

Careers in Higher Education

Graduate Programs/Guides

Both ACPA and NASPA provide valuable information about student affairs careers including articles about the field, graduate school preparation and graduate program overviews. On the academic side of the house NACADA is a great resource for anyone interested in academic advising. The CAS Standards provide a set of guidelines and standards for the programs. As you explore the possibilities, be sure to get involved with some activities on campus, check in with Career Development for help with the application process and talk to people on campus who work in fields that interest you.

• ACPA’s Directory of Graduate Programs
• NASPA's Graduate Program Directory
• Student Affairs programs at GradSchools.com

• Professional Competency Areas for Student Affairs Educators

• Council for the Advancement of Standards (CAS) Standards

Explore the Field in SOC 260: Sociology of Higher Education

Niagara University is unique in offering a course exploring higher education at the undergraduate level. Taught by Dr. Sauter, this SS/CD course examines historical, social, cultural, and environmental issues in higher education. Emphasis is given to the changing nature of higher education, technology, social movements, campus cultures, diversity and multicultural issues. Students will critically engage with theory and challenges facing different student and professional populations within higher education.

NU Alumni/Staff

The following Niagara University alumni and staff have volunteered to speak with students about careers in higher education and student affairs. Any additional NU alumni or staff who wish to be added to the list or  update their contact information/positions should contact Dr. Sauter at jps@niagara.edu.

Buffalo State College (Master's)

• Amanda (Chapman) Casali -  alcasali@buffalo.edu  - NU Alumni
         Admissions Advisor, University at Buffalo
• Antonia Knight -  abk@niagara.edu  - NU Staff
         Executive Director, Division of Academic Services, Niagara University
• Stephanie Morris -  smorris@niagara.edu  - NU Staff
         Assistant Director, Career Services. Education, Niagara University
• Mati Ortiz -  mortiz@niagara.edu  - NU Staff
         Director, Campus Activities, Niagara University

Canisius College (Master's)

• Josh Coyne - jcoyne@sandiego.edu - NU Alumni
          Assistant Director for Associated Students, University of San Diego
• Daniel LaRosa - dlarosa@buffalo.edu - NU Alumni
         Admissions Advisor, University at Buffalo
• E.J. Gonser - edward.gonser@niagaracc.suny.edu - NU Alumni
         Director of Residence Life, NCCC
• Kathryn Marzec -  kam@niagara.edu  - NU Staff
         Advisor, Academic Exploration Program, Niagara University
• Bill Newton - wjn@niagara.edu - NU Staff
         Assistant Director, Campus Activities, Niagara University
• Nicole Piorkowski - Former NU Staff
         Assistant Director, Involvement Programs, Campus Labs

Kent State University (Master's)

• Ashlee Burrs - ashleeburrs@yahoo.com - NU Alumni
         Program Coordinator, Office of Civic Engagement & Diversity, University of Nevada: Las Vegas

Slippery Rock University (Master's)

• Sarah Georger - sarah.dobe@gmail.com / sgeorger@udel.edu - NU Alumna
         Program Coordinator, Co-Curricular Activity, Honors Program, University of Delaware

Springfield College (Master's) -  M.Ed. in Psychology: Student Personnel Admin Concentration

• Kristy Cragg Sokol - sokolk@mailbox.sc.edu - NU Alumna
        Community Enrichment Coordinator, Rochester Institute of Tech  

Syracuse University (Master's & Ph.D)

• Kelly Colangelo - klcolang@syr.edu - NU Alumna
         Youth Minister & Speaker, http://www.kellycolangelo.com/

University at Buffalo (Master's & Ph.D.)

• Dr. Jennifer Herman  - jennifer.herman@simmons.edu (Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration) - Former NU Staff
         Director of  the Center for Excellence in Teaching, Simmons College
• Dr. Teresa Miklitsch -  tam24@buffalo.edu  (Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration) - NU Alum
         Senior Academic Advisor, Engineering/Applied Sciences, University at Buffalo
• Dr. John Sauter - jps@niagara.edu (Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration) - NU Staff
         Assistant Dean for Academic Affairs, Niagara University
         Also M.Ed. University of Vermont (below)
• Christopher Sheffield - crs@niagara.edu - NU Alumnus/Staff
•         Assistant Vice President for Institutional Effectiveness and Student Affairs, Niagara University
• Jessica (Biegaj) Wangelin - jbiegaj@buffalo.edu (M.Ed., Ph.D. in Progress) - NU Alumna
         Community Relations Associate for Programming, University at Buffalo

University of Vermont (Master's)

• Dr. John Sauter - jps@niagara.edu (Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration) - NU Staff
         Assistant Dean for Academic Affairs, Niagara University
         Also  Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration, University at Buffalo (above)

College of William & Mary  (Master's & Ph.D.)

• Kelly (Knox) Walker - kmknox@wm.edu / kelly.walker@marquette.edu - NU Alumni
         Director of Community Service, Office of Student Development, Marquette University

Other Programs & Related Experience

• Stephanie Atti - attis@dyc.edu - NU Alumni
         Work experience through Financial Aid
         Academic Advisor, D'Youville College
• Dina Martin - djm@niagara.edu - NU Alumni/Staff
         Interdisciplinary Studies: Sociology/Student Affairs Focus
         Assistant Director, Admissions/Transfer Coordinator
• Bryan Semski - bsemski@niagara.edu - NU Alumni/Staff
        Mental Health Counseling, Niagara University
        Assistant Director, Admissions
• Michelle Semski - michelle.semski@yahoo.com - NU Alumna
         Interdisciplinary Studies: Student Affairs Focus
         Academic Advisor, Trocaire College