Rachel Shaw

B.A., Mathematics, NYS Teaching Certificate (7-12) , Mount Saint Mary College
MBA, Mount Saint Mary College

Rachel Shaw joined the Dominican University family in August 2017 as the Director of Student Activities. In January of 2022 (in addition to Director of Student Activities), Rachel began as a Lecturer for Business Administration as well as Dominican’s new Esports Coordinator. In August 2022, Rachel transitioned from Director of Student Activities to her current role; Director of Student Engagement.

Originally from Florida, NY, Rachel and her husband now reside in Westwood, NJ. She enjoys spending her free time binge-watching TV shows, reading, crafting, and singing.

Rachel’s professional journey began during her undergraduate experience. She brings a deep passion for fostering vibrant student experiences shaped by her involvement in student activities and 12 years in various leadership roles. This includes the Executive Vice President of the Student Body and her active membership on the student programming board. Rachel has also held diverse roles in higher education – such as time working in Student Affairs, Student Activities, the Registrar’s Office, and in Purchasing.

In 2019, Rachel was honored with the “Advisor of the Year” award for her work with the Charger Activities Board. She remains committed to creating engaging and meaningful opportunities for students, ensuring their college experience is memorable and impactful.

You can find Rachel in the Student Engagement Lounge- located on the second floor of the Granito Center—be sure to stop by and say hello!

Chad Duesler

Chad Duesler graduated from Dominican University in 2006. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Athletic Training.

As a 4-year starter for the Chargers baseball program, Chad led the team to their highest winning season with an impressive win-loss record of 42-14 dominating the NCAA Baseball Regional. In 2005, Chad was named “Most Valuable Player of the Eastern College Athletic  Conference Tournament” (ECAC).  

After his College baseball career ended, Chad was offered a job as Associate Head Baseball Coach. He continued to prove his commitment to the Chargers baseball program. So it was no surprise he advanced to become Assistant Facility Manager of the Hennessy Center and Granito Center.

In 2010 Duesler began playing for the Rockland Boulders professional independent baseball team in the CAN-AM League. He was both a player and an assistant coach. He completed his Baseball Career in 2014, but not before winning the League Championship.

In 2017, He earned his fitness trainer certification through the International Sports Science Association (ISSA)  as well as his certification in CPR and AED.

Chad was promoted in 2021 to an Assitant Athletic Director/Recruiting Coordinator for the Dominican University Athletic Department.

In addition to a long list of accolades, Coach Duesler belongs to the ABCA Baseball Coaches Association, which is the primary professional organization for baseball coaches at the amateur level.

In May of 2022, Chad graduated from Dominican University once again only with his Master’s degree in Organizational Leadership and Communication.

Then just a month after his Graduation in 2022, Coach Duesler was named Assitant Athletic Director/Recruiting Coordinator for Domincan and Camp Coordinator University’s Athletic Department!  

Coach Chad and his family have a maple syrup business in upstate New York, producing and selling maple products. Chad resides in Pomona, NY, with his beautiful wife, Lindsay  daughter , Olivia, son, Brice, and their dog, Angel.

Andrea Catania

Andrea Catania began her career at Dominican University initially part time in 2000, then became a full time administrative assistant in Career Development in the Fall of 2001. She has been in the field of higher education for over twenty years. Dominican University is also where she earned her A.A. degree. Stop by the Career Development Center located in Rosary Hall.

Kathie Boylan

Prior to joining Career development Kathie held several management positions at local Bergen County non-profits. Her educational background includes a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Ramapo College and a Masters of Science degree in counseling.

Margaret Kivlehan

Margaret returned to Dominican University in August 2013 as the Executive Assistant in the Student Development Office. A Dominican University alumna, she received a BS in Marketing Management in 1988 and then went on to receive an MS in Elementary Education from Long Island University. She has held various positions in both the business and education fields, most recently as a substitute teacher for several local school districts.

Margaret resides in Pearl River with her husband Kevin and their four children: Rebecca, Kevin, Matthew, Jimmy and their dog Pepper.

John Burke

John Burke, a 1994 graduate of Dominican University, with a degree in Elementary Education and Psychology was appointed Vice President for Student Development in the fall of 2009. Prior to his current role, he served as Associate Director of Athletics and Compliance Officer and had a very successful career at the helm of the Lady Chargers women’s basketball program for nine years. John also, holds a Masters from Northeastern University in Leadership Studies.

John Burke was named as one of Rockland County’s Forty under 40 in 2002 and is an Alumnus of the Leadership Rockland program, Class of 2011. He was awarded the All-Met Division II Coach of the Year in 2007-2008 and the Steve Baxter Service Award in 2010.

Dean Burke lives with his wife Tara, sons Ryan and Daniel and their dog Boomer in Pearl River, NY.

Eileen A. Piccininni

Eileen A. Piccininni, MA, LPC, CASAC, CEAP, is the Prevention and Education Coordinator at Dominican University.  She holds a Master’s degree in Counseling from NYU.

Prior to coming to the College, Eileen spent 20 years working for Employee Assistance Programs, providing individual counseling and crisis intervention for aviation and mass casualty disasters.

