Connect with Douglass Staff

Dr. Leslie Danehy is currently the Associate Dean for Undergraduate Programs. Dr. Danehy has worked in higher education for over 20 years as an administrator, coach, instructor, and as an emotional intelligence consultant. She completed her doctoral work at Wilmington University and wrote her dissertation on emotional intelligence and leadership. She completed her Bachelor of Arts at Providence College where she played soccer and basketball.

Madinah is the Director of the Global Village. Madinah received her Masters in Social Work from Rutgers University and a BA in psychology from Ramapo College. Passionate about social inequities, Madinah has worked to improve the lives of students throughout her career. She is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority, Inc. and sits on a number of boards and committees tasked with improving the lives of children. Madinah enjoys traveling, reading, spending time with her son, and re-watching old sitcoms.

Corina Hernandez is the Special Assistant to the Dean & Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Programs. Corina is passionate about helping students achieve their goals and develop leadership skills. She is pursuing a doctorate in education. Corina is an EOF graduate from Kean University where she earned a BA and an MA. She is a founding member of Be the Change NJ, a community service non-profit focused on homelessness relief and food justice. In her free time she enjoys spending time with her family and friends.

Stephanie Perez is the Associate Director of the BOLD Center. Stephanie has been a staff member at Rutgers for over a decade. She is also a Scarlet Knight herself, and graduated from Rutgers in 2008 with a BA and M.Ed. She is currently pursuing her doctorate in education. Her research is centered on educational access and equity.  Stephanie loves watching movies, reading, and talking to anyone who will listen about Star Wars.

Dr. Lydia Prendergast is the Associate Dean and Director of Douglass WiSE. Dean P, as many students call her, has worked in higher ed for over 20 years. She is a 3-time alumna of Rutgers in engineering and STEM education. Her dissertation focused on a hands-on learning experience for first-years and is the basis of Intro to Engineering in the Douglass Engineering LLC. Dr. Prendergast is passionate about providing engaging STEM experiences.

Dr. Buvaneswari Narayanan is the Associate Director of Douglass WiSE and the Director of STEM Student Development and Success Initiatives. Dr. Narayanan has over 10 years of experience in the research, education, and service sector of higher education. She has a doctorate in Molecular and Cell Biology from the University of Maryland and is currently pursuing an Ed.D. in Higher Education. She is passionate about STEM education and providing quality programming for student development.

Dr. Lorne S. Joseph is the Director of Engineering and STEM Research Initiatives at Douglass WiSE and the Director of the Douglass Engineering Living Learning Community. She is an alumna of the University of the Virgin Islands (B.S. Chemistry) and the Rutgers School of Engineering (M.S. and Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering).  Lorne is an ardent steward of STEM with a passion for supporting and mentoring Women in Science and Engineering.

Dr. Hayet Bensetti-Benbader is the Director of Computing and STEM Career Initiatives and the Director of the Computer Science Learning and Living Community. She is known for her international, multicultural background. Dr. Bensetti has several years of field experience in finance and 10 years of teaching experience. She is a technology steward with a mission to improve learning experiences through instructional design.

Nathalie Adam is the Douglass WiSE Graduate Assistant and a 3rd-year medical student at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. She is a Douglass and Honors College alumna. Her experience includes being in the Bunting-Cobb Sciences Living-Learning Community as a graduate mentor for 3 years. Currently, she mentors students interested in medical school and other health professions. Her goal is to be a constant resource to young women by providing guidance based on her own experiences.

Sonia Khalil is Douglass WiSE’s operational support person who will manage and support programs and administrative needs. Sonia has a BS degree in Engineering from NJIT.

Meghan Rehbein is the Associate Dean for Strategic Initiatives. Meghan has worked in nonprofit management and fundraising for more than 20 years. Her previous experience includes managing fundraising and strategic plans, completing multiple comprehensive campaigns, and raising more than $25M. She completing her doctorate in Organizational Leadership. She has a passion for experimental education, transformational leadership, and unconventional thinking.