Our Staff

(He/Him/His)—Senior Director of Student Leadership and Involvement

Andrade (Dre) Fearon brings 12 years of experience in strategic event planning, student leadership training, and staff development to his role here at The New School.

Before joining The New School as senior director of Student Leadership and Involvement, he served in multiple roles at Northeastern University, most recently as the assistant director of Student Engagement in the Center for Student Involvement. In this position, he worked closely with students and staff on logistics for creative and educational events and activities that aligned with the university’s mission.

Before working at Northeastern, Dre served as a graduate fellow in the Office of Student Activities and Leadership at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. Dre holds an MS in Higher Education Administration and a BS in Business Administration with a Concentration in Marketing from the University of Massachusetts Lowell.

(He/Him/His)—Director of First-Year Experience and Transition Experience

Aaron Harman is excited to continue his journey at his alma mater, The New School, as director of the First-Year Experience and Transition programs. His primary focus is developing a university-wide first-year experience program that engages students from the moment they commit through Orientation and throughout their first academic year. Aaron aims to foster a strong sense of community and belonging that supports students in making The New School their home.

With a broad background in student affairs, Aaron served in multiple positions at Iona University, most recently as director of Residential Life. In this role, he led a team of 7 professional staff members and 33 student leaders, overseeing more than 100 student workers. Aaron’s innovative program development model for Residential Assistants was instrumental in improving the student experience, fostering community, and cultivating a sense of belonging at the university.

Before working in higher education, Aaron gained valuable experience with industry leaders like Apple and Disney, nurturing his creative and energetic approach to student engagement. He holds an MS in Higher Education Administration from Drexel University, an MBA from Iona University, and a BA in Theater from Eugene Lang College of Liberal Arts.

Go Narwhals!!

(He/Him/His)—Associate Director of Orientation and Transition Programs

Meet Deric, a passionate and dedicated professional who brings an abundance of knowledge of and expertise in higher education to the vibrant community of The New School. With more than ten years of experience in various facets of higher education, Deric focuses on fostering a supportive and enriching environment in which students can thrive.

Deric's educational background speaks to his versatility and understanding of the modern student's needs. Armed with a degree in marketing, he honed his skills with a special focus on user experience, which enables him to approach his work with a keen eye for creating rich and inclusive experiences.

At The New School, Deric plays a pivotal role in the Student Involvement and Leadership team. His primary mission revolves around first-year student engagement and transition. Recognizing the significance of a smooth transition to college life, Deric is dedicated to fostering a warm and supportive environment for incoming students. Through thoughtfully designed orientation programs and a strong emphasis on community building, he aims to make every new student feel welcomed and embraced by the New School community from day one.

Deric's passion for promoting community is contagious. He firmly believes that a sense of belonging and connection with peers is crucial for personal growth and academic success. By encouraging student involvement in various extracurricular activities, clubs, and service opportunities, Deric helps students discover their passions, forge lasting friendships, and develop leadership skills that will serve them well beyond their college years.

(He/Him/His)—Associate Director for Recreation and Student Involvement

George oversees athletics, recreation, and fitness programs at The New School and is the head coach of the Narwhal soccer and basketball teams. George also advises the Dance Collective, the Volleyball Club, and several other student organizations and is in charge of the Fitness Room on floor L2 of the University Center. 

Before joining The New School in 2007, George graduated from the University of Delaware (go Blue Hens!). He earned an MA in Media Studies at the Schools of Public Engagement in 2012 (go Narwhals!).

(He/Him/His/El)—Assistant Director for Student Leadership and Involvement

Jose Gomez grew up in the Bronx, New York City, and was one of a few members of his family to receive both bachelor's and master's degrees.

Jose received his Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Rutgers University-Newark in 2015. His interest in higher education started with New Student Orientation during his undergraduate years at Rutgers University-Newark. He went on to Monmouth University to pursue his Master of Science in Education (MS Ed) in Student Affairs and College Counseling and graduated in 2017.

Jose brings to The New School almost nine years of experience serving students from diverse populations in areas including new student orientation, academic and career advisement, first-year experience, student life, and student conduct. He serves as assistant director of the Office of Student Leadership and Involvement. In this role, he is directly responsible for fostering a sense of community by developing and implementing social and community-building programming for New School students.

Jose is guided by his professional philosophy, which is “To see change, become it!” This philosophy is supplemented by his two core values, diversity and community building. As a proud Dominicano from the Bronx, his goal in Student Affairs is to enable more students from underrepresented communities to have opportunities and access to a college education.

(She/They)—Assistant Director of First-Year Experience and Transition Experience

Angelica serves as the assistant director of First-Year and Transition Experiences. Her main focus is supporting the development and execution of the Orientation Leader Program and creating engaging programs for incoming students. Angelica received her BA in Communication Arts from Ramapo College of New Jersey and went straight into her master's program at Montclair State University, in which she earned an MA in Higher Education Administration. While at Montclair, she served as a graduate student worker in Orientation Programs, Commuter Life, the Center for Student Involvement, and First-Generation Initiatives, programs in which she developed many of her skills. 

In her time at Montclair, she served on several conference committees in the professional development organizations NODA and ACUI and often volunteered her time supporting graduate students and professionals at these events. Angelica won Outstanding Graduate Student of the Year from NODA in 2024 for her commitment and dedication to the field of orientation, transition, and retention. As an undergrad, Angelica was an orientation leader (OL) herself, and she has now come full circle in her current role supporting New School OLs.

Angelica is a nerd at heart; she likes everything from anime to marvel to horror to comedy. In her free time, she enjoys watching movies, playing video games, and building gaming computers—of which she has created! If you see her on campus, be sure to say hello!

(They/Them/Theirs)—Assistant Director for Student Leadership and Involvement

BFA Illustration, Minor in LGBT Studies, Syracuse University, 2012
MA Higher Education and Student Affairs, University of San Francisco, 2018

I'm a trans and Queer higher education professional who has been working with art and design students in AICAD and NASAD schools for the past ten years. I'm an illustrator and tubist in theory and a self-care ceramicist and doodler in practice.

In my own art, I love exploring memento mori and Queer culture, history, art, and expression.

Taurus, INFJ, Restorative is my #1 Strength in Strengthsquest, Cat Mom, Baltimore Camp, Cultural Catholic, Balance Druid in World of Warcraft, I main Captain Falcon wearing Pink in SSB.