Mohawk Valley Community College recently announced the following appointments, title changes, and promotions, approved by the Board of Trustees at its March, April, and May 2026 meetings:
In recognition of her many years of outstanding service to MVCC, Nelissa Nowicki has been named Associate Professor Emerita.
In recognition of his many years of outstanding service to MVCC, Bryan Alguire has been named Professor Emeritus.
In recognition of his many years of outstanding service to MVCC, David Smith has been named Distinguished Retiree.
In recognition of his many years of outstanding service to MVCC, Michael McHarris has been named Director Emeritus.
Joseph Saccento has been appointed Recruitment and Employment Specialist in the Human Resources Office. He will lead and support recruitment for full-time faculty, staff, and adjunct positions, while ensuring hiring practices comply with collective bargaining agreements, civil service regulations, and equal employment opportunity requirements. Saccento will partner with supervisors, screening committees, and candidates throughout the search process and coordinate onboarding activities to support a positive new hire experience. He joins the College with many years of experience in the human resources field, having worked for Oneida Health, Upstate Caring Partners, Oneida Nation Enterprises, and MetLife Insurance in Oriskany. He holds an associate degree in General Studies from MVCC.
Edy Munoz has joined the College as a Data Analytics and Visualization Specialist in the Office of Institutional Research and Analysis. He will assist with assessment processes, such as institutional effectiveness, enrollment management, post-graduation outcomes, and ad hoc project requests. Munoz previously worked at the University of Buffalo as a research assistant and was an intern for the R25 program. He holds bachelor’s degrees in Arts and Psychology, Arts and Statistics, and a master’s degree in Biostatistics and Bioinformatics from the University of Buffalo.
Jesse Zavaro has transitioned into the role of Coordinator of Experiential and Justice-Involved Learning in the Office of Learning and Academic Affairs. He will coordinate with the New York State Department of Corrections Educational Supervisor to facilitate the delivery of MVCC curriculum in correctional facilities for the College in Prison Program. Zavaro will be the primary point of contact for experiential and justice-involved learning, will promote program visibility, increase academic momentum, and support institutional goals related to access, equity, and student success. He has worked at MVCC since 2024 as a writing tutor and most recently, a College Services Associate for the School of Humanities. Zavaro holds an associate degree in Humanities from Onondaga Community College, a bachelor’s degree in Arts, Philosophy and Creative Writing from SUNY Oswego, and a master of fine arts in Creative Writing from the University of Southern Maine in Portland.
Brett LaSalle has been appointed Director of Facilities and Operations. He will provide leadership and coordination for the operation, maintenance, and continuous improvement of College facilities and related support services. His areas of responsibility include capital project coordination, sustainability and energy efficiency initiatives, inventory control, mail and duplicating services, the College’s Events program, and office services such as telephone coordination. He will also oversee departmental personnel and ensures compliance with College policies, collective bargaining agreements, and Equal Employment Opportunity Guidelines. LaSalle will collaborate with Campus Public Safety and the Environmental Health and Safety Manager to ensure that facilities operations and construction activities meet all applicable health, safety, accessibility, and environmental regulations. He has extensive experience in senior facilities and operations leadership roles having led teams at Pyramid Management Group in Syracuse, Barrington Residential Properties in Rochester, SUNY Morrisville, Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Oswego BOCES, and was the Assistant Director of Facilities and Operations at MVCC from 2015-2019. LaSalle holds an associate degree in Building Management and Maintenance from MVCC.
Kagan Crawford has been appointed to the position of Financial Aid Advisor. In this role, he will provide a single point of contact to manage students’ financial aid records, review applications for financial assistance, and assist in the overall administration of the College Student Financial Aid Program. Crawford served in the U.S. Army for several years and later worked as a history teacher at Notre Dame Junior/Senior High School. He holds a bachelor’s degree in History from Utica University.
Benjamin Luhrs has been appointed to the position of Assistant Registrar in the Office of Records and Registration. He will work with the Registrar and staff to establish and maintain excellent service, implement and interpret academic and administrative policies and procedures, establish and continuously revise processes and procedures to improve the accuracy of records, and create efficient workflows. Luhrs comes to MVCC with experience in diverse departments within higher education institutions. He was the Assistant Dean of Students at Pomeroy College of Nursing in Syracuse and served as an Academic Advisor at Syracuse University and Binghamton University. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Biology from Arcadia University in Glenside, Pa., and a master’s degree in Education, Secondary, Special and General Education from Wagner College in Staten Island, N.Y.
Brianna Sprole has been appointed to the position of Assistant Registrar in the Office of Records and Registration. In this role, she will support the department in overseeing office operations, registration processes, and the maintenance of student academic records in compliance with legal requirements, as well as developing and refining processes and procedures to enhance record accuracy and improve workflow efficiency. She also will collaborate with the Director and staff to ensure exceptional service while supporting the implementation and interpretation of academic and administrative policies and procedures. Sprole has several years of experience in leadership roles at higher education institutions, most recently as the Associate University Registrar for Curriculum and Degree Progress from the New School in New York City. She also held several positions at Buffalo State University, including Project Coordinator for Events Management, and Student Affairs Coordinator for the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Linguistics and a master’s degree in Higher Education and Student Affairs Administration from Buffalo State University.