Meet the Staff | University of Miami


Nikki Abramson - Assistant to the Dean/ Case Manager Claudia Arias-Cirinna - Assistant Dean of Students Michelle M. Castro - Assistant Dean of Students/ Coordinator for Greek Affairs Amanda Codina - Practicum Student Steve DeBardelaben - Chairman of the University Chaplains' Association Elena Doyle - Graduate Assistant Christine Ferras - Administrative Assistant Dr. Ricardo Hall - Dean of Students Dr. Tony Lake - Associate Dean of Students/ Director of Judicial Affairs Xavier Shannon - Bio- Graduate Student Nanette Vega - Assistant Dean of Students/ Director of the Sandler Center for Drug and Alcohol Education Gayle Sheeder - Senior Administrative Assistant Ren Werbin - Bio- Graduate Assistant Karen Taylor - Administrative Assistant Dayle Wilson - Assistant Dean of Students

Nikki Abramson
Nikki Abramson, LCSW joined the University of Miami's Dean of Student's Office in September 2006 as the Assistant to the Dean/Case Manager. Nikki addresses the needs of students who may be experiencing mental health, health, economic, housing, family, academic, and/or social issues by providing a variety of intervention, referral, and case management services. Nikki is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in the State of Florida (http://www.doh.state.fl.us/mqa/491/index.html) and has extensive clinical experience working with students in educational settings and providing crisis intervention services. Nikki has presented at workshops and trainings at both national and local levels and is trained and certified in implementing various evidenced-based and best-practice programs. She has received numerous awards for her outstanding contributions to promoting student mental health. Nikki grew up in New York and earned her bachelor's degree from the State University of New York at Albany and her master's degree in Social Work from New York University. Nikki enjoys spending time with her family and friends, traveling, reading, and working out.

Claudia Arias-Cirinna
Dean Arias-Cirinna recently joined the Dean of Student Office in November 2008. As the Assistant Dean of Students, she serves as a University Hearing Officer, is the primary liaison to athletics and the graduate school, advisor to National Association of Latino Fraternal and in charge of assessment and grant initiatives. Dean Arias-Cirinna is originally from Chile, South America but grew up in Connecticut most of her life. She received both her BA in Spanish and Psychology from Central Connecticut State University and her MS in Counseling in Higher Education and Student Affairs. She has worked at several universities and has expertise in areas such as counseling, alcohol education, prevention, wellness, crisis response, staff selection and training, advising student organizations, leadership, teambuilding, and diversity. Her two greatest passions are working with students and education through discipline. Dean Arias-Cirinna is a member of CALAHE, CT Association of Latinos in Higher Education and has worked extensively with Latino Youth and Prevention efforts. She also hopes to start her doctoral degree in Higher Education in the near future.

Michelle M. Castro
Dean Castro serves as an Assistant Dean of Students and Coordinator for Greek Affairs. Dean Castro is a Miami Beach native that has returned to South Florida. After earning her B.A. in International Relations from Florida International University, Dean Castro traveled as a Leadership Consultant for her sorority, Phi Sigma Sigma. Dean Castro later resumed her education at Bowling Green State University and earned a Master's in College Student Personnel. Dean Castro continues to serve as a national volunteer working with the Phi Sigma Sigma Foundation and facilitates the sorority's ACHIEVE program. She also is a national volunteer for the Association of Fraternity Advisors, serving on the Virtual Seminar Series, and volunteers for Chi Phi Fraternity,and facilitator for UIFI. In addition to her Greek Life responsibilities at UM, Dean Castro serves as a University Hearing Officer and is the Associate Executive Director for Rho Lambda National Honorary, which was founded at the University of Miami. Dean Castro enjoys working with fraternity and sorority members as well as serving in her community. She has been recognized for her commitment with induction into Order of Omega, Omicron Delta Kappa, and Rho Lambda national honor societies. She is also currently a member of the Junior League of Miami. When not volunteering Dean Castro enjoys traveling within the United States and abroad, trying to see as much of the world as possible. She also enjoys scrapbooking, spending time with friends, shopping, reading, and being a tourist in her own backyard.

