Dr. Shea has been an assistant professor and the coordinator for the school building leader and school district business leader programs at Saint Rose since 2018, and has been an assistant professor at The Sage Colleges since 2014. She has worked as an assistant superintendent, director of curriculum and instruction for grades K-12 and K-5, and principal at various school districts in the Capital Region and Central New York since 1992. Her teaching interests include organizational systems, change theory in organizations, social capital, and leadership theory and practices, and she has conducted research on teacher leadership and building social capital.
Dr. Jennifer Avery is an Associate Professor in the Educational Leadership Program at The College of Saint Rose. She is currently teaching EDA 591: Critical Issues in School Business Leadership.
Dr. Avery has served the Otsego Northern Catskills BOCES as the Deputy Superintendent for the last nine years. Before this role, she was the Assistant Superintendent for Management Services for five years. Bolton also spent three years as the Director of Finance at Erie 2CC BOCES in Western New York and three years as the District Treasurer for the Cold Spring Harbor School District on Long Island.
In addition to her work for the BOCES, Jennifer Avery has taken on several leadership roles with organizations in the school finance world. She participated in the creation of the SBDL certification exam and Part 83 panel for the State Education Department. In 2016, she received a National Award for her work with data analytics from the Forecast5 organization. Dr. Avery also served on the NYSASBO Board of Directors for seven years and was president of the state organization in 2010. She went on to serve on the ASBO international board for four years, making many visits to see the workings of school finance in states across the country. Dr. Avery now services on both the New York Liquid Asset Fund Board of Directors and the NYSIR Board of Governors. She is still actively involved in NYSASBO, having been asked to lead the membership committee, serve on the government relations committee, coordinate the BOCES strand at the SBMW and teach in the NYSASBO Leadership Academy each year.
Dr. Avery is a graduate of the School of Management at the University at Buffalo. She received her SBA from Long Island University and her Doctorate from Dowling College in 2005. Her research was focused on the relationship between the use of technology by the school business official and the financial efficiency of the school district.
Instructor Michael Vespi, who has taught at Saint Rose since 2018, is a senior analytics advisor with Forecast5 Analytics, working with school districts all over New York State, assisting with long-range financial planning and data analytics. Vespi has also taught for LeMoyne College and has over 20 years of experience working in public education, serving as an assistant superintendent for business services and as a teacher in the Syracuse area.
He holds a B.S. in Business/Public Management from SUNY Polytechnic Institute Utica/Rome, M.S. in Special Education from Syracuse University, and a CAS in Educational Administration from Oswego State University of New York.
Dr. Shea has been an assistant professor and the coordinator for the school building leader and school district business leader programs at Saint Rose since 2018, and has been an assistant professor at The Sage Colleges since 2014. She has worked as an assistant superintendent, director of curriculum and instruction for grades K-12 and K-5, and principal at various school districts in the Capital Region and Central New York since 1992. Her teaching interests include organizational systems, change theory in organizations, social capital, and leadership theory and practices, and she has conducted research on teacher leadership and building social capital.
Dr. Jennifer Avery is an Associate Professor in the Educational Leadership Program at The College of Saint Rose. She is currently teaching EDA 591: Critical Issues in School Business Leadership.
Dr. Avery has served the Otsego Northern Catskills BOCES as the Deputy Superintendent for the last nine years. Before this role, she was the Assistant Superintendent for Management Services for five years. Bolton also spent three years as the Director of Finance at Erie 2CC BOCES in Western New York and three years as the District Treasurer for the Cold Spring Harbor School District on Long Island.
In addition to her work for the BOCES, Jennifer Avery has taken on several leadership roles with organizations in the school finance world. She participated in the creation of the SBDL certification exam and Part 83 panel for the State Education Department. In 2016, she received a National Award for her work with data analytics from the Forecast5 organization. Dr. Avery also served on the NYSASBO Board of Directors for seven years and was president of the state organization in 2010. She went on to serve on the ASBO international board for four years, making many visits to see the workings of school finance in states across the country. Dr. Avery now services on both the New York Liquid Asset Fund Board of Directors and the NYSIR Board of Governors. She is still actively involved in NYSASBO, having been asked to lead the membership committee, serve on the government relations committee, coordinate the BOCES strand at the SBMW and teach in the NYSASBO Leadership Academy each year.
Dr. Avery is a graduate of the School of Management at the University at Buffalo. She received her SBA from Long Island University and her Doctorate from Dowling College in 2005. Her research was focused on the relationship between the use of technology by the school business official and the financial efficiency of the school district.
Instructor Michael Vespi, who has taught at Saint Rose since 2018, is a senior analytics advisor with Forecast5 Analytics, working with school districts all over New York State, assisting with long-range financial planning and data analytics. Vespi has also taught for LeMoyne College and has over 20 years of experience working in public education, serving as an assistant superintendent for business services and as a teacher in the Syracuse area.
