Amanda Colosimo
FA President
Amanda Colosimo has taught geology full-time geology at Monroe Community College since 2004. She teaches a wide range of geosciences courses, including Physical Geology, Historical Geology, Great Mysteries of the Earth, Geology of the National Parks, and Field Studies in Geology. Beyond the classroom, Amanda has taken on several leadership roles across the college. Her work as a member and then chair of the Faculty Senate Professional Development Committee and Academic Policies Committee culminated in her service as Faculty Senate President. Additionally, she has served as interim coordinator of the Teaching and Creativity Center and the co-chair for Standard III in MCC’s most recent Middle States Reaccreditation. Committed to equity and collaboration, Amanda strives to ensure that the voices of faculty, staff, and students are heard and respected in every space she serves. While she previously held the position of Teaching Representative and Executive Vice President on the FA’s Faculty Council, she currently serves as its President, NYSUT Representative Assembly Delegate, and Contract Administrator, and serves on the Executive, Labor- Management, and Health Care Committee. Amanda’s free time is spent pursuing a doctoral degree at the University of South Carolina, co-hosting her podcast, Coffee Break Classroom: Brewed for Higher Ed, and spending time with loved ones.
Bethany Gizzi
Executive VP
Bethany began her career as an adjunct in 1997 and has been full-time at MCC since 2001. She has been in a leadership role in the union since 1999 and has served as the FA President from 2011-2026. She also serves as a member of the AFT Higher Education Program and Policy Council, the NYSUT Higher Education Policy Council, the NYSUT Women’s Committee and both the NYSUT & AFT LGBTQ+ Committees. Her academic areas of expertise include gender & sexuality studies, sociology of the family, social movements and environmental sociology. Bethany developed the Gender & Sexuality studies degree at MCC and serves as the faculty advisor for students in that program. She also serves as the faculty advisor for the student LGBTQ+ co-curricular club, the Pride Alliance and is a certified Safe-Zone trainer and Implicit Bias/Anti-racism trainer.
Jennifer Hill
VP for Teaching Faculty
Jennifer has been teaching in the Biology Department at Monroe Community College since 2006 and has been involved in the Faculty Association since 2008. She has held a variety of positions including Secretary, Contract Chair, Institutional Chair and currently serves as the Vice President for Teaching Faculty. Additionally, she has served on the Executive Committee, Labor-Management Committee and several Negotiation Teams. Jennifer’s commitment to providing an outstanding, affordable and transformative learning experience for our students is the foundation of her work as an educator at MCC. As a union leader, she strives to represent our members fully and fairly and help maintain a high-quality workplace and institution for students and all employees. We are “stronger together.”
Becky Babcock
VP for Professional Staff
Becky began her career at MCC in 2009, starting in the Admissions Office before moving to Schools @MCC. She now serves as Associate Director in Student Success & Advising Services, where she continues to champion student support and institutional collaboration. From early on, Becky engaged with union work—attending Contract 101 sessions and contributing to labor-management and contract negotiation subcommittees. Her involvement has included service on the Faculty Resource Committee (FRC), participation in FA leadership trainings, and regular attendance at Faculty Council meetings. She served on the Faculty Senate for 13 years, culminating in her presidency from 2023 to 2025. That same year, she transitioned into a leadership role within the union, continuing her commitment to shared governance and faculty and professional staff advocacy. Beyond her union and governance work, Becky has contributed to numerous college-wide committees, consistently bringing thoughtful leadership and a student-centered approach to every initiative.
Jeff Baker
Secretary/Treasurer
Natasha Chen
Teaching Representative
Jeff is Adjunct Professor of Psychology, completing his 25th year at MCC. He has taught at RIT and 4 other universities and has held temporary full-time positions at MCC. Jeff was FA Adjunct Director or Chair for seven years and is now Secretary/Treasurer. He was twice a member of the FA negotiating team, served on adjunct and communication sub-teams, presented three times at the NYSUT Community College Conference, and conducted FA workshops for adjunct faculty. He is past president of both the New York State Conference of the American Association of University Professors (now affiliated with AFT) and of the Learning Disabilities Association of New York State. He has an M.S. in counseling and a Ph.D. in psychology with an educational specialization.
Eric Berg
Teaching Representative
Melissa Santiago
Professional Staff Rep.
