Dr. Charles Brown - Senior Vice President for Student Affairs
Dr. Charles Brown is the Senior Vice President for Student Affairs and was appointed to this position in September 2006. Dr. Brown came to Florida Atlantic University from the University of South Florida, St. Petersburg where he served as the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs. In addition, he served as the Vice President for Student Development and Campus Life at Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan and as the Senior Associate Vice President for Student Affairs at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
He received his B.A. degree from Blackburn College in Carlinville, Illinois and his M.S. and Ph.D. from Illinois State University in Normal, Illinois. He has served as an Associate Professor of Education, teaching courses in the Higher Education Administration Program. Dr. Brown’s research interests are student leadership development, diversity and other student related issues. He is a past participant of the Harvard University Management Development Program and maintains active membership in several professional organizations and honor societies.
Dr. Corey A. King - Associate Vice President & Dean of Students
Dr. Corey A. King is currently Associate Vice President and Dean of Students at Florida Atlantic University. He is also an Associate Graduate Faculty with the department of Educational Leadership and Research Methodology within the College of Education. Dr. King received a Bachelor’s Degree in Curriculum & Instruction and a Master’s Degree in Higher Education Administration/Student Affairs from Florida State University. He received his Doctor of Education in Educational Administration & Leadership from Indiana University of Pennsylvania.
Over the past 17 years, Dr. King has held administrative positions in student affairs at the Florida State University, University of Florida, Wheeling Jesuit University, and East Carolina University. Dr. King is involved with the Southern Association for College Student Affairs (SACSA) and the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA). Dr. King has participated in many institutes and workshops including the NASPA/SACSA New Professional Institute (NPI), NASPA/SACSA Mid Managers’ Institute (MMI), and the NASPA Senior Student Affairs Officers’ Institute.
Terry C. Mena - Associate Dean of Students
Terry C. Mena is currently Associate Dean of Students at Florida Atlantic University. He is also an Adjunct Instructor with the department of Freshman Academic Services. Mr. Mena received a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice and Minor Degree in Latino/a, Latin American and Caribbean Studies from Northeastern University. He received his Master of Arts Degree in Student Personnel Administration from Columbia University-Teacher’s College. Mr. Mena is currently a Ph.D. candidate in the Higher Education Leadership program at Florida Atlantic University.
Mr. Mena’s career began at Hofstra University in Upward Bound Program. He continued his higher education career at Northeastern University where he served as a Resident Director for Housing and Residential Life & Assistant Director for Latino Student Cultural Center. He then moved on to Florida Atlantic University where he served as a Coordinator for Housing & Residential Life & Associate Director for Student Affairs-Broward Campuses. In the role of Associate Dean of Students at FAU, he supervises the departments of Student Government and Student Media.
Mr. Mena served in leadership roles in the American College Personnel Association (ACPA) and National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA). Most recently, Mr. Mena participated in the NASPA Senior Student Affairs Officers’ Institute and faculty member for the NASPA Undergraduate Fellows Program, Summer Leadership Institute. He also presented on the subject of diversity, leadership, student conduct, program development, and other student developmental topics on a local, state and national level.
Joanna E. Ellwood - Assistant Dean of Student Conduct
Joanna E. Ellwood is currently the Assistant Dean of Student Conduct at Florida Atlantic University. Ms. Ellwood is a graduate of The University of Toledo with both her Bachelor of Arts degree and Master’s of Education in Higher Education Administration.
Ms. Ellwood began her career at Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida in Residence Life and Student Conduct. She has worked in the areas of Greek Life, Leadership, Housing and Residence Life, Academic Advising and Student Conduct. Ms. Ellwood is involved with the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA) and is also an active member of the Association of Student Conduct Administration (ASCA).
Dr. A.J. Chase - Associate Dean of Student Affairs (Northern Campuses)
Dr. A.J. Chase is currently the Associate Dean of Student Affairs for Florida Atlantic University’s Northern Campuses. A native of Washington D.C. she earned a B.S. in Public administration at George Mason University, her M.A. in College Student Personnel from Bowling Green State University, and her Ph.D. in Educational Leadership- Higher Education from Florida Atlantic University.
Dr. Chase has almost twenty years of experience working in higher education. Her background includes experience ranging from large state universities to small private colleges. She has firsthand experience in most areas of student affairs; she has served as a Director of Housing, a Dean of Students, a Dean of Academic Affairs, and as a faculty member. Additionally, Dr. Chase is active in several national professional associations and in various community organizations.
