Committee
Angela Baker
Adjunct Services Manager and Interim Director of the Learning Commons, Western Campus
Angela Baker is the current adjunct services manager and interim director of the Learning Commons. She has more than 20 years of employee management and human resources experience, working in the profit and nonprofit sectors. She started her career at Tri-C as a human resources coordinator in 2014. Baker holds a B.S. and M.S. in human resource management from Franklin University.
Radiah Blanton
Chief of Staff and Executive Assistant to the President
Radiah Blanton joined Tri-C in 2012 and has served in various roles throughout the College, from External and Government Relations to her current position as chief of staff in the Office of the President. In this role, Blanton works with the College president and Executive Leadership team to lead institutional strategies and the execution of key initiatives that align with the goals and mission of the College. Blanton most recently served as the executive director of Strategic Initiatives, where she collaborated with internal and external stakeholders to lead the implementation of College projects. She provided administrative leadership as the associate dean of Liberal Arts and encouraged academic innovation. Blanton was also the director of Tri-C’s Brunswick University Center (BUC), where she worked to find synergies between the local labor market and BUC programming and direct initiatives that serve students and the community.
Krista Cicogna
Student Advisor, Women in Transition, Westshore Campus
Krista Cicogna serves as the student advisor at the Westshore Campus for the Women in Transition (WIT) program, which empowers women to move their lives forward as they build personalized academic and professional development plans. Prior to joining WIT, she worked in TRIO’s Educational Talent Search program at the Metro Campus. Cicogna also spent 20 years as a high school English teacher and holds an MSEd from the Franciscan University of Steubenville and a B.A. in liberal arts from West Liberty University.
Nanci Coleman
Director, Employer Outreach, Western Campus
Nanci Coleman is the Collegewide director of Employer Outreach and Career Services. She has more than 25 years of experience with a variety of public, private and nonprofit organizations. Coleman has expertise in career development and job placement and a deep knowledge of local growth industries and hiring practices. She holds an MBA from Western Governors University and a B.A. from George Washington University.
Ann Conrad, Ph.D.
Associate Dean, Math and Business, Eastern Campus
Ann Conrad serves as the associate dean for math and business at Tri-C's Eastern campus. Prior to coming the Tri-C, she worked at Baldwin Wallace University for 21 years. At BW, she held numerous roles including bookstore cashier, office coordinator, MBA recruitment and admissions, adjunct professor, student advisor and director of the undergraduate business programs. Conrad earned her B.A. in Business and an MBA during her time at BW. In Fall 2022, she completed her Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration from Kent State University.
Paige Crawford
Program Coordinator, Student Basic Needs Grant
Paige Crawford is the program coordinator for Tri-C's Student Basic Needs Grant, which supports the mission of Project Go! Prior to joining Tri-C, Crawford served in various roles across Cuyahoga County, including eligibility specialist at Cuyahoga County Job and Family Services, child protection specialist at the Cuyahoga County Division of Children and Family Services and specialized dockets coordinator for the Cuyahoga County Juvenile Court. With a background in social services, Crawford has a passion for working with low-income youth and families in Cuyahoga County to alleviate barriers to education, jobs and self-sufficiency. Crawford holds an MPA from Ohio University, an M.S. in criminal justice and a B.S. in journalism from Bowling Green State University. She plans to pursue an Ed.D. in leadership in the next five years.
Michael Culp
Administrator, Alumni Relations Outreach
Michael Culp has cultivated meaningful, lifelong connections between Cuyahoga Community College and its alumni for the past seven years. He fosters Tri-C pride by connecting alumni with the College and one another, as well as with faculty and current students.
Culp is a U.S. Air Force veteran who graduated from Tri-C with an Associate of Applied Science in human services and an Associate of Arts. He served as Board Student Scholar for the 2015-2016 academic year and later transferred to The University of Akron, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in social work.
Sonja R. Elekhtaby
Manager, Adjunct Services, Eastern Campus
Sonja R. Elekhtaby currently serves as the Manager of Adjunct Services at the Eastern Campus where she advocates for adjunct faculty along with her counterparts. Prior to working at Tri-C, she worked in finance, human resources, the performing arts, and lastly the retail automotive industry. She began her Tri-C journey as a part-time employee in January 2010. Her adaptability, organization, problem solving skills along with her willingness to assist where needed eventually led to her gaining several full-time positions at the College. She is a proud graduate of Tri-C’s Mandel Leadership Development Program 2014-2015 cohort. This experience opened the opportunity for her to serve on the Board of East End Neighborhood House. She is passionate about student success and serves a mentor for students from the College Now program as well as multiple students in Tri-C’s Mandel Scholars Academy.
