Meet the Staff

Sara Crosby, Director

Advisement focus: I am interested in anything that helps BLA students learn, engage, connect, graduate, and then go on to take over the world.

Education: The New School with a Masters of Fine Arts (MFA) and University of Iowa with a B.A. in English and a minor in Italian

Hometown: St. Louis, Missouri

Interests/What I’m usually up to: Birdwatching, reading, hanging out with my dog Andy, running, riding my bike around NYC

A quote that brightens my day is: “Freedom was a community laboring for something lovely and rare.”
― Colson Whitehead, The Underground Railroad

Sheby Abraham, Academic Advisor

Advisement focus: Holistic approach in helping students meet their academic goals.

I am an Alumna of: College of Staten Island, CUNY with a M.S. in Neuroscience and Developmental Disabilities

My hometown is: Staten Island, NY

Interests/What I’m usually up to: Spending time with family

A quote that brightens my day is: “The important thing is to never stop questioning.” –Albert Einstein

Kamilah Bass, Administrative Coordinator

Education: CUNY School of Professional Studies with an M.A. in Youth Studies and Syracuse University with a B.S. in Speech Communication and a minor of Child and Family Studies

Hometown: Brooklyn, NY

Interests/What I’m usually up to: Listening to music (singing & humming along), eating/snacking, and doing 1000+ piece jigsaw puzzles

A quote that brightens my day is: “Spread Love, It’s the Brooklyn Way”
― The Notorious B.I.G.

Melanie Bonilla, Senior Academic Advisor

Advisement focus: Appreciative Advising is my jam< strong>Education: LIU: Hudson with an M.S. in Bilingual School Counseling and SUNY Purchase College with a B.A. in Cultural Anthropology

Hometown:: East Village, New York

Interests/What I’m usually up to: Playing basketball and reading to my pup, Jax

A quote that brightens my day is: Act as if what you do makes a difference because it does.

Nancy Cortes, Academic Advisor

Advisement focus: Academic self-empowerment and self-advocacy

Education: Borough of Manhattan Community College with an Associates in Liberal Arts, and City College with a B.A. in Political Science.

Hometown: East Harlem, NY

Interests/What I’m usually up to: Watching movies, reading, hanging out with family and friends, strolling around my neighborhood, taking pictures, and trying new food around NYC!

A quote that brightens my day is: “Whatever you do in life will be insignificant, but it’s very important that you do it…”
― Ghandi