Delece Kerr is proud to serve as the Graduate Residence Director at Dominican University! Born in Queens, NY, Delece has developed a passion for supporting others and indulging in the creative arts. Throughout her undergraduate years, she devoted herself to being a mentor for students and encouraging them to explore creative and leadership opportunities.
Delece has earned her B.A in Music from the Music Conservatory at Purchase College where she was a Resident Assistant for 3 years, an EOP Mentor for 4 years, and participated in campus athletics for 4 years. These experiences fueled her passion for working in Higher Education.
At Dominican, Delecy’s goal is to help foster an inclusive and energetic campus dynamic, creating a sense of belonging that students will carry into their post-grad endeavors. Outside of work, Delece shares interests across many fields such as athletics including films, photography, art and puzzles!
Dilenny Diaz is a proud Dominican-born Higher Education professional who serves as the Assistant Director of Residence Life at Dominican University. After moving to the U.S. at age 10, she was raised in the Bronx and Queens, and has since developed a strong passion for creating inclusive, student-centered communities.
Dilenny earned her B.S. from Manhattanville College, where she was a Resident Assistant for three years. She later worked as an Event and Marketing Coordinator before transitioning fully into Higher Education. She spent four years at SUNY Purchase as a Residence Coordinator, where she supported RA staff, managed day-to-day residential operations, and prioritized student support and engagement.
Dilenny is committed to helping students feel at home on campus and grow as individuals and leaders. Outside of work, she enjoys traveling, reading (and is always open to book recommendations), caring for her plants, and indulging in chocolate. She’s also a big Marvel fan and always on the lookout for her next favorite hobby.
Grace joined the Residence Life team in September 2024. Grace was a Resident Assistant for her sophomore year and a Senior Resident Assistant for her junior and senior years at Mount Saint Mary College. Graduating with a B.A. in Psychology, Grace had a passion for continuing in Residence Life as a Resident Director.
Grace is excited to expand her experience in Residence Life at DUNY! As a Residence Director, she is happy to make students feel like their housing on campus is their home away from home. Grace enjoys baking, diamond painting, puzzles, and spending time with friends and family. Grace also loves the winter and seeing snow fall. Grace loves tea and enjoys being outside, especially if it is by water.
Derrick Hicks is a Higher Education professional with many years of experience working at private and public institutions to support student learning and success. He started his Higher Education journey as a Resident Assistant and then served in several professional leadership positions, including his most recent roles as Adjunct Professor and Director of Residential Education and Housing at Bloomfield College. He is a proud and native New Yorker that is excited to become a Charger and join the Dominican University community.
Derrick received his B.A. degree from SUNY Purchase College and his M.S. degree from The University of Indianapolis. He is a servant and visionary leader that has experience working with nonprofit and for-profit organizations that span the sectors of Education, Entertainment, Health Care, Wellness, Social Justice, and Service to name a few. He is a lifelong learner that embraces challenges, celebrates individuality and values collaboration.
Derrick is thankful to have had a previous supervisor that has inspired his professional motto which states “We work with students, not for students.” This motto has shaped Derrick’s approach to leadership and has informed the ingenious results that he’s been able to yield over the years. He has always been an advocate for student needs, positive change and doing the right thing. He has proven his ability to develop and implement creative solutions for complex issues when budget, space and other resources are limited.
Some things that bring Derrick joy are a good laugh, spending time with family, traveling the world, opportunities to create, playing both video and board games, and practicing self-care. He appreciates the little things and enjoys learning something new, exploring the outdoors, finding great music to keep on replay, and participating in volunteer experiences.
