John Burke, a 1994 graduate of Dominican University, with a degree in Elementary Education and Psychology was appointedVicePresident for Student Developmentin the fall of 2009.In July 2023, he was appointedInterim Vice President for Enrollment Management.Prior to his current role, he served as Associate Director of Athletics and Compliance Officer and had a very successful career at the helm of the Lady Chargers women’s basketball program for nine years. John also, holds a Masters from Northeastern University in Leadership Studies.
John Burkewas inducted into the Dominican UniversityAthletic Department Hall of Famein 2023,named as one of Rockland County’sForty under 40in 2002 and is an Alumnus of the Leadership Rockland program, Class of 2011. He was awarded the All-Met Division II Coach of the Year in 2007-2008 and the Steve Baxter Service Award in 2010.
Dean Burke lives with his wife Tara, sons Ryan and Daniel and their dogRockyin Pearl River, NY.
Joseph G. Valenti joined the Dominican University community as Vice President for Institutional Advancement in July of 2019. He came to the University with nearly thirty years of experience in fundraising and development. He began his career as a development consultant with the Martin J. Moran Company and has served in Advancement leadership roles at Cardinal Hayes High School, Marymount College –Tarrytown, Manhattan College, Iona College and, most recently, as Vice President for College Advancement at Mount Saint Mary College. He has been recognized by the Mid-Hudson Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals with its 2018 Award for Innovation in Fundraising.
At each of the institutions that he has served he has introduced a variety of innovative programs that include planned giving programs, generational annual giving programs, comprehensive capital campaigns and numerous types of fundraising events. He has cultivated relationships with many foundations and corporations that have contributed millions of dollars to the institutions that he has served. Over the course of his career he has raised well over $100 million for worthy education institutions.
He has served on several boards of charitable institutions within the greater Hudson Valley community, including the board of John S. Burke Catholic High, Catholic Charities of Orange and Sullivan Counties, The Greater Newburgh Symphony Orchestra and the Community Advisory Council of Sullivan 180.
Mr. Valenti holds a bachelors and a master’s degree from St. John’s University. He is a native of Queens, NY where he received a quality elementary education from the Amityville Dominican Sisters. The son of immigrant garment workers, Mr. Valenti has devoted his career to serving institutions that provide values-based education to students from underserved populations.
He resides in Putnam County with his wife, Louise, and his daughter Emily.
Anthony J. Cipolla was appointed to the position of Vice President of Financial Affairsat Dominican University New York in July of 2009.Prior to his appointment at Dominican University, Mr. Cipolla was Vice President of Finance at Gibbs College in Livingston, NJ.During his six-year tenure there, he became well-versed in Financial Aid issues and managed both financial and operational affairs. In addition, Mr. Cipolla was responsible for overseeing and supervising Student Accounts, Bursar, Information Technology, Human Resources, Purchasing, Facilities and Security.
During his more than 20 years of experience, he has been employed as a successful senior financial executive at various manufacturing companies which produced complex products and served a worldwide customer base.His most recent manufacturing experience came from Lafarge Road Marking, an industry leader in road marking paint and equipment, where he was promoted from Controller to Chief Financial Officer.In this role, Mr. Cipolla was responsible for all financial matters as well as overseeing Information Technology, Human Resources and mergers and acquisitions.
Mr. Cipolla’s academic credentials include an M.B.A. in Finance from Fairleigh DickinsonUniversity and a B.S. in Finance from Seton Hall University.
Mr. Cipolla resides in Whippany, New Jersey with his wife Terry and sons Bryan and Eric.
Thomas Nowak, Vice President forAcademic Affairs/Academic Deanat Dominican University New York in Rockland County, NY, has served in multiple roles during his 28 years at the institution. He remains a member of the English faculty (Associate Professor rank) and was Department Chair from August 1995 through December 2005. In January 2006, he began serving as Director of the Arts & Sciences Division. In Fall 2007, he was asked to serve for a semester as interim Academic Dean, and was asked to take this on as a permanent position the following semester, Spring 2008. In addition to these administrative roles, Thom was the Director of the University’s Honors Program from 1994 through 2001, served three separate year-long stints as the Director of the University’s Writing Center, and chaired several faculty committees (Academic Standards, Faculty Affairs, and Rank & Tenure). Thom also served as a writer for two Middle States (MSCHE) accreditation reports and co-chaired three others. As Academic Dean, he has worked on reaccreditation self-study reports and site visits for seven separate professional programs, primarily in health fields.
Thom received his Ph.D. in English Language & Literature from the State University of New York at Stony Brook (fields of concentration: Renaissance and 17th-Century Literature, Medieval Literature, Composition and Rhetorical Theory). His dissertation was on “The English Gunpowder Plot Sermons, 1605 -1651.” At SUNY at Stony Brook, he held a full Teaching Fellowship for four years and taught various levels of composition courses under the mentorship of Peter Elbow and tutored in the University’s Writing Center. During this period, he also adjunct taught at Hofstra University and SUNY College at Old Westbury. Thom did his undergraduate work at the State University of New York at Binghamton where he earned his B.A. in Rhetoric and Literature and a Minor Certificate in Medieval Studies.
Thom currently lives with his wife, children Ruth and Max, and multiple pets (three cats, two fish tanks, and one snake) in Orange County, New York.
Sister Kathleen Sullivan, O.P. is a member of the Dominican Sisters of Blauvelt, NY. She currently serves as theChancellor for External Affairsat Dominican University in Orangeburg, NY and as a member of the University’sBoard of Trustees.She served as President of the University from 1987-1997.
Immediately prior to assuming the office of the President of the University, she served on the congregational leadership team of the Sisters of St. Dominic. For the sixteen years before her election to congregational leadership, Sister served in various capacities in Dominican University: as Assistant Professor of French, Director of Admissions and as Academic Dean.
Sister is a member of the Board of the Rockland Economic Development Council, the Workforce Development Board of Rockland County, the Rockland County Public Health Priorities Steering Committee and the Board of St. Peter’s Day Care Center(Yonkers, NY).
