Student Development Team Profiles

MassBay offers student activities, student engagement, and student services. Get involved!

Kate Basch

Student Development

Assistant Director of Career Services

Kate Basch Kate Basch joined the MassBay community in 2015 and currently serves as the Assistant Director of Career Services. In this role, she supports students with all aspects of career development and planning. Kate enjoys helping students recognize their strengths, investigate options, and prepare for and achieve satisfying careers. Kate holds a Master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling and Expressive Arts Therapies from Lesley University and a Bachelor’s degree from Wesleyan University.
kbasch@massbay.edu

Sabrina Beach

Student Development

Professional Network Mentor Manager

Sabrina Beach is a proud MassBay alum. She is also a Framingham State University alum where she earned her Bachelor of Arts Psychology degree in May 2022. Sabrina returned to MassBay in January 2023 as the Professional Network Mentor Manager for Career Services. In this role, she runs a MassBay mentoring program and helps students navigate mentoring opportunities and connect with professionals.
sbeach@massbay.edu

Elizabeth Blumberg

Student Development

Vice President of Student Development and Dean of Student

Dr. Liz Blumberg has been at MassBay since 2000, where she first served as the Director of Counseling Services. Dr. Blumberg received her Bachelor’s degree from William Smith College, her Master’s Degree from Wesleyan University and Tufts University and her doctorate in clinical psychology from the Massachusetts School of Professional Psychology.
eblumberg@massbay.edu

Jenny Cavallerano

Student Development

Support Specialist

 Jenny M. Cavallerano, a support specialist for basic needs, joined the MassBay Student Development Team in Spring 2023. She connects with students to understand their needs and shares campus and community resources. Jenny earned a bachelor’s degree in English and Psychology from the University of Rochester and a Master’s Degree in Education from Simmons College.

jcavallerano@massbay.edu

Josh Cheney

Student Development

Associate Dean of Students

Josh Cheney is the Associate Dean of Students at MassBay Community College. In his role as Associate Dean of Students, Josh works with students from all three (Ashland, Framingham, and Wellesley) MassBay campuses. Josh provides direct services to students outside of the classroom, including general counseling, crisis intervention, educational programming and student conduct. Josh earned his undergraduate (Hotel & Restaurant Management) and master’s degree (Industrial/Organizational Psychology) at the University of New Haven, in West Haven, CT. Josh has been working with college students since his first year as a Resident Assistant in 1996.

jcheney@massbay.edu

Abby Detweiler

Student Development

Title III Grant - Project Administrator

Abby Detweiler has been MassBay’s Title III Grant - Project Administrator since February of 2019. In her role she helps to manage the grant budget and project activities. She received a Bachelor of Arts in American Studies from Wellesley College and a Master of Arts in Teaching (elementary education) from Simmons College.
adetweiler@massbay.edu

Jon Edwards

Student Development

Assistant Dean of Counseling Services

Jon Edwards is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and a graduate of Assumption College’s Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology. Jon began working in the mental health field in 1996 as a Counselor in a residential rehabilitation treatment program for adults and later worked as a Counselor in the Student Development and Counseling Center at Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Jon came to MassBay in September of 2004 and enjoys working with the diverse needs of our students.
jedwards@massbay.edu

Marybeth Fletcher, LCSW

Student Development

Case Manager/Resource Specialist

Marybeth Fletcher joined MassBay in January 2020 as a case manager and resource specialist. In her role at MassBay, she assists students experiencing food and housing insecurities and other obstacles inhibiting student’s success in the classroom. Marybeth has a Master’s degree in Social Work from Boston College and a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Sociology from the University of Delaware.
mfletcher@massbay.edu

Julie Ginn

Student Development

Director of Career Services

Julie Ginn has been the Director of Career Services at MassBay since 2008. Julie’s education and work experience have given her a broad background in counseling and guiding others toward achieving their academic and personal goals. Her past roles include working in city environments as a high school English teacher, minority transfer counselor, college preparatory director, life skills teacher, and student success programs director. She has worked primarily with prospective first generation college students, helping them deal with the realities and challenges of career planning and building. Julie also oversees MassBay’s mentoring programs on and off campus. Julie has a Bachelor’s degree in Management from Johnson & Wales University and a Master’s degree in Education from Suffolk University.

jginn@massbay.edu

Richie Haskell

Student Development

Executive Administrator for Student Development

Richie Haskell joined MassBay Community College in 2022 and is the Executive Administrator for Student Development. In this role, Richie assists with the offices within Student Development, including the Dean of Students, Athletics, Career Services, Counseling, Immunization Compliance, Student Engagement, Student Resources, and Veteran and Military Services. Richie received his Bachelor’s degree in Education and History from Franklin Pierce University.

rhaskell1@massbay.edu

David M. Lee

Student Development

Counselor

David M. Lee is a Mental Health Counselor who joined the MassBay Student Development Team in the Summer of 2023. David recently graduated from Lesley University with a Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and is currently working toward his independent license. David meets with students individually, while also working to provide group programing for students at the Wellesley and Framingham Campuses. Additionally, David is currently MassBay’s Unified Sports Head Coach and works to support students with and without intellectual disabilities as they practice and play sports as members of the same team.