Chareeka Evans
Administrative Assistant, Academic Professional Development, Instructional Design and Online Learning
Chareeka Evans provides administrative support to Associate Vice President Dee Dee Pfister. The lifelong Clevelander is a positive and powerful force in the workplace, effectively using her wide range of knowledge and skills to contribute to the team. Evans earned an Associate of Arts from Cuyahoga Community College in June 2022. She enjoys cooking, traveling and spending time with her family.
Janika Garner-Davis
Unit Operations Specialist III, Eastern Campus
Janika Garner-Davis serves as the unit operations specialist III in Adjunct Services at the Eastern Campus. Garner-Davis has been with the College since 2017. With over 25 years of experience in program administration, program management, volunteer management, grant management, budget management and database management, she brings a wealth of knowledge along with a deep passion for education to her position.
Magda Gómez, Ed.D.
Executive Director, Diversity and Inclusion
Magda Gómez serves as the executive director of Diversity & Inclusion, working on multiple initiatives related to diversity, equity and inclusivity awareness and education. Her work focuses on valuing students and employees by encouraging mutual respect and honoring the unique perspectives each person brings to the table. Gómez is a board member of the Hispanic Roundtable of Cleveland, serves on the Greater Cleveland Food Bank and Cleveland Clinic Avon Hospital Board of Trustees, and is a member of the Equity Leadership Council for United Way of Greater Cleveland. Gómez holds an Ed.D. in higher education leadership from the National American University, a Master of Science in Social Administration (MSSA) from Case Western Reserve University and a B.A. in communications from John Carroll University. She is a proud alumna of Tri-C, where she earned an Associate of Arts.
Alanna Gordon
Administrative Coordinator, Westshore Campus
Alanna Gordon serves as the administrative coordinator for Dean Claire McMahon at the Westshore Camus. She has been with Tri-C since September 2022. Prior to joining Tri-C, Gordon served as the registrar at Bryant & Stratton College and ITT Tech. She has also enjoyed adjunct teaching at Strayer University, ITT Tech and Chancellor University. She holds an M.S. from Tiffin University and a B.A. from David N. Myers University.
Robyn Henry
Workforce Liaison, Advanced Technology Academy, Metro Campus
Robyn Henry is one of two workforce liaison recruiters for the Advanced Technology Academy. She has held this position since March 2022. Henry has a B.A. in psychology from Kent State University. Prior to coming to Tri-C, she worked as an early childhood educator for many years in Cleveland and Atlanta. She has also worked at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Cleveland and the Cleveland Job Corps Center.
Christine Hickey
Executive Director, Television and Video Services
Christine Hickey has worked for Tri-C for over 22 years, where she worked her way up from a production assistant in the Television Production department to the executive director, Television and Video Services. While producing videos for Tri-C she was awarded a Regional Emmy for her work on “Your Health & Wellness.”
Hickey serves on the Cleveland International Film Festival Board of Trustees, Coaches for Girls on the Run and is a mentor for the Mandel Scholars Academy at Tri-C. She holds a B.S. in Television, Film and New Media from San Diego State University.
She lives in North Canton with her husband, daughter and Labrador. She enjoys creating stained glass, hiking and scuba diving.
Sheila Howard
Coordinator, Office of Student Affairs, Eastern Campus
Sheila Howard is the coordinator in the Student Affairs office. She provides administrative support to the dean and assistant dean. Prior to coming to Tri-C, she was executive director of the JD Breast Cancer Foundation and has worked in health care as an IRB manager regulating clinical research and as a data manager scheduling and reporting flu season data for a local hospital. Howard began her journey as a temporary employee in 2016.
Kate Lamb
Program Manager, Student Production Office
Kate Lamb started at Tri-C as an adjunct faculty member for Visual Communication and Design (VC&D) in 2010. She became program manager of VC&D and the Film and Media Arts program in 2015. Currently, she is the program manager of the Student Production Office. Prior to coming to Tri-C, she worked in marketing and creative departments in the building and automotive industries. Lamb holds a B.A. in communication from Bowling Green State University. She is currently finishing her master’s degree at Tiffin University, focusing on arts and visual media. Her community involvement includes the Greater Cleveland Film Commission, the Cleveland International Film Festival, Americans in Graphic Arts and the Director’s Circle at the Kent State University Museum of Fashion.
Kyle Malmberg, Ed.D.
Director, Online Learning and Academic Technology
Kyle Malmberg serves as the director of Instructional Design and Learning Excellence at Tri-C. He holds an Ed.D. and an M.Ed. in curriculum and instruction with a specialty in educational technology. His education, experience and strengths combine to further adult education and find ways to make it more efficient — particularly in online learning. He has a passion for identifying others’ strengths and how they can apply those strengths to further their learning. With experience in customer service, technology, management and training, Malmberg is driven to help students, staff and teachers create the best educational environment possible.
