Skip Begley
Skip Begley
he / him / his
Co-Director of Residence Life
Lockport, NY
Kent State University (BA - Classical Humanities)
University of South Carolina (MEd - Higher Education Administration)
Hello from the occasionally sunny Cleveland! I hope that you are having a great summer and we look forward to seeing you soon! My name is Skip Begley and I am one of the Co-Directors of Residence Life. This will be the start of my 19th year at CWRU, so, as you might guess, I really love Case and working in Residence Life. When I'm not doing Res Life things, I enjoy spending time with family, exploring Cleveland, reading (current - Utopia for Realists), and a good Netflix binge (just finished Jessica Jones). I'm looking forward to working with you next year and hope that you have as much fun in Residence Life as I have had!
Abby Kruszynski
Hello! My name is Abby Kruszynski (she/her/hers) and I currently serve as one of the Co-Directors of Residence Life. I am from northeastern Ohio and attended Kent State University for undergrad and The Ohio State University for my Master's in Higher Education and Student Affairs. After graduating from OSU, I worked as an RCD at Washington University in St. Louis for four years. In my free time, I love watching baseball, playing volleyball, spending time with family and friends, playing board games, reading, watching tv and movies, cooking, traveling, exploring new places and participating in and supporting arts and crafts.
Kaitlyn Abbott
Hello, my name is Kaitlyn Abbott and I am the Residential Community Director for Carlton Road! I am originally from Cincinnati, OH however I completed my undergraduate degree in Organizational Communication from Ball State University in Muncie, IN. Most recently, I am coming from Western Michigan University (WMU) in Kalamazoo, Michigan. There I served as an Assistant Hall Director for a community complex of roughly 750 first year students while overseeing a staff size of 24 resident assistants. I received my master's degree in Higher Education Student Affairs with an emphasis in diversity and inclusion while at WMU. On a personal note about me, I love to run, explore new restaurants and museums, spend time outdoors, travel, and bake/cook!
Kimberly Blackmon
Hi, my name is Kim Blackmon and I am the Administrative Assistant for Residence Life. I have been with the department for 30 years! Yes 30 years! I enjoy my job because I get to interact with so many staff and students within and outside of the department. I have found the key to my job is being able to work with so many different types of personalities and being able to build individual relationships with all of them. This has made my job both fun and rewarding. I'm always here ready to listen and assist whenever I can. In my free time I enjoy spending time with family and friends and I love to plan and host a party.
Gerri Collier
Hello, my name is Gerri Collier and I started working at CWRU in Residence Life in December 2014. I support the four Residential College Directors or (RCDs), and the four Assistant Residential College Directors or (ARCDs) for the First Year Experience students. Our goal is to help the students’ transition from being away from home, in most cases, for the first time; into college, and helping them achieve their academic goals by helping direct them to overcome their hurdles.
Before coming to CWRU, I worked for the Cleveland Metropolitan School District (CMSD) in an afterschool program. I got my Associates Degree from Indiana Wesleyan University (IWU).
I love working with/for as I call them “my scholars”. They keep me on my toes. I think Cleveland is the best place on earth to live; the people are friendly and helpful. I am a native Clevelander and during my spare time, I love to bake spending time with family and friends. I love to garden, watch TV/movies, play board and card games. I enjoy food tasting, concerts and plays.
Matt Dvorak
Hometown - I've been in Cleveland for the last 9 years, so I call it home, but I was born in Columbus
Undergraduate- CWRU - triple major (Sociology, History, Women's and Gender Studies)
Graduate - Cleveland State - Masters in Urban Studies; graduate certificate in Urban Management; PhD coursework (Urban Studies and Public Policy)
Hello everyone! My name is Matt Dvorak (he/him/his) and I am the RCD for Murray Hill. I've been in this role since October of last year, though my history at CWRU goes back a bit further. I started working as a student worker for the department all the way back in April of 2010 as an undergrad, and have been here most of the time since, including more than 4 years as a Graduate Assistant for Residence Life. When I am not here working, I am likely down the street at Cleveland State, working on my PhD in Urban Studies and Public Policy When I have free time, I enjoy taking in the Cleveland sports and food scenes. See everyone in August!
Ashley Gray
Ashley Gray (she, her, hers) is a Richmond, Virginia native and obtained a Bachelor of Arts in International Affairs from Lafayette College and a Master of Secondary Education with a Social Studies Certification from Cedar Crest College. It is here that she served as a Graduate Hall Director in the Office of Residence Life for four years. Following her tenure at Cedar Crest College she served as an Assistant Director of Residence at Lehigh University overseeing an upper class residential area of 550 students including a second year building. She was later promoted to Associate Director of Residence Life. In this role she oversaw the recruitment, selection, training and development of 104 resident advisors and Lehigh University’s Themed Housing Community Program. While at Case Western Reserve University she has overseen Carlton Road and will now be working in the Upper Class Experience. Ashley's passions and interests in higher education include student development and mentorship, curriculum and assessment. When Ashley is not in the office, she is spending time with her family, trying new restaurants, exercising, watching Netflix or Hulu, catching up on the news, mentoring young adults in the Cleveland area or traveling.
