Changes in LIU Promise

By Adam Hornbuckle
Staff Writer

The spring semester has brought new faces to the LIU Promise office, located in Hillwood Commons. The Promise office offers students assistance with schedules, career services and academic guidance.

The Director of LIU Promise, Christopher Salute, left his position in early January. Along with being the director of Promise, Salute served as the director of student-run businesses. Taking his place as director of student-run businesses is Cara Caporale, who has been a promise coach for six months, since August 2016. Caporale also serves as one of the associate directors of LIU Promise alongside Sara Panarelli, who is now the senior associate director of Promise.

Dylan Silva, the chief operating officer of the student-run businesses and a junior business major, is excited to have Caporale on board. “Cara is hands down very professional; she likes to hear what the student’s wants and needs are for the student-run businesses. She has been working with the eboard (executive board) to help revamp the businesses, menu, etc. We have new products and vendors being launched over the course of the next few weeks,” Silva said.

The Student-Run Businesses Director of Operations, Matt Betz, a freshman business major, is also optimistic for the future with Caporale’s leadership. “The biggest thing I see is that last semester we had trouble getting ideas approved by Chris. With Cara, I see her listening to us and doing anything possible to get our ideas in the store. There’s a lot of positive changes coming. We are planning on improving our relationship with the student government and hope to get closer to the student body through that relationship. The student body is our family and it’s important to us that we provide the best service and products to them as possible.”

Also leaving LIU Promise is Mikki Rosman, who has served as a promise coach since September 2014. In addition, Promise Coach Kaitlyn Jensen, left LIU Promise for a new position at University Center. Jensen had served as a promise coach since January 2014. Both Rosman and Jensen are LIU Post alumni.

Kames Davis, a sophomore business administration major, was disappointed to learn that her Promise Coach, Miki Rosman, was leaving. “Miki was the reason I stayed at Post last spring; I’m so sad to see her leave. I was comfortable going to Miki about any problem I had. She wasn’t just an academic advisor, she was a great mentor and it’s sad to see her go,” Davis said.

New to LIU Promise is Gerald Russo-Stannard, who started in early January. He will serve as associate director of LIU Promise. Russo-Stannard, who has worked in higher education since 2008, most recently worked as interim associate director of academic internships at John Jay College.