Leadership & Administrative Team

Originally from the Finger Lakes Region of New York State, Tom has over 30 years of experience in higher education. In his role as Vice President for Community & Student Affairs at Teachers College, Tom provides strategic leadership and vision for cultivating a vibrant, inclusive and supportive College environment for students, faculty and staff.  He oversees the offices that create programs, services, and initiatives that build community, enhance student life, and foster an overall sense of belonging at Teachers College.

Tom leads the offices and staff members in the departments of Student Affairs & , which includes oversight for the , Title VI, VII, ad IX, and Community Programming and Engagement. Together, these offices and teams are integrated to advance a more cohesive framework for campus engagement, community development, and student success. 

A long term community member at Teachers College, and an Elaine Brantley Memorial Award Recipient for Community and Civility, Tom earned his Ed.D. from Teachers College in 2002 and has worked at the College since 2003 in various roles including the Director of Admission, the Vice Provost for Enrollment Services, the Vice Provost for Student Affairs and most recently as the Associate Vice President & Chief Student Affairs Officer. 

He is an Adjunct Faculty member in the Higher & Postsecondary Education program where he has been teaching a Student Affairs course since 2004.  Previous to his work at Teachers College, Tom worked in various roles at the University of Dayton, Alfred University, The Albany Academy, Columbia University and Hofstra University. He also received a Certificate of Completion from the Harvard Graduate School of Education for participation in the Institute for Management and Leadership in Education (MLE).  Tom was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship in 2018 where he traveled to Japan as part of the Fulbright Administrator Scholarship Program.  

In his spare time, Dr. Rock enjoys running (he's finished 15 NYC marathons), pickleball, tennis (he is a USTA certified tennis official), spending time with his family and traveling. 

An alumna of the Psychology in Education program at Teachers College, Columbia University (TC), Whitney serves as the Director for Strategic Operations & Communication within the Division of Community & Student Affairs. Since joining the TC community in 2017, she has been instrumental in driving operational excellence and student engagement, previously holding key leadership roles within Student Affairs Administration and Graduate Student Life & Development (GSLD).

Whitney is a champion for digital transformation, specializing in leveraging technology to deepen community connection and enrich the student experience. Her commitment to institutional advocacy is reflected in her tenure as Secretary and Co-Chair for TC’s Staff Advocacy & Support Council (SASC), where she continues to represent staff interests on the President’s Committee for Community & Diversity.

Beyond campus, Whitney is a recognized leader in the NASPA Region II community. Currently serving as the 2026 Annual Regional Conference Co-Chair elect, her previous contributions include roles as Registration Co-Chair, Chief of Staff, and Chair for Marketing & Communications.

Outside of her professional life, she is a dedicated advocate for animal welfare, managing operations for New York City’s Waggytail Rescue. An outdoor enthusiast, Whitney can often be found exploring local green spaces with her dog (and current foster pets).

Karen is a dedicated administrative professional with a passion for optimizing administrative processes.  With 15+ years of experience, Karen has a strong focus on client services and collaborating with offices and departments across the College, to build community while fostering positive relationships.