Nikki Matala
Liaison, Campus and Community Relations, Westshore Campus
Nikki Matala joined Tri-C in May 2022. She spent 12 years as executive director of the Willoughby Area Chamber of Commerce before exploring opportunities at Hospice of the Western Reserve and the Western Reserve Area Agency on Aging. Nikki’s volunteer experience includes membership on various nonprofit boards and six years as an emergency department ambassador at Hillcrest Hospital.
Jennifer McCall
Jennifer McCall is the contract training program coordinator with Corporate College. She thrives when managing relationships and processes, coordinating training and events, contributing to collaborative team efforts and actively engaging in organizational initiatives. Her experience has afforded her exposure to many facets of program planning and implementation, including managing relationships and processes, end-to-end training and event execution, and program and process development.
McCall has worked in a variety of industries including health care, engineering/manufacturing, hospitality, and print and promotional advertising. She loves to motivate women to become the best versions of themselves.
Jessica McLaughlin, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Psychology, Metro Campus
Jessica McLaughlin is an associate professor of psychology at Tri-C. She holds a Ph.D. in psychology from Wayne State University and currently teaches General Psychology, Child Growth and Development, and Psychopathology. McLaughlin is passionate about incorporating social justice issues into her classroom, with an emphasis on mental health stigma. She can be found at the Metro Campus, advising the Active Minds club and serving as a faculty ambassador for the Office of Online Learning and Academic Technology (OLAT).
Maria Mitchell
Project Manager, Academic Affairs
Maria Mitchell is the project manager of Academic Affairs. An alumna of Tri-C, Mitchell has been with the College since 2007, also working in the areas of Institutional Research and Corporate College®. Prior to joining Tri-C, Mitchell worked at KeyBank for 10 years as a training coordinator and sourcing analyst.
Emily Moore
Manager of Campus Scheduling, Eastern Campus
Emily Moore has been working at the College for over 15 years. She is currently the manager of Campus Scheduling at the Eastern Campus. During her tenure at Tri-C, she has had the opportunity to work at Corporate College® East and the Western and Metropolitan campuses in various roles in the Enrollment Center, Fire Academy, Campus Scheduling and Academics. Moore is a Tri-C alumna, serving on several committees within the College and actively participating in community engagement opportunities. She is pursuing a degree in organizational leadership online at the Columbia College of Business.
Delia (Dee Dee) Pfister, Ph.D.
Associate Vice President, Academic Professional Development, Online Learning and Transfer
Dr. Delia (Dee Dee) Pfister has served at Cuyahoga Community College for over 11 years in various dean roles and is currently the Associate Vice President, Academic Professional Development, Online Learning, and Transfer. Previously, she served at Ursuline College, Lake Erie College, Fifth Third Bank, and Axelband and Brown Advertising. Dr. Pfister holds a Ph.D. in higher education administration from Kent State University, a master’s in interpersonal communication, a graduate certificate in women’s studies, a bachelor’s in organizational communication, and a minor in studio art from Ohio University. She earned the Dissertation of the Year Award (2017), National Council on Student Development with her research entitled, Singled Out for Success: A Narrative Inquiry of Single Mothers in the Community College. In her spare time, she enjoys leadership coaching, gourmet and vegan/plant-based cooking, church marriage ministry, volunteering, musical theater, and traveling with her family.
Robin Pijor
Program Manager, Career Exploration, Eastern Campus
Robin Pijor serves as the program manager for Career Exploration within the Career Center at the Eastern campus. In this role, she focuses on connecting students with various initiatives that allow them to explore their career interests such as job shadowing, employer panels, internships, networking events and more.
Pijor has worked in higher education for over 20 years, with the last 15 dedicated to career services. She has leadership, teaching and coaching experience and has worked with a diverse population of students, alumni and community members.
She holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a Master of Education in Health Education and Promotion from Kent State University.
Katie Ponsart
Student Life Advisor, Westshore Campus
Katie Ponsart serves as the student life advisor on the Westshore Campus. She enjoys collaborating with different departments to bring fun events to the students. Prior to coming to Tri-C, Ponsart worked as a retail manager for a women's clothing store. She graduated from Mount Vernon Nazarene University in 2020 with a B.A.
Mershayde Powell
Internship Coordinator, Advanced Technology Academy
Mershayde Powell is the internship coordinator at the Advanced Technology Academy, where she primarily helps students secure valuable internship experiences. After joining Tri-C in 2019, she furthered her education and obtained two degrees in information technology from the institution in 2020. Currently, she is pursuing a bachelor's degree in homeland security at Tiffin University.
