Update on the Office of Student Affairs

Dear Cooper Union,

After 14 years as a staunch advocate and compassionate resource for Cooper Union students, including 10 years as Dean of Students and head of the Office of Student Affairs, Chris Chamberlin has decided to move on from The Cooper Union and will be leaving as of August 15.

Chris’ presence at Cooper will be missed. He has contributed greatly to a community that is welcoming, accepting, vibrant, and supportive here. He also developed an incredible team within Student Affairs over the years, which means we are well positioned for this change. In fact, stepping in to lead Student Affairs will be Grace Kendall who joined Cooper in 2016, most recently serving as Associate Dean of Students since 2019.  

We are deeply grateful for Chris’ leadership and influence in shaping the Office of Student Affairs and steadily evolving its infrastructure and focus, particularly in the area of student care and wellness. Over the years, he initiated important partnerships and initiatives to encourage more engagement as a community around issues of mental health and wellbeing. This included championing the idea that students’ holistic experience be supported, integrating academic, social, and cultural aspects of their time at Cooper. Under Chris’ leadership, Cooper developed a counseling services program both on-site and around the city; built strong partnerships with community leaders such as Mount Sinai; introduced our 24/7 virtual medical and mental health care service; and partnered with JED Foundation’s JED Campus program for resources such as JED’S Set to Go as well as a multi-year study of the student body’s mental health.

Grace has worked closely with Chris since her arrival at Cooper and will now serve as Acting Dean of Students. Throughout her time, she has led the Student Life team and contributes in a variety of ways including as a member of the Health and Safety Committee and as part of initiatives focused on matters of equity, inclusion, and community development. Grace has also been the designated staff member overseeing Cooper’s Title IX compliance, which prohibits sex and gender-based discrimination and sexual harassment. She has been instrumental to advancing awareness, training, and prevention within our community and will continue to be central to this important work.

As the Student Affairs staff continues its preparations to welcome first-year students in August and our entire student community shortly after that, we thought it would be helpful to share here an overview of the full team:

Grace Kendall, Acting Dean of Students and Title IX Coordinator, 212-353-4053
Eric Conley, Administrative Manager, 212-353-4116

Student Care and Support

Alex Fischer, Director of Student Care and Support
Cassandra Jolicoeur, Student Care Coordinator
Elizabeth London, Student Care Coordinator

Student Activities

Josue Michel, Director of Student Activities, Leadership, and Community Development
Victoria Alonso, Graduate Assistant

Residential Life

Athena Abadilla, Director of Residential Life and Community Development

Center for Career Development

Whitney Oldenburg, Director of Center for Career Development
Dannery Minaya, Assistant Director of Center for Career Development
Natalie Schmitt, Assistant Director of Center for Career Development

The Office of Student Affairs is located on the 3rd floor of the Student Residence Hall and can also be reached at 212-353-4130.

Please join us in sharing your best wishes with both Chris and Grace. For those of you on or near campus this summer, we will be hosting a celebratory send-off for Chris on Thursday, Aug. 15 from 4-6 p.m. on the Alumni Terrace. Look for an invitation to follow shortly.

On behalf of everyone at The Cooper Union, we are grateful for your leadership and impact, Dean Chamberlin, and to Acting Dean Kendall, we look forward to more of yours to come.
 

Laura Sparks                                   Malcolm King

  • Founded by inventor, industrialist and philanthropist Peter Cooper in 1859, The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art offers education in art, architecture and engineering, as well as courses in the humanities and social sciences.

  • “My feelings, my desires, my hopes, embrace humanity throughout the world,” Peter Cooper proclaimed in a speech in 1853. He looked forward to a time when, “knowledge shall cover the earth as waters cover the great deep.”

  • From its beginnings, Cooper Union was a unique institution, dedicated to founder Peter Cooper's proposition that education is the key not only to personal prosperity but to civic virtue and harmony.

  • Peter Cooper wanted his graduates to acquire the technical mastery and entrepreneurial skills, enrich their intellects and spark their creativity, and develop a sense of social justice that would translate into action.