Amanda Codina
Amanda Codina will be working at the Dean of Student's Office as a Practicum Student for the 2009-2010 academic year. Amanda will be working closely with Dean Lake to learn about Greek Life, as well as, all other aspects of the Dean's Office. She is currently pursuing a Master's in Higher Education Administration with a concentration in Student Life and Development. An an undergraduate, she attended Suffolk University in Boston, where she graduated with a B.S in advertising. After graduating, she got the opportunity to work at her high school, Carrollton School of the Sacred Heart, as Assistant Dean of Students. It is there that Amanda realized her passion for education, and decided to return to school to pursue this interest.

Steve DeBardelaben
Rev. Steve DeBardelaben currently serves as the Chairperson of the University Chaplains Association. Steve has served at the University of Miami since 1975. He has worked with students, faculty, administrators, and alumni; helping many discover a meaningful personal faith. Steve currently focuses his efforts with the athletic department, serving several teams as Team Chaplain. He also leads an initiative for partnership with other Chaplains and ministries to insure that the needs of all are met regardless of their religious background. This year Steve celebrates his 40th anniversary to his wife, Arlene. She is a gifted and effective partner in ministry. They have four adult children and five grandsons. Steve is a graduate of Ga. Tech in Industrial Management; and completed Theological Studies through the International School of Theology. He has over 38 years of ministry experience.

Elena Doyle
Elena Doyle serves as the Graduate Assistant for PIER 21: The William W. Sandler Jr. Center for Alcohol and Other Drug Education. As the Graduate Assistant, Elena organizes alcohol and drug education workshops and programs, with goals of educating the University community about the negative consequences of high-risk use of alcohol and other drugs, promoting healthy lifestyles, and increasing awareness and commitment within the University Community. Elena is a native of Miami who is in her second year of law school at the University of Miami School of Law. In 2008, Elena graduated from the University of Miami with a bachelor's degree in Psychology. As an undergraduate student at the University, Elena served for two years as a Peer Educator for PIER21. She also currently serves as Chief of Iron Arrow and President of UM's Hispanic Law Students Association. In her free time, Elena loves to visit Disney with her new husband and to cheer on the Miami Hurricanes! Go Canes!

Christine Ferras
Christine A. Ferras, Administrative Assistant, joined the University of Miami's Dean of Students Office in April 1998. As part of the support staff, Mrs. Ferras works to help the office run smoothly. As well as assisting Dean Dayle W. Wilson; Dean Nanette Vega and Dean Claudia Arias-Cirinna, she also works along side the Associate Dean and Director of Judicial Affairs to administer the discipline database system. Christine has lived in the Miami area since 1962, is married and has two grown children. Christine won The Laurel Award in 2002 for Outstanding Job Performance. She was the recipient of the Ronald Hammond Humanitarian Award in 2000 and 2001 presented by the National Panhellenic Council and is a member of Rho Lambda.

