Meet the Pathways to Student STEM Success PTS³ Team
Christopher Milton - Director
Chris Milton joined the Pathways to Student STEM Success (PTS³) Program as the Project Director in February 2017. He earned a B.S. in Economics with a concentration in Finance at the State University of New York (SUNY) College at Buffalo. After college he moved to the New York City area where he worked as a bookkeeper/accounts receivable officer for the City of Long Beach, Long Beach, NY. From there he would go on to work at the Long Beach Martin Luther King Center, a community based organization where he served as the Administrative Fiscal Officer. During this time he stayed in touch with his alma mater doing college nights as an alumni recruiter. It was then he realized that his passion of giving back to the community could best be used as a "gate keeper"; keeping the doors open for students of color looking to continue their studies in higher education. When the full-time opportunity presented itself to open an office in New York City for his alma mater, he immediately jumped at the opportunity. He was the first appointed New York City Regional Representative for this endeavor. His career in higher education spans 19 years and he still remains committed to serving the community. He boasts that over his career, he has recruited and mentored 1,000's of students. In his current position as Director of the PTS³ program, he continues to help lead young people in the right direction. His belief is that the students in his program can and will achieve great success if they take advantage of all the opportunities that are being offered to them.
His advice to students is to enjoy every minute of your college career, give back to your community whenever you have the opportunity, never forget where you came from and try your best to lead by example.
Contact Chris via email at christopher.milton@lehman.cuny.edu or in-person at Nursing Building, T-3, Rm 115A
Angela Cruz: Academic Support Coordinator (Lehman College)
Angela Cruz joined the Pathways to Student STEM Success (PTS3) Program as the Academic Support Coordinator in September 2020. She earned a BA in Biology from the City University of New York (CUNY) Herbert H. Lehman College. As a Lehman College student, she worked as a mathematics tutor within the Math Department as well as a peer mentor through the PTS3 Program. She helped guide students in understanding majors under the STEM umbrella and shared her experiences of attending a four-year university along with networking with colleagues in their intended major. She is dedicated in ensuring academic support along with emotional support to students in order for them to become successful in everything they put their mind to.
Her advice to students is to understand that they are not alone. The people you interact with will be the ones to help you climb up the ladder of success. Expect the unexpected for you may not know what you are going to get.
Kristine Anderson-Welch: Career Advisor
Kristine Anderson-Welch joined Pathways to Student STEM Success as the Career Advisor in September 2020. She earned her B.S. in Social Work at State University College at Buffalo in 2007 and went on to attain her Master’s Degree in Social Work at Binghamton University in 2008. Kristine Anderson-Welch is a proud native of Brooklyn, NY. Kristine has served as a social worker in the Foster Care and Adoption capacity for a little over ten years and has worked with youth for well over fourteen years. Kristine is currently a child birth and postpartum doula/breastfeeding consultant. She is currently the co-host of the podcast “No Country for Small Talk” in which she discusses current events that affect her community both locally and internationally. Kristinehas worked in several capacities in the nonprofit sector. She was also featured in the documentary “Profiled” which speaks about the stories of Black and Latino youth murdered by the NYPD into a “powerful indictment of racial profiling and police brutality” within a historical context.
Her advice for students is to seize every opportunity and make the best out of them…life is not a matter of luck but of hard work and dedication.
Lyda Williams - Academic Advisor
Lyda Williams joined the Pathways to Student STEM Success (PTS³) Program as the Lehman College Academic Advisor in August 2018. Lyda received her BA in Biology from Lehman College in 2008, she then went on to do research at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) as a Postbac IRTA awardee, followed by a PhD in Biomedical Research at Albert Einstein College of Medicine during which she received a Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award. Although trained as a scientist in the fields of metabolic physiology, molecular genetics and biochemistry; while in graduate school, Lyda realized that she wanted to utilize her STEM degree to play an instrumental role in strengthening national and regional STEM learning opportunities by promoting interest and success in the STEM field. Lyda has worked as a science tutor, volunteered with the New York Academy of Sciences (NYAS), and has worked as an educational consultant with Mentoring in Medicine (MIM). Lyda is also an adjunct assistant professor in the Biology department at Lehman College. With her extensive teaching, tutoring, mentoring and outreach experience at the Elementary through to College level, Lyda brings to the PTS3 program a strong desire to help students overcome the difficulties of learning science, develop their skills and pursue opportunities that enhance their interest - with the ultimate goal of diversifying the STEM workforce.
Her advice to students is: take charge of your education-be proactive, utilize the resources and opportunities available to you and don’t be afraid to ask for help!
