Our Staff
Gerardo Garcia-Rios
Director
Gerardo Garcia-Rios has been working at Brandeis University since 2005. He graduated from Duquesne University and then moved to Boston to work at an alternative high school in the Boston Public School system. He received his MSW from Boston College and continued to work with inner city high school students. Prior to coming to Brandeis, he worked in admissions at a small college in the Boston where he oversaw the recruitment of high school students from the Boston area, many of whom were primarily the first in their families to go to college. Gerardo is the first in his family to go to college and the only one to have received a Masters degree. As the Director of the Student Support Services Program, he advises students throughout their college career. Gerardo enjoys reading and biking in his spare time.
Elena Lewis
Assistant Director
Elena Lewis began working at Brandeis in June of 2004. Before her arrival to Brandeis she served as the Counseling Coordinator and Critical Thinking Instructor for Student Support Services at Westfield State College. She credits Student Support Services and McNair as influential programs that guided her through her undergraduate degree from Westfield State College in Mass Communications. Currently, she is pursuing a Master's Degree in Sociology here at Brandeis, where she is researching gender, race, and class inequality and reconciliatory efforts to promote equity. For the past 8 years, her passion for working with students makes coming to work every day worthwhile. Aside from being a tech fanatic, watching movies and eating out are hobbies she enjoys in her spare time.
Alessandra Monteiro
Program Advisor
Alessandra was born and raised in Dorchester, MA, although her family is originally from the Cape Verde islands. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and a master’s degree in Higher Education Administration. As the Program Coordinator for SSSP, Alessandra organizes the peer mentoring program, arranges many cultural enrichment activities for the students, and manages a small caseload of first year advisees. Alessandra enjoys eating foods such as sushi, chocolate chip cookies, and black raspberry ice cream, and also loves spending time with her Chihuahua. Outside of work, Alessandra is an avid dancer who has practiced many different forms of dance over the past 16 years.
Katy McLaughlin
Department Coordinator
Katy McLaughlin began working at Brandeis University in 2010. Prior to joining Brandeis, Katy worked in academic publishing for the two years following her graduation from Tufts University with a bachelor's degree in Philosophy. As the Department Coordinator for SSSP, Katy helps to oversee the SSSP computer lab, coordinate the laptop loan program, schedule student appointments with academic advisors, and prepare grant reports. In her spare time, Katy enjoys reading, writing, going on hikes, and learning to cook.