Admission Counselors & Staff
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Elizabeth Sullivan
Associate Vice President Enrollment Management and Marketing
Office: Lee House, 2nd Floor
Phone: (201) 761-7106
Email: esullivan2@saintpeters.edu
Lead Undergraduate, Transfer, Bachelor Degree completion admissions; Office of Financial Assistance
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Kacey Tillotson ’02
Executive Director of Admission
Office: Lee House, 2nd Floor
Phone: (201) 761-7111
Email: ktillotson@saintpeters.edu
Admission Counselor Territory:
HI; WA; OR (Pac Northwest); Pacific/Micronesia American Territories; Athletes; International (Assistant)
Undergraduate
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Kirsten A. Bowens
Assistant Director of Admission, Freshman
Office: Lee House
Phone: (201) 761-7100
Email: kbowens@saintpeters.edu
Admission Counselor Territory:
Hudson Valley (NY-10); Rockland County (NY-13); Westchester (NY 15); Bronx, Brooklyn (NY 22-24); Manhattan (NY 25-27); Queens (NY-28-30); AL; AR; GA; MN; MO; NC; OK; TX; WI
Fun Facts:
- I am the first in my family to Graduate from an HBCU (Historically Black College/University) on a full Track & Field scholarship.
- I take joy in reading poetry books & trying new foods.
- My cousin and I took a 23-hour road trip from New York to Miami, FL and back for my 25th birthday.
- I qualified for the second round of America’s next top model (obviously never made it to the show!)
- GIPHY’s are amazing!
Things I like: I enjoy all outdoor activities such as hiking, camping, fishing and biking. I was raised on one of the highest mountains in Northern New Jersey with a gorgeous lake view and several hiking trails. Every fall my father and I load up the pop-up and head to Lake George, NY where we fish, relax and BBQ all weekend. I enjoy listening to all genres of music, from old school R&B (Chaka Khan) to country music (Dixie Chicks/Faith Hill) my favs!
Favorite Quote: “This too shall pass.” – Persian adage
Favorite/best thing about Jersey City: I personally love the energy of Jersey City. It’s vibrant. I admire the diversity, culture and location. I also appreciate the friendliness and help the community offers. Everything you need is within arm’s reach, especially with New York City and Hoboken being less than 5 miles away.
Favorite Place on Campus:My favorite place on campus would have to be the six-story McMahon Student Center. Each floor offers something different to each person, whether you’re looking to hang out with a few friends, study, grab a bite to eat or even get a quick workout. On the first floor you can find Campus Ministry which offers the opportunity for students from all religious backgrounds to examine and grow in their faith. On other floors you will find dining facilities, a fitness room and spacious game room area with pool tables, game boards etc. The sixth-floor Duncan Family Sky Room (which is also my favorite) hosts special events for the University and the community and has an amazing view of lower Manhattan.
College Advice to Prospective Students and Families:
- Take a deep breath, relax, and take it one step at a time!
- Start your search early.
- Sign up for a campus tour.
- Speak with the department in your major of interest.
- Ask many questions.
- Get involved.
- Always remember, your academics come first, extracurricular activities are second, and a controlled social life, third.
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Ryan Britt ’14
Assistant Director of Admission, Freshman
Office: Lee House
Phone: (201) 761-7113
Text me: (201) 927-8649
Email: rbritt@saintpeters.edu
Let’s Skype: ryan.britt.spu
Admission Counselor Territory:
Hudson (NJ-9) and Essex (NJ-8) (excl. top 20); Western NY/Central NY and Southern Tier West (Buffalo, Syracuse, Rochester) IA; ID; IL; IN; KS; KY; MI; MT; ND; NE; OH; SD; TN; WY; TR Assistance; EOF and TRiO Liaison
Fun Facts:
- I went to Toms River High School North, but graduated from Bayonne High School.
- I was Time Magazine’s Person of the Year in 2006 (well, you probably were too).
- I’m on Google Street View, but my face is blurred out.
Things I like: Driving, biking, hiking, reading, working on cars, movies, comedy, the color blue, technology, video games, and buffalo wings.
Favorite Quote: “It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.” -Aristotle
Favorite/best thing about Jersey City: In my opinion, the best thing about Jersey City is the diversity. Jersey city is a place where you can be free to be yourself. Diversity offers students a richer perspective on issues and concepts. Diversity strengthens ties to the community, and offers all students the prospect of success. Jersey City is the most diverse city in New Jersey. The waterfront is a very relaxing place to read, relax or even just hang out (it also doesn’t hurt that the waterfront is flooded with Pokemon and Pokéstops.)
