First-Generation Faculty & Staff Directory

Faculty

Name	Email Address	Job Title	Advice for Students

Roberta “Bobbi” Kyle	rkyle@worcester.edu	Associate Vice President for Continuing Education/ Dean of Graduate Studies, Division of Graduate and Continuing Education	Ask questions, lots of questions. Do not try to go it alone. We are here for you.
Amber Vayo	avayo@worcester.edu	Adjunct Professor of Law, History and Political Science	Make connections with faculty and staff. Help people get to know you so that they can help you connect with education, internship, and job opportunities in your field. Don’t be afraid to ask for help, clarity, or compassion. Worcester State can be a great place to find your footing and decide where you want to go, and there are a lot of us on campus who are happy to help you. We also have a great alumni network that likes to see WSU alumni succeed.
Amy Cota-McKinley	acota@worcester.edu	Professor, Department Chair, Psychology	My journey wasn’t a straight line. I was a good student who found comfort in grades, but I didn’t have my future mapped out. I took chances, changed direction, worked hard, and had people along the way who encouraged me to keep going. I’m in my 25th year at Worcester State University, I get to help guide a department and support students who are figuring out their own paths. You don’t have to be the most confident person in the room. You don’t have to know what you want to be for the rest of your life. You don’t even have to believe you can do everything you’re dreaming about right now. Start where you are, take the next step, do the work, and let yourself grow. You might be surprised by where you end up.
Caitlin Krul	ckrul@worcester.edu	Associate Professor, Mathematics	Ask questions! Faculty are here to support you and guide you. If you are unsure of what something means or where to find a resource on campus, just ask one of your professors. You can succeed here and you will be a strong role model for the younger generations in your family!
Charles R Fox	cfox@worcester.edu	Professor, Psychology	Education teaches you how to make a life, not simply make a living. Many of the jobs you train for today won’t exist by the time you graduate; and many you’ve never heard of will be ones you hold throughout your career. Don’t handicap yourself by narrowly defining education as job training. Learn, Explore, Enjoy!!!
Kym Meyer	kym.meyer@worcester.edu	Assistant Professor, Speech-Language-Hearing Sciences	1. Find Your Community. Surround yourself with people who will support you throughout your college experience. Your community might include family (by blood or by choice), friends, classmates, and faculty or staff who become mentors. Find the people who encourage you, support you, and help you navigate the challenges along the way. 2. Ask for Help. WSU faculty and staff are here to support you, but you don’t have to wait until something becomes difficult to reach out. Ask questions, seek advice, and make sure you understand what’s expected of you, whether it’s an assignment, a process, or an opportunity. Asking for help isn’t a sign of weakness; it’s part of learning how to navigate college successfully. 3. Tell Your Story. Your experiences, perspectives, and the path that brought you here are uniquely yours. Your story matters, and sharing it can help others feel seen, understood, and less alone. We need to hear each other’s stories because that’s how we learn from one another and build community.
Lisa Winnona (Crowton) Greenwald	lgreenwald@worcester.edu	Adjunct Professor, Education Department	Share your journey with other family members, aunts, uncles, cousins, siblings, your parent/caregiver. They become excited about your experiences. Seek support as needed, not just academic support, seek emotional support, financial support…You will find colleges have great resources available and want to keep you in college.
Margarita Perez	mperez@worcester.edu	Professor, Education	Ask questions, manage your time and read assignments
Mark Beaudry	mbeaudry2@worcester.edu	Associate Professor, Criminal Justice	Diversify your courses to be more globally aware. Complete an internship.
Nicole Rosa	nrosa@worcester.edu	Professor of Psychology/Director of Honors, Psychology	Go to office hours and get to know your faculty outside of class
Riley McGuire	rmcguire@worcester.edu	Associate Professor, English Department	Get to know your faculty! We are resources to help you succeed, so don’t be shy about asking questions and building relationships with us. Go to office hours to talk about a class, but also your larger academic and personal aspirations.
Stephen Minichiello	stevemin@charter.net	Adjunct Teacher, Communications	Seize This Opportunity For A Lifetime Of Rewards!
Sue Foo	sfoo@worcester.edu	Professor, Chair of Education Department	Be curious about everything and never be afraid to ask questions. Surround your people who can support you.
Susan Monaghan	smonaghan@worcester.edu	Associate Professor, Education	Ask for help. Make time to make connections with other students. Attend office hours. Explain to your family that attending college is a full time job, but some of it you do from home – my family still thinks I work part time because I can do some of my job from home.
Tallia E. Annese	tannese@worcester.edu	Adjunct Professor, Biology & Chemistry	Learn as much as you can about all that you can. You are responsible for your education and building your future. Be thoughtful and mindful as you move through your days, be present. “Success is the sum of small efforts repeated day in and day out” – Robert Collier
William Hansen	whansen@worcester.edu	Professor, Earth Environment and Physics	A college degree is their first big investment, they need to maximize the return by getting involved in activities and creating relationships with students, staff and faculty

