Student Success

Kevin Hartshorn is Dean of Student Success at Moravian, where his efforts focus on removing barriers to student success and progression. Joining Moravian in 2004 as a faculty member in mathematics he has taught a number of courses for students across the curriculum, including Mathematics for Design, Ethnomathematics, The Mathematics of Origami, and First Year Writing seminars on topics providing multiple connections of mathematics to students' lived experiences. His research focuses on geometry, particularly computational questions connected to origami design. He earned his PhD from UC Berkeley, and finds time to visit his family back in Colorado and California as often as possible.

Nate Rosario (He/Him/His) is a Muhlenberg College graduate with a B.A in Theatre and Dance. Previously, Nate worked at Muhlenberg College in the Office of Multicultural Life and the Africana Studies department as their administrative assistant. He has experience working in DEI as a mentor, and working with students to uplift their culture on college campuses. As an Allentown native and a first generation college student, Nate’s passion lies in assisting and preparing students to succeed on their college journey.

Dr. Jacobe has spent two decades as a faculty member and administrator in higher education and, before coming to Moravian, served most recently as Director of the Center for American Language & Culture and Affiliate Faculty in the Department of English at The College of New Jersey (TCNJ).  She has extensive experience in academic support and advising, curricular design and revision, faculty development, accreditation and reaccreditation activities, and strategic planning in higher education.  The author of dozens of essays and book chapters, she is the author, most recently of Final Draft 4, a bridging level writing textbook for English language learners from Cambridge University Press.  Her research and writing interests include higher education and academic labor, humanities education, the scholarship of teaching and learning, and 20th-century and contemporary literature, particularly of the American South.  She is currently at work on a scholarly book that examines the evolution of articulated regional identity in novels by Southern writers working across the 20th and 21st centuries.  Dr. Jacobe holds a Ph.D. in English Language & Literature from The Catholic University of America, an MFA in Creative Writing from The American University, and a BA in English and Mass Communication from Emory & Henry College.

Megan Dailey has worked professionally in higher education since 2009. Before coming to Moravian, Megan served as an Academic Advisor and Coordinator for Student Outreach in the Virginia Commonwealth University Honors College. She has experience advising diverse populations of students, with specific interest in assisting students pursuing professional health graduate programs. Megan also has extensive experience with training and development, new student orientation and transition programs, career advising, and admissions. Megan earned her M.Ed. in Higher Education Administration from North Carolina State University and a BA in political science and English from Virginia Tech.

Monica Cottrell has spent over a decade working as a professional advisor in higher education and, before coming to Moravian, served most recently as Career Advisor, Associate Professor at Lehigh Carbon Community College. She has extensive experience in academic and career advising, and working with transfer students. As an active member of NACADA (The Global Community for Academic Advising), Monica has presented both regionally and nationally, most recently in 2019 at the NACADA annual conference on the topic of First-Year Experience and Advising Strategies for Student Success and Retention. She is currently serving as the Eastern PA liaison on the Region 2 Steering Committee and as a member of the Advising Community on Transfer Students Steering Committee. Monica holds an M.A. in Counseling Psychology from The University of Akron, and a BA in Psychology from California University of Pennsylvania.

Kinsey has worked in higher education since 2014, focusing mainly on the transition of first-year students into college life. Before joining the Moravian community, he worked as an academic advisor for first-year students in the Biology Department at the University of Vermont. He also has experience working with diverse student populations as a professional tutor for the TRiO Student Support Services and Ronald E. McNair programs at Rider University. Hailing from central New Jersey (with family roots in the Lehigh Valley), Kinsey studied English and German as an undergraduate at Penn State. He earned his M.S.Ed. in Higher Education from the University of Pennsylvania.

Allyson Waylen has worked as a professional advisor since 2016 and has experience working with first-year students and students who are transitioning between majors. Before coming to Moravian, Allyson worked as a Professional Academic Advisor and Academic Coach at Gwynedd Mercy University. Additionally, Allyson taught First Year Experience in the fall and spring semesters and served on various committees like the Strengthening Advising Committee, the General Admissions Committee and the Registration Event Committee. Allyson earned a M.S. in Higher Education Counseling and Student Affairs from West Chester University and a B.A. in Psychology from Temple University.

Before coming to Moravian University, Matthew Werkheiser was an instructor of First-Year Writing at Lehigh University and a Professional Tutor in their Writing and Math Center. His graduate research focused primarily on critical theory and writing pedagogy in the classroom with an emphasis on the ethics of teaching writing to various student populations. As an instructor and tutor, Matthew has experience ensuring that students receive the assistance they need and are well equipped to succeed in an academic setting. He received his Masters and Bachelors in English from Lehigh University.

Michelle has spent the last ten years working in higher education in the area of accessibility as both faculty and administration. Michelle is an accomplished professional in the fields of mental health and accessibility. She holds an Ed.S. as a School Psychologist through Lehigh University, specializing in low incidence disabilities; a MA in Human Development from Lehigh University; a BA in Psychology from Moravian College; and Counseling Licensure through Chestnut Hill College. Michelle began her career as a school psychologist in the K-12 setting before establishing a thriving private practice that incorporated counseling, evaluation, and a neurofeedback clinic for students with disabilities. Her practice grew to include and collaborate with local colleges, and college-aged students with disabilities seeking evaluations and coaching to transition and thrive in the college setting. She has served as Director of Disability Services at DeSales University, Associate Director of Disability at Lehigh University, and currently serves as the Director of Accessibility at Moravian University. Michelle is currently working with a national pilot Coaching Cooperative sponsored by AHEAD for the 2021-2022 school year, and serves as an appointed member of the Committee for Women in Psychology within APA.

Cassidy Garcia is a dedicated higher education professional who has been working in the field of Disability and Accessibility Services since 2016. Prior to joining Moravian she worked as a disability assistant and at-risk student case manager at the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. Her interests in higher education include campus accessibility, student success and retention, and assisting students in crisis. She served on the Student Food and Financial Insecurity committee at MCPHS and the ACT 101 board at Cedar Crest College. Cassidy has given presentations on Academic and Campus Ableism and Diversity and Disability, and has been published in the Morning Call. A first generation student, Cassidy holds a B.A. in English Literature from Cedar Crest College and an M.Ed in Higher Education Administration from the Harvard Graduate School of Education.

Marilyn Kelly-Cavotta is the Executive Director of Veteran & Military Services at Moravian University where she assists veteran students navigating the transition from military to civilian life. She also gives assistance to military-connected students using a parent or spouse’s VA educational benefits and ROTC cadets as they prepare for military service. Marilyn holds a Master’s degree in Social Work from Temple University. With her educational background and experience, Marilyn has dedicated her post-military career to offering support to veterans and their families through awareness, advocacy, and inclusion. Her primary focus is marginalized and intersectional identities within the veteran community.

Marilyn served in US Army and the Pennsylvania National Guard as a medic. She served 13 years, including a deployment to Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Marilyn retired from the PA National Guard in February 2013 as a Staff Sergeant. After a successful career in the Army helping Soldiers, Marilyn continues to help the veteran community by increasing awareness of the gaps that exist for women and LGBT veterans and advocates for these populations.

Marilyn is actively involved with the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce (GLVCC) and currently serves as the secretary for the Veteran & Military Council of the GLVCC. Marilyn is a member of the Women Veterans Committee of the Governor’s Advisory Council for Veterans Services; a Board Member for Shamrock Reins, an equine-assisted psychotherapy facility for veterans, active duty & reserve service members, and their families; and Chair of the Bethlehem Human Relations Commission.