Staff Directory

William Cirino is the Superintendent for Columbia Residential. As a dedicated member of the Columbia Residential team, William oversees the efficient operations of his buildings and works daily to provide support and great service to his residents. William has been working with Columbia University for the last 14 years.

Wilber "Will" Herrera is a member of the Residential Mechanics team with eleven years of plumbing experience in the private sector. His expertise in plumbing is an integral part of supporting our entire Residential portfolio. In addition to his professional skills, Will is a life-long skateboarder and former vocalist for the heavy metal band, Reason for Existence. His diverse background and talents contribute significantly to the strength and versatility of our team.

Wendy Ortiz is a Leasing Assistant, providing administrative support for the Columbia Residential Leasing team. She distributes faculty housing renewal packages, handles statutory resident succession cases and manages rent stabilized processing. With almost a decade of experience, she is in tune with resident needs and provides a high level of support. Wendy enjoys spending her free time with her husband and two beautiful daughters.

Victoria Gjokaj is a Resident Manager for Columbia Residential. As a dedicated member of the Columbia Residential team, Victoria oversees the efficient operations of her buildings and works daily to provide support and great service to her residents.

Tom Cyganovich serves as Executive Director of Columbia Residential Operations and oversees all operational aspects of the Columbia University residential portfolio which includes 150 buildings (6.7 million GSF), over 5,800 residential apartments and a team of over 260 employees in total. 

Tom is responsible for the financial performance of the portfolio, property maintenance and resident satisfaction. He determines and ensures that annual budgets for the portfolio are met, that operating plans are effectively and efficiently monitored and that capital improvement projects are accomplished.   

Tom joined Columbia Residential in 2019 and has over 20 years experience working in multifamily residential operations. Working with some of the largest real estate companies in the country, Tom has developed significant strengths in leadership, team building, customer service, operations and financial management.

Taccara Barrier is a Leasing Coordinator with Columbia Residential, focusing on customer service. 

Svetomir Obradovic is a Superintendent for Columbia Residential. As a dedicated member of the Columbia Residential team, Svetomir oversees the efficient operations of his buildings and works daily to provide support and great service to his residents.

Stelian Serbanescu is the Resident Manager for Columbia Residential with over 20 years of experience. As a dedicated member of the Columbia Residential team, Stelian oversees the efficient operations of his building and works daily to provide support and great service to his residents.

Stefanie is the Supervisor for the Res Ops Mechanics Team - which consists of 12 mechanics covering Carpentry, Plumbing,  Electricians and Locksmith. 

Sorayda Jermyn is a Residential Services Representative for Columbia Residential. Her attention to detail administering the process of housing agreements, renewals and extensions is highly valued. Possessing a high level of knowledge of system processes, her ability to work with various school and departmental liaisons and over 30 years of dedicated service to the University community has made her an instrumental part of the Residential Leasing team.

Sanjeev Oommen is Project Manager for Residential Construction. Sanjeev has a BS in mechanical engineering, along with years of industry experience managing construction projects with a concentration on MEP systems.

Sandhya Leonard is Associate Project Manager for Residential Construction.

Rohan Kalapnauth is a Superintendent for Columbia Residential. As a dedicated member of the Columbia Residential team, Rohan oversees the efficient operations of his buildings and works daily to provide support and great service to his residents.

Robert Raspaldo is a Superintendent for Columbia Residential. As a dedicated member of the Columbia Residential team since 2016, Robert oversees the efficient operations of his buildings and works daily to provide support and great service to his residents. Robert started his career at Columbia as a handyman and soon accomplished one of his goals -- to become a superintendent. Robert enjoys problem solving for his team, his residents in the Columbia community.

Robert Cruz is the Superintendent for Columbia Residential. As a dedicated member of the Columbia Residential team for over 14 years, Robert oversees the efficient operations of his buildings and works daily to provide support and great service to his residents.

Robert Bowers is Director of Construction for Columbia Residential.

Rocardo Santamaria is a Resident Manager for Columbia Residential. As a dedicated member of the Columbia Residential team for over 3 years, Ricardo oversees the efficient operations of his buildings and works daily to provide support and great service to his residents.

Raymond Cuevas is the Superintendent for Columbia Residential. As a dedicated member of the Columbia Residential team, Raymond supervises the upkeep of residential and commercial buildings. Raymond is known for his effective communication, strong decision-making skills, leadership and passion for education.