Staff

Name	Email Address	Job Title	Advice for Students

Amy MacGlashing	amacglashing@worcester.edu	Pathway Advisor, Academic Success Center	Actively use the campus resources provided to you and build a support network that you can rely on for help and guidance as you navigate college.
Angela Economou	aeconomou@worcester.edu	Accountant I, Student Accounts/One Card	My best advice for a first generation college student would be to remember you can’t do everything yourself, you are part of a community and should utilize on campus resources, don’t be afraid to ask questions or reach out for help. Be sure to attend classes consistently and make connections both personal and professional. Most importantly, believe in yourself and be proud of your accomplishments. Don’t be afraid to ask for help, and never let challenges discourage you from reaching your goals.
Benjamin Concepcion	bconcepcion@worcester.edu	Assistant Director, Student engagement, Career Development Center	You have a “figureout-ability” super power that others don’t have the up-bringing to develop. Learn to recognize it and turn it on.
Carla Orellana	corellana@worcester.edu	Director/Project Manager, Gambling Prevention Program, University and Community Engagement	Despite the responsibilities you have and the guilt you could feel for doing so, put yourself first- your needs, your hopes, your dreams. I received this same advice as a first-gen student and still carry it with me everyday.
Casey Higgins	cbrown23@worcester.edu	Area Coordinator, Residence Life and Housing	Being a first-generation college student can sometimes feel like you are carrying the hopes, dreams, and expectations of so many people on your shoulders. You may feel as though your success represents more than just your own accomplishments, and that can be an overwhelming responsibility to carry. While it is meaningful to recognize the people who have supported you and the doors you may be opening for others, remember that your educational journey is just that — yours. You get to define what success looks like, how you experience college, and the ways you grow along the way. Your path does not have to look like anyone else’s, and you do not have to have everything figured out to belong in this space.
Catherine “Kerry” Popp	cpopp@worcester.edu	Clerk V, Chemistry and Earth, Environment & Physics	Be persistent. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. If I don’t know the answer, I keep asking until I find someone who does know the answer.
Danielle Sullivan Douglas	ddouglas1@worcester.edu	Program Coordinator/Advisor, TRIO SSS/Office of Multicultural Affairs	Remember that you are not alone; 53% of WSU students are first-gen, and many faculty and staff are, too. Being the first in your family to navigate college can sometimes feel overwhelming, especially when it seems like everyone else already knows what to do. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, seek support, and connect with the people and resources around you, including the TRIO SSS program. You are not expected to have all the answers. Asking for help is not a weakness—it is one of the most important skills you can develop as a college student. There is a community of people who want to see you succeed, so give yourself permission to lean on that community and know that you belong here.
Delaney Parke	dparke1@worcester.edu	International Student Advisor, International Programs	Give yourself grace on this journey. You’re paving a path that wasn’t laid out for you, and with that will undoubtedly come some bumps along the way. Remember that life isn’t linear. No matter what stage of life you’re currently in or the challenges you face during this time, do not get discouraged. You are doing your best, and you are doing it bravely. Let yourself be proud and celebrate your wins—what you are doing here is no small feat.
Helen G. Rehberg	hrehberg@worcester.edu	Assistant Clinical Coordinator, Department of Speech-Language-Hearing Sciences	Be proud of yourself. Believe in yourself and those around you. You belong here!
Kathleen Orengo	korengo@worcester.edu	Manager of Programs Latino Education Institute	Do not let your current circumstances define your future! You have the power to achieve your dreams!
Kathleen Rogan	krogan@worcester.edu	Staff Associate, Enrollment Management & Governance Secretary, Enrollment Management	Befriend at least one professor and one staff member. You will learn things you never knew to ask about and you will be given opportunities that you didn’t know existed. Before you know it, these people will be your professional references and perhaps even your colleagues.
Kathryn Kraszeski	kkraszeski@worcester.edu	Pathway Advisor, Academic Success Center	Build relationships with your professors: Introduce yourself and attend office hours. They can offer valuable academic support, career advice, recommendations, and encouragement. You don’t have to wait until something goes wrong to connect with them.
Kathy A Cole	kcole@worcester.edu	Administrative Assistant, Speech Language Hearing Sciences Dept and Center	Have fun but study hard. Taking good notes in your classes and being organized are very inportant to your success. If you need help, ask. There are many resources at WSU for you to use.
Laxmi Bissoondial	lbissoondial@worcester.edu	Assistant Dean, Office of Multicultural Affairs	“Don’t do it alone. Find your community here; find professors to mentor you, and don’t be afraid to seek out support when you need it.”
Lois Wims	lwims@worcester.edu	Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs	Be open to mentoring where you find it: siblings, faculty, professionals in the career you are interested in
Maria Isabel Urbina	maribel.urbina@worcester.edu	Assistant Director of Institutional Research, Institutional Assessment & Planning	Being first-generation is not a disadvantage in your ability to succeed. It simply means you may have to learn some of the unwritten rules that other students already know. Take care of your finances, create a strong support system and give yourself permission to make mistakes. Persevere…
Naomi Brown-Jones	njones6@worcester.edu	Program Director, TRIO Student Support Services (SSS)	Always read your emails because you never know what hidden opportunities your may come across; and Never hesitate to ask for help because your community at WSU is here to support you.
Sandra LaCroix	slacroix3@worcester.edu	Criminal Justice Secretary, Criminal Justice	There are resources here to assist you in every aspect of your college journey. WSU faculty and staff expect and encourage you to ask questions and ask for help along the way; our job is to see you succeed and we will give you all the tools you need to do that.
Sarah Strout	sstrout@worcester.edu	Assistant Vice President for Assessment & Planning, Institutional Assessment & Planning	Learn the system: Read the catalog and handbook to familiarize yourself with policies so you understand your options and responsibilities. Build relationships before you need them: Don’t underestimate the value of visiting your professors, especially during office hours. As a former professor, I can tell you that we genuinely appreciate students stopping by, even just to say hello. Advocate for yourself: Never hesitate to ask questions or seek clarification. I guarantee other students have the same questions.
Telese Forbes	Tforbes@worcester.edu	Director, The Graduate School, Graduate and Continuing Education	Your path in life is unique to you. Do not expect it to always mirror, be understood, or accepted by those around you.
Thuong Ngoc Nguyen	tnguyen89@worcester.edu	Clerk IV, Multicultural Affairs	You have time to explore your interests in college, might as well try, embrace the lessons, and keep moving forward.