Office for Student Involvement LC Staff
The Office for Student Involvement staff is composed of professional staff members committed to developing student leaders and serving the Fordham University community.
Dorothy A. Wenzel, Ph.D.
Senior Director
Dr. Wenzel has been the Director since February 2006 after joining the team in August 2004. She directs the Office for Student Involvement and New Student Orientation. In addition, she is the adviser to the United Student Government at the Lincoln Center Campus. Dr. Wenzel has her doctor of philosophy degree from Fordham University in Educational Leadership, Administration, and Policy. She received her Master of Arts degree in Higher Education Administration from New York University's Steinhardt School. She graduated Phi Beta Kappa and summa cum laude from Loyola University in Maryland with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature.
Daniel Patterson
Associate Director for First Year Experience
Daniel joined the Office for Student Involvement staff in January 2009. In this role as Associate Director for First Year Experience, he oversees the New Student Orientation program, and supervises the Commuter Freshman Mentor program. In these capacities, Daniel supports the transition of new students to the Lincoln Center campus by helping them acclimate to all aspects of life as a college student in New York City. Prior to coming to Fordham, Daniel worked as a Resident Director in First Year halls at Loyola Marymount University, in Los Angeles, CA. Originally from the Midwest, Daniel grew up in Illinois, received his Bachelor of Arts Degree in English from the University of Iowa, and his Master of Science degree in Counseling and Student Personnel from Minnesota State University, Mankato.
Christina Frankovic
Associate Director for Student Involvement
Christina joined the Fordham staff in August 2010 as the Graduate Intern for Commuter Student Services, in May 2012, she became the Assistant Director for Programming and in December 2017 she became the Associated Director. Christina helps the 57+ clubs at the Lincoln Center campus with their leadership development and programming needs. She completed her Master of the Arts degree in Higher Education/Student Personnel Administration from New York University in May 2012, and received her Bachelor of Arts Degree in English from Fordham University at Lincoln Center in May 2007.
Melissa Gazal
Assistant Director for Programming and Coordinator of Alcohol and Other Drug Education
Melissa joined the Fordham staff in August 2019. As the head of the Alcohol and Other Drug Education program, she does preventative and alternative programming, trains student leaders on campus surrounding substance misuse and abuse issues and meets with students who have been referred for violation of the University's drug and alcohol policy. She also advises the student run club BeWellLC and the Wellness Educators, the Campus Activities Board, and guides various student clubs as they create programming initiatives and activities surrounding general health and wellness issues and topics pertinent to college students. She completed her Master of Education in College Student Affairs at Rutgers University in May 2016, and received her Bachelor of Arts Degree in History from Fordham University at Lincoln Center in May 2014.
Sandy Vargas
Office Manager
Sandy Vargas joined the Fordham staff in August 2008. She manages the day to day activities of the Office for Student Involvement. She provides administrative support to the Dean of Students as well as the staff, administers budget funds for the student clubs, provides club support, and supervises the student worker staff. Sandy is the advisor for SOL (Student Organization of Latinos). Sandy graduated with her bachelor’s degree in Organizational Leadership from the Fordham School of Professional and Continuing Studies.