Randy Levitt (he/him) serves as the Director of Maintenance and Trades for Columbia Residential. He oversees the RM Shop Maintenance Technicians and work orders, leads repair and maintenance (R&M) contracts for Residential, and works closely with internal technicians to identify cost-saving measures for residential buildings. Randy is committed to ensuring all work is completed on time and to a professional standard.

With 18 years of facilities experience, Randy brings a wealth of knowledge to his role. Prior to joining Columbia, he worked at Capital One, where he managed teams across 350 locations and spearheaded multiple safety and compliance projects, processes, and programs.

Outside of work, Randy enjoys spending time with his wife, Jen, a 4th-grade teacher in the Bronx, and their two children. His daughter, Sydney, competes in track and field and cross-country, while his son, Dylan, plays baseball. An avid sports fan, Randy cheers for the Yankees, Knicks, and Giants when he’s not rooting for his kids at their sporting events.

Rachael Lubetkin is Associate Director of Student Leasing for Columbia Residential. She joins us from Columbia Business School, where she was the Housing Liaison for several years. Rachael jumped at the opportunity to join the housing team at Columbia Residential full time, and now manages the day to day of student leasing operations. Her role is to develop and implement strategies for fair and efficient processes and to ensure optimal satisfaction with policies, leases, contracts and billing.

Rachael has spent the last 23 years working in Social Services and Education. She loves travel, the arts, making and consuming good food, spending time in the outdoors, podcasts, puzzles and exploring the world with her husband and two sons.

Patrick Gjeloshi is a Superintendent for Columbia Residential. With over ten years of experience as a building manager and superintendent, Patrick brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the Columbia Residential community. Patrick oversees the efficient operations of his buildings and works daily to provide support and great service to his residents.

Pashko Gojcaj is a Superintendent for Columbia Residential. As a dedicated member of the Columbia Residential team, Pashko oversees the efficient operations of his buildings and works daily to provide support and great service to his residents.

Parid brings a wealth of expertise in facilities management, customer service, and business administration to our team. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Economics and is currently completing a Master of Business Management at Mercy College.

As Senior Associate, Parid serves as a primary contact for non-student housing inquiries, overseeing customer service operations, managing apartment viewings, and coordinating guest housing. He also supports utilities management and the apartment preparation process for new residents. Additionally, Parid leads initiatives focused on policy compliance, client satisfaction surveys, and utility services. He collaborates closely with the team to enhance the resident experience through process improvements and effective communication.

Nicole Thompson is Director of Asset Management for Columbia Residential. Nicole and her team of administrators and building staff are responsible for the efficient management of 84 buildings that faculty, staff, postdocs and students call home.

With over 27 years of service, Nelson Falcon is Director of Asset Management for Columbia Residential. Nelson and his team of administrators and building staff are responsible for the efficient management of 66 buildings that faculty, staff, postdocs and students call home.

Nathalie Neptune is the Assistant Director of Leasing Operations for Columbia Residential. She has been a proud Columbia community member for over 20 years, both as a student and staff member. Prior to joining Columbia Residential, Nathalie worked in student services for the Department of Political Science. Since joining the team in 2013, she has established herself as a creative problem-solver and a thoughtful communicator.

In her current role, Nathalie leads efforts to improve operational systems and workflows, develop internal policies, and enhance communications across teams. She is passionate about creating efficient, user-friendly processes and fostering collaboration to support the University’s housing mission.

When Nathalie isn’t working, she enjoys being creative in any way she can. She loves cooking and baking, traveling, listening to audiobooks, watching terrible reality television, and exploring New York City and beyond on her bike.

Narin Sappakit is Associate Director for Residential Construction. He primarily oversees interior renovation projects in the University’s faculty residential portfolio and will support other department initiatives as needed. Narin started started working at Columbia in January 2020 and joined us most recently from a design-build development firm in New York City, where he designed and managed high-end residential projects throughout the city. Narin has also worked at various architectural firms such as Gensler, TPG, and IDG designing offices, retail, medical and education projects. Narin is also a licensed architect and real estate broker. During his free time, Narin enjoys spending time with his two kids.

