About Us

Beth joined the Division of Student Affairs in March of 2015 and is thrilled to be part of the Residence Life team. A graduate of Stony Brook University for both her bachelor's and master's, she has been in the field of Student Affairs for over 20 years working in areas such as Residence Life, Housing, Judicial Affairs, Social Justice, and First-Year Connections. Beth is committed to creating an engaging and transformative residential experience and is thankful to work at a university that is supportive of that mission. Outside work, Beth is a potter and abstract painter who also enjoys traveling with her husband Arthur. One of her favorite quotes is… “Travel is the only money spent that makes you richer.”

Novia is a proud Hofstra alum who arrived at the University as an international student from the island of Jamaica. She began her career in academia, working in the Division of Student Affairs.

As the Director of Operations with responsibility for occupancy management and facilities, Novia has oversight for on-campus housing assignment, as well as enhancing the student experience as part of the housing selection processes. She also oversees special projects to upgrade resident facilities (room and lounge areas). When not immersed in day-to-day activities, Novia can be found interacting with students through one of the Hofstra work groups or simply having conversations with students as she walks the residence halls. These interactions help Hofstra to create and promote an atmosphere conducive to learning and a rich campus experience.

Novia and her husband are parents to three young boys and she enjoys traveling along with a passion for track and field. A huge sports fan in general, Novia is an avid supporter of Arsenal, the Yankees, Jets, and Knicks.

Image

Kirwin joined the Residence Life team in January of 2022. A native Brooklynite, Kirwin left the city to get his undergraduate degree at Juniata College in Organizational Communication and Conflict Resolution. During his time at Juniata, he was involved in Intercultural programming, Admissions events, and the Juniata Activity Board. After attending a National Association of Campus Activities conference, Kirwin decided that Higher Ed was the career path for him and went to pursue a master's degree in College Student Personnel from Western Illinois University. At Western Illinois, he served as a graduate assistant in Graduate Student Life and Veterans Resources. Kirwin is excited to continue his journey within student affairs and explore Residence Life at Hofstra. Within the field, Kirwin has written for NASPA's New Professionals and Graduate Students blog detailing the challenges of being an autistic Student Affairs grad. He has also has worked a lot on the gamification of training and development. In his free time, Kirwin enjoys collecting board games, rewatching Parks and Recreation, and walking.

Formally a resident of Brooklyn NY, Samuel is excited to be a part of the Residence Life team at Hofstra. A graduate of SUNY College at Old Westbury with a bachelor's degree in Public Health, Samuel has a passion to help others and see them succeed in every aspect of their college career. As an undergraduate student, Samuel responded to the late-night request of his first-year students and it was during his time as a Resident Assistant where he developed a passion for the field of Student Affairs.  Samuel is currently the Resident Director for the Netherlands Complex, where he works with incoming students as well as Living Learning Communities (LLC) and the Faculty in Residence program. Samuel is excited to create a healthy and safe community for his residents with the assistance of his resident assistants. Outside of work, Samuel loves to go to the gym and cook for his family.

Chrissyann arrived at Hofstra in fall 2014 and wholeheartedly felt the positive energy, and the high level of professionalism and collaborative spirit shown by the entire Residential Life staff.  Prior to joining Residence Life, she worked for Long Island University as the Assistant Director of Internal Audit and then in the human resources office, specializing in compliance related issues. She also worked as a staff accountant for Grassi and Company, CPAs, one of the largest public accounting firms on Long Island. Chrissyann has always enjoyed student interaction and looks forward to shifting gears from the business end of higher education to engaging in promoting student growth, learning, and success.

Chrissyann is a proud alum of LIU Post where she earned her bachelor's degree in Public Accounting and Taxation. She also holds an MSEd in Higher Education Leadership and Policy Studies from Hofstra University.

Chrissyann and her husband John live on the South Shore of Long Island and are blessed to have three beautiful daughters. Their "second job" is taxiing the girls all over the tristate area for dance classes and competitions.

Raised in Montego Bay, Jamaica, Brittany came to Hofstra University and graduated with a BA in Psychology with a minor in Sociology. She then went on to complete her MSc in Clinical Psychology at the University of the West Indies in Kingston, Jamaica.

Brittany spent some time working in hospitals but decided to make the shift to Student Affairs. Her career started as an Area Coordinator at Hampshire College in Massachusetts, she then moved to Miami, Florida, and then came back home to the Hofstra Pride!

Brittany’s passion is helping students realize and actualize their goals and loves assisting with the residential experience of our students. While at Hofstra, Brittany was the VP of the Black Student Union and attended many functions and sporting events; she believes getting involved is the best way to enjoy your college experience. In her spare time, Brittany loves to cook, spend time with her family, and read self-help and inspirational books.

