Co-op Advising Team

Office Life
Rae joined the UMass Lowell team in 2012. As the co-op and experiential learning director, she oversees the Professional Co-op, River Hawk Experience Distinction (RHED), and Immersive Scholar programs. Beyond management, she is dedicated to developing community partnerships to enhance these programs for our students. Before UML, Rae worked in public, private, and community college settings as an associate dean of students, academic planning director, and residential life director.

Rae has extensive experience in higher education, advising and leading students in career development and experiential education. Rae values the outstanding students, how they grow at this university, and how these programs benefit the overall UMass Lowell community.

Leadership Focus
Co-op Advising
Experiential Learning Programs

Out-of-Office Life 
Rae relishes spending time with her loved ones and dog near a beach or a lake.  She loves traveling, reading, crafts, kayaking, and the arts.

Education 
University of Vermont
M.Ed. in Higher Education and Student Affairs

Rutgers University, New Jersey 
B.A. in Communication & English (double major) 

Pronouns 
She/Her/Hers

Office Life 
Melissa joined the Career Services team in 2017 as a Co-op advisor for the Manning School of Business, where she teaches co-op classes, advises students, and works with employers. Before joining UML, she worked at Middlesex Community College in leadership development, student engagement, and coordinating internships, all areas where she now supports UMass Lowell students.  

Melissa says her ‘a-ha’ moment came about while working at Admissions and Alumni Relations at Northeastern University. While pursuing her master’s, Melissa felt her career trajectory pull towards working with first-generation students. Today, she is inspired daily by our Co-op students’ transformation in this program and realizing their career potential through this experience. 

Out-of-Office Life  
You can find Melissa and her family, with their dog in tow, almost anywhere. On a field, court, dance studio, or camping, preferably by the ocean. She is a lifelong learner of cultures, and as a daughter of Azorean immigrants, she enjoys sharing her heritage with her children and others. 

Education 
Northeastern University, Boston, MA
M.S. in College Student Development and Counseling

Providence College, Providence, RI
B.A. in Humanities 

Pronouns 
She/Her/Hers 

Office Life
Amanda joined UMass Lowell in 2019 and currently serves as the assistant director of Co-op for the Kennedy College of Sciences. She oversees the co-op program for all sciences majors, provides personalized coaching and advising to students, teaches a professional development seminar, collaborates with academic departments, and engages employers.

Prior to joining UMass Lowell, Amanda worked in the Career Center at Saint Anselm College and Merrimack College. Amanda is a proud first-generation college student and an alum of UMass Lowell. She loves being back at her alma mater, helping students achieve their goals. Go, River Hawks!

Out-of-Office Life
Amanda enjoys spending quality time with her husband, two kids, family, and friends outside of work. She loves the beach, being outdoors and is always up for an adventure. Amanda is an avid reader, book club leader, and Bookstagrammer!

Education
Merrimack College, North Andover, MA
M.Ed., Higher Education Administration

University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, MA
B.S., Community Health

Pronouns
She/Her/Hers

Office Life
Tiffany joined the Career & Co-op Center team in 2021. Before coming to UMass Lowell, Tiffany worked in roles within international education and academic advising at Northeastern University. As assistant director of Co-op, she oversees co-op experiences for the Francis College of Engineering and advises chemical and plastics engineering students.

Tiffany’s first-hand experience completing a professional co-op program fuels her passion for guiding our River Hawks through their own career development journeys. Tiffany shares UMass Lowell’s commitment to experiential learning and finds working with students to identify, explore, or strengthen their individual goals incredibly rewarding.

Out-of-Office Life
Tiffany can be found doing 1000-piece puzzles daily, reading books, and spending time with her dog Lola.

Education
Northeastern University, Boston, MA
M.S. in College Student Development and Counseling
B.S. in Industrial Engineering

Pronouns
She/Her/Hers

Office Life
Fartun enthusiastically joined UMass Lowell in 2022 as a Co-op coordinator for the Manning School of Business. In her role, she teaches a professional development course and provides personalized career coaching. Before joining the team, Fartun gained higher education experience through her time in Residential Life and Admissions.

Fartun strives to cultivate meaningful advising relationships with students in the Co-op program by developing their professional talents. What she appreciates most about UML is the university’s ability to cater to such a large population of diverse students while cultivating a campus community that feels like family.

Out-of-Office Life
Fartun loves spending time with family and friends and has a profound appreciation for photography. Her personal portfolio holds years of beautiful moments from coffee shops, museums, and mini road trips.

Education
Boston College, Boston MA
M.A. in Higher Education and Student Affairs

Providence College, Providence, RI
B.S., Health Management and Policy with Minors in Sociology and Black Studies

Office Life
Kathy joined the UMass Lowell Career & Co-op team in 2022 as the Co-op Coordinator supporting mechanical/environmental and civil/industrial engineering students. She instructs the Professional Development Seminar, advises students, partners with employers, and collaborates across campus to support student success. Prior to UML, Kathy’s experience in higher education included roles in student success advising, first year experience, faculty-led study aboard, experiential learning, assessment and student involvement/leadership.  

Kathy is extremely thankful for the educational mentorship she received throughout her professional journey and enjoys working with her students serving in the same capacity. 

Out-of-Office Life
When not working with UML students, Kathy enjoys spending time as much as she can outdoors.   She also enjoys traveling and tries to explore at least one new destination a year. 

Education
Salem State University, Salem, MA
M.A. in Higher Education in Student Affairs

Bradford College, Bradford, MA
B.A. in Administration and Management 

Pronouns
She/Her/Hers

Office Life 
Kate joined the Career Services & Co-op Education Center at UMass Lowell in April 2023. As a Co-op coordinator, Kate works with undergraduate electrical, computer, and biomedical engineering students enrolled in the Professional Co-op Program.

Over the past decade, Kate has worked in the education field in various capacities, from campus-community partnerships to student success and career-readiness initiatives. Kate is excited to be at UMass Lowell and looks forward to applying her coaching, teaching, and creative problem-solving skills to the UML community!

Out-of-Office Life 
Kate enjoys traveling with her husband, family, and friends. With a camera by her side, you can find Kate scoping out adventure near or far, checking out Greater Boston area cafes, or on various hiking/running trails.

Education 
Merrimack College
M.Ed. in Higher Education

Saint Michael’s College
B.A. in Gender Studies & Sociology

Pronouns
She/Her/Hers

Office Life
Catherine has been working for the UMass Lowell Professional Co-op program since 2015. As co-op coordinator for computer science majors, she is passionate about helping students navigate the job search process both in and outside the classroom. Before UMass Lowell, Catherine worked in Career & Professional Development at Harvard Business School.

As an undergraduate student at Northeastern, Catherine completed three co-op experiences and is thrilled to share this unique perspective with UMass Lowell students. She firmly believes in the value of experiential learning and hopes to provide students with a professional framework they can use throughout their careers.

Out-of-Office Life
Catherine enjoys entertaining and having her friends and family over for birthday parties, holidays, and cookouts. She is married with two daughters and enjoys reading, yoga, trying new restaurants, and her daily iced coffee.

Education
Northeastern University, Boston, MA
M.S. in Corporate & Organizational Communication
B.S. in Business Administration; concentration in Marketing

Pronouns  
She/Her/Hers