Meet the Team

Our team prepares students holistically through leadership development, co-curricular programming, community engagement, and dialogue around inclusion and diversity. We strive to create a community of learners that think critically and act responsibly both within the Stevens community and beyond.

To contact the Office of Student Life, please email student_life@stevens.edu or call 201.216.5206.

Leo Pedraza headshot updated 1.4.24Leo Pedraza, Ph.D. | Assistant Dean of Students | Director of Student Life

Email: lpedraza@stevens.edu

Dr. Leo Pedraza (he/him/his) joined Stevens in November 2018, and he has dedicated the last 20 years to helping students succeed in college. Dr. Pedraza earned his Ph.D. in Higher Education Leadership, Management, and Policy at Seton Hall University, an M.Ed. in College Student Services Administration at Oregon State University, and a B.A. in Communication Studies at Cal State Long Beach. He is originally a Southern Californian but has been an East Coast resident since 2002. Outside of work, he loves good food, traveling, playing volleyball, and lots of Disney Plus and HBO Max. 

Responsibilities:
  • Oversight of Student Life programs, organization policy, and operations

  • Budget oversight, financial approval, and contract negotiations

  • Liaison to arts & music organizations

  • Family Day, Senior Week Programs, Pre-Orientation, Ducks 4 Democracy Civic Engagement Initiative

  • Mediation, crisis management, and conduct hearings

Danielle Maxson HeadshotDanielle Maxson | Associate Director of Student Life

Email: dmaxson@stevens.edu

Danielle (she/her) rejoined the Student Life team In April 2022, after previously serving in the office from 2018-2021.  Before starting at Stevens, Danielle received her M.Ed. in Higher Education Administration from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and her B.A. in English and Educational Studies from Arcadia University.  Born and raised in Bayville, NJ, Danielle is a Jersey girl through and through. Outside of Student Life, you can find her baking up a batch of cupcakes, enjoying a Broadway show in the city, or eating all the pizza Hoboken has to offer!  Danielle’s areas of oversight in Student Life include:

Responsibilities:

  • New student and transition programs

  • Annual campus-wide large-scale events and traditions 

  • Leadership development initiatives

  • Student organization support and liaison to media, non-RSO organizations

  • Peer Leader Program

TBD | Assistant Director of Fraternity & Sorority Life

Email: 

Responsibilities:

  • Advisement to 21 Greek-lettered social organizations, 3 governing councils, and 2 programmatic councils

  • Oversee Primary Recruitment for three governing councils

  • Provides education on risk management, social events, hazing prevention

  • Serves as liaison between chapters and other students, campus partners, headquarters staff

Stephanie HiosStephanie Hios | Student Activities Coordinator

Email: shios@stevens.edu

Stephanie (she/her) joined the Student Life team in November 2023. Before starting at Stevens, Stephanie received her MA in Educational Leadership from Montclair State University and her BA in Psychology from Ramapo College of New Jersey. Stephanie is a social butterfly who loves engaging with students to plan their events and activities. Her friends would describe “Steph” as the hostess-with-the-mostest, always planning the next get-together. Outside of Student Life, you can find Steph coaching volleyball, eating ice cream, or searching for a new documentary to obsess over.

Responsibilities:

  • Advisor to the Entertainment Committee, Commuter Student Union, and Transfer Student Association

  • Administration of student engagement platform, DuckLink

  • Advisement of student organizations

  • Assist with annual campus-wide large-scale events and traditions 

  • Liaison to professional organizations

Tara RoachTara Roach | Leadership & Service Coordinator

Email: troach@stevens.edu

Tara (she/her) joined the Student Life team in December 2023! Tara earned her M.A. in Student Affairs in Higher Education from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and a B.A. in Psychology from Rider University. Tara loves helping people develop their leadership style and believes everyone can be a great leader. Outside of Student Life, you can find Tara with her nose in a book or teaching kickboxing classes, lifting heavy things, and playing billiards.

Responsibilities:

  • Oversee Leaders Impacting Technology (LIT) and Leadership Paths programs

  • Coordinate and support service and civic engagement opportunities

  • Peer Leader Program

  • Liaison to service and special interest organizations


Kathleen TizonKathleen Tizon | Student Life Administrative Assistant

Email: Ktizon@stevens.edu

Kathleen (she/her) joined Stevens in August 2021 and came to the Student Life team in January 2024. She earned her B.A. in English from Wesleyan University and her A.A. in Liberal Arts from Brookdale Community College. Kathleen grew up in central Jersey and vehemently claims that the best pizza is from Pete and Elda's in Neptune. Outside of work, Kathleen loves to go to the movies, bake Ube cookies for her friends, and play bass with her band. 

Responsibilities:

  • Office support and front desk operations

  • Recruitment, selection, and training of Student Center Assistants

  • Budgetary allocations, compliance, and financial transaction processing 

  • Training and advisement of Student Organization Treasurers

  • Liaison to recreational, electronics, and gaming organizations

 

TBD | Graduate Coordinator for Fraternity & Sorority Life

Email:

Responsibilities:
  • Co-advisement of fraternities and sororities

  • IMPACT Leadership retreat for Greek students 

  • Educational programs for new members of the Greek community

  • Risk management, social events, and hazing prevention