Antonio Bonilla, Director and Enrollment Manager
Antonio Bonilla is an alumnus ('87) of the Educational Opportunity Program at
SUNY New Paltz. Mr. Bonilla holds a bachelor's degree in Spanish with a minor
in Coaching, and a master's degree in Humanistic/Multicultural Education.
He also serves the campus community by advising several student organizations:
Latino Week Committee, the Latinas Unidas Organization, and a faculty mentor
with the Scholars Mentorship Program. In addition, Mr. Bonilla holds memberships
on the Professional Staff Council, Affirmative Action Committee, the Athletic
Hall of Fame Committee, a member of the Faculty Staff Campaign Committee, and
a member of the SUNY New Paltz Alumni Association Executive Board. Mr. Bonilla
is committed to the personal and professional development of students.
Office: HAB 401A
Phone: (845) 257-3226
E-mail: bonillaa@newpaltz.edu
Rita L. Celariste, Assistant Director and Writing Support Coordinator
Rita Celariste received her B.A. and
M.P.S. from New Paltz. Prior to working with EOP, she worked here at the College
for the Department of Residence Life and the Counseling Center as their Multicultural
Specialist. Mrs. Celariste is an Executive Board member of and mentor for the
Multicultural Recruitment Program (MRP), and member of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority,
Inc. She is the advisor to "Boys to Men", certified aerobics instructor, and is currently working towards
certification in American Sign Language.
Office: HAB 405A
Phone: (845) 257-3226
E-mail: celarisr@newpaltz.edu
Ivelisse P. Tuttle, Senior EOP Advisor
Math Academic Support Coordinator
CHI ALPHA EPSILON Advisor
Ms. Tuttle attended Hamilton College where she earned her B.A. in sociology with a minor in Spanish. After completing her undergraduate studies, she came to SUNY New Paltz, from which she earned a Master of Science in Education with a concentration in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL). Before joining the EOP team, Ivelisse worked at the Haggerty Institute of SUNY New Paltz as an adjunct instructor of English as a Second Language (ESL). Ms. Tuttle is also a mentor for the Multicultural Recruitment Program (MRP) and an advisor to Omega Phi Beta sorority.
Office: HAB 404E
Phone: (845) 257-3226
E-mail: tuttlei@newpaltz.edu
Robert Hancock III, EOP Advisor
Robert Hancock is originally from nearby Pine Bush, New York. His bachelor's
degree consists of a dual major from SUNY College at Oneonta in Psychology
and Child and Family Studies. While at Oneonta Mr. Hancock became a member
of Psi Chi (The National Psychology Honor Society). Mr. Hancock has a master's
degree in College Student Services Administration from The College of Saint
Rose in Albany, New York. While in Albany, Mr. Hancock was an intern in the
Academic Advisement office at Schenectady County Community College. Mr. Hancock
also conducted grant-funded research for the HEOP office at Siena College and
was a graduate assistant for the Counseling Department at The College of St.
Rose.
Office: HAB 405
Phone: (845) 257-3226
E-mail: hancockr@newpaltz.edu
Clare Kelly-Barra, EOP Advisor
Clare Kelly-Barra is originally from Wood Green, London, England. Mrs. Kelly-Barra is an alumnus of Vassar College's Exploring Transfer Program. She has an Associates Degree in Liberal Arts from Dutchess Community College. At Smith College she obtained a bachelors' degree in Government and a History minor. She continued her graduate studies at SUNY Albany where she gained her master's in Political Science with a concentration in community politics. Prior to her joining the EOP team, she was the Associate Director for LaGuardia Community College's Upward Bound Summer Program and an advisor for Smith College's Community Connections Program. Recently, she was a counselor and the Early Awareness Program Coordinator for SUNY New Paltz's Educational Talent Search Program. Mrs. Kelly-Barra has memberships on the American Friends of Rowley House, University of Oxford, the National Association for Multicultural Education and the New York Counseling Association. She enjoys films, history, photojournalism, open water swimming, traveling and yoga.