Eric has many years of experience as a classroom teacher and is proud to serve as a Teaching Representative to the Faculty Council. Having first taught high school math in the city of Buffalo for seven years, Eric has been a full-time faculty member at MCC since 2015. Eric was originally hired to serve in the Transitional Studies Department (TRS), where he enjoyed many years supporting and advocating for students who arrive at the college under-prepared for college coursework. He now continues this service to students as a member of the Mathematics Department. From the University at Buffalo, Eric earned both his Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and a Master’s degree in Mathematics Education. Outside of his professional life, Eric enjoys working out, tackling home improvement projects, and being outdoors walking his dog, hiking, camping, or kayaking.
Antonia Custodio
Professional Staff Rep.
Antonia started at MCC in 1992 as a receptionist in the Student Services Office at the Damon City Campus. She is now the Director – Capital Planning & Project Management. In her role, she provides leadership and direction for the planning, development and management of construction and capital projects. Toni has served in many college-wide committees and initiatives, as well as in local, state, and national leadership positions including Chair for the Latino Empowerment Network (LEN) MCC affinity group; President, President-Elect, and Secretary of the American Association for Women in Community Colleges (AAWCC); served on the Ad Astra Client Advisory Board; 2006 graduate of the Latino Leadership Development Program through United Way; 2017 MCC’s President’s Emerging Leaders Fellowship; 2019 Institute Fellow for the SUNY Hispanic Leadership Institute. Toni is a lifelong learner and is always seeking ways to engage with colleagues and students to make MCC a destination. Toni’s heart is her two grown adult boys Daniel and Jeremiah. She enjoys landscaping and adult coloring.
Maggie Rex
Adjunct Representative
Carlo Atene
Adjunct Representative
Maggie Rex and I am a proud MCC graduate. After almost 10 years of teaching in other schools in the region, I came home to MCC and was immediately reminded what an important and amazing place this is. I am a dedicated unionist, and in addition to teaching Sociology, I work as the Southern Tier Field Coordinator for the Rochester-Genesee Valley Area Labor Federation. As a rural union organizer, I connect rank-and-file members, labor leaders, and community leadership across Western NY. I have also been a community organizer and activist for almost 20 years, serving as a birth advocate and labor and delivery doula, as well as an active volunteer and a board member for human rights, feminist, and LGBTQ+ focused organizations in the Rochester area.
Bill Horton
Grievance Officer
Bill was born and raised in North Chili, NY, graduated from York Central, and is a veteran of the U.S. Army. He obtained an A.A.S. in Heating and Air-Conditioning Technology in 1992 and completed a 5 year apprenticeship in HVAC (Journeymen) with Sheet Metal Workers Local 46, May 1997; working for 15 years for the Leo J. Roth Corporation as an HVAC field technician and an apprentice instructor at the union hall. He became an HVAC Instructor at MCC in 2007. He earned a B.S. in Vocational and Technical Education in 2016 from Empire State College and a Masters in Adult Education from Buffalo State College in 2017. He is pleased to have a chance to serve on Faculty Council as the site director for the Applied Technologies Center and hopes to become more involved in union leadership. Bill enjoys all outdoor activities including hiking, biking, camping, and fishing. He has two huge dogs that he loves to walk in all four seasons of weather and incredible beauty of New York State. He has enjoyed 28 years of marriage to his wonderful wife as they raised their son and daughter.
Meghan Glaser
Communications Director
Judi Salsburg Taylor
Action & Organizing Dir.
Joe Scanlon
Legislative Chair
Meghan has been teaching at MCC since 2005; first, as an adjunct, then full time in 2014 in the ESOL/Transitional Studies department. Now a full time member of the ENG/PHIL department, I teach College Composition/ALP (101 and 132), our Academic English Essentials course and lab, as well as our academic recovery course, COS 181. I taught for a number of years in both public and private schools and have found my professional home here at MCC. I am honored to give back to our incredible FA as your Communications Director. My previous leadership roles at MCC include my term as chair of Faculty Senate's Academic Policies committee, currently serving as chair of the Reading & Developmental English (RDE) committee, along with a number of other initiatives and committees across MCC that are dedicated to increasing equity, access, and student success in all its forms.
In my role as Communications Director, I am committed to transparent, authetic, and timely communications regarding the work you are all engaged in to advance our FA and larger MCC-related goals. It is a privilege to be a conduit to raising awareness and centering our collective action on behalf of the union and MCC more broadly.
