Our Vision
We aspire to be leaders in creating vibrant and inclusive, student-driven communities that foster active engagement, personal development, and lifelong connections.
ResLife Team
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John Cordella (he/him)Director of Residence Life & Housing
[email protected]
John Cordella (he/him)
Director of Residence Life & Housing
[email protected]
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 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 SUNY Ulster for her Associate degree 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 nonacademic 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
[email protected]
Tenzin Shaydrup (He/Him)
Assistant Director for Housing
Area Coordinator for South Campus
Office: Tewksbury 113
[email protected]
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 spent his early years in India, Australia, and the United States. 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. -
Shakwat Chowdhury (He/Him)Area Coordinator for Resnick Commons A to L and Brown and McCausland
Office: Resnick G 101
[email protected]
Shakwat Chowdhury (He/Him)
Area Coordinator for Resnick Commons A to L and Brown and McCausland
Office: Resnick G 101
[email protected]
Residence Halls: Resnick Commons A to L and Brown and McCausland
About: Shakwat completed BA in Mathematics with a minor in Education at Rowan University. In 2020, he graduated with an EdM in College Student Affairs from Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey. Shakwat has lived most of his life in New Jersey. He is very family-oriented; he loves being close to them and spending time with them. During his spare time, Shakwat enjoys going to the movies, doing sports activities outside, and hanging out with friends. -
Lucas Belfonti (He/Him)Area Coordinator for Cruger Village
Lucas Belfonti (He/Him)
Area Coordinator for Cruger Village
Residence Halls: Cruger Hall, Keen North & South, Bartlett, Oberholzer, Maple, Mulberry, Spruce, Sycamore, Hirsch & Tremblay
About: Lucas graduated from Mount Saint Mary College with a BS in Accounting. He grew up in Connecticut and moved full time to the Hudson Valley area in 2020. Lucas likes puzzles, movies, and skydiving in his free time, and he hopes to travel the world one day.
Interested in joining our professional staff team?
Please reach out to ResLife Office (845) 758-7455 for available positions. Thank you