Ilene Mates - Director, Student Affairs Operations
Ilene K. Mates joined Florida Atlantic University in February 2011 as the new Director for Student Affairs Operations. Originally from New Jersey, Ilene received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Government from Clark University and her Master’s degree in Public Administration with a concentration in Finance from New York University.
Ilene has more than 15 years of financial management experience, with 12 of those years being in higher education. Ilene has held positions previously at Cardozo School of Law in NYC and most recently at the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, CA.
Nori Carter – Director, Weppner Center for Civic Engagement & Service
Nori Carter serves as the Director for the Weppner Center for Civic Engagement & Service at Florida Atlantic University. Ms. Carter received her Bachelor’s Degree in Mass Communications—Advertising from Middle Tennessee State University and a Master’s Degree in Exercise Science and Health Promotion from Florida Atlantic University.
Over the course of Ms. Carter’s career, she has worked for numerous corporations with the last four years in Higher Education as an adjunct instructor, as a staff member of FAU’s Broward Student Wellness Center, and in her current position. Volunteering has always been a part of her life making her job rewarding!
Sandra Jakubow – Director, Career Development Center
Sandra Jakubow currently serves as the Director of the Career Development Center at Florida Atlantic University. She received her M.A. in counseling psychology with an emphasis in student personnel from Western Michigan University, her B.A. in psychology from Temple University and completed a certificate in Human Resources from FAU. She has been with the university since 1998.Sandra oversees delivery of all Career Development Center services and programs across FAU’s campuses. She provides direction for the administrative and technology team, as well as the career development and employer relations teams.
Prior to coming to FAU she served as director of career services and co-op education at NYU-Polytechnic in New York City. She has worked in career development for 19 years and has held progressively responsible positions at Long Island University and Drexel University. In addition to her directorial responsibilities Sandra instructs the SLS 1301: Career and Life Planning course offered fall and spring for one credit. Sandra serves on the board of directors for the Florida Career Professionals Association, is a member of the Florida Career Centers Consortium and is the co-chair for the Student Affairs Professional Development Institute.
Dr. Mihaela Metianu – Director, International Student and Scholar Services
Dr. Mihaela Metianu joined Florida Atlantic University in 2006 and the Division of Student Affairs in 2008 when she assumed her current role as Director of International Student and Scholar Services. Dr. Metianu earned her doctoral degree in Higher Education Administration from Florida State University, where she also earned a Master’s Degree in Multilingual/Multicultural Education. She has worked in the field of higher education since 1995, primarily in student affairs with a focus on international student and scholar affairs. Her prior professional experience includes serving as International Scholar Advisor at Florida State University and Assistant Director of International Student and Scholar Services at Florida International University.
Dr. Metianu’s professional interests include immigration and regulatory issues in higher education, English as a Second Language (ESL), first-generation immigrant students in the college setting, and topics in diversity and multiculturalism. She is an active member in NAFSA, Association of International Educators, where she has served as lead trainer/facilitator, regional liaison, and task force member for her professional association.
Heather Bishara- Director, Student Government
Heather Bishara is currently serving as the Director of Student Government at FAU. She received a Bachelor’s Degree in Communication Studies (with a focus on journalism) and a Master’s Degree in Student Affairs and Higher Education from Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio. She has been working in Student Affairs professionally for 8 years, holding administrative positions at Wright State University, Bowling Green State University and the Jupiter campus of FAU.
Heather has been an active member of the National Association of Campus Activities, the Association of College Unions International and the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators. She has completed the NACA & NASPA New Professionals Institutes, has served on many planning committees for ACUI and NACA Regional Conferences, was a facilitator for LeaderShape and the NACA Programming Basics Workshop, was the Assistant Director for the NASPA Region IV-E New Professionals Institute in 2004 and served as the NASPA Undergraduate Fellows Coordinator for Region IV-E.
Nicole Rokos – Director, Office for Students with Disabilities
Nicole Rokos is currently the Director of the Office for Students with Disabilities at Florida Atlantic University. Nicole received her bachelor’s degree in Education from Murray State University in Murray, Kentucky and her master’s degree in Education from Florida Atlantic University.
Nicole Rokos has worked at Florida Atlantic University in the Office for Students with Disabilities since1994. She initially served as Coordinator, then Assistant Director, and was subsequently promoted to Director in December 2000. Prior to coming to FAU, Nicole was Tutor Coordinator for the University of Miami Athletic Department for three years and taught high school students with learning disabilities for thirteen years. Her goal is to not just make sure students graduate, it is also to give them tools to help them succeed in the future.
