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We are excited to announce the 2023 Executive Board! The LICSPA Executive Board contains 5 positions: President, Executive Vice President, Vice President of Marketing & Communications, Vice President of Finance, and Vice President of Membership Development. General Board Officers report to the Executive Board - for more information on LICSPA’s leadership structure, visit our Leadership page.
The term of office for all Executive Officers is January 1–December 31. For more information about each position, their responsibilities, and our election process, check out our Constitution and Elections pages.
President
Denée Jenkins is the 2024 LICSPA President!
Denée attended Binghamton University for her BA in Geography, focusing on Race, Place, & Ethnicity: American Perspectives. She later earned her MS in Curriculum Development and Instructional Technology from SUNY Albany. Since August of 2018, Denée has worked at SUNY Old Westbury, within Student Affairs as the Student Union and Operations Manager, as well as the Interim Assistant Director of the Center for Student Leadership and Involvement. Currently, she now works as the Executive Assistant for the President, where her main responsibilities are to relieve the President of operational and administrative details and perform administrative functions that require a knowledge of the College policies, procedures, and operations.
Denée is passionate about providing high-quality and equitable educational experiences and spaces for students so that they are able to focus on their own learning and development. She knows that in service to others and collaboration, we can truly make positive waves and succeed, and aims to make LICSPA that space and resource for Higher Education professionals in the region.
Executive Vice President
Paul Ferrante is the 2024 LICSPA Executive Vice President!
Paul attended Lycoming College for his Bachelor’s in Corporate Communication and then earned his Master’s in Communication Arts from New York Institute of Technology. He joined Higher Education as an intern within the Student Engagement Office at New York Tech supporting fraternity & sorority life. In May 2022, Paul completed his Masters in School Counseling from New York Tech and is working on building partnerships to further support K-16+ education. He served as an Assistant Director for Student Life at New York Tech and is now currently working at Hofstra University as the Assistant Director for Student Leadership and Engagement, Fraternity and Sorority Life. Paul is currently working on his doctorate at Hofstra University in the Educational Policy and Leadership program.
Paul’s favorite part about higher education is working with passionate students and seeing them develop over time and start their transition into a career or further education. During his free time, he is an active member of the Long Island Gay Men’s Chorus, an active viewer of RuPaul’s Drag Race, and likes to travel when he has the time to.
Vice President of Finance
Zhakeya Jackson is the 2023 LICSPA Vice President of Finance!
Zhakeya Jackson attended Stony Brook University where she earned her Bachelor's Degree in Psychology and Political Science, and later began earning her Master's Degree in Business Administration and Public Policy. At the start of her graduate career, Zhakeya worked as an RA and a graduate coordinator for Stony Brook's UNITI Cultural Center, a space created to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion through student programs and initiatives. As of July 2021, Zhakeya works as a Residence Hall Director at Stony Brook University where she oversees an upper division residence hall, while also remaining engaged with other campus engagement initiatives.
Zhakeya's favorite part about working in higher education is having the opportunity to connect with other professionals and being able to to learn from the different experiences that we have all had.
Vice President of Marketing & Communications
Doreen Dacilas is the 2022 LICSPA Vice President of Marketing & Communications!
Doreen, from Orange County, New York, is a double Hofstra Alumna. She completed a Bachelor's, triple majoring in Political Science, Global Studies, and Spanish, with a minor in Business. And a Master’s in Higher Education Leadership and Policy Studies. Currently, she serves as a Resident Director at Hofstra University as well!
One of her favorite parts of working in Higher Education is being able to connect, guide, and create bonds with students all over campus, an aspect she is excited to pursue further in all her endeavors. During her free time, you can find her mentoring youth in Pathfinders ages 9-18, laughing with family and friends, painting, listening to music, or just being a ‘hype-man’ to all!
Vice President of Membership Development
Joshua Phillips is the 2023 LICSPA Vice President of Membership Development!
Joshua attended Texas A&M University-Commerce for his BS in Liberal Studies with a Concentration in Multicultural and Global Issues. Joshua then earned his Ed. M. in College Student Affairs from Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, and is currently working on his Ed. D in Higher Education Administration from Northeastern University. Joshua is currently working at SUNY Old Westbury. He serves as the Senior Class Dean and Director of Residential Life.
Joshua loves learning and loves connecting with people. He cares deeply about creating new opportunities for students and colleagues alike. Joshua is currently serving as the Secretary for the Long Island Pride Lions, a local LGBT chapter of the Lions Club Int. Joshua finds cooking to be a form of therapy and finds that connecting with people over a great meal makes for an even better experience. As of February 2022, Joshua became an avid Peloton rider and in December 2023 joined the Century Club. Join him for a ride at 6 am or a great meal!
LICSPA is the place to expand your network and connect deeper to your passion in Higher Education! Welcome!
Past LICSPA Presidents
2022 - 2024 | Denée Jenkins
2020 & 2021 | Leonard S. Breton
2018 & 2019 | Nicole Torres
**shift in Term of Office from June - June to calendar year
2016-2017 | Michael Berthel
2014-2016 | Tara Wagner
2012-2014 | Susan DiMonda
2010-2012 | Deborah Heineman
2008-2010 | Diane Perillo
2006-2008 | Ronnie MacDonald
2004-2006 | David Ring
2002-2004 | Harriet Kulka
2000-2002 | Dolores Parry
1998-2000 | Claire Bryant
1997-1998 | Nikki Ceo
1995-1997 | Ed Lynch
1993-1995 | Bill Murray
1990-1993 | Jim Richards
1989-1991 | Vincent Wright
1987-1989 | Gary Mis
1986-1987 | Phyllis French
1984-1986 | Dennis Payette
1982-1984 | Don Scheiber
Founding Member Past President | Bill Condon