Amy Cossentino


Education

Ph.D. - Educational Studies with a Specialization in Educational Leadership and Higher Education, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Dissertation Title - Understanding the experiences, satisfaction and performance of honors students: A multisite case study at public higher education institutions
Continuing Education - Higher Education Administration, Capella University.
Continuing Education - Computer Information Systems & Management.
Masters in Education (Counseling), Youngstown State University.
Bachelor of Science: Psychology (Industrial/Organizational emphasis), Slippery Rock University.
Bachelor of Education: Elementary Education, Slippery Rock University.


Career History

Assistant Director, University Scholars & Honors Programs Youngstown State University, Youngstown OH.

Develop and execute strategic plans for the design and implementation of retention programs. Design and develop marketing tools. Facilitate outreach to the community. Designed and implemented databases for tracking and programming reports. Select, train and supervise staff. Provide counseling and advisement to honors students. Oversee daily operations. Establish orientation, lecture series and social programs to program members.

Projects include:
  • Initiated, designed and implemented the foundation of the program databases utilizing the Mainframe and Microsoft Access

  • Initiated, designed and maintain the program website utilizing a variety of web-based development tools and HTML, Java on a UNIX system. The website includes daily updates and online applications.

  • Created an interactive CD-Rom to provide information to current students as well as for recruiting new students to the program. This was a long range project that included text, video clips, and slide shows. The project was created using Macromedia Director.

  • Designed and implemented a freshmen early intervention program to increase student retention.

  • While maintaining quality services, increased program membership from less than one hundred members to over 600 members in a three-year period.

  • Liaison to the community to arrange for volunteer placements in the community. Developed a volunteer service fair along with a volunteer directory to further encourage the placement of volunteers in local agencies.


    • Associate Counselor, St. Francis Hospital, New Castle, PA.

    Provide comprehensive counseling to individuals on a private basis. Treat various problems such as schizophrenia, obsessive-compulsive disorer, marital and family difficulties, learning disablities, etc.

    Assistant Director, First-Year Student Center, Youngstown State University.

    Lead a department of 20-plus paraprofessionals providing services to approximately 1500 students. Supervised over 100 volunteer faculty mentors. Responsible for retention and orientation programs. Mangaged departmental budget.

    Projects Include:

  • Articulated a departmental vision supported by distinct goals, and objectives.

  • Selected, trained and supervised staff. Enhanced the group's productivity, morale, and image by building a cohesive team guided by clear policies and procedures, motivated by training programs and staff development retreats.

  • Selected, trained and monitored 100-plus volunteer faculty staff mentors.

  • Member of President's Strategic Planning committee on Student Retention. Developed a long-range plan to increase overall student retention.

  • Developed an early warning system to interface with the faculty members to detect student problems. Included the development of a midterm progress report system linked to the university mainframe.


    • Coordinator, Student Enrichment Center, Youngstown State University.

    Coordinated services for freshmen students. Selected, trained, and supervised nine student paraprofessionals. Monitored seventy volunteer faculty/staff mentor interactions with assigned mentees. Administered the College Student Inventory. Served on Student Services budget committee. Launched a merger of two departments in Student Services. Established an advisory committee for the department. Reviewed midterm progress reports and communicated with faculty regarding student progress.

    Coordinator, Mentoring Services, Youngstown State University, Youngstown, OH.

    Organized and coordinated a mentoring program for at-risk students. Recruited and trained faculty/staff mentors, assigned students to mentors, maintained records of program activities, implemented mentoring program in local high school. Evaluated mentor /mentee interaction.

    Crisis/Intake Worker, Human Service Center, New Castle, PA. (Part-time contract work)

    Conducted initial intakes for children and adults, counseled by phone or face to face individuals in crisis. Completed the closing of treatment files. Presented new intakes to agency director.

    Professional Preparation

    University Counseling Center Intern, Youngstown State University, Youngstown, OH.

    Conducted individual and group counseling sessions with university students experiencing personal, academic, and career issues. Served as a proctor and room supervisor for national exams such as, ACT, SAT, GRE, MCAT, LSAT, and CLEP. Organized a summer e perience for over one hundred students who were undecided about their major. Planned a day long program and administered the Holland Self-Directed Search. Reviewed the results of the instrument and provided additional counseling sessions. Interfaced and consulted with staff in the Career Services Office to further assist the student, while using materials and computer programs available in that office. Participated in a group for women which had a wide range of topics for weekly meetings. Assisted w ith class presentations about rape education, test/performance anxiety, and time management.

    Internship. MTS International, Inc. St. Louis, MO.

    Administered the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator and Kolb's Learning Style Inventory to employees in industries across the country to be used for training programs. Conducted research on the reliability and validity of LSI and MBTI. Observed employee interac tions in reference to their type. Wrote a paper regarding the findings.
    Technologies
    OS: Windows, NT, Unix
    Databases: Microsoft Access
    Languages: HTML, Java, Lingo, QBasic
    Software: Microsoft Office, Director, Publisher, FrontPage, Photoshop

    Awards
    2005 Mahoning Valley Outstanding Young Professional Award
    The Charles McBriary Award 1999, 2007 for outstanding service to students.
    Distinguished Service Award 1998, 2003, 2008
    Libra Award (1995, 1998, 1999) Advisor of the Year
    Student Affairs Award 2002


    Presentations
    Service-Learning Symposium, Amy Cossentino, Andrew Emig & Jason Heyman; National Collegiate Honors Council Conference, San Antonio, TX, 2008.
    Experiences, Satisfaction and Performance of Honors Students: A Multi-Site Case Study at Public Higher Education Institutions, National Collegiate Honors Council Conferenc, San Antonio, TX, 2008
    The Use of Focus Groups in the Assessment of the Honors Experience, National Collegiate Honors Council Conference, Denver, CO, 2007. Memberships
    Alpha Xi Delta
    Golden Key National Honor Society
    Phi Kappa Phi
    Volunteer Administrators Organization
    Volunteerism:
    American Cancer Association
    American Heart Association
    American Red Cross
    The Butler Institute of American Art
    Advisor, Alpha Lambda Delta, 2007-Present
    Advisor, Alpha Xi Delta, 1996-1999
    Advisor, The Centurians, 1993-2002
    Advisor, Executive Council, 2001-2003
    Advisor, Golden Key National Honor Society, 1996-1999, 2002-2007
    Advisor, Honors Council, 2002-2004, 2007-Present
    Advisor, National Society of Collegiate Scholars, 2006-Present
    Advisor, Scholar Trustees, 1996-Present
    Advisor, Student Government Association (2002-03)
    Advisor, The Who, 2007-Present
    Advisor, Helping Hands, 1996-1998
    Advisor, Xi Delta Gamma, 1992-1995
    APAS, Vice-President 2005-2006
    APAS, Grievance Officer, 2004-2006
    Board of Directors, Shepherd of the Valley (2005)
    Ethics Committee Member, Shepherd of the Valley (2005)
    Mahoning Valley Service Council Member
    Project Opportunity Advisory Board Member, 2002 - 2004
    The Rescue Mission
    Salvation Army
    Second Harvest Foodbank
    Shantytown
    Union Township Athletic Association Volunteer

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