Lisa Abreu Morel serves as the Director of Advising and Student Success at the Center for Student Success and Educator Excellence in the College for Education and Engaged Learning. With over 20 years of experience in higher education, she has devoted her career to empowering students as they navigate both academic and personal growth. Lisa is deeply committed to fostering student success, persistence, and well-being, and she views the Penn Resilience Program as an extension of that mission. She appreciates the program’s practical, accessible strategies and looks forward to integrating them into classes, workshops, and everyday advising conversations to help students build confidence, resilience, and a strong foundation for their future.
Rosy Bido is an Academic Advisor in the College for Education & Engaged Learning. Rosy has over 20 years of Higher Education experience and had the privilege of attending the Human Flourishing conference Summer 2024. After completing the Penn Resilience Train the Trainer series Rosy had the opportunity to incorporate Penn Resilience into the Repeaters section of New Student Seminar Spring 2026 and select/facilitate two lessons deemed valuable for our students out of the many resources Penn Resilience provided. Rosy looks forward to the progress and new opportunities ahead with this initiative.
Nicole Conklin Hi, I’m Dr. Conklin, Assistant Teaching Professor in the Psychology Department and Coordinator for the Online Psychology Program. I took this course because I am dedicated to helping our students be not only the best possible student, but the best version of themselves outside the classroom as well. My favorite module within the program is “Optimistic Mindset” because it challenges our preconceived thoughts about what optimism is, and introduces the notion that problem solving is a helpful tool in shifting our mindset. Honorable mention module: “Joy Multiplier” :).
Dwight Ceballo, M.A. has served as the Academic Advisor for Athletics at Montclair since January 2024, supporting all 19 varsity sports and nearly 600 student-athletes through scheduling, workshops, and academic campaigns. With a master’s in Clinical Psychology (Forensic concentration) from Montclair State University and experience as a Division I soccer player at UConn, he brings a strong foundation in counseling and research. He joined the Penn Resilience Program to refine and expand methods for supporting at-risk students, immediately applying insights to his Pathways to Success course and the Hawks Helping Hawks (3H) group he co-leads with the College of Community Health professor Dr. Challenger, focusing on academic, athletic, mental/emotional regulation, career exploration, and personal growth. His favorite module is Optimistic Mindset, which teaches practical strategies to build optimism and understand its true meaning.
Marshal Chaifetz, a first-generation college graduate, is the Grants Manager for the College for Education and Engaged Learning. Prior to joining Montclair, he was a Clinical Associate Professor of Public Administration and Law in the School of Government and International and the Grants and Contracts Coordinator for the College of Humanities and Social Sciences at Kennesaw State University, the Director of the Upward Bound program at Indiana University – Bloomington and worked at the Law School Admission Council. He has served as a Panel Coordinator, Facilitator and Reviewer participating in over 100 grant review sessions for 5 different federal agencies, taught graduate courses on grant writing and development and authored federal grants totaling over $2 million. In addition to being a Penn Resilience Program Trainer he is a Mental Health First Aid Instructor. He was once thanked in the same album liner notes as Bruce Springsteen. While they have never been seen together, there is no truth to the rumor that he is, in fact, Batman.
Kyle Courter is an Academic Advisor at Montclair State University, where he has served since August 2021. Prior to joining Montclair, he worked as the Assistant Director of Advising at Bloomfield College. Kyle has been involved in the Human Flourishing Initiative, including a visit to the University of Wisconsin, Madison in Summer 2024, and currently collaborates with Penn Resilience through New Student Seminar courses at Montclair State University.
Samantha Coyle-Eastwick is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at MSU and director of the Promoting Student Success research lab. Dr. Coyle-Eastwick is excited to support students here at Montclair by sharing evidence-based strategies included in the Penn Resilience Program to help build resilience and support healthy coping for students dealing with stress.
Jonnine DeLoatch is the Assistant Dean of Student Belonging. Jonnine is excited to serve as a facilitator for the Penn Resilience Program. Jonnine believes this program will help students at Montclair learn effective strategies to enhance their collegiate journey. Her favorite module is the Optimistic Mindset.