Monica Kuth is the Director of Leasing Services for Columbia Residential. Monica oversees the department's Landlord/Tenant legal matters with outside counsel and manages issues involving the portfolio’s statutory resident population. She and her team provide a wide range of client services - from assistance for at risk or elderly residents and guidance with off-campus housing searches, to trouble shooting of utility disconnects and nuisance complaints. She has worn several hats during her long tenure with the University, but is best known for her work on legal and social service concerns, including management of responses to hoarding and other mental illness issues affecting the Residential portfolio. A long time contributor to Columbia Community Service, she believes strongly in our connection with the greater Morningside Heights community. In her spare time Monica dances with an afro-jazz group and sings in an uptown choir.
 

Mitch Berisha is a Superintendent for Columbia Residential. As a dedicated member of the Columbia Residential team, Mitch oversees the efficient operations of his buildings and works daily to provide support and great service to his residents.

Mike Vujnovic is a Superintendent for Columbia Residential. As a dedicated member of the Columbia Residential team, Mike oversees the efficient operations of his buildings and works daily to provide support and great service to his residents.

Miguel Martinez is a Superintendent for Columbia Residential. As a dedicated member of the Columbia Residential team, Miguel oversees the efficient operations of his buildings and works daily to provide support and great service to his residents.

As the Assistant Manager of Customer Service, Melissa Joyner is responsible for ensuring quality customer service with graduate and undergraduate students, as well as other residents and affiliates. She is primarily involved with counseling students, communicating Columbia Residential policies, and connecting them to the many resources available here at Columbia University.

Marco A Giraldo is a Superintendent for Columbia Residential. As a dedicated member of the Columbia Residential team for over 28 years, Marco oversees the efficient operations of his buildings and works daily to provide support and great service to his residents.

Marco Garcia is a Resident Manager for Columbia Residential. As a dedicated member of the Columbia Residential team for over 13 years, Marco oversees the efficient operations of his buildings and works daily to provide support and great service to his residents.

Marah Arbaje is Portfolio Manager for Columbia Residential. She and her team of administrators and building staff are responsible for the efficient management of 27 buildings that faculty, staff, postdocs and students call home. Marah has been a member of the Columbia community since 1995, with her responsibilities increasing each year. Marah holds a Law degree from Dominican Republic and an Executive Master in Public Administration from Columbia University.

Mahambe Toure (he/him) is Senior Associate for Faculty and Staff Housing. Mahambe is a Harlem native and holds a Master of Arts in Higher Education Administration from Stony Brook University. He brings extensive experience in overseeing university housing operations and a deep understanding of housing process management.

At Columbia Residential, Mahambe manages the leasing lifecycle and daily housing operations for non-student residents, including applications, assignments, transfers, and renewals, while ensuring compliance with housing policies. He also collaborates across departments to streamline housing management processes and lead initiatives aimed at improving leasing efficiency and enhancing the resident experience.

Outside of work, Mahambe is a professional SCUBA diver with over 100 logged dives around the world.
 

Luis Rodriguez is a Superintendent for Columbia Residential. As a dedicated member of the Columbia Residential team, Luis oversees the efficient operations of his buildings and works daily to provide support and great service to his residents. 

Luis Ribeiro is a Portfolio Manager for Columbia Residential. Luis and his team of administrators and building staff are responsible for the efficient management of 19 buildings that faculty, staff, postdocs and students call home.

Luis Ramirez is a Superintendent Columbia Residential. As a dedicated member of the Columbia Residential team for over 16 years, Luis oversees the efficient operations of his buildings and works daily to provide support and great service to his residents.

Luis Gonzalez is a Superintendent for Columbia Residential. As a dedicated member of the Columbia Residential team, Luis oversees the efficient operations of his buildings and works daily to provide support and great service to his residents.

Luis DeJesus is a Superintendent for Columbia Residential. Luis began his career at Columbia Residential as a handyman, and through the years has worked his way up to becoming a Working Superintendent and Resident Manager. Luis is a dedicated member of the Columbia Residential team, and he and his staff of 1 handyman, 4 door attendants and 3 porters work hard daily to provide great service to their residents.

Lisa Rivera is an administrative assistant for Columbia Residential. Lisa brings nine years of experience in private property management and has a deep understanding of Columbia's day to day operational needs. Her extensive background in customer service makes her a valuable addition to our team. In her free time Lisa enjoys yoga and cycling.

With over 25 years in university housing, Leilani Reynolds is a transformative leader known for fostering collaboration, innovation, and service excellence. As Executive Director of Strategic Operations at Columbia Residential, she leads strategic initiatives that enhance housing policy, technology, and resident engagement for over 8,000 residents.