Dr. Rozalia Williams - Associate Dean for Student Affairs ( Broward Campuses)
Dr. Rozalia Williams is the Associate Dean for Student Affairs on the Broward Campuses of Florida Atlantic University. She earned the Doctor of Education degree from Harvard University in Administration, Planning and Social Policy with a concentration in higher education administration. She earned a Master of Science in Counselor Education and a Bachelor of Science in Communication from Florida International University.
A college administrator for over 25 years, she has devoted her professional career to creating, implementing and evaluating student development programs in a multicultural, multi-campus university setting. Dr. Williams specializes in student retention and persistence counseling; preparing high school students and their parents for college; and facilitating human relations and diversity training. She has served as an Exchange Scholar and Field Reader for the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Higher Education Programs, and is the author of the College FAQ Book: Over 5,000 Not Frequently Asked Questions About College!
Cathie Wallace - Director, Student Health Services
Mrs. Wallace has over 39 years experience as a registered nurse, serving the last 14 years as the Director of FAU Student Health Services. Prior to her college health experience, Cathie taught undergraduate students in the FAU Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing for 8 years, served as an instructor in the Broward Community College associate nursing degree program and the Lynn University nursing program, and provided nursing care in various hospital settings for over 10 years. She is active in several professional organizations, currently serving as the By-laws Chair for the Florida College Health Nurses Association and as a member of the Advocacy Committee for the American College Health Association. Cathie received her undergraduate nursing degree from the University of Florida and her master’s degree in nursing from FAU.
Alicia Keating - Director, Student Involvement and Leadership
Alicia Keating received her bachelor’s degree in Business Management with a concentration in Leadership from Western New England College and her master’s degree in College Student Affairs from the University of South Florida. She has been working in Student Affairs professionally for over eight years with positions at the University of South Florida, Northwood University and Florida Atlantic University. She has worked at Florida Atlantic University for the past four years in Student Involvement & Leadership, beginning as assistant director in July 2008 and becoming director in January 2012.
Chris Hall Lynch - Director, New Student and Owl Family Programs
Chris Hall Lynch is currently the Director of New Student and Owl Family Programs at Florida Atlantic University. Ms. Lynch received her Bachelor’s degree in German from Indiana State University. She graduated from Western Kentucky University with a Master’s in Education in Student Affairs. Currently, Ms. Lynch is a PhD student in the Educational Leadership program at Florida Atlantic University.
While in Kentucky, Ms. Lynch was the Coordinator of Student Activities at Lindsey Wilson College for three years before going to St. Catharine College where she was the Director of Housing, Residence Life and Student Activities. After two years at St. Catharine, Ms. Lynch moved to South Florida where she worked as a Drug and Violence Prevention Specialist at Archways, a non-profit agency. Ms. Lynch has been in her current position for nearly five years. Her memberships include the National Orientation Directors Association where she participated in the Orientation Professionals Institute (OPI) and the Association for Higher Education Parent Program Professionals.
Jill Eckardt - Director, Housing and Residential Life
Jill Eckardt serves as Director of University Housing, overseeing housing at the Boca Raton and MacArthur campuses. Ms. Eckardt received a Bachelor’s degree in Broadfield Social Studies from the University of Wisconsin – Whitewater, and a Master’s degree in College Student Personnel from Western Illinois University.
Ms. Eckardt has worked in housing at Our Lady of the Lake University at San Antonio, University of Central Arkansas and Mesa State (CO) College. Jill is involved in the Association of College & University Housing Officers – International, serving as President beginning June 29, 2010.
Juan Izaguirre - Director, Multicultural Affairs and Pre-College Programs
Juan Izaguirre currently serves as the Director of the Multicultural Affairs and Pre-College Programs. He holds a B.S. in Secondary Education from the University of Nebraska and a M.S. in Higher Education Administration from the University of Kansas. He is from Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico and claims Lincoln, NE as home.
Prior to his appointment at Florida Atlantic University, Juan worked at the University of Kansas in the Office of Multicultural Affairswith the Hawk Link program, an academic retention program for first year students with a focus on students of color. Other departments included the Office of Admissions, and the Office of Greek Life in the Student Involvement & Leadership Center. Juan also serves as a facilitator for the SLiCK Leadership Program and is a member of the Association of Fraternal Advisors and the National Association of Student Professional Administrators (NASPA).
Dawn Howard - Director, Marketing and Communications
Dawn C. Howard joined FAU and the Division of Student Affairs in April 2007. Formerly the Associate Director of the Career Development Center, she now serves as the Director of Marketing and Communications for the Division of Student Affairs.