Office: HAB 409
Phone: (845) 257-3226
E-mail: kellybac@newpaltz.edu
Christine Nicole Featherston, EOP Advisor
Christine Nicole Featherston is a native of Brooklyn, NY. Mrs. Featherston moved to the Hudson Valley area after graduating from Marist College, in Poughkeepsie, NY, with a B.S. in Computer Science. Upon Graduation she started her career at IBM as a Systems Programmer. In 2002, Mrs. Featherston earned her MBA from Mount Saint Mary College in Newburgh, NY, which led to a career change into Human Resources. Mrs. Featherston served as the HR Diversity Program Manager for the IBM Poughkeepsie and Fishkill sites. Through various professional and volunteer experiences, Mrs. Featherston discovered her passion to work within the educational system. In 2008, she earned a Masters in School Counseling from Mercy College in Dobbs Ferry, NY. Prior to joining the EOP staff at SUNY New Paltz, Mrs. Featherston was a part-time HEOP counselor at Marist College. Mrs. Featherston holds a New York State School Counseling Certification and she has been a member of the American Counseling Association (ACA), as well as Phi Delta Kappa International Honor Society/Professional Association for Educators. Mrs. Featherston also serves as a mentor for the Multicultural Recruitment Program (MRP) at SUNY New Paltz. In addition to serving as an EOP Advisor, Mrs. Featherston also serves as the Career & Student Development Advisor for the Educational Opportunity Program.
Jessica Purcell, EOP Advisor
Jessica Purcell comes to the Hudson Valley area from Santa Fe, New Mexico. She has an A.A.S. Degree from Santa Fe Community College where she participated in the Americorp program and was Vice President of Phi Theta Kappa, honor society for two-year colleges. An alumnus of SUNY New Paltz, she completed her B.A. in Psychology ('04) and her M.S. in Mental Health Counseling with an Advanced Certificate in Disaster Mental Health ('09). As a graduate student at New Paltz Ms. Purcell was a proud recipient of the Sojourner Truth Fellowship and held Graduate Assistant positions in the Disability Resource Center and the Institute for Disaster Mental Health. She also served as an intern in the Career Resource Center and Psychological Counseling Center. Particular areas of interest for Ms. Purcell are history, cultural anthropology, wellness, multicultural counseling, family systems, ambiguous loss, and disaster mental health. She also volunteers as a mental health lead for the Ulster County Chapter of the American Red Cross. Her free time is spent outdoors with her family, going to concerts, reading, and gardening.
Office: HAB 401
Phone: (845) 257-3226
E-mail: purcellj@newpaltz.edu
Amy Van Pelt, EOP Advisor
Amy Van Pelt is originally from Stonington, Connecticut. As an undergraduate, she attended Saint Joseph College in West Hartford where she received a B.S. in Mathematics with secondary education certification. Mrs. Van Pelt came to SUNY New Paltz to work as a Resident Director and attend graduate school. She received her Masters degree in Humanistic Education in 1998, got married, and worked briefly as the Director of the Ulster County Youth Bureau. After starting a family, Mrs. Van Pelt worked as an adjunct in the Mathematics Department here at SUNY New Paltz for many years. In addition to spending time with her husband and three daughters, Mrs. Van Pelt enjoys scrap booking, gardening, baking, and going on adventures with her girl scout troops.
Office: HAB 404B
Phone: (845) 257-3226
E-mail: vanpelta@newpaltz.edu
Ankur Kumar, EOP Advisor
Ankur Kumar grew up in Los Angeles, CA. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from UCLA, and his Masters of Education in Higher Education Counseling from USC Rossier School of Education. Mr. Kumar has worked with student-athletes to improve transition and college success skills. He also worked with Mount St. Mary's College students in career counseling and community engagement initiatives. Additionally, he developed educational plans with Fullerton College students and co-taught Academic Success classes. He enjoys collaborating with students holistically for personal, educational, and professional achievement. Mr. Kumar's interests include weight training, playing sports, enjoying live music, and exploring new environments.
Office: HAB 407
Phone: (845) 257-3226
E-mail: kumara@newpaltz.edu
Maritza Lewis, EOP Secretary
Maritza Lewis is the EOP Secretary since May 2004. (She worked in Academic Advising for approx 2 years and re-joined the EOP family in July 2008.) Maritza's priority in life is her family. The latest family addition being her granddaughter. She loves working at SUNY New Paltz, being surrounded by the students, their youth, energy, and drive. Maritza works with and trains work-study students in the front office. Maritza enjoys walking, swimming, karaoke, and cruising.
Office: HAB 401
Phone: (845) 257-3220
E-mail: lewism@newpaltz.edu
