Hello from all of us in Admission!
We’re excited to meet you.
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George Hamel
Regions: New York City, North Dakota, South Dakota
Admission Counselors
Josh Tyler
Director of Transfer Admission,
Senior Associate Director of Admission
Alumnus, Classes of '06 & MAT '08
[email protected]
Senior Associate Director of Admission
Alumnus, Classes of '06 & MAT '08
[email protected]
US Regions
Maine, Upstate New York, and Vermont
Contact for Transfers, Return to College, Conservatory, and Home schooled students
Maine, Upstate New York, and Vermont
Contact for Transfers, Return to College, Conservatory, and Home schooled students
Kimberly Sargeant
US Regions
Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas
Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas
Amber Amina Leisher
Associate Director of International Admission
[email protected]
[email protected]
International
International countries except for India, Latin America and the Caribbean, and East and Southeast Asia.
Primary contact for all United World Colleges (UWC)
International countries except for India, Latin America and the Caribbean, and East and Southeast Asia.
Primary contact for all United World Colleges (UWC)
Tessa Greenhalgh
US Regions
Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island
International
India
Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island
International
India
Robbie Crane
Associate Director of West Coast Admission,
Senior Assistant Director of Admission
Alumnus '17
[email protected]
Senior Assistant Director of Admission
Alumnus '17
[email protected]
US Regions
Arizona, Hawaii, New Mexico, and Southern California
International
The Caribbean countries/territories, Latin America, and the US territory of the Virgin Islands
Arizona, Hawaii, New Mexico, and Southern California
International
The Caribbean countries/territories, Latin America, and the US territory of the Virgin Islands
Duncan King
US Regions
Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Northern California, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming
Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Northern California, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming
Andrew Roberge
US Regions
Connecticut, Delaware, Long Island, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania (except Pittsburgh)
Connecticut, Delaware, Long Island, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania (except Pittsburgh)
Ali Kane
US Regions
Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Pittsburgh, West Virginia, and Wisconsin
Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Pittsburgh, West Virginia, and Wisconsin
Bella Bergen
US Regions
Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Virginia, and Washington D.C.
Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Virginia, and Washington D.C.
Shawn Moore
International
East and Southeast Asia
East and Southeast Asia
Administrative Team
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Savannah Lucas SanchezDirector of MarketingSavannah Lucas Sanchez
Originally from Arizona, Savannah came to Bard in 2015 to study film. After earning her B.A. in Film Production in 2019, she continued her journey at Bard by working with the M.F.A. program before joining the Office of Admission in 2020.
Her goal is to share Bard’s hidden gems and campus culture through a variety of media. Savannah especially enjoys talking with prospective students about her own Bard experience, particularly her time in the film program. -
Elene ShamanadzeMarketing AssociateElene Shamanadze
Elene graduated from Bard College in 2025 with a B.A. in Psychology. During her time at Bard, she wore many hats—serving as a Student Ambassador, Writing Fellow, social media brand manager for Undergraduate Admission, and statistics course assistant. She also gained hands-on marketing experience during her summers with Red Bull.
Elene is passionate about sports marketing and hopes to continue building a career in the industry, particularly in Formula 1, which she loves wholeheartedly. Outside of work, she enjoys watching films and reading classic literature. -
Joao De La CruzMarketing Operations CoordinatorJoao De La Cruz
Originally from the Bronx, Joao graduated from Bard College in 2021 with a degree in Electronic Music. During his time at Bard, he served as an Assistant House Manager at the Fisher Center, worked at the Campus Center, and spent two years as House Manager for Feitler House—the college’s only vegan undergraduate co-op dorm at the time (now graduate housing).
After graduating, Joao remained in the Hudson Valley before relocating to Miami to work at Florida International University, where he gained valuable experience in academic administration. He has since returned to New York and is now based in New Paltz, bringing the skills he developed back to Bard’s Office of Admission. In his free time, Joao enjoys hiking, making music, and practicing astrophotography. -
Cassidy MurrayAssistant Director of Special Events and OperationsCassidy Murray
Cassidy is originally from the Hudson Valley. She graduated from Lasell University in 2019 with a B.S. in Sport Management. -
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Vera TopcikAdmission FellowVera Topcik
Vera graduated from Bard College in 2025 with a B.A. in Physics. As a student, she was deeply involved in the Physics community, serving as club head of the Physics Club and Physics Lounge Czar. She also played violin in the Bard College Community Orchestra, interned briefly with Election@Bard, and was a member of the Bard Swim Team.
Vera is an active astrophysicist, continuing her Senior Project research on carbon stars and circumstellar discs with Bard Professor Clara Sousa-Silva. She hopes to attend graduate school in astrophysics to further her passion for scientific research. Outside of work, she enjoys reading, playing the violin, and traveling. -
Eric SinclairDirector of Admission SystemsEric Sinclair
Eric has a passion for extracting actionable insights from complex datasets to identify trends, patterns, and opportunities that support informed strategic decisions. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Telecommunications and certifications as a Professional Scrum Master and in ITIL.
In his free time, Eric enjoys working with youth athletes on the soccer field, basketball court, and baseball diamond. -
Jamie CarsonCRM Support SpecialistJamie Carson
Jamie Carson graduated from Western Governors University, where she earned an M.B.A. in Information Technology Management, and a B.S. in User Experience Design. Building on her background in UX Design, Jamie is beginning a PhD in Artificial Intelligence this fall at the University of the Cumberlands. Her doctoral research will focus on the intersection of machine learning and neurodiversity, specifically exploring how AI can act as a cognitive scaffold for students on the autism spectrum.
A lifelong Hudson Valley resident and mother of three, including two children with disabilities, Jamie is passionate about using technology to improve access, efficiency, and equity in education and community services. -
Sean RussellSlate Captain and Data AnalystSean Russell
Sean grew up in the Hudson Valley and graduated from SUNY Albany with a B.A. in Computer Science. After working with a startup web company, she joined Bard’s Office of Enrollment, where she assists with data analysis and reporting.
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Office of Equity and Inclusion
The philosophy of the Equity and Inclusion programs remains consistent with the College’s desire for diversity to be part of the learning experience of all students from a wide variety of backgrounds. The Office of Equity and Inclusion (OEI) recognizes that students with identities historically underrepresented in higher education seek to attain a rigorous liberal arts education and often need support to realize this aim. Visit The Office of Equity and Inclusion website to read about the OEI staff!