Leilani’s leadership has been instrumental in transforming housing policies, improving operational efficiency, and strengthening collaboration across Columbia University. She has spearheaded process automation, development of Power BI reporting, and designed high-impact training programs, all fostering a culture of continuous improvement and innovation.

Prior to her current role, Leilani held leadership positions in student housing and operations at Campus Living Villages, Le Cordon Bleu, and the Academy of Art University, as well as event operations roles in the private sector. Her expertise in staff development, strategic planning, and data-driven decision-making continues to shape the future of university housing.

A dedicated advocate for professional growth and mentorship, Leilani is passionate about empowering women in leadership and cultivating inclusive, high-performing teams.

Laura Ramirez is an Administrative Assistant, providing administrative support to building operations staff. Laura brings to Columbia a wealth of experience and knowledge, having previously worked as an Administrative & Marketing Assistant at ADR Shade Up. She successfully managed various administrative tasks while also maintaining their website and customer records. Laura holds a BA in Journalism/Creative Writing from Baruch College.

Kwesi Alleyne is a demonstrated achiever with knowledge of the Columbia Residential housing system. With over 15 years of experience in both the Undergraduate and Graduate Housing systems, Kwesi has a friendly demeanor, and takes pride in providing excellent customer service and a memorable housing experience for residents. He is a strong believer in the power of positive thinking in the workplace and thus prides himself on being a great teammate.

Korab Ndregjoni is a Superintendent for Columbia Residential. As a dedicated member of the Columbia Residential team for over 16 years, Korab oversees the efficient operations of his buildings and works daily to provide support and great service to his residents.

Juan Ramos is a Superintendent for Columbia Residential. Juan started his career at Columbia University in 1988, left for two years, then returned in 1994. Juan has a total of 28 years of experience at Columbia, starting his career as a door attendant, working his way up to porter, handyman, and now superintendent. As a dedicated member of the Columbia Residential team, Juan works hard daily to provide great service to his residents.

Joseph Nieves is a Superintendent for Columbia Residential. As a dedicated member of the Columbia Residential team for over 16 years, Joe oversees the efficient operations of his buildings and works daily to provide support and great service to his residents.

Jose Gomez is an Assistant Superintendent for Columbia Residential. As a dedicated member of the Columbia Residential team, Jose supports the efficient operations of his buildings and works daily to provide great service to his residents.

Jose Cruz is the Resident Manager for Columbia Residential. Jose Cruz is a relatively new Residential Manager for Columbia Residential. He started his career with Columbia in 2020. Jose supervises and runs one of Columbia University’s newest apartment buildings. Since he joined the Columbia Residential team, he has been focused on improving efficiency in the operation of his buildings. Jose is a fair, understanding, patient and hardworking individual. He does everything in his power to keep his residents safe and happy in their homes. 

Jorge Alvarado is the Resident Manager for Columbia Residential. As a dedicated member of the Columbia Residential team with over 25 years of service, Jorge oversees the efficient operations of his buildings and works daily to provide support and great service to his residents.

John Luke Piepgras is a Housing Specialist for Columbia Residential. In this role, John Luke provides operational support to students throughout the housing process, including assignments, transfers, enrollment verifications, reasonable accommodations, policy compliance and mediation.

A graduate of the University of California, Los Angeles, John Luke was actively involved in student advocacy, leading grassroots initiatives to address food insecurity. Through educational and professional experiences at UCLA and elsewhere, John Luke discovered his passion for supporting students at the campus level. 

Outside of work, John Luke enjoys long walks and tarot readings. Some of his favorite books include Educated by Tara Westover, Giovanni's Room by James Baldwin, and anything by Kurt Vonnegut.

Jennifer Santoro is Portfolio Manager for Columbia Residential. Jennifer and her team of administrators and building staff are responsible for the efficient management of 46 buildings that faculty, staff, postdocs and students call home.

Jaime Contreras is a Superintendent for Columbia Residential. As a dedicated member of the Columbia Residential team, Jaime oversees the efficient operations of his buildings and works daily to provide support and great service to his residents. 

Jack Herdman (he/him/his) is a Residential Housing Specialist. He provides support to our residential community members through an operational and case management lens. Jack graduated from NYU with a masters in Higher Education and Student Affairs, and he also worked at the Juilliard school in student affairs. Jack has lived in and worked for residential education programs since 2018 and is excited to bring those experiences to best support the Columbia student community.