College Advice to Prospective Students and Families:
Be sure to utilize all of the resources available to you. If you are struggling with classwork, seek out a tutor. If you are bored on campus, get involved with some clubs. If you are overwhelmed and need someone to talk to, look to a counselor. The college decision process can be daunting, especially for first generation students (and their parents). Admission Counselors are here to help, don’t be scared to ask any and all questions you may have.
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Kayleigh Galbraith
Assistant Director of Admission, Freshmen
Office: Lee House
Phone: (201) 761-7114
Email: kgalbraith@saintpeters.edu
Admission Counselor Territory:
Albany-Capital Region NY (NY 1-9); Catskills NY (NY 11); Southern Tier East NY (NY 12); Staten Island (NY 14); CT; MA, RI; NH, VT; ME
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Cherese Jackson
Assistant Director of Admission, Freshmen
Office: Lee House
Phone: (201) 761-7112
Email: cjackson2@saintpeters.edu
Admission Counselor Territory:
Southern NJ (NJ-1), Camden & Burlington (NJ-2), Jersey Shore & Pinelands (NJ-3), Middlesex (NJ-4), Monmouth (NJ-5), Sussex, Warren and Hunterdon (NJ-12); PA (1-6); DC; DE; MD; VA
Fun Facts:
- I have a twin brother.
- I have been a cheerleader competitively for over ten years.
- I can say the alphabet backwards.
Things I like: The color orange, giraffes, laughing, singing, eating good food and taking naps!
Favorite Quote: “The work is worth it.” – NCA (National Cheerleaders Association)
Favorite/best thing about Jersey City: The best thing about Jersey City is its proximity to New York. The fact that New York City is only five miles away is great for many reasons. Students have a city to explore right in their backyard. They can go for academic reasons like classes, or professional reasons like jobs and internships, and recreational pursuits as there are hundreds of fun things to do.
College Advice to Prospective Students and Families:
- It’s OK to be unsure of what you want to do! There is nothing wrong with taking time to figure out what you like and what interests you. Entering college as an undecided major is the best option for many students who are on the fence. They get to learn about different career paths and figure out exactly what they want to major in, all in their own time.
- Take school seriously! Earning a degree is a big accomplishment and it takes a lot of work. Do the best you can on every assignment and earn the best grades you can. College is a completely different world than high school. As long as you stay focused and determined, there is no way you won’t succeed.
- Get involved! College is what you make of it. If you get involved with different clubs, organizations, or sports on campus you will get a lot more out of your college experience. Joining groups not only helps you make friends and acclimate into the college life, but it also exposes you to different things and broadens your horizon.
- Make professional connections! At some point, you are going to need letters of recommendation for jobs, internships, and even graduate school. It is important to connect with faculty and staff at Saint Peter’s, not only so they can provide you with recommendation letters, but also for networking. You never know who has the right connections that you need.
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Patricia (Trish) Peterson
Admission Counselor
Office: Lee House
Phone: (201) 761-7153
Email: ppeterson@saintpeters.edu
Admission Counselor Territory:
Pre-nursing; Bergen (NJ-10), Morris & Northern Passaic (NJ-11), Long Island (Nassau, Suffolk Counties) (NY 16-21); Honors Program liaison.
Fun Facts: I once rode a bicycle 450 miles across Florida from Fort Myers to Daytona, up to Jacksonville and back to Daytona. We carried all our gear and camped along the way. (Central Florida is not flat!) I also once got stuck on a ski lift that broke down and had to be rescued by being lowered to the ground with a harness and ropes. (I still love to ski.)I graduated from college with a BSN and was a pediatric RN for many years before stopping to raise my family. I love everything about college, it was one of my most favorite times in life. So happy to be working here at Saint Peter’s and hoping to help young adults find that same experience.
Things I like: Everything Outdoors! I love to camp, hike, ski, and bike. But my favorite thing to do is spend time with my horse. I have spent many hours on trails throughout New Jersey and my dog Boudreaux loves to join us. I also love to read and garden. I grow some pretty awesome tomatoes in the summer. And last but not least I love, love, love to spend time with my family.
Favorite Quote: “Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new.” – Albert Einstein
Favorite/best thing about Jersey City: I love the waterfront. I had friends that had a sailboat in the Liberty Landing Marina. When I was lucky enough to be invited it was always a wonderful time. It’s great at night with New York skyline lit up and you can see that pretty lady hanging out in the harbor. Even without a sailboat the waterfront is a very cool place to hang out.
