During summer 2024, at least seven new staff members joined the Ithaca College community, filling key roles within student life offices. At least two employees of the college departed during this time period as well.
Julie Boden Adams
Hillel at Ithaca College announced Julie Boden Adams as its new executive director June 27. Adams was welcomed onto campus July 8 after Lauren Goldberg, Hillel’s previous executive director, officially left the college to spend more time with her family.
“When I hit send on the email, [it] suddenly became very real,” Goldberg said to The Ithacan when she made the announcement about her departure in February. “This place is very special. … I just look forward to being able to take a step into my nuclear family life rather than my student family life. Both are so central to me.”
Adams received a Bachelor of Science in Industrial and Labor Relations in 2001 and a Juris Doctor from Cornell Law School in 2004. She also worked as the assistant university counsel at Long Island University from 2009 to 2010 and the associate general counsel and director of the global practice at New York University from 2011 to 2021.
“I look forward to using my skills to further my passion for Jewish education and community-building in this very special place that values diversity and inclusivity,” Boden said in the Intercom post.
Lauren Kelly Benson
The college announced Lauren Kelly Benson as the new director for the Office of Religious and Spiritual Life in an Intercom post. Benson officially began the position Aug. 5 and took over from Austin Reid, who worked as the interim director for the Office of Religious and Spiritual Life since January. Two open sessions with candidates were held during summer 2024 on July 8 and 10.
Kelly is a member of the National Queer and Trans Therapists of Color Network and BEAM: Black Emotional and Mental Health Collective.
“It’s just really important to me and everything that I do that we are working as hard as we can to provide space — physically and emotionally and spiritually — that is informed by what people might need in order to feel welcome in the space,” Benson said in an interview with The Ithacan.
Ellie Burke
The Office of New Student and Transition Programs announced Ellie Burke as its new Assistant Director on May 20. Burke graduated with a bachelor’s degree from Ohio University and earned a master’s in Higher Education and Student Affairs at the University of Connecticut. Burke has taken over the role of Mame Ndiaye, who left the college in May 2023.
Burke previously worked at the University of Connecticut and coordinated a Leadership and Organizational Development program in Student Activities.
“I love the community orientation programs create, the opportunity to support students during one of the biggest transitions in their lives and the creativity that can come with integrating learning into student programming,” Burke said in an Intercom post. “I cannot wait to get to know the campus and learn everything I can about Ithaca College students.”
Samantha Shaffer
Samantha Shaffer ’17 started at the college as the associate director for the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards on June 3. Shaffer graduated from the college with a Bachelor of Arts in Legal Studies and Philosophy and worked as both a resident assistant and a conduct review board student justice.
Shaffer received her Juris Doctor in 2020 from Wake Forest University School of Law and was SUNY Cortland’s former assistant director for student conduct.
McKenzie Murray
McKenzie Murray is the BIPOC Unity Center’s new program coordinator. Murray is responsible for planning and implementing programs, supporting students as a private resource and as an adviser to student organizations.
Murray was hired after a national search that began in December 2023. She graduated from Cornell University in May with a Bachelor of Science in Human Development and has plans to begin a master’s degree in social justice at Union Theological Seminary during Fall 2024.
Rhys Finch
Rhys Finch is the new manager of TV and Radio Operations for the Roy H. Park School of Communications. Finch took on the position Aug. 12 after Jeremy Menard departed from the college at the end of Spring 2024.
Finch served as the media adviser at Western Oregon University from 2015 to 2019 and then as the assistant director of student media at the University of Alabama at Birmingham between 2019 and 2022. He also worked as a planning coordinator for the 2020 Fall National College Media Convention.
He received a Master of Business Administration in digital media from St. Edward’s University and has a Bachelor of Fine Arts in sound design with a minor in film and TV from the Savannah College of Art & Design.
Ben Hogben
Ben Hogben officially retired June 6 after working as the library’s access services manager for 33 years. Hogben was well-known to the college community as the organizer of llama visits to campus.
Hogben taught gerontology at Tompkins Cortland Community College for 15 years after receiving a bachelor’s degree in the subject in 2005. Hogben served on the Board of Directors at Longview and as of July transitioned to the role of philanthropy and professional development coordinator at the retirement community.
Sarah Shank
Sarah Shank took on the role of access services manager for the library July 17 after working as the college’s interlibrary loan borrowing coordinator. Shank has been working at the college since 2013 and serves on the college’s staff council as a secretary.
Cara Cirino
Cara Cirino ’22, admissions counselor in the Office of Admissions, departed June 18 to further her career in higher education at New York University. At NYU, Cirino has become the assistant director of admissions.
As a student at the college, Cirino was an admission host tour guide, exploratory program peer ambassador and leader, and worked as a co-chair of the Admission Host Committee.
Cirino was key to outreach for the college in lower New York State and Connecticut and contributed to events hosted by the Office of Admissions, according to the Intercom post.
Editor’s Note: A previous version of this article said McKenzie Murray’s title was an intern at the Ithaca College BIPOC Unity Center. Murray is the center’s new full-time program coordinator. The position is not an internship.