John Martin

Student Development

Coordinator of Veteran & Military Services

John Martin joined MassBay in 2018 as the Admissions Recruitment Counselor. This position emphasized assisting future students in finding the path to achieve their desired educational goals. He is involved in the Multicultural Mentoring and the Community Outreach programs. In January 2022, John accepted the role as the Coordinator, Veteran & Military Services. He retired from the U.S. Army weeks before being employed by MassBay; the roles, responsibilities, and experiences while in uniform tempered his resolve to place the needs of others before his own John knows how higher education can impact the status of individual and future generations. The shared goal of the Veteran & Military Services office is to provide every Veteran, Service Member, or Dependent family member with the finest service possible to help that individual improve their status. John holds two Associate Degrees, a bachelor’s degree, and a Master’s of Science in Leadership.

jmartin@massbay.edu

Elysia Johnson

Student Development

Assistant Coordinator of Student Engagement

Elysia Johnson joined MassBay in August of 2022 as Assistant Coordinator of Student Engagement and currently assists in event planning, student clubs and organizations, and student programming. Elysia received her Bachelor of Science in Psychology and a Bachelor of Arts in Studio Arts from Bridgewater State University, where she also began working in Higher Education as an Orientation Leader.

ejohnson@massbay.edu

Fabiola Mendez-Torres

Student Development

Workforce Training Coordinator

Fabiola Mendez-Torres originally joined MassBay as a first-generation college student and is now a proud alumni and employee. She graduated from MassBay with two associate degrees and then transferred to Framingham State to receive a bachelor’s in Psychology. She has returned to MassBay as the Workforce Training Coordinator for Career Services.

fmendeztorres@massbay.edu

Adam Nelson

Student Development

Director of Athletics

Adam Nelson joined the MassBay staff in May 2016 where he first served as the Associate Director of Athletics, Recreation & Wellness. Adam has recently received a Master's Degree (M.S.) in Strategic Communication from Arkansas State University. Adam has over twenty years of experience in college athletics, having served as an NCAA DI Assistant Basketball Coach and an NCAA DIII Head Basketball Coach. He also spent ten years as an Assistant Director of Athletics at a DIII school and has successfully run his own business in the sports media world. Adam is a Boston College graduate who enjoys travelling in his spare time with his wife and four kids.
anelson@massbay.edu

Anna M. Pilkington

Student Development

Veterans Administrator

GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government Web site at https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.

Anna M Pilkington joined MassBay in January 2021 as, a COVID 19 Response Administrator. In August 2021 she transferred to her current role as Veterans Administrator. In her role at MassBay, she certifies veteran’s GI Bill benefits. Anna has a Master’s degree in Patient Safety Leadership from University of Illinois – Chicago and a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Rhode Island College.

apilkington@massbay.edu

Jessica Post

Student Development

Personal Counselor

Jessica Post received her Master of Social Work from the University of Michigan in 1997. Upon graduating she worked at Boysville of Michigan with individuals and their families in the residential treatment program. In Massachusetts, Jessica worked at Children's Hospital Boston starting in 1999 as the Social Worker in the Endocrine Program working with individuals with diabetes and other chronic medical conditions. In September 2016, Jessica started at MassBay as the Personal Counselor on the Framingham Campus and she is inspired every day by the incredible array of strengths of the MassBay student body.

jpost@massbay.edu

Julie Schleicher

Student Development

Coordinator of Orientation and Student Engagement

Julie Schleicher joined the MassBay Student Development Team in 2006 and has been working in Student Affairs since 2001. During her time in the field of higher education, she has developed a true passion for student affairs and the onboarding of new students. She believes in promoting student development through campus involvement. Julie received her Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics from Bridgewater State College and her Master’s degree in Higher Education/Student Affairs from Salem State College. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her husband and two sons.
jschleicher@massbay.edu

Nina Shen

Student Development

Clinical Fellow/Multicultural Counselor

Nina Shen joined MassBay in 2020 as a graduate intern for the MassBay Counseling Center, and is thrilled to continue serving the student population as a Clinical Fellow/Multicultural Counselor. She earned her Master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling from Boston College.

nshen@massbay.edu

Ashanty Valentin

Student Development

Placement Outreach Specialist/Data Specialist

Ashanty Valentin, a First-Generation Latina, whose pronouns are she/her, attended Penn Foster College attaining a degree in Pharmacy Technician, where she volunteered for a year as a Mentor, conceptualizing new actions for academic programs, student retention, recognition, tutoring, and advocacy to ensure student success. During this time, she participated in Healthcare Market Research for the University of Florida, following a Non-Profit for the State of New Jersey, facilitating resources to underrepresented communities as a Community Outreach Specialist. Lastly, conducting Qualitative Socio-Economic Research on the impacts of the Great Recession, and College/University faculty retirement programs in the Sociology department of Harvard University.

She now proudly serves the department of Student Development as a Placement Outreach Specialist, compiling employment data through student and alumni engagement, while conducting promotional outreach to market employment opportunities. Working closely with Career Services, and the Institutional Research department, Ashanty also serves the department of Business and Professional Studies as a Data Specialist assisting the division in goal setting through data to support Massbay's strategic initiatives, dedicated to closing the equity gap related to student outcomes.

avalentin@massbay.edu

Fielding Vaughn

Student Development

Assistant Director of Athletics, Recreation, and Wellness

Fielding Vaughn became a part of the MassBay Community in August 2019 serving as the Associate Director of Athletics, Recreation, and Wellness. He aids in the supervision of all intercollegiate athletic programs, NJCAA eligibility, and compliance . Fielding also serves as the head Esports coach at Massbay. The Philadelphia native graduated from Slippery Rock University of PA with a BS in Sport Management and a Master’s in Public Administration from Baruch College in NY.
fvaughn@massbay.edu

Ann Whelan

Student Development

Senior Associate Director of Counseling Services

Ann Whelan is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor. She received her Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology from Lesley University. She also received advanced training in psychotherapy from The Boston Psychoanalytic Society and Institute. She has been at MassBay since 2006.
awhelan@massbay.edu