Meet the Staff

Stacey Blackwell earned an Ed.M. in the Social and Philosophical Foundations of Education from Rutgers University, an M.A in English from The College of New Jersey, and her B.A. in English with a minor in Spanish and concentration in Education from Muhlenberg College in Allentown, PA. After teaching English and composition courses at several PA and NJ colleges and universities, Stacey returned to Rutgers in 2011. She worked as the Director of Training, Outreach, and Academic Coaching before becoming the Senior Director of the Learning Centers. She also teaches a section of the Pedagogy of Peer-Led Learning course required for all first-semester learning assistants. She serves as chair of the RU-NB Student Success Steering Committee and serves on the editorial board of ​The Learning Assistance Review​, as well as on the National College Learning Center Association's (NCLCA) Conference Proposal Committee. Stacey has also earned the Level 4 Learning Center Leadership Lifetime Certification from the NCLCA.

Stacey Blackwell's office is in Bishop House.

• Phone: 848-445-0984
• Email: Stacey.Blackwell@rutgers.edu

The new Assistant Director will start in the spring 2023 semester.

Assistant Director's office is in Bishop House.

• Phone: 
• Email: 

Samantha Feaser received her Ed.M. in Educational Administration & Supervision, with a concentration in leadership and Certificate in Education Technology through the Rutgers Graduate School of Education; she earned her B.A. in Psychology from Rutgers University. She has worked at the Learning Centers for over 10 years and currently oversees marketing efforts for all four campuses to spread awareness through social media, events, newsletters, cross-promotion, and graphic designing. In addition, she manages the departmental website and fundraising campaigns.

Samantha Feaser's office is in Academic Building - West, Room 1246.

• Phone: 848-932-0566
• Email: Samantha.Feaser@rutgers.edu

Thomas Cuthbert earned his B.A. in Psychology from Rutgers University. He currently serves as the administrative coordinator of the Cook/Douglass Learning Center. Tom previously served the Learning Centers as the program assistant for the tutoring program.

Tom’s office is in Loree Building, Room 124.

• Phone: 848-445-0989
• Email: tomcuth@rutgers.edu

New Coordinator will be joining us in February.

Coordinator's office is in SERC, Room 106A.

• Phone: 848-932-1659
• Email: 

Jade Sanders Altmann earned her BA in Communications/Broadcast Journalism from Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts in 2005. After graduation, Jade landed a position at WNYW/Fox 5 as a production assistant. In a fast pace in environment, Jade adapted very well and was offered a full-time position as the ENG Coordinator. After working for 5 years at the station, with her newfound knowledge, she decided to take a step back to reevaluate the career path she was on. After a couple transitional years, Jade took on a new path in the Gaming industry. With the new opportunity, Jade was able to move up the company ladder quickly starting from entry level position to becoming the Global Account Manager. 

In need of a change, Jade is on a new path here at Rutgers, working as the Administrative Coordinator for Livingston Learning Center. She plans to expand her knowledge by continuing to develop her higher education. Psychology and Business Administration is on the horizon for Jade to pursue.  

Jade's office is in Tillett Hall, Room 111 A.

• Phone: 848-445-0982
• Email: js3338@echo.rutgers.edu

Lucille Leung is currently an Ed.D Candidate at the Graduate School of Education in Education, Culture & Society. She has earned her Ed.M in Social and Philosophical Foundations of Education from the Graduate School of Education at Rutgers University, and her B.A. in Economics also at Rutgers University. Lucille oversees the academic coaching program at the Rutgers Learning Centers. In addition, she teaches Methods of Inquiry for the School of Engineering as well as a section of the pedagogy course (Pedagogy of Peer-Led Learning) required for all first-semester learning assistants. She has worked in academic support at Rutgers University for over a decade now, previously working with TRiO Student Support Services prior to joining the Learning Centers. She has earned the Level 3 Learning Center Leadership Certification from NCLCA and an Academic Coaching Certification from the Association of Coaching & Tutoring Profession (ACTP).

Lucille Leung's office is in Tillett Hall, Room 111B in the Livingston Learning Center.

• Phone: 848-932-0570
• Email: LLu@echo.rutgers.edu

Sarah Kravits earned an M.Ed in Learning, Cognition, and Development from the Rutgers Graduate School of Education in 2020, and holds a B.A. in English and Drama from the University of Virginia and an M.F.A. in Acting from The Catholic University of America. As an academic coach, she works to empower students to build self-knowledge, agency, and motivation. She leads a variety of workshops for students and serves as an advisor for SAS FRP. Prior to coming to Rutgers, she taught student success courses at Montclair State University and co-authored several student success textbooks for the Keys to Success series, previously published by Pearson Education. She is also a master coaching trainer with LifeBound.  

