Senior Leadership Team and President’s Office Staff

Dear all,

Welcome back everyone!

I am writing to re-introduce the College’s senior leadership team and the people who support the President’s Office, as I do at the start of every year. The names are not in any particular order, other than in order of submission to me!

A person stands behind a large jeweled LA championship ring display at a stadium. The circular display reads “2025 World Series Champions,” with crowds and seating visible beyond it. Bright daylight illuminates the metallic blue, gold, and silver details.

Sonya Smith, Vice President and Dean of Admission and Student Financial Services, and her colleagues recruit, select, and provide financial aid to our amazing students. A lifelong Los Angeles Dodgers fan, she is still celebrating their back-to-back World Series Championships (2024 & 2025).

Two people sit together in stadium-style seating at a large outdoor concert venue. A broad stage, lighting structures, and a dense crowd fill the area behind them. Daylight and an overcast sky create even illumination across the scene.

Tim Kane, Vice President for Advancement, enjoyed a Paul Simon concert in Forest Hills NY this summer with Vassar daughter Olivia Kane ’24. Yes, Simon still performs at 84 and draws 15,000 people of all ages. Tim is looking forward to successfully concluding Vassar’s Fearlessly Consequential campaign this year!

A person in a mustard-yellow striped sweater stands near a coastal overlook. Pale turquoise water, sandy shoreline, rocky outcrops, and green headlands extend across the background. Soft daylight falls under a lightly clouded blue sky.

Kelli A. Duncan, Dean of Strategic Planning and Academic Resources (DoSPAR) works across the College on strategic planning, academic resources, and space and facilities planning. Since 2011, she has been a member of the Department of Biology and Neuroscience and Behavior Program. When not at Vassar she enjoys traveling with her family.

A close portrait shows a person outdoors with sunglasses resting on top of the head. Behind the figure, a weathered building bears large painted words reading “Nashville Tennessee.” Green grass, utility lines, and a bright blue sky with scattered clouds surround the structure.

Shay Humphrey, Vassar’s General Counsel, has had the good fortune to attend two conferences this year with the National Association of College and University Attorneys (NACUA). The first one was in New Orleans and the second was in Nashville. This photo is from the 12 South shopping district in Nashville.

A close portrait shows a person with dark wavy hair wearing a sleeveless striped top. The figure faces the camera beside a windowed wall, with part of an indoor room visible behind. Soft natural light highlights the face and hair.

Amanda Goodman serves as Director of Administrative Affairs, where she coordinates events hosted by the President’s Office and also supports the College’s community and civic engagement. Outside of work, she enjoys exploring the Hudson Valley and discovering new restaurants—if you know of a must-try spot, feel free to send her a recommendation!

Two people pose closely together outdoors near palm trees and a turquoise-and-white building. One figure is positioned lower in the frame while the other leans in from above. Bright daylight creates clear highlights across their faces and clothing.

Veronica Peccia has been at Vassar for 25 years and is currently the Scheduler extraordinaire for President Bradley. She magically keeps everything organized and running smoothly. She loves traveling with her husband, Thomas, and this year they visited Aruba and the Bahamas. When home, their two cats keep them entertained with crazy antics.

A person stands on a stone terrace overlooking Machu Picchu. Layered stone ruins, green terraces, and steep mountain peaks fill the valley below. Strong sunlight creates crisp shadows beneath a vivid blue sky with white clouds.

Wesley “Wes” Dixon serves at Vassar as the Deputy to the President and the Secretary of the Board of Trustees. Wes loves board/card games, and some of his favorites are Taboo, Spades, and Pit. Wes is a fan of all things Bravo and has enjoyed watching the Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip: Roaring 20th!

Five people gather closely for a group photo inside a colorful aquarium-like setting. Branching coral forms and saturated purple, pink, and blue lighting fill the space behind them. The figures are arranged in two rows, with faces turned toward the camera.