Jahleal was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. He attended the University of Bridgeport located in Bridgeport, Connecticut, where he obtained both his Bachelor of Psychology, as well as his Master of Counseling degrees, the latter with a concentration in College Student Personnel. Jahleal is excited to join the Hofstra team and is looking to make great student connections. He developed a love for student affairs while serving as an RA at the University of Bridgeport, where he later joined the professional staff as a resident director and residential life coordinator. In his free time, he loves spending time with his family and friends, playing video games, and binge-watching shows on Netflix or Hulu.

John hails from Columbia, Maryland. He graduated from Salisbury University with a bachelor’s degree in History and earned his master’s degree from Hofstra in the Higher Education Leadership and Policy Studies program.

As the Assistant Director of Operations, John oversees room furniture maintenance as well as maintenance requests and work orders in the residence halls. He is also involved in special projects to upgrade resident facilities (room and lounge areas). Outside of the daily routine, John likes conversing with students and, when possible, volunteering for on-campus events within the Division of Student Affairs.

In his spare time, John enjoys exercising, playing sports, watching Netflix, eating burrito bowls from Chipotle, and traveling. An avid sports fan, John supports the Orioles, Ravens, Capitals, Wizards, and the Liverpool Football Club.

Karen comes to the Residence Life team at Hofstra after many years at the American Council of Learned Societies. As the part-time receptionist in Res Life, she is delighted to continue working in academia. She is especially thrilled to be able to interact with students and their parents. One of her greatest joys is to be able to talk people of the ledge when they are extremely agitated over issues. Karen is a graduate of CUNY Lehman College with a bachelor's in Psychology and of CUNY Baruch College with a master's in Public Administration. She lives with her husband, Joe, their son, Joshua, and her 96-year-old strong mom, Beryl. Joshua is an awesome young man who currently attends The New School in New York City. His major is music and he is an amazing percussionist. They are extremely proud of him. Karen enjoys reading and playing and beating her friends on Words With Friends (her husband says “soon to be Words Without Friends”). She has also recently found a passion for cooking and is thoroughly enjoying hearing the sounds of happiness her family expresses over her culinary delights.

Image

Prior to joining the Hofstra Pride, Alex worked as a Resident Director at Concordia University Chicago. She received her M.Ed. in Higher Education with a concentration in Campus Culture from the University of Maine in 2020 where she worked in the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. She completed her B.A. in Cinema and TV Arts with a minor in Environmental Studies from Elon University in 2018. She is originally from Clinton, CT, just across the Sound, but has now lived in 5 different states including Connecticut, North Carolina, Maine, Illinois, and now New York!

Alex is excited to be working with the students in Nassau and Suffolk. In her free time, she enjoys playing the piano, attending Broadway shows, and exploring New York City!

Image

Doreen, from Orange County, New York, is a double Hofstra Alumna, she completed a Bachelor's, triple majoring in Political Science, Global Studies and Spanish, with a minor in Business. And a Master’s in Higher Education Leadership and Policy Studies. Currently she serves as a Resident Director at Hofstra University as well!

One of her favorite parts of working in Higher Education is being able to connect, guide, and create bonds with students all over campus, an aspect she is excited to pursue further in all her endeavors. During her free time you can find her mentoring youth in Pathfinders ages 9-18, laughing with family and friends, painting, listening to music or just being a ‘hype-man’ to all!

Image

Mallika has lived in major cities such as San Francisco, Mumbai, and East Brunswick. From coast to coast and across the globe, she considers herself an adventurer and a nomad. With a bachelor’s degree from Rutgers University, majoring in Psychology and Human Resource Management, she is currently enrolled as a graduate student in Hofstra’s Industrial & Organizational Psychology M.A. program.

Mallika has been drawn towards leadership roles from a very young age. She is committed to expanding her knowledge and experience in the industry by strengthening her communication and people operations management skills, building a safe community for all, and providing support where support is needed. She strives to help others learn how to continually become the best versions of themselves.

During her free hours, you can find Mallika reading novels, spending time with family, painting, or playing video games.

Image

Hi I'm Tyreek, I am from Brooklyn, New York. I attended Stony Brook University where I obtained my Bachelor's of Science in Psychology, Bachelor's of Arts in Sociology and my Master of Arts in Higher Education Administration. I am passionate about mental health and hope to continue my PhD research here at Hofstra!

Image

A Queens-born, Miami-raised third culture kid, Jade spent her whole life moving around from state to state and country to country, including Haiti, Ecuador, France, Switzerland, and Spain. As the daughter of a diplomat, she spent the majority of her life traveling and immersing herself in different cultures.

Prior to joining Hofstra Pride, Jade was working for Residence Life at various institutions including Colgate University as the Graduate Area Director of Junior and Senior Living and an Assistant Residential Coordinator at Binghamton University, where She received her Master of Science in Student Affairs Administration. Before that, she received her Bachelor of Science at Buffalo State University in Educational and Social Psychology with a minor in Women and Gender Studies. As a first-generation American-born Haitian, she has spent her educational tenure supporting other first-generation students to succeed in higher education spaces.