Lehman College PTS³ students may contact Lyda via email at lyda.williams@lehman.cuny.edu or in-person at Shuster Hall, Rm 178
Felicita Reynoso - Academic Advisor
Felicita Reynoso joined the Pathways to Student Success (PTS³) Program as an Academic Adviser in December 2016. After high school, she attended the College of New Rochelle for two years as a HEOP student pursuing a degree in Biology. She then transferred to Lehman College where she made it her home as a S.E.E.K student and graduated from Lehman College with a B.A. in Social Work. She worked as a social worker for nonprofit organizations, preventive services agency and community based organization within the Department of Education. She provided pregnant/parenting teens and at-risk youth, solution-focused brief therapy to reduce behavioral and emotional problems and increasing academic achievement. Enjoying the school setting, Felicita obtained employment with Borough of Manhattan Community College as an assistant director to the College Now program, her role with the College Now program was as a recruiter, adviser and mentor to high school students to prepare and assist students explore educational opportunities after high school. While working as assistant director, Felicita earned her M.S.Ed. in Bilingual School Counseling from Long Island University. She is now passionate about assisting college students to reach their academic goals in a STEM degree and serve as a mentor to the students she serves within the PTS3 program.
Her advice to students: College is a time for exploration about yourself and your future. Give it your all, have fun and enjoy every accomplishment but most importantly network with your peers and professors.
Bronx Community College PTS³ students may contact Felicita via email at felicita.reynoso01@bcc.cuny.edu or in-person at Meister Hall, Rm 209
Jamie Camino - Data Analyst, Administrative Coordinator, Peer Mentoring
Jamie Camino joined Lehman's Pathways to Student STEM Success (PTS3) as a Data Analyst & Administrative Coordinator in December 2016. She earned a B.S. in Psychology, a M.S.W. with a research concentration from Fordham University and currently working towards becoming a psychiatrist. She has worked in various research projects for Women's Housing Economic and Development Corporation (WHEDco), Survey Research Operations at the University of Michigan, and Jewish Home and Lifecare. Some projects included program evaluations of a peer-led sex education program, childcare providers' training program, and a high school assistance program. In addition, Jamie has assisted with data collection efforts for studies on the impact of students in Harlem Children's Zone Promise Academy. She has also led the program development and operations of the CREAR Futuros Peer Mentoring program which strives to improve the quality of life and education of students for the overarching mission to improve minority student retention and achievement. As program liaison, she managed four peer mentors who mentored 80 students, coordinated program activities, and built a directory of internship, volunteer, and scholarship opportunities. In 2019, she began managing the PTS3 peer mentoring program which focuses on across cohorts' mentorship and guiding PTS3 students through their college, professional and personal journeys. Jamie is committed to the PTS3 mission to promote students successful completion of a STEM major at Lehman. Jamie's statistically oriented training, broad-based research experience, as well as her exposure as a social worker provides her with the dedication and skills necessary to highlight Lehman's program outcomes and accomplishments. She is committed to providing support and guidance to students in order for them to achieve their highest potential.
Her advice to students is that "The saddest thing in life is wasted talent and the choices you make will shape your life forever."
Contact Jamie via email at jamie.camino@lehman.cuny.edu or in-person at Nursing Building, T-3, Rm 115B
Sasha Ortiz - Campuses Director
Sasha Ortiz joined the Pathways to Student STEM Success (PTS³) Program as the Hostos Community College Academic Advisor in October 2018 and transitioned to the Campuses Director position in September 2020. Sasha received her BS in Psychology from Swarthmore College, M.S. in Higher Education Administration from Drexel University, and is currently a doctoral candidate in Drexel's Ed.D in Educational Leadership and Management program. Her primary research interest is how to leverage non-cognitive constructs to increase academic and career success for first-generation STEM students. Before joining the PTS3 team, Sasha served as the Graduation and Retention Specialist at Hostos Community College and the Assistant Director of Admissions at the Art Institute of Washington. She is passionate about helping students persist through the rigors of STEM education to become successful in college and the STEM workforce.
Her advice to students: Dream big, make connections, and above all else, believe in yourself.
You can contact Sasha via email at sasha.ortiz@lehman.cuny.edu
Chevonne Cunningham – Academic Support Coordinator and Academic Advisor
Chevonne Cunningham joined the Pathways To Student STEM Success program as the Academic Support Coordinator for Bronx Community College in February 2017. Chevonne earned his B.E. in Chemical Engineering from the City College of New York, and garnered research experiences as a participant in the Bronx STEM Scholars program at Lehman College and the NSF REU at City College.
Prior to joining the PTS3 team, Chevonne served for three years as a CRLA Certified Master Tutor at Bronx Community College and realized his interest in teaching and training tutors on best practices in STEM tutoring and academic support. Chevonne has also served as a Mathematics Continuing Education Teacher and University Skills Immersion Program Coordinator at Bronx Community College.
In addition to his role as Academic Support Coordinator, in September 2020, Chevonne serves as the PTS3 Academic Advisor at Hostos Community College, where he brings his passion for educating STEM students on academic planning, encouraging students to seize career-enhancing opportunities, and preparing students on how to get the most out of educational support.
Chevonne's advice to students is for them to look beyond today; make a plan today for tomorrow.
You can contact Chevonne via email at chevonne.cunningham@bcc.cuny.edu or CCUNNINGHAM@hostos.cuny.edu.