He holds a B.S. in Business/Public Management from SUNY Polytechnic Institute Utica/Rome, M.S. in Special Education from Syracuse University, and a CAS in Educational Administration from Oswego State University of New York.
Michele Jones is an adjunct professor at Saint Rose teaching school law for both SDBL and SBL CAS programs. A 2004 honors graduate of Albany Law School, she is currently a school attorney at Capital Region BOCES where she provides legal advice to the board of education on education issues, including Medicaid compliance and labor relations.
She regularly contributes articles to the “School Administrator,” a monthly commentary published by the American Association of School Administrators, for school system leaders. She is a member of the New York State Bar Association, the New York State Association of School Attorneys, the New York State Association of Management Advocates for School Labor Affairs, and the National Council of School Attorneys.
Throughout her legal career, Michele has been a passionate advocate for children, and the developmentally disabled, and has worked to influence positive changes in legislative policy on education and guardianship issues.
Christopher Abdoo, who has been an adjunct professor for Saint Rose since July of 2019, is the assistant superintendent for support services at the Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake Central School District. Prior to his current role, Abdoo has served as the director of business & finance for the Rome City School District, the business administrator for the Frankfort-Schuyler Central School district, a teacher at the New Hartford Central School District, and an accountant/auditor for Ernst & Young LLP’s Manhattan office.
He holds a B.S. in Accounting from Binghamton University, a M.S. in Social Studies Education from Syracuse University, a C.A.S. in Educational Administration/Leadership from the State University of New York College at Cortland, and a Doctorate of Education from the Sage Colleges.
Dr. L. Oliver Robinson has taught at the College of St. Rose since the Spring of 2019. He serves as the Superintendent of Schools for the Shenendehowa Central School District since July of 2005.
Dr. Robinson is the author of “Naked in the Public Eye – Leading and Learning in an Era of Accountability.” The book provides a practical road map to success and illuminates the mental and emotional fortitude needed in leadership positions.
Dr. Robinson received a B.A. in Business Economics and Organizational Behavior & Management from Brown University. He received a master’s degree and a Doctor of Philosophy degree (Ph.D.) from the University at Albany.
Michele Jones is an adjunct professor at Saint Rose teaching school law for both SDBL and SBL CAS programs. A 2004 honors graduate of Albany Law School, she is currently a school attorney at Capital Region BOCES where she provides legal advice to the board of education on education issues, including Medicaid compliance and labor relations.
She regularly contributes articles to the “School Administrator,” a monthly commentary published by the American Association of School Administrators, for school system leaders. She is a member of the New York State Bar Association, the New York State Association of School Attorneys, the New York State Association of Management Advocates for School Labor Affairs, and the National Council of School Attorneys.
Throughout her legal career, Michele has been a passionate advocate for children, and the developmentally disabled, and has worked to influence positive changes in legislative policy on education and guardianship issues.
Christopher Abdoo, who has been an adjunct professor for Saint Rose since July of 2019, is the assistant superintendent for support services at the Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake Central School District. Prior to his current role, Abdoo has served as the director of business & finance for the Rome City School District, the business administrator for the Frankfort-Schuyler Central School district, a teacher at the New Hartford Central School District, and an accountant/auditor for Ernst & Young LLP’s Manhattan office.
He holds a B.S. in Accounting from Binghamton University, a M.S. in Social Studies Education from Syracuse University, a C.A.S. in Educational Administration/Leadership from the State University of New York College at Cortland, and a Doctorate of Education from the Sage Colleges.
Dr. L. Oliver Robinson has taught at the College of St. Rose since the Spring of 2019. He serves as the Superintendent of Schools for the Shenendehowa Central School District since July of 2005.
Dr. Robinson is the author of “Naked in the Public Eye – Leading and Learning in an Era of Accountability.” The book provides a practical road map to success and illuminates the mental and emotional fortitude needed in leadership positions.
Dr. Robinson received a B.A. in Business Economics and Organizational Behavior & Management from Brown University. He received a master’s degree and a Doctor of Philosophy degree (Ph.D.) from the University at Albany.
Professor Lin A. Severance, who began teaching at Saint Rose in the Spring of 2019, is the Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources at Guilderland Central School District. Dr. Severance co-presents the Personnel Academy I & II annually at the state conference of the New York State Association of School Personnel Administrators.
She holds a B.S. from SUNY Geneseo, a M.S. from University at Albany in Educational Psychology & Statistics and a Ph.D. from Texas A&M University in Educational Administration.
Professor Lin A. Severance, who began teaching at Saint Rose in the Spring of 2019, is the Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources at Guilderland Central School District. Dr. Severance co-presents the Personnel Academy I & II annually at the state conference of the New York State Association of School Personnel Administrators.
She holds a B.S. from SUNY Geneseo, a M.S. from University at Albany in Educational Psychology & Statistics and a Ph.D. from Texas A&M University in Educational Administration.
