BMCC Welcomes New Directors

Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC/CUNY) welcomes Deanne Southwell, Executive Director of Accelerated Study in Associate Programs (ASAP); Theresa Wade, Deputy Director of Diversity and Title IX Compliance in the Office of Compliance and Diversity and Lisa Kasper, Director of Admissions and Outreach out of the Office of Enrollment Management.

Lisa Kasper, Director of Admissions and Outreach

BMCC’s new Director of Admissions and Outreach in the Office of Enrollment Management, Lisa Kasper, will be responsible for developing strategies to attract, recruit and enroll students to meet the College’s enrollment goals.

Kasper comes to BMCC from Ocean County College in New Jersey, where she served as Director of Admissions. Prior to that, she held the position of Director of Admissions at Montclair State University, where she led a 30-member team to significantly increase the size, academic profile and geographic diversity of that university’s freshman class. She was also a senior member of the Montclair State University Enrollment Management Team, which increased retention, supported at-risk students and decreased students’ time to attain a degree.

Earlier in her higher education career, Kasper was a college writing instructor. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in English at Montclair State University and a Master of Arts in English and Comparative Literature at Fairleigh Dickinson University. She is a member of the National Association for College Admission Counseling, and a weekend volunteer at the Lower East Side Tenement Museum.

Deanne Southwell, Executive Director of BMCC ASAP

Deanne Southwell, BMCC’s new ASAP Executive Director, earned a Doctorate of Education from Fordham University and both a Bachelor of Science in Human Services and Master’s in Student Development Practice in Higher Education from St. John’s University — all summa cum laude.

Southwell has 15 years of experience in higher education that includes managing areas of academic support services and student affairs. Prior to joining BMCC, she cultivated a flourishing career at St. John’s University, most recently as Executive Director of the Vincentian Institute for Social Action. Other positions at St. John’s have included serving as Director of the Ozanam Scholars Program, Director of Student Development and as Assistant Director of the University Freshman Center.

“I am thrilled to have the opportunity to work for an institution renowned for its high standards and commitment to student development,” said Southwell. “I look forward to working at BMCC and learning how my experiences can contribute to its continued success.”

ASAP is supported by the City and State of New York, the Robin Hood Foundation, and the Stella and Charles Guttman Foundation. ASAP is designed to help motivated students earn their Associate degree as quickly as possible, with a goal of graduating at least 50% of students within three years or less.

Theresa Wade, Deputy Director of Diversity and Title IX Compliance

Theresa Wade, Esq. has been hired as the Deputy Director of Diversity and Title IX Compliance in the BMCC Office of Compliance and Diversity. She brings expertise in employment law, education law, internal investigations and Title IX compliance.

Wade will assist Odelia Levy, Chief Diversity Officer and Special Advisor to the President, in the Office of Compliance and Diversity with investigations of unlawful discrimination and harassment, including Title IX/Enough is Enough. She will also charge search committees and provide training and guidance in the areas of equal employment opportunity, unlawful discrimination and harassment, and reasonable accommodations.

For the past four years, Wade worked for the NYC Department of Education in various roles, most recently as Diversity Management Unit Chief in the Office of Equal Opportunity. Prior to her tenure at DOE, she worked as an attorney in private practice, where she specialized in employment discrimination litigation. Wade has a strong background in Title VII, Title IX, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and state and local non-discrimination laws. She holds a J.D. from New York Law School and Bachelor of Arts in sociology from SUNY Binghamton.