Ingrid Reyes is Associate Project Manager of Residential Construction.

Hugo Mero is a Superintendent for Columbia Residential. As a dedicated member of the Columbia Residential team, Hugo oversees the efficient operations of his buildings and works daily to provide support and great service to his residents.

Hector Rodriguez is a Resident Manager for Columbia Residential. As a dedicated member of the Columbia Residential team, Hector oversees the efficient operations of his buildings and works daily to provide support and great service to his residents.

Gumersindo Figueroa is a Resident Manager for Columbia Residential. His responsibility as Resident Manager is to make sure that the buildings he oversees run efficiently, so residents are safe and comfortable in their homes. Gumersindo is extremely dedicated to his residents, and he does his best to be reachable for any of their concerns. Gumersindo has been employed by the University for over 21 years, as a door attendant, porter, handyman and now a resident manager. Gumersindo enjoys fishing and camping and is a motorcycle enthusiast.

Geri Duka is a Superintendent for Columbia Residential. As a dedicated member of the Columbia Residential team, Geri oversees the efficient operations of his buildings and works daily to provide support and great service to his residents.

Geovany Freire is a Superintendent for Columbia Residential. As a dedicated member of the Columbia Residential team, Geovany supports the efficient operations of his buildings and works daily to provide great service to his residents.

George Perdomo is a Superintendent for Columbia Residential. George has been a superintendent at The Fairholm, a residential building for students in the School of General Studies, for over 7 years, and a Columbia staff member for over 15 years. As a dedicated member of the Columbia Residential team, George works hard daily to provide great service to his residents.

Gaspar Rivera is a Superintendent for Columbia Residential. As a dedicated member of the Columbia Residential team, Gaspar oversees the efficient operations of his buildings and works daily to provide support and great service to his residents.

Gary Cassiliano is the Resident Manager for Columbia Residential. As a dedicated member of the Columbia Residential team, Gary oversees the efficient operations of his buildings and works daily to provide support and great service to his residents.

Franklin Jimenez is a Superintendent for Columbia Residential. Franklin has been with Columbia for over 23 years, 14 of which have been in buildings that primarily Law students call home. Franklin loves taking command. Getting things done is his priority, but above all is making sure his residents feel comfortable in their homes.

Fabbiola is Assistant Director of Faculty and Staff Housing. Fabbiola has been a member of the Columbia Residential team since 2011. She handles operational and leasing responsibilities for the faculty and staff team, while also taking the lead in strategic management, policy development, stakeholder engagement, and process improvement.  

In her time outside of work, Fabbiola loves to travel with her husband and daughter, spend time with family and friends in CA and NY, and enjoy the outdoors with her dog Emmy. 

Emily Gonzalez is Senior Associate, Leasing Services at Columbia Residential. Emily brings to Residential three years of experience in the real estate industry, specializing in rent stabilization and fair market leasing. In her previous role as a Senior Leasing Manager, she co-led both the leasing and renewals team, overseeing compliance within NYC regulations and streamlining operations to improve efficiency and accuracy. Before transitioning into real estate, she worked at Apple as an Account Manager doing business to business sales. 

Outside of work, she enjoys reading, long walks, and spending time with her cavapoo, Clark. She loves visiting her native country, Nicaragua and is very passionate about their coffee! 

Emilio Trejo is a Superintendent for Columbia Residential. Emilio has been a superintendent for Columbia Residential for over 10 years. His role includes but is not limited to overseeing the buildings' administrative, maintenance and mechanical operation. His goal is to enhance the quality of life for his buildings and residents, provide an effective customer service, and collaborate with other superintendents to efficiently operate the buildings in the University portfolio. Emilio is very passionate about his professional growth and loves spending quality time with his family.

Elvin Rodriguez is a Superintendent for Columbia Residential. Elvin has been working in Residential buildings since 1998. As a Superintendent, his focus is customer service and leadership, and he is committed to lead by example. Elvin started his career at Columbia Residential as a doorman, working his way up to a porter and now superintendent. Elvin is a dedicated member of the Columbia Residential team, and he works hard daily to provide great service to his residents.

Elona Dushi is Project Manager for Residential Construction. Elona holds a BS in civil engineering, along with years of experience working on residential construction in the higher education sector.