Bini Tesfamariam serves as Associate Vice President for Institutional Research and Strategic Decision Support. He leads the College’s institutional research and data-informed decision-support efforts. Bini lives in Fishkill with his wife, Rozi, and their three children, Elianna, Elias, and Ezekiel, pictured in an aquarium below.

Four people stand closely together at a glacial overlook, with arms resting around one another. A pale lake, dark rocky slopes, and a broad glacier stretch across the background. Gray clouds diffuse the light over the mountainous landscape.

Victoria Grantham, Vice President for Communications, is grateful to be part of the vibrant Vassar community and is excited to reconnect with everyone after a summer that included two weeks of adventure travel with her family. Have a story to tell, or a project to discuss? Come visit Victoria in Main (2nd floor), at Crafted Kup (often), or on Zoom to discuss it.

Two people stand beside a shallow mountain stream, with one figure slightly behind the other. Dense green shrubs and tall evergreens fill the valley around them. Snow-streaked rocky peaks rise sharply beneath a clear blue sky.

Kimberly Williams Brown is Advisor to the College on Inclusion and Pluralism. This summer she spent a lot of time outdoors including in Aspen Colorado near the Maroon mountains with her husband Ian and in the Hudson Valley with kids Zuri, 10 and Zaire, 6. She is looking forward to Fall at Vassar and the beautiful ways we will engage our differences!

Two people stand side by side in formal clothing at an indoor event space. One wears a dark suit and tie, while the other wears a pink patterned dress. Tables, chairs, glass walls, and overhead lighting form a bright modern background.

Gabriel Anjo (Gabe) covers Reception in the President’s Office some days and is the Executive Assistant to the Vice President for Communications and Office Manager. This summer, he went to watch Portugal play in a World Cup game with his brothers. He also visited Puerto Rico with his fiancée, Eva, who serves as a House Advisor.

A group of people wearing matching white graphic shirts pose together in front of a decorated display. Several figures stand in the back row while others cluster across the center and front. Blue, white, and dark graphic elements fill the event-style background.

Bryan Swarthout, Vice President for Finance and Administration, and his family had their first vacation together with all the cousins, a trip that had been in the works for years. Turns out the best part of a trip isn’t the destination—it’s who’s on it with you. As the semester kicks off, he’s looking forward to that same sense of togetherness returning to campus.

A person stands beside a wooden barrel inside a shop lined with bottles and merchandise. Shelving, industrial windows, and warm wood surfaces fill the interior. Daylight from the windows combines with indoor lighting across the display area.

Carlos Alamo, Dean of the College, is looking forward to his nineteenth year at Vassar, centering joy and grace with our students and community. He spent the summer resting, exploring the Hudson Valley, and spending time with his family in Puerto Rico.

A person stands beside a stone viewpoint sign reading “Camino de García Moreno.” A mountain lake and rugged brown-green peaks spread across the landscape behind the figure. Diffused daylight falls beneath a cloudy gray sky.

Carlos García, Vice President for Technology and Human Resources and Chief Information Officer, is grateful to work with CIS, Human Resources, and Institutional Equity. He is enthusiastic about enabling success and fostering care for all at Vassar. Here he is in the Andes of Ecuador, where he recently volunteered with a medical service program.

A person in a salmon button-down shirt and dark trousers stands in a bright interior hallway. Tall columns, patterned stone flooring, wall lamps, and potted palms frame the figure. Warm indoor light mixes with daylight entering through windows and glass doors.

Demetrius Eudell, Dean of Faculty, is excited about starting his second year in this role. He spent the summer traveling, swimming, and going to performances in New York City.

I hope this is helpful and that the academic year unfolds into much growth and joy. Below is vacation time with my husband John, after 40 years of marriage, hiking in our Vassar gear. See you around campus!

Two people pose closely together for an outdoor selfie in a wooded setting. Their faces fill much of the frame, with leafy green vegetation extending behind them. Soft daylight filters through the trees and creates gentle, even illumination.