Celebrating OCC's Women Leaders

March is Women’s History Month - an opportunity to honor the achievements, leadership, and lasting impact of women in our communities and beyond.

At Onondaga Community College, we are proud to be guided by exceptional women serving in key leadership roles across our campus. Their vision, dedication, and commitment help shape the student experience and support your success every day.

To help you get to know these inspiring leaders and learn more about the work they do, we’re sharing their stories below.

Dana Acee - Assistant Dean of Civic Engagement

• Dana has served students at OCC for 10 years in various roles, including Enrollment Management and Student Affairs. In her current role as Assistant Dean of Civic Engagement, she proudly supports the Civic Engagement and Career & Transfer Services teams, and serves as the lead advisor for the college’s Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society.
• Dana holds a bachelor's degree in music education from Nazareth University and a master’s degree in Ethnomusicology from Bowling Green State University in Ohio. She was a 2025-2026 New York Postsecondary State Career and Technical Education Leaders Fellow, a member of the 2023-2024 inaugural cohort of the New York State Community College Leadership Academy, and a graduate of the 2018-2019 PEAKS Leadership Program.
• Dana currently serves as a member of OCC’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Council, the Onondaga County One Stop Operator Group, and the Wingspans Customer Advisory Group. She is also a flutist with the Central New York Flute Choir and a certified yoga teacher, sharing the practice with OCC employees and students.
• Advice: There is only one you! Be your best self in every space you are in because no one else will have your unique experience, perspective, and insight.

Stephanie Aldrich - Associate Vice President of Finance

• Stephanie has been part of Onondaga Community College since 2001, rising through the finance division to serve as Associate Vice President of Finance. She is committed to strong financial leadership, operational excellence, and supporting the college’s mission.
• Stephanie earned her Bachelor of Science in Accounting from SUNY Oswego and a Master of Professional Accounting from Syracuse University, where she was inducted into the Beta Gamma Sigma International Business Honor Society and received the Graduate Academic Achievement Award from the NYS Society of Certified Public Accountants, Syracuse Chapter.
• A recipient of the Board of Trustees Award in 2014, Stephanie is passionate about mentoring future leaders and inspiring students—especially women pursuing careers in finance and higher education—showing that dedication, education, and perseverance can lead to meaningful leadership opportunities.
• "My advice to any young woman starting her career is to stay persistent and never give up on your goals. It took me 15 years to complete my bachelor’s degree, and at one point I thought I might be done with school. But in my late 40s, I decided to pursue my Master’s degree—and I’m so glad I did.
  Don’t be afraid to take initiative. It will help you discover your passions, grow in your career, and make a meaningful impact in your life and the lives of others.”

Jenna Alexander - Interim Associate Dean of Students

Jenna provides leadership for several student support areas on campus, including the Schools, the Office of Veterans’ and Military Services, Opportunity Programs, and Student Orientation, Leadership, and Engagement.

Education: Master of Science in Education and Certificate of Advanced Study in School Counseling, Bachelor of Arts in Sociology, from SUNY Plattsburgh. 

Recognition: OCC Employee of the Month, OCC Athletics Salute Award in 2025.

Advice: Find a mentor. A mentor’s experience can help you approach challenges with confidence and help you spot opportunities you might have missed on your own.

Agatha Awuah, Ph.D. - Interim Provost, Vice President of Institutional Planning, Assessment & Research

• Dr. Awuah is an accomplished and collaborative community college leader with over 30 years of teaching and administrative experience, including 26 years as an institutional researcher, and 13 years in an executive leadership role at Onondaga Community College. As a first-generation college student and graduate, Agatha demonstrates a strong commitment to OCC’s mission, vision, and the vital role OCC plays in student success and the workforce development of Onondaga County and its surrounding counties.
• As the Vice President of Institutional Planning, Assessment & Research, Dr. Awuah has been the architect behind OCC’s culture of evidence-based decision making and a staunch supporter of data democratization and making pertinent college data readily available to all college stakeholders. She has championed data-informed decision-making, which has been a catalyst for student success at OCC, and the recent recognition of OCC as an Achieving the Dream Leader College.
• During her 21 years at OCC, she has overseen and participated in the development of four Strategic Plans and three successful Middle States reaccreditation processes. She served as the co-chair of the Achieving the Dream Data Team and member of the Core, Student Experience and Developmental Education Teams, and facilitated the establishment of the Data Governance Committee.
• Before her tenure at OCC, Dr. Awuah worked at Binghamton University as a Research Analyst at both the Student Financial Aid and Employment Office and the Office of Institutional Planning and Research. She served as the immediate past president, president, vice president, and community college representative of the SUNY Association for Institutional Planning Officers (SUNY AIRPO). She has made scholarly presentations at SUNY AIRPO and the Association for Institutional Research (AIR).
• Education: Ph.D. in Economics with specialization in Development Economics and Econometrics from Michigan State University where her research explored women’s education and fertility in Nigeria. She also holds a master’s degree in statistics from Michigan State University and a master’s degree in economics from Queen’s University, Canada. She graduated from University of Ghana with double honors in Economics and Statistics. She credits her accomplishments to her high school math teacher who organized other teachers to fund her sixth form education.
• Advice: My advice to female students is “cultivate confidence, create your personal definition of success, and have a vision for your career” (Sara Holtz, www.tomyyounger.me).