Sarah's office is located in Tillett 111C in the Livingston Learning Center.

• Phone: 848-932-0565
• Email: sarah.kravits@rutgers.edu

A two-time graduate of Rutgers University, Lissette Morales has an Ed.M. in College Student Affairs and an M.A. in Comparative Literature. She earned a B.A. in English and Spanish from Cornell University and is a proud Teach For America alum. Lissette is an ICF-trained coach specializing in advanced ADHD coaching college students. She comes to the Learning Centers from Rutgers Athletics. There she served as a Learning Specialist working with student-athletes, a member of N4A, and a graduate of their Professional Development Institute. She has developed content for NACADA’s NCAA online course, Academic Success and the Student-Athlete, and served on the NCAA Initial Eligibility Waiver Committee. Lissette currently teaches the Academic Success Seminar at Rutgers. 

Lissette's office is located in Academic Building - West, Room 1250 in the College Ave. Learning Center.

• Phone: 848-932-0565
• Email: lissette.morales@rutgers.edu

Jackson Toomey earned an M.S. in Counselor Education with a concentration in Student Development in Higher Education from Central Connecticut State University as well as a B.S. in Communication with a concentration in Media Writing and Journalism from Eastern Connecticut State University.  He currently works as an academic coach for the Rutgers Learning Centers.  Prior to Rutgers University, he held multiple student support positions, specializing in supporting students on academic probation.  His previous roles include academic coach, academic advisor, instructor for study skills courses, and student success workshop facilitator.

Coach's office is located in SERC 105C in the Busch Learning Center.

• Phone:
• Email: jct159@rutgers.edu

Deanna Acosta earned a Ph.D. in Genetics from Albert Einstein College of Medicine, and her B.S. in Biochemistry from Northeastern University. Prior to working at Rutgers, Dr. Acosta taught Biology and Anatomy & Physiology courses at Alamo Colleges in San Antonio, TX. She also led and co-organized faculty development workshops and symposia focused on implementing evidence-based active learning practices in the classroom.  

Dr. Acosta was first trained in pedagogy and the science of teaching and learning as an IRACDA postdoctoral scholar at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, TX. When implementing the evidence-based teaching practices she learned about in her biology course at University of Houston-Downtown, she experienced the positive impact these practices had on the success of her students. Following that experience, Dr. Acosta shifted her training and career focus to undergraduate education and student success. 

As Director of Integrated Academic Support Programs, Dr. Acosta oversees and develops the Learning Assistant Program. She looks forward to working with the Learning Centers team, faculty, and other campus collaborators to improve and expand the program.  

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Office is in SERC, Room 103.

• Phone: 848-445-1662
• Email: deanna.acosta@rutgers.edu

 Anna Sandberg earned her Ed.D. in Education, her Ed.M. in Social and Philosophical Foundations of Education, and her B.A. in Italian and European Studies from Rutgers University. Dr. Sandberg previously served as the Administrative Coordinator of the Cook/Douglass Learning Center at Rutgers, and worked in the Department of German, Russian, & East European Languages and Literatures and the Office of Disability Services prior to joining the Learning Centers. She teaches a section of the Pedagogy of Peer-Led Learning course required for all first-semester Learning Assistants, and advises for the SAS First-Year Retention Program. She has also taught sections of the Students in Transition Seminar (STS) and the SAS Honors Program Honors Colloquium. Dr. Sandberg has earned the Level 3 Learning Center Leadership Certification from the NCLCA. She currently oversees the Learning Assistant (LA) Program. 

Anna Sandberg's office is in SERC, Room 105B in the Busch Learning Center. 

• Phone: 848-445-0981 
• Email: anna.sandberg@rutgers.edu

Tasha Coleman earned her Ed.D. in Education and the Design of Learning Environments from Rutgers University, her M.A. in Communications and Information Studies also from Rutgers University, and her B.A. in Communication and Broadcast Media from Fairleigh Dickinson University. Prior to working at Rutgers University, Dr. Coleman worked as a producer, writer, and news assistant for various talk shows and television news outlets. She has been at Rutgers since 2008, previously working at RU-tv where she managed student production and operations staff and oversaw two Living-Learning Communities. Currently, Dr. Coleman manages the Learning Assistant (LA) Program.   

