University Honors Programs Staff
Welcome to the University Honors Programs at Stony Brook University! Our passionate team is committed to supporting you every step of the way on your academic journey. Whether you need guidance with your coursework, assistance planning a groundbreaking research project, or opportunities to engage with the community, we are here to help you excel and make the most of your Honors experience.
Senior Leadership & Support Staff
Catherine Sherman, PhD, MFA
Assistant Dean, University Honors Programs
Catherine Sherman, PhD, MFA, is the Assistant Dean for University Honors Programs in the Division of Undergraduate Education. In this role, she provides strategic oversight for Honors College, University Scholars, WISE Honors, and Yardi Scholars. Dr. Sherman deeply values honors education and has over twenty-five years of experience in the field of higher education. She brings expertise in academic advising and administration, educational policy, and student services to her role and has taught and held leadership positions in colleges and universities in Pennsylvania and Ohio. She is a member of the National Academic Advising Association and National Collegiate Honors Council.
Fabio Ribeiro
Operations Manager
Fabio, the operations manager for all four honors programs at Stony Brook University, has a passion for creating meaningful student experiences, office operations, and budgets. He earned his MBA and Bachelor of Business Administration in Management from Adelphi University. Prior to his current role, Fabio served as the Assistant Director of Student Experience at Hofstra and the Operations Administrator at Adelphi, where he focused on international student logistics and success.
Jane Montalto
Academic Advisor
Jane Montalto is passionate about supporting honors students across programs as an Academic Advisor for University Honors Programs. She attended Stony Brook University for both her B.A. in Journalism and for her in-progress M.A. in Higher Education Administration. Previously, she has worked for Stony Brook's Student Engagement & Activities as a graduate coordinator and the Richmond Times-Dispatch as a copy editor.
Honors College
Jessica Klare, EdM
Program Director, Honors College
Jessica Klare was born and raised in Southeastern Massachusetts. She attended Boston
University and received both a B.A, in International Relations and an Ed.M in Higher
Education with a concentration in Policy, Planning, and Administration. In September
of 2006, Jessica moved to Long Island where she worked as Associate Director of Graduate
Admissions and Processing at Adelphi University. Jessica joined the Stony Brook community
in January of 2008 and has worked with the University Scholars, Living Learning Centers
and URECA programs. Jessica serves as the Director of the Honors College and thoroughly
enjoys working with these students. It is her goal to foster new initiatives and to
continue developing the program, providing support and encouragement to all.
Kirshani Gunaratnam, MA
Lead Academic Advisor & Thesis Coordinator
Kirshani is the Lead Academic Advisor & Thesis Coordinator for the Honors College.
She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Science, Technology, and Society from Farmingdale
State College and a Master of Arts in Higher Education Administration from Stony Brook
University.
A proud Seawolf since 2019, Kirshani has had the pleasure of supporting Stony Brook
students since beginning her graduate studies. As a Graduate Assistant, she worked
with the Offices of Student Orientation and Family Programs and the Career Center.
At the Career Center, she advanced to the role of Career Coach for the Technology
and Engineering Career Community, where she guided CEAS and WISE Honors students in
achieving career readiness.
In her current role with the University Honors Programs, Kirshani is dedicated to
providing holistic academic advising, helping students navigate a fulfilling academic
journey and preparing them for success beyond graduation
Nicolette Lombardi
Lead Academic Advisor
Meet Nicolette, the Lead Academic Advisor for the Honors College! A Stony Brook alumna
(B.S. in Earth & Space Science, M.A. in Teaching) and Oliver A. Schaeffer Award recipient,
Nicolette brings rich experience in holistic advising, experiential learning, and
curriculum design. She previously advised students across the natural sciences and
College of Business, alongside designing and teaching freshman seminars and leadership
courses. A Registered Yoga Instructor, she also leads campus wellness workshops. Nicolette
is devoted to guiding scholars through degree planning, connecting them with research,
career, and alumni networks, and helping every student fulfill their true potential.
Jessica Klare, EdM
Program Director, Honors College
Jessica Klare was born and raised in Southeastern Massachusetts. She attended Boston University and received both a B.A, in International Relations and an Ed.M in Higher Education with a concentration in Policy, Planning, and Administration. In September of 2006, Jessica moved to Long Island where she worked as Associate Director of Graduate Admissions and Processing at Adelphi University. Jessica joined the Stony Brook community in January of 2008 and has worked with the University Scholars, Living Learning Centers and URECA programs. Jessica serves as the Director of the Honors College and thoroughly enjoys working with these students. It is her goal to foster new initiatives and to continue developing the program, providing support and encouragement to all.
Kirshani Gunaratnam, MA
Lead Academic Advisor & Thesis Coordinator
Kirshani is the Lead Academic Advisor & Thesis Coordinator for the Honors College. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Science, Technology, and Society from Farmingdale State College and a Master of Arts in Higher Education Administration from Stony Brook University. A proud Seawolf since 2019, Kirshani has had the pleasure of supporting Stony Brook students since beginning her graduate studies. As a Graduate Assistant, she worked with the Offices of Student Orientation and Family Programs and the Career Center. At the Career Center, she advanced to the role of Career Coach for the Technology and Engineering Career Community, where she guided CEAS and WISE Honors students in achieving career readiness. In her current role with the University Honors Programs, Kirshani is dedicated to providing holistic academic advising, helping students navigate a fulfilling academic journey and preparing them for success beyond graduation
Nicolette Lombardi
Lead Academic Advisor
Meet Nicolette, the Lead Academic Advisor for the Honors College! A Stony Brook alumna (B.S. in Earth & Space Science, M.A. in Teaching) and Oliver A. Schaeffer Award recipient, Nicolette brings rich experience in holistic advising, experiential learning, and curriculum design. She previously advised students across the natural sciences and College of Business, alongside designing and teaching freshman seminars and leadership courses. A Registered Yoga Instructor, she also leads campus wellness workshops. Nicolette is devoted to guiding scholars through degree planning, connecting them with research, career, and alumni networks, and helping every student fulfill their true potential.