Debra Barney - Assistant Director of Career & Transfer Services

• Debra has served the Onondaga Community College community since 1994.
• Education: Associate degree in accounting from OCC in 2010. In 2012, she was awarded the Joint Presidential Scholarship through a Keuka and OCC partnership, graduating summa cum laude in 2014 with her bachelor’s degree in organizational management.
• Recognition: In 2006, she received an Above and Beyond the Call of Duty Award for working on the Colleague Conversion for non-credit courses. In 2007, Debbie received a Service to Campus award (team award) for her work on the Data Stewards Committee. In 2014, she received two Star Awards, one for Customer Service and one for Assisting Financial Aid when she served in her role as Assistant to the Senior Vice President. Since 2022, she has served on the Union Grievance Committee. joined the Union Executive Committee in August 2023 and has served as the Vice President of OCCFTA for Professional Administrators since October 2024. In the 32 years she has worked at OCC, she has served on numerous committees and chaired and participated in many search committees. Some of those committees include; Onondaga Community College’s Administrators Council (OCCAC), Executive Administrative Assistant Team, Syracuse P-Tech Planning Committee, Middle States Accreditation Team (3 different reviews), Achieving the Dream (Core Team Member), Student Success Council, Maxient Implementation Team for We Care Reports, Starfish Implementation Team, and the Mercury Implementation Team.
• Advice: You can be anything you want to be - just stay focused, get involved, work hard, and be kind. Celebrate each step of your success and don’t do anything that you wouldn’t want to see splashed across the news.

Sarah Gaffney, Vice President, Enrollment Management

• Sarah has nearly two decades of experience in community college leadership. She held roles spanning enrollment, finance, and academic administration, including Vice President of Finance and interim leadership positions in Academic Affairs and Information Technology.
• Her academic credentials include an Associate in Applied Science in Business Administration from SUNY Canton, a Bachelor of Science in Business/Economics from SUNY Oneonta, and a Master of Business Administration from Clarkson University.
• Advice to female students: "Be confident in your abilities, stay curious, care, and don’t hesitate to pursue opportunities that stretch your skills and leadership potential.” 

Julie Hart - Chief of Staff

• Julie earned degrees in English and Communications from St. John Fisher University.
• Professional recognition: Trustee Award for Administration in 2015; Anne Felton Award in 2017; American Association of Community College Trustees, Professional Board Staff Member Award, Regional Finalist, 2018.
• Advice (a quote from Matt Gottesman): “Slow work is soul work. There’s a frequency to doing things slowly and well. It’s what happens when you stop creating from urgency and start creating from alignment. Whether it’s writing, creating, building systems, or making decisions – depth takes time. Fast might get you visible, but slow will make you valuable. Speed is seductive, but slowness is sustainable. “

Nicole Schlater - Associate Vice President for Grants Administration

• Nicole works with teams across the college and our partners to pursue and administer grants from external agencies that provide supplemental resources to support new program development, enhancements to programs and services, and equip classrooms and labs to enhance the learning experience for students and advance the college's mission.
• Education: B.A. in Political Science and Speech Communication, and a Master of Public Administration from Syracuse University. She is currently completing a Certificate in Applied Statistical Analysis at the University at Buffalo.
• Advice #1: Learning is a life-long activity, and every experience you have inside and outside the classroom is a learning opportunity. Try to take time to access all the resources and connect with all the people who are here to support your learning experience.
• Advice #2: If you are working toward a goal that is important to you, don’t get discouraged when the path forward is uncertain. You might need to place many pebbles on the ground before a path forward takes shape – and it might end in a circle. Even if you need to change plans many times, if your goal is important to you - don’t give up!
• Advice #3: Don’t underestimate how much of a difference you can make. Even the small things you do each day can make a big difference to another person, an organization that needs help, and your community.

