SALINA BILLINS has transitioned to the position of director of opportunity programs at Mohawk Valley Community College (MVCC). She will provide leadership for the overall administration of MVCC’s Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) and the Collegiate Science and Technology Entry Program (CSTEP) grant, including supervision, budget management, grant requirement compliance, and program assessment. Billins has been with MVCC since 2012 in a variety of capacities, beginning as a GEAR UP academic specialist, completion coach, GEAR UP coordinator, and most recently as director of the EOP. She also is a leadership co-facilitator for MVCC’s Center for Leadership Excellence’s Neighborhoods Rising series. Prior to joining the college, Billins worked for Mohawk Valley Community Action Agency as a family advocate, child development supervisor, American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Green Job Training Program manager, and finally education manager. Billins holds a master’s degree in leadership and instruction for inclusive classrooms from Utica College and a bachelor’s degree in speech communication disorders from the University at Buffalo.

MOLLY CAMERON was appointed librarian-user experience at MVCC and will deliver comprehensive library and information services to students, faculty, staff, and community members using current and emerging technologies to provide a quality user experience. Cameron previously served as an on-call reference librarian at Illinois Central College, a research and doctoral committee graduate assistant at the University of South Carolina, a graduate teaching assistant at University of South Dakota, and an access-services student worker at Western Illinois University. Cameron holds a master’s degree in library and information science from the University of South Carolina and a bachelor’s degree in English from Western Illinois University.

STEFFANI DIPIERRO has transitioned to the grant-funded position of GEAR UP coordinator at MVCC and will manage programming and support services for GEAR UP, overseeing the effective delivery of a wide range of instructional support and interventive services to support program retention and completion. DiPierro has been with the college since 2016, first as an adjunct instructor and college services associate and most recently as a GEAR UP program specialist. She previously held positions as senior secretary/supervisor at The Neighborhood Center, certified second consultant/manager at Aspen Dental, assistant merchandise manager at DSW in Syracuse, and department manager at JC Penney in New Hartford. DiPierro holds a master’s degree in liberal studies from SUNY Empire State College and a bachelor’s degree in world history from University at Albany.

JAIME GALLARDO was appointed to the grant-funded position of coordinator, workforce development in the Center for Corporate and Community Education at MVCC. Gallardo will be responsible for meeting regional workforce-development needs by coordinating the development and delivery of educational programs. Gallardo most recently served as a student support assistant at Syracuse University and worked as education and disability services coordinator at Community Action Partnership in Canastota, program director of Rehab Resources, Little Lukes, at World of Wonder Childcare Center in Fulton and Camillus, and was lead toddler teacher at Peace Inc., EHS Program in Camillus. Gallardo holds a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies from Syracuse University.