University Scholars
Jessie Frevola, MA
Program Director, University Scholars
Jessie Frevola, MA, serves as the Director of University Scholars, where she provides
program leadership and renders holistic advising and support to students. Jessie
has had the pleasure of working at Stony Brook since 2015 in a variety of professional
roles, including with the Undergraduate Colleges and Residential Programs, and values
Stony Brook's commitment to student success. She earned her BA in Psychology and
Sociology and her MA in Higher Education Administration from Stony Brook University
and loves that she gets to continue at Stony Brook as a "forever Seawolf.” When Jessie
isn't working, she enjoys reading, Zumba, creative arts (painting, writing, etc.),
hiking with her husband and her dog, and community service.
TBD
Lead Academic Advisor
New Lead Academic Advisor Coming soon
Jessie Frevola, MA
Program Director, University Scholars
Jessie Frevola, MA, serves as the Director of University Scholars, where she provides program leadership and renders holistic advising and support to students. Jessie has had the pleasure of working at Stony Brook since 2015 in a variety of professional roles, including with the Undergraduate Colleges and Residential Programs, and values Stony Brook's commitment to student success. She earned her BA in Psychology and Sociology and her MA in Higher Education Administration from Stony Brook University and loves that she gets to continue at Stony Brook as a "forever Seawolf.” When Jessie isn't working, she enjoys reading, Zumba, creative arts (painting, writing, etc.), hiking with her husband and her dog, and community service.
TBD
Lead Academic Advisor
New Lead Academic Advisor Coming soon
WISE Honors
Jacquelyn Gatta, MSW
Program Director, WISE Honors
Jacquelyn received her Masters in Social Welfare with a specialization in Student
Community Development in Higher Education from Stony Brook University in 2013. She
has coordinated two WISE programs for middle and high school female students-STEM
Tech and TechPREP. In addition to her work with WISE, she has facilitated STEM programs
for Girls Inc. of Long Island. Jacquelyn earned her B.A. in Philosophy from Marist
College in 2010.
Todd Dickson, MA, JD
Lead Academic Advisor
Todd Dickson is the Lead Academic Advisor for the WISE Honors Program at Stony Brook
University. He has worked with students across several departments on campus. Todd
brings a broad perspective to his work to serve and support WISE students. Todd's
approach centers on meeting students where they are. Whether that means working through
a tricky academic path or building programming that actually serves the students.
His goal is simple: make sure every student feels supported and has what they need
to succeed. Grounded in a strong interdisciplinary background, Todd holds a BA from
The George Washington University, a MA in Sociology and Education from Teachers College,
Columbia University, a J.D. from Boston College Law School, and an Advanced Graduate
Certificate in Higher Education Administration from Stony Brook University.
Jacquelyn Gatta, MSW
Program Director, WISE Honors
Jacquelyn received her Masters in Social Welfare with a specialization in Student Community Development in Higher Education from Stony Brook University in 2013. She has coordinated two WISE programs for middle and high school female students-STEM Tech and TechPREP. In addition to her work with WISE, she has facilitated STEM programs for Girls Inc. of Long Island. Jacquelyn earned her B.A. in Philosophy from Marist College in 2010.
Todd Dickson, MA, JD
Lead Academic Advisor
Todd Dickson is the Lead Academic Advisor for the WISE Honors Program at Stony Brook University. He has worked with students across several departments on campus. Todd brings a broad perspective to his work to serve and support WISE students. Todd's approach centers on meeting students where they are. Whether that means working through a tricky academic path or building programming that actually serves the students. His goal is simple: make sure every student feels supported and has what they need to succeed. Grounded in a strong interdisciplinary background, Todd holds a BA from The George Washington University, a MA in Sociology and Education from Teachers College, Columbia University, a J.D. from Boston College Law School, and an Advanced Graduate Certificate in Higher Education Administration from Stony Brook University.
Yardi Scholars
Helen-Margaret Nasser, MA
Program Director, Yardi Scholars Program
Helen-Margaret Nasser, MA, is the inaugural director of the Yardi Scholars Program
where she works with First Generation college students majoring in business to create
pathways from their time at SBU to careers or further study. Prior to this role, Helen
worked for 17 years at Kingsborough Community College in Brooklyn, NY as the Director
of the Student Union and Intercultural Center and previously as the Associate Director
of the Honors Program. She holds a bachelor’s degree from McGill University in political
science and international development studies and a master’s degree in political science
from the Graduate Center of the City University of New York. She is currently working
towards her PhD in Political Science.
Helen-Margaret Nasser, MA
Program Director, Yardi Scholars Program
Helen-Margaret Nasser, MA, is the inaugural director of the Yardi Scholars Program where she works with First Generation college students majoring in business to create pathways from their time at SBU to careers or further study. Prior to this role, Helen worked for 17 years at Kingsborough Community College in Brooklyn, NY as the Director of the Student Union and Intercultural Center and previously as the Associate Director of the Honors Program. She holds a bachelor’s degree from McGill University in political science and international development studies and a master’s degree in political science from the Graduate Center of the City University of New York. She is currently working towards her PhD in Political Science.