Dr. Ricardo Hall
Throughout his career, Dean Hall has realized the importance of understanding differences and varying points of view. In his professional and educational work, community involvement, and speaking engagements, he has been able to incorporate and share his knowledge of and appreciation for a broad range of current topics within higher education and beyond. This has included discussions on the impact, real and perceived, of race and culture on various individuals, groups, and college campuses. Consistent with the 2009 Princeton Review acknowledgement of UM being #1 in "Race/Class Interaction," Dean Hall encourages comfortable, thoughtful, and civil discourse within the UM community and enjoys interacting with students on topics related to life at UM, and life in general. Dean Hall has presented locally, regionally, and nationally on subjects ranging from mentoring to student discipline to diversity to leadership skills development and Greek Life. He is a proud former RA and is happy to participate in programming in the residential colleges, as well as for student organizations. Dean Hall can frequently be found in the Wellness Center playing basketball or racquetball (and invites students to take Dean Hall's Racquetball Challenge!), has an impressive PEZ collection in his office, is an aficionado (and frequent wearer) of bowties, and encourages students to fully embrace the opportunities – both in and out of the classroom – presented to them at the University of Miami. Dean Hall has been a Hurricane since 2006 and, in addition to overall management of the Dean of Students Office, he is an Adjunct Faculty member in the School of Education, teaching Higher Ed Law and Supervision in Higher Ed courses. He has prior university student affairs experience from Wake Forest University, Clemson University, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, and the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. He earned his doctorate (Educational Leadership) from Clemson University and his master's (Higher Education Administration) and bachelor's (Business Management) degrees from Ohio University.

Dr. Tony Lake
Dean Lake started working at the University of Miami in June of 2008 as the Associate Dean of Students and Director of Judicial Affairs and works with student disciplinary issues and sorority and fraternity life on campus. In addition to roles at the University of Miami, Dr. Lake also serves on the national board of directors for Gamma Sigma Alpha, the National Greek Academic Honorary and has done research for that organization for several years, and he also has worked as leadership education curriculum development consultant for several different organizations. Prior to working at the U, Dean Lake worked in several different roles throughout his career. He has worked in housing and residence life at three different institutions, has done research on the academic achievements of sorority and fraternity members, has been an instructor on college ob several different campuses at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, and has also worked in fraternity and sorority life and leadership development at a different University. Along his career path Dr. Lake has also earned three degrees: a Bachelor of Applied Arts in Graphic Design and Photography in 1995 (CMU), a Master of Science in College Student Personnel Administration in 1997 (UCM), and later a Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration in 2005 (BGSU). Tony's wife and partner, Kate Lake, also works for the University of Miami (in Alumni Relations) and they are both enjoying working in the wonderfully diverse Miami community. Dean Lake is personally committed to issues of social justice and works to make his surroundings more welcoming and inclusive for all people, and hopes to someday start his own charitable organization to help make college more accessible for underprivileged youth.

Xavier Shannon
Xavier Shannon, a current student in the University of Miami Higher Education/Enrollment Management Program. He was born and raised in Miami, Florida and graduated from Coral Gables Sr. High in 2004. In 2007, Xavier was a honor roll student, who earned a bachelor's of Physical Education and Sport Management, in a minor in Business from Florida International University. While at Florida International University, Xavier was a scholarship athlete for the football team where he was a nominee for the national Danny Wuerffel Award for community service, academic and in addition to being a nominee for the Academic All American award. Xavier completed his last year of athletic eligibility as a member of the University of Miami 2008 football team. At that time he earned honors that include: All ACC Academic All America, an Academic Captain for the UM football team and he received the Mariutto Scholar Athlete Award, which is given to the member of the football team with the highest grade point average. Xavier has also been involved in many community service events and activities, such as mentoring kids at summer camps, working at the local Special Olympics, and working at education camps for the youth of the City Of Miami.

Nanette Vega
Dean Nanette Vega joined the University of Miami in 1999. Since coming to the university, she has served as Senior Assistant Director of Admission and Assistant Director of Multicultural Student Affairs. She currently serves as Assistant Dean of Students and the Director of the William W. Sandler Jr. Center for Alcohol and Other Drug Education. She is responsible for coordinating a comprehensive Prevention, Intervention, Education, and Referral program focusing on alcohol and other drug use, misuse, and dependency. She serves as advisor to UPARTY (Promoting Alcohol Responsibility to You), GAMMA (Greeks Advocating for the Mature Management of Alcohol) and Sigma Lambda Gamma. Originally from Massachusetts, she graduated from the University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth with a BA in Sociology/Social Services and Spanish and has an MA and a Certificate in Enrollment Management from the University of Miami. She has been recognized with several awards to include the Student Affairs Laurel Award for Outstanding Work with Students, the United Black Students Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Humanitarian Award, the National Pan-Hellenic Council Ronald C. Hammond Humanitarian Award, the Council of Student Organizations Advisor of the Year Award, Order of Omega, Omicron Delta Kappa and Iron Arrow-the highest honor attained at the University of Miami. Her professional career outside of academia includes volunteering as the Bacchus Network Area 9 Consultant and the American College Personnel Association as Latino/a Network Secretary. An important aspect of her life is family - sister, brother, nieces and nephew and friends that have become family. She enjoys traveling, exploring all that Florida has to offer and volunteering.