Duane Alexander is Portfolio Manager for Columbia Residential. Duane and his team of administrators and building staff are responsible for the efficient management of 23 buildings that faculty, staff, postdocs and students call home.

Dragos Sisu is a Resident Manager for Columbia Residential. Dragos has been a member of the Columbia Residential team for over 21 years. His responsibilities include overseeing a staff of 9, and as a team, they maintain, clean, secure, and provide great customer service to their residents. Dragos has been Resident Manager for the Arbor since it was under construction. Dragos and his team gave life to what were empty spaces by furnishing and staging the apartments, and welcoming new residents who chose to be part of the Arbor community in Riverdale. Dragos and his team aim to keep their residents and colleagues at peace, and hopefully get a smile in return.

Dorentina Lekocaj is a Leasing Coordinator with Columbia Residential. Dorentina joined the Leasing Operations team in 2022, with a focus on customer service. Dorentina joins us from Fordham University, where she worked in residential life and received her BA in Communications and Culture. Dorentina’s background and experience in customer service is a great asset to Residential's strong customer service team, which manages 10,000+ chats, 30,000+ emails and 3000+ calls annually.

Diego Rivera serves as Associate Vice President to Columbia Residential and oversees all operational aspects of the Columbia University residential portfolio which includes 150 buildings (6.7 million GSF) and over 5,800 residential apartments. 

As the Associate Vice President of Columbia Residential, Diego is responsible for the financial performance of the portfolio, property maintenance, the entire leasing process and residents’ satisfaction. He determines and ensures that annual budgets for the portfolio are met, that operating plans are effectively and efficiently monitored and that capital improvement projects are accomplished.   

Diego's extensive knowledge and experience comes from holding executive positions on some of the largest Real Estate Investment Trusts (REIT) in the country, such as AvalonBay Communities, Equity Residential, Archstone-Smith and LCOR. With over 20 years of experience in Multifamily Real Estate, Diego has developed significant strengths in leadership and team building, marketing and promotions, as well as in customer relationship management, new business development, operations and profit and loss management. Diego holds a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from the Universidad Mayor de San Simon, Bolivia.

Dhurim "Mim" Ahmetaj is Resident Manager for Columbia Residential. As a dedicated member of the Columbia Residential team, Mim oversees the efficient operations of his buildings and works daily to provide support and great service to his residents.

Denis Kore is a Resident Manager for Columbia Residential. As a dedicated member of the Columbia Residential team, Denis oversees the efficient operations of his buildings and works daily to provide support and great service to his residents.

Deirdre Chong is Portfolio Manager for Columbia Residential. Deirdre and her team of administrators and building staff are responsible for the efficient management of 20 buildings that faculty, staff, postdocs and students call home. Deirdre is a new member to the Residential team (as of 2021), but she is not new to Columbia University. She started as a tenant representative in 2001, moved to the Service Center at its inception in 2005, and then transferred to Client Services in 2008. Deirdre is also an alumnus of Columbia University School of General Studies, where she majored in Sociology. While her formal studies were in Sociology, she has decades of experience in customer service related to building systems and facility maintenance. In her new role as the Assistant Director for faculty and graduate student housing, she will now add property management to her portfolio of expertise. Deirdre is excited to reunite with many colleagues she has had the pleasure of working with during her 21 year tenure with Columbia University Facilities & Operations.

David Stephens is a Superintendent for Columbia Residential. David Stephens has been part of the Columbia Residential team since 1990, starting out as a porter, then a handyman, and now Superintendent. His responsibilities include boiler maintenance, standpipe gravity tank operation, building maintenance and overseeing a team of three. David and his team pride themselves on providing excellent customer service to their residents. 

Daniel Lopez is a Superintendent for Columbia Residential. As a dedicated member of the Columbia Residential team, Daniel oversees the efficient operations of his buildings and works daily to provide support and great service to his residents.

Christopher Giannios is the Assistant Director of Maintenance and Trades. In his role, Chris is responsible for the Residential Mechanics Shop, advancing efficiencies within the shops and work order response times as well as improving sustainability measures.

Chris brings 13 years of Facilities Management experience originating from the public school sector where he supervised departments in Buildings and Grounds and managed annual budgets, day-to-day operations and sustainability improvements. Chris was also a Senior Construction/Project Manager for 8 years with a construction firm based out of Westchester County constructing residential and commercial office space in lower Manhattan.