Ms. Howard earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Marketing from FAU and her Master of Science degree in Mental Health Counseling from Nova Southeastern University. Additionally, she is certified in addiction studies and is nationally certified as a Global Career Development Facilitator.
Over the course of Ms. Howard’s career she has worked for major corporations in progressively responsible positions in Human Resources and training. Deciding on a career change, Ms. Howard found her passion in education.
Larry Faerman, Ph.D.- Director of Studet Union
Larry is the Director of Student Union effective July 1, 2011. He currently serves as the Director of Event Planning & Union Programs at the Boca Raton campus of FAU, a position he has held since August 2010. Larry has been at FAU since 1999, most recently in the position of Assistant Director of Housing for Residential Life
Larry is a proud alumnus of Florida Atlantic University graduating with his Ph.D. in Higher Education Leadership in 2009. He is also an Associate Graduate Faculty with the department of Educational Leadership and Research Methodology within the College of Education. He involves himself in many campus committees and initiatives including Weeks of Welcome and Homecoming. Larry believes the Student Union is not just a facility, but the “living room” of FAU and is excited to be a piece of the home away from home for all who visit.
Previous PageKirk Dougher, Ph.D.- Director, Counseling and Psychological Services
Dr. Kirk Dougher is the Director of Counseling and Psychological Services and was appointed to this position in July of 2011. Prior to coming to FAU he was at Brigham Young University for the past 13 years. Most recently at BYU he was a full professor and the director of the Counseling and Career Center where Counseling and Psychological Services, University Career Placement and the Career and Academic Success Center were part of his organization.
Kirk obtained his B.S. in psychology from Utah State University and his Ph.D. Clinical Psychology from the University of Nevada. He specializes in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and while a generalist, has done a great deal of work with anxiety, performance enhancement, depression, sexual struggles and obsessive-compulsive disorder. He has taught a variety of classes in Student Development, Counseling Psychology, Psychology, and the Athletic Department. Additionally, he conducts research, supervises students in psychotherapy skills acquisition and conducts therapy.
Previous PageMichael Gaede - Director, Student Media
Michael Gaede comes to FAU after a successful and award-winning 30-year career in the media, broadcast journalism, government communications and higher education. He received his Master’s of Science degree in Public Communication and Technology from Colorado State University in 2009, his Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from St. Cloud State University in St. Cloud, MN in 1980 and his Associate of Arts degree from Hibbing Community College in Hibbing, MN in 1974.
Most recently, Mike has taught Mass Communication at Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, Oklahoma and was named by the NSU Student Government as one of 13 teachers on campus who have made a difference in student’s lives. While at NSU, Mike was also appointed as a Veteran’s Mentor and participated as an instructor for the Freshman Connections program. Mike is a Vietnam Era veteran.
Mike has served as a television news director, an executive producer, a managing editor, a producer, field producer, DJ and radio news producer.
He was appointed by the Governor of Hawaii in 2004 to be the Communications Director for the Hawaii Department of Public Safety. He has won a regional EMMY; a Gerald R. Loeb runner-up award from the UCLA Andersen School of Business for distinguished business and financial journalism in the network and large market TV category. He has also led his teams to the Wisconsin Newscast of the Year award in 1991, reporting and producing awards from the Northwest Broadcast News Association and an international GLOBE award for outstanding writing.
When he is not teaching or advising, Mike can be found with one of his guitars serenading his wife of 33 years.
Previous PageDax Kuykendall - Director, Campus Recreation
Dax Kuykendall was named Director Campus Recreation in January of 2012 assuming responsibility of the institution’s comprehensive recreation programs, services and facilities on the Boca Raton campus. Dax began employment at FAU in the summer of 2005 as the Coordinator of Sports and Competition, and was promoted to the Associate Director of Operations in the spring of 2008, in preparation for the opening of the new Recreation and Fitness Center. He is extremely proud to be a part of all of the changes made in the Department of Campus Recreation at FAU, and ready for the new challenges that lie ahead.
Dax received his Bachelor's Degree in Exercise and Sport Science from Texas State University, and a Master's Degree in Educational Administration from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln...and if you're counting, he received his Associate's degree from McLennan Community College in Waco, Texas (where he also played basketball).
As a native Texan, he naturally enjoys good music, delicious Tex-mex, and pretty much anything else about Texas or from Texas.
Dax and his wife Jessica have been married since July of 2007, and have a daughter named Harlow
