Noelle Chaddock Paley
Director of Multicultural Life and Diversity
Noelle Chaddock Paley teaches in Africana Studies and Philosophy and is the director of SUNY Cortland's Multicultural Life and Diversity Office. She also serves as a student, faculty and staff advocate to ensure fair and equitable treatment institutionally at SUNY Cortland. Paley has been working with the Office of Diversity and Equity in Education at the SUNY System level and attended the 2010 Chief Diversity Officer’s Conference in Albany. Paley advises student organizations and supervises professional staff members and student workers. SUNY Cortland students have honored her the last two spring semesters as an “Exemplary Woman of Color.” Paley is currently pursuing a doctorate in philosophy, interpretation and culture; was a Clark Fellow; and will be awarded a women’s studies certificate at graduation from SUNY Binghamton, where she previously earned a Master of Arts in Philosophy and a Bachelor of Science in Human Development. Paley received the SUNY Binghamton Human Development Faculty Award for Scholar Activist as well as its Human Development Faculty Award for Outstanding Commitment to Racial and Gender Justice. Her areas of teaching and research include mixed race identity politics and formations; Hip Hop culture; Hip Hop as a philosophic discourse; Africana women on film; prejudiced, discrimination and morality; diasporic fiction; philosophy and law; markets, ethics and law; methods of reasoning; reproductive justice; racial and gender justice; prison abolition; research methods; performance activism and voice training.
Lyndon Huling
Assistant Director of Multicultural Life and Diversity
Lyndon Huling is the Assistant Director of SUNY Cortland’s Multicultural Life and Diversity Office. He previously worked at Onondaga Community College as a Residence Hall Director, and has 7 years of experience working in higher education in various capacities. Huling received his Bachelors of Arts degree in Psychology at the University of California, Davis. Additionally, he received minors in Education and Human Development. He received his Masters of Arts degree at the University of the Pacific in Stockton, CA in Educational Administration and Leadership with an emphasis in Student Affairs in 2009. Huling has extensive experience working both in Residence Life and with Diversity initiatives in higher education. His areas of interest include identity development; socioeconomic issues; and access and retention in higher education.
Ann Cutler serves as the secretary for the Multicultural Life and Diversity office. She came to SUNY Cortland in 2004 and doesn't plan to leave until her retirement! Originally from New Jersey, Ann has lived in Cortland for 35 years and still hates winter! She feels the best part of her job is working with the students, and serves as an advisor to Omega Phi Beta.
Heidi Morton will be serving as the Multicultural Life and Diversity office graduate intern during Fall 2013. She has a degree in English from Allegheny College in Pennsylvania, and is working on her Master’s degree in Student Affairs from Binghamton University. Heidi worked at SUNY Cortland as a Residence Hall Director from 2007-2011, and served in the same capacity at Binghamton University until 2012. She is a SafeZone trainer, and volunteers in the Dean of Students office at Binghamton University. Heidi is interested in working with historically underrepresented populations and hopes to integrate her unique experiences into the office.
Melissa Da Costa is a Residence Hall Director at SUNY Cortland and serves as the Residence Life and Housing Outside Assignment to Multicultural Life and Diversity. She graduated from SUNY Cortland in May 2011 receiving her Bachelor of Arts degree in Secondary English Education 7-12, with a minor in French; and, she will receive her Masters of Education degree in Literacy Education (K-12) this upcoming May. With a passion for language and the integration of language and culture in literacy development and curricula, Melissa intends to further her degree to include bilingual studies in French and Spanish, as well as eventually receiving her PhD in Literary Theory and Criticism. Melissa would like individuals to recognize that literacy is truly a gift that one should feel privileged to attain.
Leah Gelblat is majoring in Communication Studies with a concentration in Public Relations. She is from Long Island, NY and is excited to meet and interact with different students on campus. As a part of the train the trainer program in MLDO, Leah is passionate about helping students become aware of diversity on campus and wants to help them feel comfortable when talking and learning about inclusion and social justice. She also wants to be a positive role model for students and be able to provide a helping hand to those who want to learn more about themselves and others.
Katherine Quiroz is majoring in Early Elementary Education and Spanish, and currently serves as the Admissions and Open House coordinator for our office. She is from White Plains, NY and is interested in bringing awareness to different cultures on campus and learning about how we can bring others together. Katherine is interested in working with children in the future and would like to be a teacher. She believes that working with MLDO will help give her a voice to promote equity and inclusion on campus, and encourage other students to engage diversity at SUNY Cortland.
Andrea DeCaires is studying Early Childhood Education, and serves as the Student Diversity Conference chairperson. She is from Uniondale, NY, where she is highly involved with her community through service learning. Her academic interests include promoting education and working with children. She wants to teach others the lessons she has learned throughout her life related to diversity and multiculturalism. She wants to bring different cultures together on our campus.
Glodibal Natera is one of our office assistants in Multicultural Life and Diversity office. She is a Sociology major and wants to obtain a Master’s degree in social work. Glodibal is an Educational Opportunity Program participant, and is interested in working with other students in this program. She is interested in working towards improving awareness about different cultures on campus. She feels there is no better way to raise awareness than to be directly connected to our department.
John Cundy will be serving as one of the Multicultural life and Diversity Office Art Interns during Fall 2013
Kelsey Souza will be serving as one of the Multicultural Life and Diversity Office Art Interns during Fall 2013