Gayle Sheeder
Gayle Sheeder attended the University of Oklahoma and continued her education at UM where she earned her BBA degree. She joined the UM family in 1966. Gayle has received the Division of Student Affairs Laurel Award for Outstanding Job Performance, the Mortar Board Outstanding Woman of the Year Award, and the Iron Arrow Thurston Adams Outstanding Service Award. She has served as Vice President of the UM Women's Commission and is a member of Iron Arrow and Omicron Delta Kappa. Her responsibilities include: overseeing general office routines, preparing budget/financial reports, maintaining the Dean's calendar and correspondence, and assisting those (from students to alumni to parents of students) in need of help. What does she enjoy most – helping people!

Ren Werbin
Ren Werbin joined the Dean of Student’s Office in August 2009 as the Graduate Assistant and Advisor to the Honor Council. Ren organizes Honor Council hearings, educates the University community about the Honor Code, generates Honor Council reports and statistics, maintains confidential hearing files and tapes, selects and trains Honor Council members, and plans Honor Council events. In addition, she is enrolled in the graduate program in the School of Education with a concentration in Higher Education Administration: Student Life and Development. In 2008, Ren graduated from the University of Central Florida with a bachelor’s degree in Marketing. After graduation she moved to England to intern with an industrial marketing firm. After completing the internship she attended that Art Institute of Ft. Lauderdale where she obtained a certificate of specialization in Fashion Merchandising. Ren continues to be an active alumna in her sorority, as well as a volunteer in various philanthropic events.

Karen Taylor
Karen recently joined the Deans Office as Administrative Assistant in the summer of 2008. She was born and raised in Opa-Locka, FL and graduated from Miami Carol City Sr. High School in 1971. She served in the U.S Army from 1973-1976 as a Medic and Drill Sergeant. Later, she graduated from Miami Dade Community College in 1980 with an A.S. Degree in Court Reporting. Karen worked at the U.S.P.S. from 1981-1995 ending that career as the Supervisor of Training. She then worked at Dade County Public Schools from 1995-2001 as a Counseling Specialist. She finally came to UM in 2002 starting her career in the Athletic Department as a Staff Associate and then transferring to the Dean?s Office. Her mother is a 1964 UM Alumni and her daughter is presently attending UM. She enjoys ceramic/glass tile pottery but her biggest joy is spending time with her husband Robert L. Taylor, Six sons and one daughter.

Dayle Wilson
A graduate of the University of Miami, Dean Wilson serves as a judicial officer for the Office of the Dean of Students. Additional responsibilities include serving as the advisor to the National Pan-Hellenic Council, the umbrella organization for the historically Black Greek Letter organizations represented on campus. She also serves as the advisor to the Undergraduate and Graduate Honor Councils, and the Alpha Lambda Delta National Honor Society. Dean Wilson is also a member of the WVUM Advisory Board. She has been inducted as an honorary member in the Order of Omega and as a member of Omicron Delta Kappa. She served as President of the University’s Women’s Commission from 2007 - 2009. She is also a former member of the Miami Dade County Library Advisory Board. Dean Wilson was also recognized by the Yellow Rose Society as Legend of the Year during the 2008 Women’s History Month celebration.