Cassandra Verardi is a dedicated and accomplished professional with over 11 years of experience in higher education. She holds a Master of Arts in Higher Education Administration from The University of Akron, where she also earned her Bachelor of Arts in Business and Organizational Communication with a minor in Business Administration. Cassandra currently serves as the Associate Dean of Academic Support Services at York Technical College in Rock Hill, SC. In this capacity, she oversees three academic support service departments, including the Academic & Career Advising Center, Academic Coaching & Tutoring Center, and Library. Her leadership extends to managing College 101 First Year Experience course, and the College?s student success technology ? EAB?s Navigate 360. Cassandra plays a pivotal role in executing the college-wide student retention and completion plan, closely monitoring student success data and adjusting strategies as needed. Her commitment to fostering academic advising excellence is evident through campus-wide training initiatives and continuous improvement efforts. Prior to her tenure at York Technical College, Cassandra held the position of Director of Student Success Services & ZipAssist at The University of Akron. There, she established the ZipAssist Center to provide comprehensive support to students. Cassandra?s commitment to education is further exemplified by her previous roles, including Director of Student Success Services & ZipAssist and Admissions Counselor, her first professional role, at The University of Akron. She also worked with the Office of Alumni Relations to create an alumni volunteer program to support student success. Cassandra is actively involved in her community and currently serves as the DEI Council Co-Chair for York Technical College. She was a first-generation college student who has a passion for helping students and giving back ? just as she was helped and supported by staff and administrators during her time in college.