Elenice DeSouza Oliveira is an Associate Professor in the Justice Studies and a HEAL Faculty Fellow dedicated to Human Flourishing. Her work supports students in cultivating sustainable flourishing through awareness, connection, and purposeful action. Dr. Oliveira is passionate about teaching real-time resilience practices, helping learners work skillfully with thinking patterns, avoid thinking traps, and savor positive experiences. Through this work, she invites students to develop inner strengths that foster clarity, agency, and compassion as they navigate challenges.
Romayne Eaker-Kelly is currently serving as the Deputy Director of Athletics and Director of Recreation. I have over 40 years of experience in athletics and municipal recreation management. I specialize in strategic program development and facility oversight in both higher education and municipal settings. I have a proven track record of enhancing community engagement through innovative wellness initiatives and inclusive recreational programs. Served as the President of the New Jersey Recreation and Park Association. My commitment to promoting health and well-being is reflected in my leadership of diverse teams and my advocacy for recreation as a vital component of the student experience. I look forward to providing students with the many modules provided to us through the Pen Resilience Program. My favorite module is the “Optimistic Mindset.”
Milton Fuentes is a professor of psychology and a licensed psychologist. He is committed to student wellbeing and strives to bring empirically-validated strategies into the classroom and his research lab. When he is not at Montclair, you can typically find him on the pickle ball court.
Joaly Garcia is a lecturer in the Spanish and Latino Studies Department and the Spanish Language Program Coordinator. Prior to joining Montclair, Professor García worked as an instructional designer for leading Canadian companies, where she specialized in developing innovative training programs to help the Spanish community enhance their business skills. García’s research interests focus on the intersection of language learning and educational technology. Her passion for helping students acquire language skills has led her to develop innovative teaching methods that combine traditional approaches with cutting-edge technologies. Her cultural sensitivity and student-centered approach foster a supportive and inclusive learning environment.
Peter Hosick is a Professor in the department of kinesiology. He studies how physical activity influences various body systems to better understand its impact on chronic health conditions. He is passionate about physical activity because it supports physical, mental, social and emotional well-being. He believes the same about the Penn Resilience program and is excited to be part of the team bringing it to Montclair.
Amanda Jimenez is an Academic Advisor for transfer students in the Educational Foundations major and a Teacher Education Program Advisor in the College for Education and Engaged Learning’s Center for Student Success and Educator Excellence. Amanda has been at Montclair since early 2022 and has been in her role as an advisor since 2025. In addition to her role as an Advisor, Amanda also instructs GNED 199, and hopes to impart Penn Resilience skills and techniques to her students.
Sharon Lai-LaGrotteria, Ph.D., is the Assistant Director of Supplemental Instruction at the Center for Academic Success and Tutoring (CAST). With a passion for teaching, Dr. Lai has worked with diverse student populations, from K-12 to graduate levels, both locally and internationally. As a Teacher Educator and Supervisor of 69 Supplemental Instructors, she hopes to apply strategies from the Penn Resilience Program by fostering an Optimistic Mindset and acting as a Joy Multiplier to support students in achieving their academic and personal goals.
Marcela Lindo – Marcela Lindo started at Montclair State as a Program Associate in 2019. In July 2020, she began to serve as a Program Advisor for the Teacher Education Program students in the College for Education and Engaged Learning’s Center for Student Success and Educator Excellence. Prior to beginning her career in higher education, Marcela worked in various industries including banking, human resources, and healthcare. Marcela joined the Penn Resilience Program because of her long time interest in the field of Psychology. She enjoys being a joy multiplier for her students and looks forward to incorporating the teachings into future group advising sessions.
