Meet the STEP Team

Deborah Berkley

DEAN, STUDENT DEVELOPMENT AND ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS
DIRECTOR, STEP AND EOF PROGRAMS

Deborah Berkley is the Dean of Student Development and Enrichment Programs, and the Director of the STEP & EOF Programs. She began her career at Stevens as the STEP Counselor, and during her career has held other positions within the department, including Upward Bound (Pre College) Director, and STEP Assistant Director. 

Dean Berkley is passionate about helping students and is dedicated to identifying new and innovative ways to motivate, champion,guide, and support students in their academic, personal, and career pursuits. She is an alum of Howard University, and Stevens Institute of Technology where she earned her undergraduate and graduate degrees, respectively. 

Edlyn Thompson-Mettle

Director of High School Enrichment Programs

Edlyn joined STEP in March 2018 after managing various nonprofit organizations in Boston, MA for over 10 years. As a seasoned educator, she has dedicated her career to enriching the lives of young adults and envisions a community where education is fully accessible to all who wish to pursue it. She specializes in leading youth programs that provide academic and career coaching to students whom have graduated from high school and are transitioning into college. In her role as Associate Director for Diversity Programs, she oversees Stevens ACES (Accessing Careers in Engineering and Science), which is a pre-college program created to expose, stimulate, and support talented high school students from underrepresented backgrounds and underserved communities realize their full potential in the field of STEM. The program leverages Stevens resources and constituencies to create robust and lasting relationships with partner high schools. Similarly, she also manages the Art Harper Saturday Academy whose goal is to encourage and inspire high school students from under-resourced communities pursue STEM as a career field and provides them with the tools needed to succeed. Overall her passion for producing the next generation of leaders has served as a driving force in her professional life and she's excited to continue this work here at Stevens. Edlyn earned her BA in Psychology from the University of Connecticut, her MA in Mental Health Counseling and Behavioral Medicine with a specialization in Sport Psychology from Boston University, and is currently pursuing her Doctorate of Education in Urban Education at the University of Pittsburgh.

Beatriz Motino

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR/COUNSELOR

Beatriz joined STEP in October 2019. Prior to working in STEP, she worked at the Rutgers University School of Engineering EOF/EOP program, where she served as a counselor, academic advisor, and recruitment lead. As a first generation graduate, Beatriz is passionate helping underrepresented and first generation students navigate through higher education academically, professionally, and personally. She is also passionate about exposing younger students to STEM and helping students in STEM degrees through their journeys. Beatriz has experience in student development, tutoring, academic coaching, recruitment and outreach, residence life, training, counseling, academic advising, programming, and opportunity and access programs. As the STEP/EOF Assistant Director and Counselor, she serves as a resource to connect students to the services provided by STEP. Beatriz oversees the tutoring, programming, and counseling services during the academic year and works with the STEP/EOF Director to manage the Bridge Summer Program and Mathematics Immersion Program during the summer. As a product of the EOF program, Beatriz holds opportunity programs near and dear to her heart and can attest that they work and are life changing. Beatriz earned her B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the Rutgers School of Engineering and her M.Ed in Mathematics Education from the Rutgers Graduate School of Education.

Jessica Gruich

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT

Jessica joined the STEP team in January 2019. Prior to joining Stevens, Jessica was the director of Hoboken Children's Academy, where for 5 years she served as the program supervisor for staff, clients and children enrolled at the center. Jessica's experience in this role has provided her the leadership and management skills to ensure that daily operations of the office are successful. Her experience building relationships and bonds with her clients and staff are essential to her role in STEP, as Jessica is the first point of contact for the students in the office and provides the team and students a safe environment to relax, unwind and get assistance when needed. She also assists with the daily functions of the department, including managing the webpage, publishing a monthly newsletter, database management and all financial transcations. Jessica earned her BA in Communications, Public Relations from William Paterson University.