Our Vision
We aspire to be leaders in creating vibrant and inclusive, student-driven communities that foster active engagement, personal development, and lifelong connections.
Shea House Team
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John Cordella (he/him)Director of Residence Life & Housing
John Cordella (he/him)
Director of Residence Life & Housing
John is originally from Pine Plains, NY. He attended St. Lawrence University earning a Bachelor’s degree in History and a Master’s degree in Education. Prior to working at Bard, John lived and worked in Florence, Italy as the Assistant Director of the Marist College’s Florence, Italy program. He moved back to the Hudson Valley in 2013 to serve as the Assistant Director of Housing and Residential Life at Marist College. John spends most of his time exploring the Hudson Valley with his wife and son, traveling and reading. -
Melanie Sickler (she/her)
Melanie Sickler (she/her)
Melanie was born and raised in Kingston, NY. Melanie attended SUNYUlster for her Associates in Business and Entrepreneurial Studies. When Melanie is not in her office, you can find her spending time with her 3 children or enjoying the amazing sky views from Kingston.
Area Coordinators:
Residential Area Staff
The Area Coordinators (ACs) play a significant role in maintaining a residential community, which supports and promotes student individual growth, responsibility, and academic achievement while assisting with the day to day operations of the residence halls. There are four ACs who report to the Director of Residence Life. The ACs, in turn, supervise a staff of Peer Counselors(PCs) and assist in the development of community based programs that enhance the quality of life in the residence halls. ACs are full time professional staff who live on campus and maintain office hours to meet with students to discuss academic and non academic concerns. The ACs serve as a part of a 24 hour on-call rotation to address emergency situations working collaboratively with other campus resources and staff members.
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Tenzin Shaydrup (He/Him)Assistant Director for Housing
Area Coordinator for South Campus
Office: Tewksbury 113
Tenzin Shaydrup (He/Him)
Assistant Director for Housing
Area Coordinator for South Campus
Office: Tewksbury 113
Residence Halls: Bluecher, Bourne, Leonard, Obreshkove, Rovere, Rueger, Shafer, Shelov, Steinway, Tewksbury, Wolff, Sands House
About: Tenzin attended Clark University and graduated with a BA in Political Science. Tenzin was born in Tibet, and grew up or spent his early years in India, Australia, and the USA. He is part of a very close knit family and enjoys spending most of his time with family and friends. In his free time, Tenzin likes to read and volunteer with various organizations in the Hudson Valley community. Most importantly, his volunteering experiences have inspired him to continue to better serve all in the world. -
Marissa Pierre (She/Her)
Marissa Pierre (She/Her)
Residences: Resnick A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, McCausland, Brown, & Stone Row(McVickar-Potter, Hoffman)
About: Marissa graduated with a B.A. in English Language Arts from the State University of New York College at Plattsburgh. While originally from Boston, MA, Marissa and her family moved to Ballston Lake, NY. Marissa loves spending time with her family, going to the movies and traveling. Additionally, Marissa spends her time competing in pageants across America. -
Sam Whitaker (He/Him)
Sam Whitaker (He/Him)
Residences: Robbins House, Robbins Addition, Manor House, Manor Annex, South Hall
About: Sam graduated from Keene State College with a dual degree in English Writing and Literature, and a Minor in Medieval and Early Modern Literature. Sam has lived in a variety of states, including Connecticut, Maryland, Texas, Massachusetts, Kentucky, and most recently, New Hampshire where with his family he helped manage 2 dogs, 3 cats, and 13 chickens. Sam is an avid gamer, and enjoys reading and writing. -
Shakwat Chowdhury ( He/Him)
Shakwat Chowdhury ( He/Him)
Residence Halls: Cruger Hall, Keen North & South, Bartlett, Oberholzer, Maple, Mulberry, Spruce, Sycamore, Hirsch & Tremblay
About: Shakwat completed B.A. in Mathematics with a minor in Education at Rowan University. Then in 2020, I graduated with an Ed.M in College Student Affairs from Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey. Shakwat has lived most of his life in New Jersey. Shakwat is very family-oriented and loves being close to them and spending time with them. During my spare time, I love going to the movies, doing some sports activities outside, and hanging out with friends.
