Full-Time Staff Profiles
Mushtaq Choudhary
Director of Residence Life
choudhmu@lewisu.edu
I was born in Dubai, United Arab Emirates and grew up in Dubai where I earned my A.S. in Aerospace Engineering at Emirates Aviation College. I came to Lewis University in August '97 and graduated in January '02 with a B.A. in Management Information Systems and in December '04 I completed my MBA in International Business. In the near future, I am considering pursuing a doctorate degree in higher education administration. As a student I participated with Student Governing Board, International Student Association and Cultural Awareness Council. Over my 5 year career, I have worked in different roles in the Office of Student Services at Lewis University. Currently, I am serving as the Director of Residence Life and with the assistance of my staff (full-time, graduate assistants, resident assistants and student employees) I am responsible for the University residence halls (approximately 1300 students) especially as related to community development, learning communities, safety and security, emergency response, disciplinary interventions and facilities management. Currently I am a member of American College Personnel Association (ACPA), National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA) and Association of Student Conduct Affairs (ASCA). My wife and I reside on-campus and in my free time I enjoy cooking and watching movies.
Karlie Cooper
Assistant Director of Residence Life
CooperKe@lewisu.edu
Working with young adults in an educational setting is a passion of mine. After graduating from North Dakota State University with a B.S. in Psychology, I moved to Tulsa, OK to work as a Career Counselor in an alternative school setting. I moved to the Chicagoland area to further my opportunities in 2003 and after a total of 4 years within the career field counseling and management, I desired to complete my educational goals to attain my Masters Degree in School Counseling and Guidance at Lewis University (graduated in 2007, IL type 73 certificate). I choose Lewis University for both school and employment, because it offers a private and individualized education opportunity. To keep active with student involvement, I used my undergraduate experience as an RA as a building block towards the Graduate Assistant position within the Office of Residence Life.
In December 2006 I was promoted to the Assistant Director of Residence Life and enjoy the leadership role it has to advocate for resident students and also support the Department of Residence Life through the high demand growth of on campus living. My position allows for direct contact with the student body, both in the office and in the residence halls. YES, I also live in the residence halls on campus. By living on campus, not only can I support to maintain a safe environment for the residence halls, I strive to provide mentoring, advisement and positive role modeling to students around the clock. Outside of work, I love to spend time with my husband (Layton), daughter (Abigail) and son (Maxwell), other family members and friends. I especially love my vacations to my hometown in South Dakota to visit my family every summer and winter. I am involved in the Introduction to College Experience course as a First Year Mentor and serve on multiple administrative committees here at Lewis. Lewis is a positive and safe place that I call my home and assist to have all resident students call it there ‘home away from home’
Fredrick Gandy
Assistant Director of Residence Life
gandyfr@lewisu.edu
I graduated from the University St. Francis in Joliet, IL in 2004, where I earned a B.A. in Psychology. While at the University of St. Francis I participated in football where I was a team captain for four years and an all region player for two years. I was also part of various student organizations, including Vice President of the Black Student Union and a member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc. Before coming to Lewis University I worked for a Fortune 500 company, Joliet Job Corps, and coached high school football. It was at this time I realized my passion for working with students. I have earned my M.A in School Counseling and Guidance from Lewis University. I have been at lewis for the pass four years; I started as an RLC and have just been recently promoted to Assistant Director of Residence Life. I am in charge of programming selection and training of all staff members. I really enjoy working here at Lewis University, because it gives me the opportunity to help students pursue their college education. In my spare time, I enjoy working out, coaching and watching football, and spending time with my family.
Scott Baietti
Residence Life Area Coordinator
baiettsc@lewisu.edu
I am originally from the great state of New Jersey, famous for its blueberries, and beautiful shore. I grew up about 10 minutes away from New York City, and saw it often. I decided to live further away from home for college, and this set off a chain of events that helped bring me to where I am today.
After 4 excellent years studying at La Salle University in Philadelphia, I received my B.A. in Geology and Environmental Science, but it was my experience working in many different capacities within the Student Services office there, and the handful of volunteer opportunities I took advantage of that helped me realize that what I wanted to do was work for and with other people. In 2008, a few months before graduation, it became apparent my degree didn't exactly qualify me for careers in those types of professions, so I decided to pursue an alternative post-college experience, because I like to think of myself as an alternative type of person. I joined the Lasallian Volunteer Program, where, for two years, I volunteered in Albany, NY, living and working at La Salle School, a residential facility for high risk boys, age 12-21. The boys live and go to school on the campus while receiving special support for their emotional and behavioral problems. It was working with them that further developed my affinity for compassionate care of others.
In August of 2010 I was blessed with a scholarship to a Lewis Masters program, something that I received because of my volunteer work. I accepted without visiting and was excited to learn, once I got here, that the community is great, and the mission is vital to the work we do. I spent one semester as the grad assistant for student services before transitioning to a role in residence life. I'm glad to be here at Lewis now, and I hope that I can help make your experience here better.
Laryssa Lavender
Residence Life Area Coordinator
lavendla@lewisu.edu
I grew up in Geneva, IL and received my undergraduate degree in Business Administration from Aurora University. I completed my graduate work at Benedictine University, receiving a Master of Science in Management and Organizational Behavior. I have worked in Residence Life for the past 6 years at a variety of different institutions and am very excited to be at Lewis.
Aside from my work, I enjoy spending time with my husband, family, and friends, running, and crocheting. I am a huge baseball fan and am always excited for spring to roll around.