In Jade's free time, she enjoys various hobbies including travel planning, reading books, baking banana bread, and watching medical and crime dramas. She is an avid traveler, given her upbringing, and has visited 19 countries so far and plans to visit more! Feel free to ask her for travel tips.

Image

Latoya Holmes was born and raised in Harlem, NY. She graduated from Hofstra in 2023 with her Bachelor’s of Business Administration in Management. She’s excited to return back to the Pride as a GRD. Latoya was a student in the New Opportunities at Hofstra (NOAH) Scholars Program. She is currently enrolled in the Master’s program in Higher Education Leadership and Policy Studies.
While at Hofstra, Latoya was a NOAH Scholars Aide, Resident Safety Supervisor, Resident Assistant, and President of the Xi Gamma Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated. Latoya is happy to be back in the Office of Residence Life, in which she looks to add her contributions to a vibrant and engaging campus community. Outside of work, Latoya loves to travel and create memories with her family and friends.

Image

Born and raised in the beautiful island of St. Lucia, Desray moved to New York to pursue a degree in Computer Science and Cybersecurity at Hofstra University and is currently working towards a Master’s in Health Informatics. With a passion for both technology and student development, Desray has found residence life to be an exciting career path, and is hoping to find a bridge between the two. Since 2022, she has served in various roles, including Resident Assistant (RA), Senior Resident Assistant (SRA), and now Graduate Resident Director of The Netherlands Complex.
Outside of academics and work, Desray loves to travel, stay active at the gym, and enjoy quality time with family. A fun fact she always loves to share is that she's proudly represented St. Lucia in the 100m track and field event on multiple occasions, including at The CARIFTA Games, one of the largest junior athletics events in the Caribbean. Known for her friendly nature, Desray enjoys talking to and developing close-knit relationships with the people around her, bringing warmth and energy to the Hofstra community.

Image

Aleyana Boothe is the Assistant Resident Director of Colonial Square. She is a student in the Urban Ecology Master's Program with an interest in access to environmental education opportunities for youth of color. While in undergrad at Hofstra she majored in Urban Ecology and minored in Sustainability Studies. She also held roles/positions such as President of LEAF Club, Programming Chair for SGA, Student Representative for the Hofstra Family Garden, and member of the Environmental Priorities Committee of University Senate. In her free time she likes to write, craft, listen to music, watch TV, and recently picked up learning the piano.
Her office is located inside the Colonial Square RA Office - Dover House 513A.
Email: Aleyana.G.Boothe@hofstra.edu
Phone: (516) 463-6909

Image

Liliana was born and raised in Colorado. She is a proud triple Hofstra alumna, having earned a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry, a Master of Science in Education in Higher Education Leadership and Policy Studies, and a Master of Arts in Forensic Linguistics.

While Liliana has served various roles in higher education, including in communications, events, recruitment, and safety, she currently serves Hofstra as the Associate Director of Resident Success. She enjoys leading a team of about 100 student employees and loves supporting her students through their various endeavors and achievements.

In Liliana’s free time, she enjoys various hobbies including hiking, running, camping, baking, attending festivals, and all things crime. She is an avid traveler and always has a trip planned.

Image

Simran Jaswal is the Resident Director of Nassau/Suffolk Hall at Hofstra University. Before her position at Hofstra University, she worked as the Campus Education Coordinator at the Safe Center LI. Simran completed her Master's in Public Administration with an Advanced Certification in Emergency Management from John Jay College of Criminal Justice. Before her master's, she received a bachelor's degree in Criminology and Political Science also from John Jay College. Outside of work, she is a professional dancer with expertise in Bollywood fusion and Bhangra. She currently is the head coach of the Bollywood Fusion team Jashan & Co. She is a big foodie and loves trying new cuisines!

The National Residence Hall Honorary (NRHH) is composed of only the top 1% of on-campus residents who exemplify the qualities of an outstanding student leader. Induction into NRHH is by nomination and application only. Admission is based on actions and achievements within the four pillars recognized by NRHH: academics, recognition, community, service, and leadership. The purpose of NRHH is to maintain and honor these four pillars, as well as recognize those residing in on-campus housing who uphold certain academic standards and who act as leaders within their community. Lastly, NRHH promotes activities that will improve the leadership qualities of Hofstra University residents. For more information please contact hofstranrhh@gmail.com. If you know someone who exemplifies these qualities and you would like to nominate them to be a member of NRHH, email hofstranrhh@gmail.com for a nomination form.

Submit an OTM by the first of each month to recognize a great program, community or individual at https://otms.nrhh.org