Chris holds a Bachelors of Science from Cortland University with a focus on Management and Economics. Outside of work Chris enjoys spending time with his wife and their 2 sons at the beach and playing chess.

Christian "Chris" Valerio serves as the Locksmith for our Residential Mechanics team, bringing with him six years of experience from the Columbia Campus Operations team. In his role, Chris applies his extensive locksmith skills to enhance security and functionality across our residential facilities. Beyond his professional pursuits, Chris is a devoted father who cherishes time spent with his two sons, who are a source of immense pride.

Christian Hidalgo is a Superintendent for Columbia Residential. As a dedicated member of the Columbia Residential team, Christian oversees the efficient operations of his buildings and works daily to provide support and great service to his residents. 

Chloe Spicer is an administrative assistant for Columbia Residential.

Chih Chen is a Portfolio Manager for Columbia Residential. Chih and her team of administrators and building staff are responsible for the efficient management of 17 buildings that faculty, staff, postdocs and students call home.

Camila Delvaz is Project Manager for Residential Construction. She has worked with renowned architecture firms where she honed her design sensibilities and developed a deep understanding of project intricacies, from concept to completion. As a LEED Green Associate, Camila is committed to sustainable building practices and strives to integrate environmentally responsible solutions into her projects. She brings a unique blend of technical expertise, creativity, and leadership to her role, ensuring the seamless execution of complex high-end construction projects.

Outside of work,  Camila is an avid traveler and explorer. She enjoys immersing herself in different cultures and landscapes.

Bruce Parker is a Resident Manager for Columbia Residential. Bruce manages a team of 20 staff members who coordinate and facilitate the needs of their residents and buildings, to maintain a comfortable and safe environment for all. He is a Gulf War veteran who enjoys riding his motorcycle when he isn't working.

Betty has been on the Columbia Residential team since 2020, serving as an administrative assistant in Residential Operations.

As Director of Faculty Housing, Besmira oversees all aspects of leasing operations, marketing, strategic planning, department initiatives, and apartment renovation processes pertaining to faculty and postdoc residents. In addition to these responsibilities, Besmira liaises with University’s Deans of Schools, Provost Office and school liaisons to anticipate needs, manage expectations, and deliver satisfaction. During her tenure with Columbia Residential, Besmira has employed various best practices for leasing activities and implemented strategies to efficiently improve the housing assignment process.

Fun fact: Besmira is an avid snowboarder. 

Benjamin Kimura is Senior Analyst for Leasing Operations at Columbia Residential. Originally from Kauai, Hawaii, Benjamin completed a Bachelor of Science in Exercise and Sports Science at the University of Utah. He went on to finish a Master of Business Administration from Western Governors University.

Drawing upon years of experience working in FinTech, Benjamin strives to deliver data-driven insights that aid management and other stakeholders in making strategic decisions. He excels in data management and transformation.

Benjamin Antwi is Associate Project Manager for Residential Construction.

Ashly Medina Velazquez is the Analyst for the Residential Construction team. She assists the Construction team in data collection & analytics, including evaluating legacy information and current cost trends to forecast and plan capital expenditures for the properties in the Residential portfolio.

Ashly started working for Columbia Residential in January 2023, but her affiliation with the University goes back even further. As a graduate of the Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science, she is a proud Columbia alum with a Bachelor’s of Science in Industrial Engineering and a Minor in Economics.

Her focus on creating data-driven solutions and the optimization of systems & processes aids the Construction team in developing cohesive and efficient strategies & decisions for the planning and execution of the housing infrastructure that will be used to attract and maintain quality faculty and students.

Alejandra Trelles is Associate Project Manager for Residential Construction. An architect originally from Mexico, Alejandra graduated from the Institute of Technology of Los Mochis with a focus in Sustainability. Her most recent role was as Construction Project Manager at a real estate development and construction firm in Brooklyn, where she handled residential and commercial projects within New York City and the Capital Region.

During her free time, Alejandra enjoys crocheting, thrift shopping and the occasional road trip with her husband. 

Alberto Lopez is a Superintendent for Columbia Residential. Alberto has been working at Columbia University since 1982, starting as a porter and working his way up to superintendent. His favorite part of his job is meeting new people every day and solving their problems. His aim is always to make his residents' day brighter.