Outside of MCC, I am a proud mom of 2 SUNY students: my eldest will graduate from SUNY ESF with a degree in Environmental Conservation (they are an MCC alum as well!) and my son attends SUNY Brockport where he is pursuing a degree in Psychology. When I am not grading/planning for classes, I enjoy quality time with my family, making jewelry, reading, and have rediscovered a love of nature and am just now discovering the joys of hiking.
April Daniels
Social Justice Director
Claire Goverts
Membership Director
Lisa Ekiert
Site Representative
April has been teaching in the ESOL/TRS department since 2014. Teaching courses that support predominately underserved students, the faculty in this department strive to carry out the very mission of diversity, equity, and inclusion, despite the systemic barriers within higher education. She is proud to be a part of this dedicated team of equity-minded, compassionate, and innovative educators. As a proud alumna of MCC and now a proud faculty member, April is intimately acquainted with the necessity for the entire college community to experience the benefit of a robust historically underrepresented faculty. Promoting and protecting diversity, equity, and inclusion is a primary motivation for her service at a community college. In addition to serving on Faculty Council, April is beginning her first term as a senator, serving on the SCAA committee. April lives on a small-but-tranquil bit of nature, and when not working, she cherishes her quiet time with her books, her 3 cats, the wild animals on her property, and her close loved-ones.
Bill Comella
Site Representative
Bill is the Instructor and Program Director for the MCC Paramedic Program at the Public Safety Training Facility. He has been a paramedic and EMS provider for over 40 years and still works part-time as a critical care paramedic in the Rochester area, in addition to his position at MCC. He knows firsthand the importance of advocating for adequate healthcare for all people and the benefits of strong, local Union leadership. Bill has an undergraduate degree in Public Health and Society from the University of Rochester, and a Masters in Education Technology from the University of Buffalo. He has two grown daughters and enjoys cooking with his partner, the outdoors, and relaxing with his cat Lunar.
LaToya Manon
At-Large Representative
Dr. Toya Mañón is a faculty member in the Education Department at Monroe Community College, where she teaches EDU 100 (Introduction to Education), EDU 150 (Performance and Presentation Skills for Educators), EDU 200 (Foundations of Education), and EDU 230 (Intro to Special Education), including asynchronous online sections, bringing both classroom experience and genuine care for future educators to her work. In her role as Adjunct Coordinator, she supports fellow faculty in delivering strong instruction across the department. She also serves on the IDEA subcommittee’s Recruitment and Retention Committee and the TCC Steering Committee, reflecting her ongoing commitment to building a more inclusive campus community, and extends that work beyond campus through her involvement with organizations serving children and families.
Outside of work, Toya is a wife, mom of two adults, and Gigi to one grandchild — roles that keep her grounded and remind her daily why the work of shaping future educators matters.
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Ryan Clemens
At-Large Representative
Gordon Dutter
At-Large Representative
Ellen Mancuso
PAC Representative
As your NYSUT rep to our local Political Action Committee, Ellen works on behalf of higher education. She is one of five local Political Action Coordinators (PAC) and serves as a liaison to our Regional Political Organizer, Anthony Plonczynski-Figueroa, and NYSUT’s Legislative Department. Our PAC team along with two Vote Cope Coordinators create strategic plans for regional political actions and for our lobbying efforts and interviews state legislative candidates to make recommendations to NYSUT. Ellen and the PAC team organize meetings and advocacy efforts on behalf of all NYSUT members, including taking part in labor walks, phone-banks, and local AFL-CIO Labor Councils. Ellen has been an activist for public education for over 28 years, serving as MCC’s Legislative Chair for 22 years. She continues to work with the MCCFA to improve educational funding in NYS.
Sonja Lenhard
FA Office Manager
Sonja has been employed with the FA since 1999. She started off as a part-time secretary then became full-time several years later and is now the FA Office Manager. She also serves on the FA Scholarship committee and coordinates all of the FA events & parties. Sonja received her associate’s degree from MCC in 2011. She has worked alongside FA Administrator Director, Marlene Goho, and past FA presidents Mike Goho, Charlie Clarke and Bethany Gizzi. Sonja enjoys camping, biking & hiking with her husband and crazy dog Finn. She has two adult boys, Nick and Zack.