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About Our Staff

Management Team

Joseph Du Pont, Esq., Dean of Career Services

Joe’s career is a testament to the opportunities a liberal arts education can provide.  Joe has taught high school, practiced corporate law in New York City and held a senior leadership position at Teach For America, in addition to serving as a senior staff member at the NYU Office of Career Services prior to joining the Brandeis community.

Joe also co-chairs the NACE Leadership Advancement Program and serves on the executive board of the Liberal Arts Career netWORK Job Development Committee.

Joe received a B.A. in History and Religion from Duke University, a J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center and an M.A. in Higher Education Administration from NYU.

Andrea Dine, M.A., Director of the Hiatt Career Center

As a student affairs administrator with over 20 years of experience,  Andrea works with the dean to oversee the overall operation of the career center, including team supervision, program management and assessment, and strategic planning.  She also provides creative and results-focused leadership and strategic vision for the career center’s development team. She is the liaison for the following academic areas: Creative Writing, Education, English and American Literature, Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies, Near Eastern and Judaic Studies, Religious Studies and Yiddish. 

Andrea earned a B.A. in English from UMass, Amherst and an M.A. in Higher Education Administration with a Specialization in Student Affairs from UConn, Storrs, and has previously worked at Wesleyan University and Macalester College among others.

Cary Weir Lytle, M.B.A., Associate Director of Employer Relations

Prior to joining Hiatt, Cary developed institutional partnerships and programs that created access to jobs, internships and scholarships for underrepresented students and professionals as Vice President of Student Affairs for the Association of Latino Professionals in Finance and Accounting (ALPFA) and Assistant Director of Graduate Admission for Bentley University’s McCallum Graduate School of Business.

Cary currently co-chairs the Eastern Association of Colleges and Employers (EACE) Professional Exchange Committee.

Cary received an MBA from the McCallum Graduate School of Business at Bentley University, a Masters in Global Marketing Communication from Emerson College, and a B.A. in Psychology from Brandeis University.

Alexandra (Anweiler) Stephens, Associate Director of Alumni Career Programs & Engagement

Alexandra has transitioned into this role after two years as the Assistant Director of Marketing & Communications at Hiatt. She has experience in marketing strategy, web design, graphic design, public relations, email marketing, and social media.

Prior to joining the Brandeis community, Alexandra worked in the communications department at Rosie’s Place, a sanctuary for poor and homeless women in Boston, and the marketing communications department at Constant Contact, an email marketing service provider in Waltham, MA.  Alexandra received a B.A. in Communication Studies from Northeastern University.

Career Development Team

Jackie (Kopyt) Blesso, M.S., Assistant Director of Career Development

In addition to counseling undergraduates, Jackie manages Hiatt's World of Work (WOW) program.  She also sits on the Sophomore Year Experience and Experiential Learning Committees.

Prior to coming to Brandeis in 2009, Jackie worked in many areas of higher education including Admissions, Financial Aid, Student Activities, and Career Services.  Jackie graduated from Amherst College in 2004 with a BA in Law, Jurisprudence, and Social Thought and received an M.S. in College Student Development and Counseling from Northeastern University in 2008.

Abigail Crine, Ph.D., Assistant Director of Career Development

Abigail counsels students and alumni and particularly enjoys debriefing and interpreting personality, skills, and strengths assessments. She has recently been asked to serve on the first Brandeis Wellness Committee to promote wellness to the entire Brandeis community.

Abigail joined the Hiatt staff in 2006 after working as a psychologist and consultant in corporate outplacement and career services with Right Management and Keystone Associates.

Abigail holds the following degrees: B.A., English and Psychology, UMass, Boston; M.Ed., Counseling and Guidance, Westfield State University; and Ph.D., Clinical Psychology, California Graduate School for Family and Marital Therapy. She is also a Certified Health Counselor.

Josephine Jane Pavese, Ed.D., Assistant Director of Career Development

Prior to joining Hiatt in 2007, Jane served as both an associate director of career services at Harvard University and director of the university’s International Experience Program.  She also worked for 10 years as a Fulbright Program officer for Brazil and the English-speaking Caribbean at Harvard’s Latin American Scholarship Program for American Universities.

In addition to career services, Jane has worked and interned in several museums in collections care and visitor services and currently volunteers at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston.

Jane holds a Doctorate in Education with a focus in International Education from Boston University, Master’s degrees from Harvard University in Education and in Museum Studies, and a Bachelor’s degree in Natural Resources Conservation from Cornell.

Lauren Dropkin '95, J.D., Pre-Law & Graduate School Advisor

After graduating from Brandeis with a major in English and American Literature, Lauren attended the University of Illinois College of Law and practiced family law for over 12 years as a member of the Illinois Bar.  Ms. Dropkin is also a member of the Massachusetts Bar.

Sandra Sylvestre, M.A., Career Counselor (Th, F)

Lisa Blacher, M.F.A., Alumni Career Counsleor (M, T, W)

Employer Relations Team

Caroline O’Shea, Assistant Director of Employer Relations

Caroline comes to the Hiatt Career Center with experience in program management, recruiting, event planning, student advising, and counseling. In her current role,  Caroline manages employer outreach efforts for industries such as government, year in service, communications, education, and the green sector and is responsible for all on and off-campus programming related to these areas.

Prior to coming to Brandeis, Caroline worked as an Admissions Counselor at Otis College of Art and Design in Los Angeles, Coordinator for Student and Faculty Communications at the Division of Continuing and Professional Studies at Brandeis University, and Family Planning Counselor at Health Care of Southeastern MA. Caroline received a B.A. in Sociology with a concentration in Social Work and a minor in Women's Studies from UMass. Caroline also received a Graduate Certificate in Web Content Communications from Brandeis University.

Lauren Labrecque, Assistant Director of Employer Relations

Prior to joining the Hiatt team, Lauren worked in the Non-Profit sector. Serving as an AmeriCorps member with Peace First, she taught social emotional learning to K-8 Students in low income Boston neighborhoods. After her year of service, Lauren joined the Peace First staff full time as the AmeriCorps & Operations Coordinator continuing her work supporting AmeriCorps and education. From this experience Lauren brings her knowledge of teaching, recruiting, event planning and project management to her new role at Hiatt.

Lauren earned a B.S. in Political Communications, Leadership and Social Advocacy with minors in Psychology and Philosophy from Emerson College.

Marketing & Communications

Monika Bach Schroeder, Assistant Director of Marketing and Communications

Monika is responsible for managing and maintaining the overall marketing and communications strategy for the Hiatt Career Center. 

Prior to coming to Brandeis, she served in communications and development roles at nonprofit organizations throughout Greater Boston, including Jumpstart, The Boston Athenæum and Catholic Charities of Boston. In addition, Monika has served in various roles with Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership (HOBY), including the Director of Publicity for the World Leadership Congress and the Vice Chair of Marketing and Recruitment for the inaugural Advanced Leadership Academy.

Monika earned a B.A. in Communications and Electronic Media from Gannon University and a Professional Certificate in Digital Photography from the Center of Digital Imaging Arts at Boston University.

Office Management

Diane Staffier, Department Coordinator