Jordanna Maziarz is the Senior Director of Undergraduate Admissions and has been part of the Montclair community since 2015. She is also a third-year doctoral student studying Family Science and Human Development at Montclair, focusing on issues of education access and equity. She feels the Penn Resilience Program and the field of neuroplasticity provide important skills for individuals across the lifespan to navigate challenges, improve well-being and increase capacity for effecting change. Her favorite skills from the program to use in her life and teaching others include savoring positive emotions, developing an optimistic mindset, the reach out roster and strategies for putting things into perspective.
Hezal Patel, Ph.D., is the Director for Academic Success Programs and is an advocate for student success. She has mentored many college students through challenges in her 25 years of experience in higher education, which is why she decided to participate in the Penn Resilience Program (PRP). The PRP training has provided her the ability to teach resilience skills to help guide students toward success and she is implementing the program in her ADVS 198: Pathways to Success course. Hezal’s favorite module is Optimistic Mindset because it provides strategies on how to reframe thoughts and actions for more positive outcomes and personal well-being.
Joseph Perez serves as the Assistant Director for Tutoring & Peer Academic Coaching at the Center for Academic Success & Tutoring (CAST) at Montclair State University. In this role, he collaborates with both undergraduate and graduate students to provide high quality tutoring and peer academic coaching services. The Penn Resilience program is a phenomenal opportunity to provide professional development for his staff, fostering the development of positive habits and essential soft skills to promote student academic success.
Patricia Piroh is the Director of Production Services and Technology, overseeing Broadcast and Media Operations (BMO), where she supports students’ academic and professional success through hands-on collaboration with industry professionals. Her production work spans news, sports, and drama, including election coverage; the Democratic and Republican National Conventions; two Winter Olympic Games; and the New York City Marathon. She has worked with NBC, ABC, CBS, and PBS, co-producing the award-winning documentary A Ripple in the Water: Healing Through Art, and her work has been recognized by numerous festivals, including the Cinema Verite, Global Peace and the South African International Film Festivals. She holds an MA in Communication and has 25 years of teaching experience in studio, production, and senior capstone courses. The UPenn Resilience Program has been incredibly beneficial in my life, and I’ve already seen its impact on students through a recent workshop I conducted. Favorite module: Thinking Traps!
Natalia Pizarro-Valencia serves as an Academic Advisor for the College for Community Health. As a proud first-generation college graduate turned professional counselor in the field of higher education, she is dedicated to promoting student learning and development by working from a student-centered approach. Skilled in academic advising and working with at-risk students, she decided to participate in the Penn Resilience Program (PRP) in order to strengthen her ability to support students’ academic and personal growth. She hopes to continue utilizing the tools and skills learned in the PRP training to effectively support students.
Michelle Shanahan serves as a Program Advisor for Teacher Education Program students in the College for Education and Engaged Learning’s Center for Student Success and Educator Excellence. Michelle is a Co-chair of the GNED 199 New Student Seminar Redesign Committee in addition to serving as an instructor for the course and is assisting with implementing Penn Resilience in GNED 199 through a pilot program in GNED 199’s repeater sections. Prior to her current roles at Montclair State University, Michelle was a School Counselor in Newark Public Schools and Ewing Public Schools.
Jamie Wisniewski-Stec is an Assistant Teaching Professor in the Feliciano School of Business, where she teaches Strategic Business Communication. A proud Red Hawk at both the undergraduate and graduate level, she has served the university in many roles—including student employee, adjunct, and now full-time faculty. Jamie began teaching at 25 and has built her career around one core mission: connection, confidence, and inspiration. As a first-generation high school graduate and former transfer student, she knows firsthand how challenging it can be to navigate college without support, which is why she took this training—to give back what she once needed and help future students soar.
Andre White is an academic advisor in the Department of Art & Design where he has held this position for 7 years. He has 25 years experience in academic advising, 18 of which have been at Montclair State University. He is excited to be a facilitator in the Penn Resilience Program (PRP) helping students maneuver life’s stressful situations. Andre plans to incorporate the teachings of the program into the GNED-199 New Student Seminar and his work with various student leaders in the College of the Arts and Department of Art & Design.