Our team prepares students holistically through leadership development, co-curricular programming, community engagement, and dialogue around inclusion and diversity. We strive to create a community of learners that think critically and act responsibly both within the Stevens community and beyond.
To contact the Office of Student Life, please email [email protected] or call 201.216.5206.
Leo Pedraza, Ph.D. | Assistant Dean of Students | Director of Student Life
Email: [email protected]
Dr. Leo Pedraza (he/him/his) joined Stevens in November 2018, and he has dedicated the last 20 years to helping students succeed in college. Dr. Pedraza earned his Ph.D. in Higher Education Leadership, Management, and Policy at Seton Hall University, an M.Ed. in College Student Services Administration at Oregon State University, and a B.A. in Communication Studies at Cal State Long Beach. He is originally a Southern Californian but has been an East Coast resident since 2002. Outside of work, he loves good food, traveling, playing volleyball, and lots of Disney Plus and HBO Max.
Responsibilities:
Oversight of Student Life programs, organization policy, and operations
Budget oversight, financial approval, and contract negotiations
Liaison to arts & music organizations
Family Day, Senior Week Programs, Pre-Orientation
Mediation, crisis management, and conduct hearings
Danielle Maxson | Associate Director of Student Life
Email: [email protected]
Danielle (she/her) rejoined the Student Life team In April 2022, after previously serving in the office from 2018-2021. Before starting at Stevens, Danielle received her M.Ed. in Higher Education Administration from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and her B.A. in English and Educational Studies from Arcadia University. Born and raised in Bayville, NJ, Danielle is a Jersey girl through and through. Outside of Student Life, you can find her baking up a batch of cupcakes, enjoying a Broadway show in the city, or eating all the pizza Hoboken has to offer! Danielle’s areas of oversight in Student Life include:
Responsibilities:
New student and transition programs
Annual campus-wide large-scale events and traditions
Leadership development initiatives
Student organization support and liaison to media, non-RSO organizations
Peer Leader Program
TBD | Assistant Director of Fraternity & Sorority Life
Email:
Responsibilities:
Advisement to 22 Greek-lettered social organizations, 3 governing councils, and 2 programmatic councils
Oversee Primary Recruitment for three governing councils
Provides education on risk management, social events, hazing prevention
Serves as liaison between chapters and other students, campus partners, headquarters staff
Stephanie Hios | Student Activities Coordinator
Email: [email protected]
Stephanie (she/her) joined the Student Life team in November 2023. Before starting at Stevens, Stephanie received her MA in Educational Leadership from Montclair State University and her BA in Psychology from Ramapo College of New Jersey. Stephanie is a social butterfly who loves engaging with students to plan their events and activities. Her friends would describe “Steph” as the hostess-with-the-mostest, always planning the next get-together. Outside of Student Life, you can find Steph coaching volleyball, eating ice cream, or searching for a new documentary to obsess over.
Responsibilities:
Advisor to the Entertainment Committee, Commuter Student Union, and Transfer Student Association
Administration of student engagement platform, DuckLink
Advisement of student organizations
Assist with annual campus-wide large-scale events and traditions
Liaison to professional organizations
Tara Roach | Leadership & Service Coordinator
Email: [email protected]
Tara (she/her) joined the Student Life team in December 2023! Tara earned her M.A. in Student Affairs in Higher Education from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and a B.A. in Psychology from Rider University. Tara loves helping people develop their leadership style and believes everyone can be a great leader. Outside of Student Life, you can find Tara with her nose in a book or teaching kickboxing classes, lifting heavy things, and playing billiards.
Responsibilities:
Oversee Leaders Impacting Technology (LIT) and Leadership Paths programs
Coordinate and support service and civic engagement opportunities
Peer Leader Program
Liaison to service and special interest organizations
Kathleen Tizon | Student Life Administrative Assistant
Email: [email protected]
Kathleen (she/her) joined Stevens in August 2021 and came to the Student Life team in January 2024. She earned her B.A. in English from Wesleyan University and her A.A. in Liberal Arts from Brookdale Community College. Kathleen grew up in central Jersey and vehemently claims that the best pizza is from Pete and Elda's in Neptune. Outside of work, Kathleen loves to go to the movies, bake Ube cookies for her friends, and play bass with her band.
Responsibilities:
Office support and front desk operations
Recruitment, selection, and training of Student Center Assistants
Budgetary allocations, compliance, and financial transaction processing
Training and advisement of Student Organization Treasurers
Liaison to recreational, electronics, and gaming organizations
Caitlin Gurgone | Graduate Coordinator for Fraternity & Sorority Life
Email: [email protected]
Caitlin (she/they) joined the Student Life team in August 2022. Caitlin earned their B.A. in History from Susquehanna University and is pursuing an M.A. in Higher Education and Student Affairs at New York University. Caitlin is a proud member of Zeta Tau Alpha Women’s Fraternity which influences her passion to advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion in the Fraternity & Sorority Life space, and make all students feel comfortable and safe in their homes away from home. Outside of work and school, you can find Caitlin watching anime, playing video games, enjoying a Mets game, and dancing.
Responsibilities:
Co-advisement of fraternities and sororities
IMPACT Leadership retreat for Greek students
Educational programs for new members of the Greek community
Risk management, social events, and hazing prevention