Meredith Horrigan Adkins
Meredith Horrigan Adkins (she/her/her)
Hometown: Bay Village, Ohio
Undergraduate Institution: Cleveland State University
Graduate Institution: Miami University
Hello! I have been the RCD for Magnolia since June 2016. I came to CWRU after completing my MS in Student Affairs in Higher Education at Miami University and have really enjoyed working with the division, the department, and our students. In Residence Life I work with several committees, including RA Training, Marketing, Experience Model, and RHA. I also get to work with the Division of Student Affairs Professional Development Committee. I guess you could say I really like the training and development of people.
I am a proud Clevelander and have loved living and working in University Circle. I especially love the delicious food, passionate sports fans, world-class theater and art, and beautiful parks and coastline. If I'm not visiting my nieces and nephews or watching Netflix with my cat, I am most likely catching up with good friends over tasty food or a board game. When the weather allows for it, I enjoy eating on patios, attending street fairs like Taste of Tremont and the Feast, and biking through the Rocky River Valley.
Amber Karel Gerace
Hi everyone! My name is Amber Karel Gerace and my pronouns are she/her/hers. I am the RCD for Clarke Tower and SYE-North (I have both FYE students and SYE students in my community!). My hometown is Painesville, OH, which is about 30 minutes outside of Cleveland. I obtained my B.A. from Hiram College in Music Education (K-12), and my M.Ed. from Kent State University in Higher Education Administration and Student Personnel. In my free time I like to listen to and make music, read, cook, watch/attend Cleveland sports events, work out, and play with my cat.
Alejandro Martinez
Alejandro Martinez (he, him, his, él) is a double graduate of Washington University in St. Louis, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Psychological & Brain Sciences and Spanish and a Master of Social Work in Mental Health and Sexual Health Education. Before joining CWRU, Alejandro spent time at Oberlin College working with identity, language, and interest-based living learning communities. Professionally, Alejandro is interested in the intersections of cultural resilience, sexuality, and mental health. Fun fact: Alejandro is a HUGE nerd and co-hosts a podcast about all things nerd, ranging from superhero movies to comic book tv shows.
Samantha Miller
Hello, my name is Samantha Miller and I currently serve first-year students as the Director of the Mistletoe Residential Community. I earned a B.A. in Communication Arts from Malone University and worked as a graduate assistant here at CWRU while completing my M.Ed. in Higher Education Administration at Kent State University. Before returning to Cleveland in May of 2017, I worked at Mid-America Christian University in Oklahoma City. My work in higher education has mainly revolved around new student orientation and residence life. I am passionate about supporting students transition into college and celebrating the community that shapes us.
Like many of the members on our team, I grew up in Northeast Ohio and love everything about Cleveland. I enjoy being outdoors, eating locally, supporting our teams, and exploring the many unique neighborhoods in town. On any given weekend you will find me spending time with family or friends, participating in my church community, or looking for antique treasures. I love working in residence life because it allows me to actively practice hospitality, listening to individual’s stories, and growing with others through grace.
Nytisha Smith
Hello! My name is Nytisha (Tish) Smith, and I am from Starkville, MS. I am currently the Director of Cedar Residential College. I joined the CWRU Residence life team in August of 2016 as an Assistant Residential College Director for the Carlton Road Complex. I received my BS in chemistry and my BS in biology from Rust College in Holly Springs, MS. I received my Master of Nursing from CWRU. I want all students to have a great transition into college life which is why I am excited to be working with First Year Students again. Outside of work, I love reading or watching football.
Antonio Tate
Hello! My name is Antonio Tate (he/him/his) and I'm the Residential Community Director for the Juniper Residential Community. I was born and raised in the city of Cleveland and have an irrational love for my hometown! I love exploring all the fun locations and events in the city, and consuming all the great food that comes with it. I also spend a lot of time (and money) attending concerts in the area. Prior to coming to CWRU, I earned my undergraduate degree at the University of Mount Union studying Exercise Science, then went on to Kent State University, receiving my master's degree in Sport and Recreation Management. I also spent some time working with the Cleveland Browns in their Community Relations department. I'm excited to add another chapter at CWRU and build on my experiences working with the students, staff and faculty!