Leadership & Administrative Team

Originally from the Finger Lakes Region of New York State, Tom has over 30 years of experience in higher education. In his role as Vice President for Community & Student Affairs at Teachers College, Tom provides strategic leadership and vision for cultivating a vibrant, inclusive and supportive College environment for students, faculty and staff.  He oversees the offices that create programs, services, and initiatives that build community, enhance student life, and foster an overall sense of belonging at Teachers College.

Tom leads the offices and staff members in the departments of Student Affairs & , which includes oversight for the , Title VI, VII, ad IX, and Community Programming and Engagement. Together, these offices and teams are integrated to advance a more cohesive framework for campus engagement, community development, and student success. 

A long term community member at Teachers College, and an Elaine Brantley Memorial Award Recipient for Community and Civility, Tom earned his Ed.D. from Teachers College in 2002 and has worked at the College since 2003 in various roles including the Director of Admission, the Vice Provost for Enrollment Services, the Vice Provost for Student Affairs and most recently as the Associate Vice President & Chief Student Affairs Officer. 

He is an Adjunct Faculty member in the Higher & Postsecondary Education program where he has been teaching a Student Affairs course since 2004.  Previous to his work at Teachers College, Tom worked in various roles at the University of Dayton, Alfred University, The Albany Academy, Columbia University and Hofstra University. He also received a Certificate of Completion from the Harvard Graduate School of Education for participation in the Institute for Management and Leadership in Education (MLE).  Tom was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship in 2018 where he traveled to Japan as part of the Fulbright Administrator Scholarship Program.  

In his spare time, Dr. Rock enjoys running (he's finished 15 NYC marathons), pickleball, tennis (he is a USTA certified tennis official), spending time with his family and traveling. 

Originally from York, Pennsylvania, Whitney is a proud graduate of the Psychology in Education program at Teachers College, Columbia University. She currently serves as the Associate Director for Strategic Initiatives & Communication in Student Affairs Administration within the Division of Enrollment & Student Success. Since joining TC in 2017, she has held key roles, including Assistant Director and Manager of Operations for Graduate Student Life & Development (GSLD), where she played a pivotal role in enhancing student engagement and operational efficiency.

With a strong focus on digital engagement and technology, Whitney is dedicated to enriching the student experience from New Student Orientation through Commencement. Outside of her immediate professional role, she also serves on the Staff Advocacy & Support Council (SASC). Her leadership extends beyond TC, she actively contributes to the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA) Region II Advisory Board. She is currently the 2026 Annual Regional Conference Co-Chair elect and the 2025 Registration Co-Chair, having previously served as Chief of Staff (2024) and Chair for Marketing & Communications (2023) for the Regional Conference Committee.

Beyond her professional endeavors, Whitney is deeply passionate about animal advocacy, rescue, and welfare. She volunteers as an operations member for Waggytail Rescue, a New York City-based small dog and cat rescue organization, dedicating much of her free time to coordinating rescue events and supporting adoption efforts. To unwind, she enjoys long walks, reading, and spending time outdoors in her neighborhood’s green spaces.

Karen is a dedicated administrative professional with a passion for optimizing administrative processes.  With 15+ years of experience, Karen has a strong focus on client services and collaborating with offices and departments across the College, to build community while fostering positive relationships.