In my first year of college I recognized that there were way too many things that should have been shared with me about life & leadership skills before I left high school. A²+B²= C², & every other basic academic tool that was provided was not enough for me to be successful! I felt that the transition between high school & college could have been more intentionally structured.
I knew that I had desired more direction when it came to major selection, career exploration, & what any attempt at effective adulting would be like. So I unknowingly began what would soon become my life’s work. I found myself seeking mentors, & collaborating with campus officials at my Alma Mater (Montclair State University) to create outcome based programs that supported the successful transition of First Year Students. I founded a student organization that sparked campus community development & engagement, served as a Peer & Orientation Leader, among many other campus roles, & began facilitating student leadership training sessions.
Since then I have earned a Master’s Degree in Organizational Leadership & Higher Education (Rider University), & have had the honor of providing campus officials & student leaders across the country with support for leadership programming, as well as training, coaching, developing educational content, & facilitation.
Currently I serve NJCU as the Interim Director of ASCEND (Achieving Success by Cultivating Excellence & Nurturing Discovery), a university sponsored college transition & support-based program in partnership with EOF (Educational Opportunity Fund) serving underserved and in many cases 1st generation students. My responsibilities include overseeing the holistic development of our 500+ students year-round, as well as a summer academy to welcome and prepare incoming first year students. I take pride in establishing campus and community partnerships and advocating, to ensure the
successful transition, retention, and persistence of our talented students. I have come to embrace that this work is my joy not my job!
I continue to remain committed to creating learning opportunities for students that extend beyond academia & into transferable skills that support personal & professional growth.

Dominique has provided workshops, educational content, & speaker services for: