Dean of Students Office

About the Dean of Students Office

The Dean of Students Office focuses on crisis management and fosters a safe and healthy campus environment where students grow and develop personally, socially, and emotionally. 

Staff

Monique Pillow Gnanaratnam
Monique Pillow Gnanaratnam
Dean of Students
781-736-3600 Shapiro Campus Center, 224

As Dean of Students, Monique Pillow Gnanaratnam oversees the Dean of Students Office, Department of Student Rights and Community Standards, Department of Student Engagement, and the Care Team.

She holds a bachelor's degree from Wilmington College and a master's degree from Bowling Green State University, both in Ohio. She previously worked at Northeastern University in Boston; Bellarmine University in Louisville, Kentucky; and the University of Dayton in Ohio.

Alex Rossett
Alex Rossett
Assistant Dean
781-736-5070 Shapiro Campus Center 224

Alex's role focuses on helping students navigate challenges and choices through an educational lens, while empowering students to find who they are as individuals and bring the best and most unique aspects of themselves to each experience they create here at Brandeis.

Alex holds a bachelor's degree from SUNY Cortland and a master's degree from Central Connecticut State University. She has worked in various small to mid-sized private institutions around New England. Her experience has spanned wellness education, career services, orientation, residence life and community standards.

Department of Student Rights and Community Standards

Carissa Durfee
Carissa Durfee
Assistant Dean
781-736-3602 Shapiro Campus Center 224

Carissa provides support and advocacy for students. She is committed to helping students find meaning and belonging by engaging with their communities at Brandeis and beyond. A Midwest transplant, Carissa holds a bachelor’s degree from Northern Michigan University and a master’s degree from Grand Valley State University. Her past experience spans student activities, leadership education, orientation, commuter student services, community standards and intercultural education.

Outside of work, Carissa enjoys time with family, travel, and engaging in the cultural and natural opportunities that New England offers.

Alyssa Mauriello
Alyssa Mauriello
Clinical Care Team Manager
781-736-4778 Shapiro Campus Center, 3rd Floor

Alyssa is the co-chair of the Brandeis Care Team. She provides individualized support and resources to students experiencing personal, health and other challenges that impact their well-being and success at Brandeis. She is a Brandeis alumna, where she received her BA in HSSP. She went on to receive her master's degree in social work at Boston University in 2018. Before Brandeis, she worked as a clinician at Harvard University's Counseling Center for five years, providing individual case management, psychotherapy and crisis response to undergraduate and graduate students.

Alyssa is passionate about supporting students' well-being and mental health and aims to help set students up for success at Brandeis and beyond. Outside of work, she loves staying active outdoors, cooking and doing crossword puzzles.

Wendy Gordon
Wendy Gordon
Care Team Case Manager
781-736-3098 Shapiro Campus Center, 3rd Floor

As the Care Team Case Manager, Wendy helps to coordinate resources and services for students of concern in the Brandeis University community. Before Brandeis, she provided specialized advising services and support programs at Northeastern University and North Shore Community College. Other positions that have shaped her passion for supporting student success include teaching psychology and other courses (in the classroom and online), executive function coaching, working with at-risk youth at a non-profit organization, as well as clinical triage and research roles at Boston area hospitals.

Wendy completed a bachelor's degree in psychology from Arcadia University in Pennsylvania, a master's degree in applied child development and clinical/developmental psychology from Tufts University, and a post-graduate seminar in mood disorders from Harvard University.

Wendy grew up in Philadelphia and moved to Boston in 1998. She enjoys singing, attending concerts, yoga, photography and traveling.