Susan Tormey - Associate Vice President of Advancement Communications, Government Relations, and Events Management

• Susan was the Executive Communications Director for Onondaga County Executive Nicholas J. Pirro before joining the OCC family in 2008.
• Education: Bachelor's in Sociology from SUNY Binghamton University
• Awards and Community Involvement: 2014 SUNY Chancellor Award – Professional Service;SUNYCUAD Conference Award in Government Relations and Excellence Award for the 2016 Legislative Priorities Program; Member, Middle States Standard VII Work Group (2025-26); Member, AAWCC, Onondaga chapter; assisted with NYS legislation designating OCC Music Professor Emeritus Donald Miller’s piece entitled, Here Rests in Honored Glory, the official NYS Hymn of Remembrance in honor of all American veterans which was signed into law by Governor Andrew Cuomo, December 2018; CNY Women in Communications – “Outstanding Communicator Award” (past recipient); Founding Chair and Past President, Make-A-Wish Central New York (serving 15 counties); Member, Interfaith Works ILAD Steering Committee (Leadership Award); Eucharistic Minister, Most Holy Rosary Parish, Syracuse; Member, Scoutpower Steering Committee, 2026 Scoutpower Dinner; NYS Notary Public.
• Proudest of: Wife of 38 years to James Tormey, mother of Andrew and Colleen Tormey, and Mimi to Jack, Kate, and Charlie.
• Advice to students: Treasure each day and contribute to its gift. Share a smile and be a friend. Work hard, keep your faith, and know you are special. Never, never, never give up!

Erin Vaccaro, Associate Vice President, Enrollment Development

• Education: Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Le Moyne College, Master of Science in Higher Education Leadership from Capella University.
• Advice: In 2022, Kara Lawson, head coach of the women's basketball team at Duke University, shared a message with her team that has stayed with me ever since: "Handle hard better." Her words continue to resonate as I move through life and my career. It's easy to fall into the mindset that things will eventually get easier. Once we finish the degree, land the new job, or buy the new house, life will finally slow down. But the truth is, life doesn't necessarily get easier. With every challenge we face, we become stronger, more capable, and more confident in our ability to navigate what is difficult. Take 2 minutes and 50 seconds to watch Coach Lawson's speech. It's a powerful reminder of how we can push ourselves to do great things.

Monifa Wilcox - Vice President of Human Resources

• Ms. Wilcox has more than 20 years' experience in the human resources field, overseeing the overall administration, coordination, and evaluation of the human resources function, including forming and implementing policies, payroll and benefits analysis and administration, and human resources information system. She has also been responsible for the design, implementation, and communication of organizations talent management strategy, including support for recruitment, performance management and employee engagement.
• Prior to joining OCC, she served as vice president of human resources at CenterState CEO. In that role she managed the human resources functions for CenterState as well as serving Syracuse Chamber of Commerce Organizational Partners including: the Downtown Committee of Syracuse, Visit Syracuse, the CNY International Business Alliance and Electronics Park, LLC.
• Ms. Wilcox came to the Central New York region from Maryland where she was part of the team at St. Vincent de Paul of Baltimore, a leading provider of community services to people suffering from the effects of hunger, homelessness, and poverty in the Baltimore region. In that role, and as a member of the organization’s executive committee, she developed the organization’s strategic plan and managed budget development and all functional areas of Human Resources.
• Education: Master of Science coursework from Johns Hopkins University, Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. She holds Advanced Certificates in personnel and industrial management, and in economics from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County.
• Community involvement: Ms. Wilcox is also a long-standing member of the Society of Human Resources and holds seats on the boards of Catholic Charities, Salvation Army of Syracuse and United Way.
• Advice to students: Introduce yourself to your professors, visit during office hours, ask questions, and build relationships early. The people around you can become mentors, references, and champions for your success. Do not shrink to make others comfortable. Speak up in class. Apply for leadership roles. Join organizations. Your voice matters and the sooner you use it, the stronger it becomes. Take time to understand how the system works; financial aid, transfer pathways, internships, career services. Knowledge is power, and informed women make confident decisions. You will face challenges. You may have a hard semester, a tough exam, or a moment of doubt. Remember: failure is feedback, not identity. Learn from it and keep moving. And finally, support one another. There is room for all of you at the table. Collaboration is strength. Lift as you climb. This is your beginning, not your limit. Dream boldly, work intentionally, and never underestimate what you are capable of becoming.

Dr. Eunice D. Williams, Vice President, Chief Diversity Officer

• Education: Ed. D., Leadership and Learning/Specialization in Higher Education Leadership, Aspen University, M.A., Psychological Counseling, Syracuse University, B.A., Psychology, University of Buffalo
• Awards: 2025 Women of Excellence-Educator of the Year Award/NYS Assembly Member Pamela Hunter, 2015 Most Powerful & Influential Award/National Diversity Council, 2012 Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Professional Services, 2008 OCC Trustee’s Award, 2008 OCC Ralph R. Whitney, Jr., Award, 2007 OCC President’s Award for Excellence in Teaching
• Words of Wisdom: “There is no such thing as can’t. When confronted with life’s challenges, your goal is to determine how to overcome them.”