Christine Allard
Associate Director
P: (518) 276-2119
E: bondc@rpi.edu
Christine M. Allard is the Associate Director for the Archer Center for Student Leadership Development at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York. The Center staff members are responsible for teaching students, (and at times, staff and faculty) the non-technical skills they need in order to be successful in their academic, personal and professional lives.
Christine joined the Archer Center in 1995 after working as a Residence Hall Director at the State University College at Cortland.
She graduated from Cornell University with a B. S. in Interpersonal Communication and a concentration in Education. She earned her M.S. in College Student Personnel from Miami University.
Christine teaches several required courses each year, coordinates the Professional Leadership Program (PLP) and also facilitates custom-designed workshops and programs for any organization within the RPI community. She supervises professional staff and manages the day-to-day administrative tasks for the department. Christine is a certified MBTI facilitator.
Amy Youmans
Associate Director-Lecturer
P: (518) 276-2119
E: corroa@rpi.edu
Amy Youmans is an Associate Director for the Archer Center for Student Leadership Development at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York. The Center staff members are responsible for teaching students, (and at times, staff and faculty) the non-technical skills they need in order to be successful in their academic, personal and professional lives.
Amy joined the Archer Center in 2017 after working the Assistant Director of Student Activities in the Rensselaer Union, advising RPI student organizations and facilitating campus programming.
She graduated from The College of William & Mary with a B.S. in Psychology and a minor in Anthropology. She earned her M.S. in Student Affairs in Higher Education with a concentration in Diversity, Equity, and Culture from Miami University.
Amy teaches several required courses each year, coordinates the Archer Center Leadership Professional Societies Series (ALPSS) for identity-based professional society student organizations, and also facilitates custom-designed workshops and programs for any organization within the RPI community. She specializes in diversity and inclusion trainings and curricular and co-curricular learning experiences based on intergroup dialogue. Amy also provides support and learning experiences for faculty and staff to build their capacity for effective teaching and facilitation. She is an Associate Certified Coach (ACC) with the International Coaching Federation and offers one-on-one coaching to RPI students.
Susan Henry
Associate Director-Lecturer
P: (518) 276-2119
E: henrys3@rpi.edu
Susan Henry is an Associate Director/Lecturer in the Archer Center for Student Leadership Development at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York. The Center staff members are responsible for teaching students, (and at times, staff and faculty) the non-technical skills they need in order to be successful in their academic, personal and professional lives.
Susan joined the Archer Center in August 2017 after working in the Office of Student Involvement at the University at Albany, SUNY.
She graduated from the University of Rhode Island with a B. S. in Marine Biology and a B.A. in Philosophy before earning her M.A. in Philosophy from Binghamton University. Recently, she completed a Ph.D. in Educational Policy & Leadership at the University at Albany where her research focused on improving the ethics education of undergraduate engineering students. She has also achieved certification in the use of Improvement Science Leadership methods to improve educational teaching practice.
Susan teaches several required courses each year, coordinates the Professional Leadership Program and also facilitates custom-designed workshops and programs for any organization within the RPI community.
Judith Obiero
Associate Director-Lecturer
P: (518) 276-2119
E: obierj@rpi.edu
Dr. Judith Akinyi Obiero is an Associate Director for the Archer Center for Student Leadership Development at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York. The Center is responsible for leadership and professional development of students as well as the non-technical skills they need in order to be successful in their academic and professional engagements.
Judith lectures several required courses, coordinates the Professional Leadership Series (PLS), and also facilitates custom-designed workshops and programs for organizations within the RPI community. She is also the patron for African Students Association. Judith is a certified MBTI facilitator and a graduate of ATD 2017 Creating Successful Leadership Programs.
Judith joined the Archer Center in 2015 after a post-doctoral stint with the United States Department of Labor’s Job Corps program in Chicopee, Massachusetts. She graduated from University of Massachusetts with EdD in Education Policy and Leadership studies with a concentration in International Education. She has an MA in Sustainable Development from the SIT Graduate Institute and BA in Sociology & Linguistics from Egerton University, Kenya.
While at the University of Massachusetts, Judith earned a Graduate Certificate in Advanced Feminist Studies from the department of Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies .This has not only enhanced her understanding and appreciation of the human rights and a global justice perspective, but also equipped her with the conceptual and methodological tools for pursuing social justice education. Her major research interests focus on the dynamics of educational policies and practices, access to public education, equity issues in education; and the application of feminist intersectional theory and analysis in understanding and addressing the mechanisms and processes through which social policy and practice impact marginalized communities.
Jordan Vener
Associate Director-Lecturer
P: 518.276.8243
Jordan is an Associate Director-Lecturer for the Archer Center for Student Leadership Development at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York. The Center staff members are responsible for teaching students, (and at times, staff and faculty) the non-technical skills they need in order to be successful in their academic, personal and professional lives.
Jordan joined the Archer Center in 2019 after 8 years as Sr. Program Manager for Interactive Technologies at the Center for Initiatives in Pre-College Education (CIPCE) at RPI. While at CIPCE he worked closely with many student groups on campus including Engineering & Science Ambassadors, NSBE, SHPE, SWE, and FIRST Robotics.
He graduated from Florida International University with a B.S. in Elementary Education. He earned his M.S. in Educational Psychology and Methodology from the University of Albany, SUNY and holds a NYS Teacher Certification.
Jordan teaches several required courses each year. He facilitates custom-designed workshops and programs for any organization within the RPI community. He specializes in hands on real world applications when designing leadership challenges that foster critical thinking and problem solving skills.
He enjoys time spent hiking with his family, volunteering, and hockey season.
Shatoya Michel
Shatoya Michel is an Associate Director/Lecturer in the Archer Center for Student Leadership Development at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York. The center staff members are responsible for teaching students, (and at times, staff and faculty) the non-technical skills they need in order to be successful in their academic, personal and professional lives.
Shatoya joined the Archer Center in August 2023 after working with the New York State government on initiatives concerning diversity, equity, inclusion, and strengthening protections against discrimination. Prior to working with the state, Shatoya worked in higher education at the University at Albany and The Sage Colleges. While at these institutions she worked with in career planning, assisted with the recruitment of faculty and staff, and taught as an adjunct instructor.
Shatoya graduated from American International College with a B.S. in Business Administration. She earned her M.S. in Human Resource Management from Troy University. In addition, Shatoya has over 15 years of experience working with equal opportunity programs, 12 years of human resources experience, with eight years specializing in talent acquisition and implementing hiring practices that foster equal opportunity.
Shatoya enjoys spending time with family, traveling and reading new books.