Favorite Place on Campus: I love the Mac Mahon student center. It is a wonderful place that represents everything fun on a college campus. The cafe, game room and fitness center are all in one spot, it’s a great place to hang out with friends.
College Advice to Prospective Students and Families: Learn as much as you can about the schools that interest you. Visit if you can, and if you can’t then explore their websites. Every school has a website full of information. Never be afraid to ask questions, we are here for you! We want to answer your questions and there is no such thing as a dumb question. Do not be afraid to apply even if cost seems out of range. There are many scholarship opportunities, many you may not be aware of, that can make that dream school affordable. Enjoy the process and trust that it will all work out.
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Anthony Rodriguez ’10
Associate Director of Admission, Freshmen
Office: Lee House
Phone: (201) 761-7124
Text me: (201) 686-5653
Email: arodriguez8@saintpeters.edu
Let’s Skype: ARodriguezSPU
Admission Counselor Territory:
Top 20 feeder; Union (NJ-7), Somerset & Mercer (NJ-6), Latin America; CA (4-11); AK; AZ; CO; UT; NM; NV Special Programs (ACE)
Fun Facts: I am fluent in both Italian and Spanish.
Things I like: I consider myself to be a part-time chef. Usually on the weekends, I will find an interesting recipe on Pinterest (shoutout to Pinterest!) and make it that day. I love spending time with my dog, Gizmo. I am a big time soccer person. I enjoy playing and watching the sport.
Favorite Quote: “Success is no accident. It is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice and most of all, love of what you are doing or learning to do” – Pelé
Favorite/best thing about Jersey City: Being that I enjoy food, there are different types of cuisines that one can enjoy. Whether it is Latin, Italian, or Indian, you will not be disappointed. My favorite places to eat are Ercolano Salumeria, El Sabroso, and Wonder Bagel. There is also a lot to do in Jersey City. You can go to Liberty Science Center, the museum, or take a trip on the ferry to Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty.
College Advice to Prospective Students and Families:
- Research, research, and research. It’s the most important thing in my opinion if you want to find a school that has what you are looking for, in terms of size, location, majors, and cost.
- Visit as many schools as possible.
- Don’t be afraid to ask questions. That is what we, as Admission Counselors, are here for.
Transfer and Evening/Online
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Pamela de Leon ’12, ’16
Associate Director, Transfer
Office: Lee House
Phone: (201) 761-7110
Text me: (201) 776-1422
Email:pdeleon@saintpeters.edu
Let’s Skype: PdeleonSPU
Admission Counselor Territory:
Lead Transfer (& TR BSN); PR
Fun Facts: I am one of ten children and we are all super close. I am the self-appointed Karaoke Queen of Jersey City and I won an award for it on a cruise ship. I transferred into Saint Peter’s and it was the best decision of my life!
Things I like: Reality TV (all of it), guacamole, literally any kind of board game, and Just Dance.
Favorite Quote: “Nothing will work unless you do” – Maya Angelou
Favorite/best thing about Jersey City: Everything!! I am born and raised in Jersey City and it’s a great place to be… everything is at your fingertips. There are a lot of great things to do, and eat, you will never be bored! Don’t forget to check out O’Haras downtown for some great American food and Karaoke or Me Casa for some good Spanish food. Also we have great food trucks!!
College Advice to Prospective Students and Families:
- Make sure you take time to visit the schools you are interested in, it’s the best way to make sure the school you choose is a good fit for you!
- Ask questions! All questions are good questions and that’s the only way to get the answers.
- Don’t make decisions based on the price tag, there are scholarships out there for everyone!
Go to Transfer and Evening/Online
International
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Kristy Allan
Senior Assistant Director of International Admission
Office: Lee House, 2nd Floor
Phone: (201) 761-7115
Email: kallan@saintpeters.edu
Admission Counselor Territory:
All International & Americans living abroad (grad/undergrad)
Go to International Admission
Graduate
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Yesenia Niño
Director of Admission Grad/Adult
Office: Graduate Studies House
Phone: (201) 761-6470
Email: ynino@saintpeters.edu
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Dawn Mazurkiewicz
Admission Specialist
Office: Graduate Studies House
Phone: (201) 761-6398
Email: dmazurkiewicz@saintpeters.edu
Go to Graduate Admission
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Evelina Francisco
Executive Administrative Assistant
Office of Enrollment Management/AdmissionOffice: Lee House
Phone: (201) 761-7103Email: efrancisco@saintpeters.edu