Erica Sabo
Benefits Specialist
Erica Sabo serves as the benefits specialist for human resources. Sabo has worked in a variety of industries, including insurance, manufacturing, HR consulting, health care and accounting. With more than eight years of HR experience, she is committed to growing in higher education HR and helping others realize their potential. Sabo also serves on the HR Governance Committee and the FUN Committee.
HerBrina Shepherd
Specialist, Transfer Center, Metropolitan Campus
HerBrina Shepherd’s Tri-C journey began in 2017 when she joined the College as a Student Life coordinator. She has also served as a student success specialist, an admissions specialist, and an engineering program manager. She is part of several committees and programs including the Stand for Racial Justice alliance, Leadership Integration for Tomorrow, and the Black American Council, to name a few.
HerBrina earned a Bachelor of Arts in communication from The Ohio State University and a Master of Science in college student personnel administration from the University of Central Missouri. She has lived and worked all over the Midwest: in Michigan (Hope College), Illinois (Illinois State University), Indiana (Butler University), and Ohio (Muskingum University, The College of Wooster, and, of course, Tri-C).
Inspired by Maya Angelou, HerBrina’s mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive — and to do so with passion, compassion, humor, and style.
Janet Spitzig, DBA
Associate Dean, Liberal Arts and Business, Westshore Campus
Dr. Janet Spitzig has worked in higher education for over 12 years in academic affairs, student affairs, and enrollment management. She has a background in marketing, program planning, and student success initiatives. With a passion for helping students achieve their goals, she has focused on first-year student retention, developmental math completion, gateway English completion, and enhancing the student experience. Currently, she serves as the Associate Dean of Liberal Arts and Business at Cuyahoga Community College’s Westshore Campus. Spitzig holds a Doctor of Business Administration, an M.Ed. in Adult Learning and Development, and a B.B.A. in marketing.
Candice Storey, J.D.
Program Director, Paralegal Studies, Western Campus
Candice Storey is Program Director of Tri-C's Paralegal Studies Program. She earned her bachelor's degree from Bowling Green State University and her law degree from Cleveland State University. After practicing law for just a couple of years, Candice jumped into a career in higher education where she worked in several administrative capacities at Case Western Reserve University School of Law before coming to Tri-C.
Leanne van Beers-Werneke
Marketing Communications Manager, Eastern Campus
Since 2008, Leanne van Beers-Werneke has been the marketing and communications manager for the Eastern Campus. In addition to campus marketing, she handles the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Humanities Center and Scholars Academy, Honors and Scholars programs (Liberal Arts), IT (Computer Science), Faculty Development, Online Learning, Academic Technology, Instructional Design and Learning Excellence. She also supports Enrollment Management during the spring and fall commencements. Prior to coming to Tri-C, Werneke utilized her marketing skills in a variety of industries, including real estate, finance and the outdoors. A 2014 graduate of the Tri-C’s Mandel Leadership Development program, Werneke has served as a Mandel Scholar mentor.
Amanda Van Wormer
Specialist, Talent Acquisition
Amanda Van Wormer has helped attract top talent to the College in the Office of Human Resources since 2015. She received her B.A. in media studies from the University of Mount Union and has worked in recruiting in many industries since 2010. She is thrilled that her path led her to Tri-C, where she has been able to combine her passion for recruitment and higher education.
Robin Williams
Assistant Dean, Academic Affairs, Westshore Campus
Robin Williams assistant dean of academic affairs at Tri-C’s Westshore Campus. She formerly served as collegewide program manager of Tri-C's seven Business Administration academic programs.
She has more than a decade of experience in higher education, which includes business faculty, a regional and international faculty recruiter for Indiana Wesleyan University, and an assistant director of academic operations for Ursuline College’s Adult program. She has also served in executive management roles in corporate and nonprofit sectors. Williams holds a master’s in strategic management from Indiana Wesleyan and a B.A. from Ursuline. She is currently pursuing a doctorate of education in leadership and higher education administration American College of Education in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Chavilah Witt
Director, Student Engagement, Western and Westshore Campuses
Director for Student Engagement at West and Westshore, Chava brings 15+ years of student affairs experience and a passion for creating space for students to belong. Outside Tri-C, you can find Chava exploring the Metro Parks with her dogs and being the Best Auntie Ever.
Terrii Zernechel
Specialist, Campus Scheduling, Eastern Campus
Terrii Zernechel is the scheduling specialist for the Eastern Campus. This is her second year on the Women's Summit Committee and first year as co-chair. Zernechel is a published author and is currently working toward her master's degree at Tiffin University.