Dr. Coleman's office is in SERC, Room 105A in the Busch Learning Center.

• Phone: 848-932-0627
• Email: t.coleman@rutgers.edu  

Mary Ann Cancio earned her Ed.M. from Rutgers University and her B.A. from Rutgers College, Rutgers University. She holds a Certificate in Supervisory Management, NJ Certified Public Manager Program, Department of Personnel, State of NJ. Mary Ann has over 30 years experience in Higher Education in both Student Affairs and Academic Support. Before coming to Rutgers in 1996, Mary Ann worked at St. Peter's College from 1980 - 1982, and The College of NJ from 1982 - 1996. Mary Ann currently directs the Peer Tutoring Program for the Rutgers Learning Centers.

Mary Ann Cancio's office is in Loree Building, Room 124.

• Phone: 848-932-0567
• Email: macancio@rutgers.edu

Marie Freibergs earned her B.A. in Psychology from Rutgers University. She started working at Rutgers in June 2015 as a part-time Office Assistant for the Office of Academic Services. She then joined the Department of English-Douglass Writing Center as an Administrative Assistant in September 2015. While there, she earned her Ed.M. in Educational Psychology, with a focus on Learning, Cognition, and Development from the Graduate School of Education. Marie is excited to join the Rutgers Learning Centers as the Senior Program Coordinator of the Peer Tutoring Program in the College Avenue Learning Center.

Marie Freibergs’ office is in Academic Building - West, Room 1247.

• Phone 848-932-1662
• Email: mfreibergs@echo.rutgers.edu

Sari Katzen earned her M.S. in Biology from the College of Staten Island and her B.A. in Biological Sciences from Rutgers University. Sari has enjoyed working within higher education and has held several academic support positions. She has worked at the Rutgers Learning Centers as an undergraduate physics peer leader called a Learning Assistant (LA), academic coach, and coordinator for the LA Program. She now works as their Developmental Specialist of Training and Professional Development Programs and oversees their Peer Leader Training Program, as well as co-coordinates and teaches their Pedagogy of Peer-Led Learning course offered to peer leaders and students interested in peer education. Sari has also served as an advisor for programs such as RU-FIT, a transition course for first-year international students and the SAS First-Year Retention Program (FRP). Read more about Sari's research and academic history.

Sari Katzen's office is in Milledoler Hall, Room 121.

• Phone: 848-445-0987 
• Email: sari.katzen@rutgers.edu

Hebbah El-Moslimany earned her PhD in the Learning Sciences, an MA in Education (specialization in the Learning Sciences), and BA in Chemistry and Psychology from Rutgers University. Dr. El-Moslimany was a Research Project Coordinator at the National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER), and teaches undergraduate and graduate courses for the department of Educational Psychology at the Graduate School of Education. Prior to working at Rutgers University, she taught elementary school at a private school in New Jersey.

Hebbah El-Moslimany’s office is in Milledoler Hall, Room 122.

• Phone: 848-445-0985
• Email: hebbah.el-moslimany@rutgers.edu

Jennifer comes to Rutgers—New Brunswick Office of Testing and Placement with over a decade of public-school K-12 experience as an Elementary School Teacher and School Counselor. Her educational background includes a Master's degree in Education and Bachelor's degree in Human Resources Management. Transitioning to Higher Education has been an exciting adventure in this next step in her career. Working as Senior Program Coordinator allows her to serve students and work with the faculty and staff in a different capacity, presenting exciting and fulfilling experiences. Outside of work, Jennifer enjoys spending time with her family, reading, and exercising. 

Jennifer Denard's office is in 

• Phone: 
• Email: jennifer.denard@rutgers.edu

Sarah joins Rutgers—New Brunswick Office of Testing and Placement with experience advising Rutgers undergraduate students since 2016. In her role as Program Coordinator, she works on the student level, ensuring students have assistance accessing placement exams, interpreting their scores, and all questions in between.  

 In addition, Sarah is studying for her master’s at Rutgers GSE (College Student Affairs) as she is passionate about student support and success in Higher Education. When she is not working, Sarah enjoys having fun with her family, all things decorating and organizing, and aimlessly wandering Trader Joe's. Sarah is delighted to be a part of the Testing and Placement team!   

Sarah Crawford’s office is in 

• Phone: 
• Email: scrawford@echo.rutgers.edu