Rick Giannetti

Head Coach Rick Giannetti is entering is 27th year at the helm of the Charger baseball program. In his time at Dominican he has amassed a record of 723-470 and his overall record stands at 769-520. The 723 victories is the most wins in the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) by any Coach in CACC history. He has guided Dominican to 15 CACC Championships, 10 regional tournament appearances, 1 Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Championship and 2 NAIA World Series Appearances. His teams have qualified for post season play every year except one.

Giannetti spent his collegiate career at Ramapo College of New Jersey where he was a member of the baseball team for four years. As a pitcher, he never lost a game in college and for three of those years had a single digit statistic for walks allowed. The Roadrunners also went to three regional tournaments in his tenure there. He graduated in 1982 with a double major B.S. in psychology and business.

His collegiate coaching career started at his alma mater joining the team as an assistant coach in 1983 and helped guide the Roadrunners to a National Championship in 1984. Giannetti then took over the reigns in 1988 and spent two years as the head coach. In that time, he made two conference tournament appearances, won a conference championship in 1988 and made a regional tournament appearance.

Coach Giannetti has been awarded the CACC Coach of the Year award 9 times in his tenure, Regional Coach of the Year Award 5 times and was the 2009 ECAC Coach of the Year. He has also been a finalist for the National Coach of the Year Award 4 times. He has coached 62 All-American players and 147 All-Conference Players and has had 30 players sign professional contracts. He currently serves as the East Region Chairman for Division 2 Baseball and also serves on the ABCA/Rawlings All-American & Gold Glove Committees.

He currently resides in New City, NY with his wife, Vicki, and their three children, A.J., Vincent and Adriana.

Thomas Gavigan

Thomas Gavigan is 1985 graduate of Dominican University. During his undergraduate career here at the College, he was 4 year member of the men’s basketball team. A Retired Sergeant from the NYPD, he was hired at Dominican in 2008 as the Assistant Facilities Manager and became an Assistant AD-Assistant Compliance Officer in 2010. Gavigan then became the Head Compliance Officer in 2012. He live in Thiells, New York with his wife Maureen and their daughter Grace.

Evelyn Fiskaa

Evelyn Fiskaa, the Director of Career Development, joined Dominican University in 2010. She has worked in Career Development for many years serving diverse populations. Evelyn holds a Master of Science in Applied Counseling and a Bachelor of Art in Psychology.

Kelly-Ann Di Giulio Light

Kelly-Ann Di Giulio Light was named the Associate Director of Athletics in August of 2009 after serving as an Assistant Athletic Director since August of 2003. She has also served as the Director of Sports Information since 2003 where she is responsible for all athletic communications for the 17 varsity sports teams. She handles all statistical duties, press releases, as well as manages the athletic department website, www.chargerathletics.com.

In addition to her sport coverage duties, Di Giulio Light is also the department’s Senior Woman Administrator. As part of her Associate Athletic Director duties, she manages the budget for the athletic department, is a direct report for the eight female sport teams and a secondary report for the seven male sport teams.

Di Giulio Light began her sports information career while attending Ramapo College of New Jersey, where she served as the Assistant Sports Information Director. She assisted with men’s and women’s volleyball, men’s and women’s soccer, men’s and women’s basketball, baseball and softball. Her duties included public address announcer, statistician,

official scorer and post-game management.
A 2002 graduate of Ramapo College with a bachelor’s of arts degree in public communications, she spent two years working in the Sports Information office. She was a four-year member of the softball team, where she was a team captain for three years. Di Giulio Light also worked with the Assistant Athletic Director for Academic Services where she oversaw and monitored team study halls and tutoring. She was a member of the Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) for three years.

Di Giulio Light is a member of the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA), the Eastern College Athletic Conference Sports Information Directors Association, the National Association of Collegiate Women Athletic Administrators (NACWAA) and the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics.

Di Giulio Light currently serves on the CACC Marketing and Promotions Committee. She previously served as a member of the NCAA Division II Softball East Regional Advisory Committee, the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) Hall of Fame Committee, CACC Scheduling Committee and the CACC Marketing Committee. She has also served on the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Hall of Fame Committee and the All-ECAC voting committee for men’s and women’s lacrosse. Previously, she served as Vice-Chair for the CACC Festival Committee.

In 2018, Di Giulio Light was appointed Chair of the CACC SID Council.
She has hosted numerous post season tournaments, including the 2004 Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Men’s and Women’s soccer tournaments (first and second rounds), the 2004 Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) Women’s Volleyball Tournament, the first round of the 2006 ECAC Women’s Basketball Tournament and the 2007 CACC Men’s and Women’s Basketball Tournament (semi-finals and championship games).

Di Giulio Light is also a 2010 graduate of Northeastern University where she earned a master of sports leadership degree. She and her husband, Adam, currently reside in Paramus, N.J., with their dog, Gracie.

Alise Cohen

Alise Cohen, LCSW, BCD, is the Director of Counseling at Dominican University and a Board-Certified Diplomat in Clinical Social Work. She has been a part of the College community since 1994.

She holds a master’s degree from New York University (M.S.W.) and has eight years of advanced post graduate clinical training in psychoanalytic studies from the National Psychological Association for Psychoanalysis (NPAP).