Advisor Biographies

PJ Dickson- Assistant Dean/Director, Academic Advising Center

 

Hometown: Saugus, MA

Undergraduate Degree & Institution: B.A., Colgate University, Sociology and African American Studies

Graduate Degree & Institution: M.P.S., Cornell University, Africana Studies; M.A., Brandeis University, American History; Ph.D. (A.B.D), Brandeis University, American History

PJ has mixed working in service to students with his personal studies since he was an undergrad himself.  In college, he served as a Resident Advisor and a Head Resident, leading a team of four RAs.  After college, he held professional positions in residence life at Emerson College and Tufts University before enrolling in graduate studies in American History at Brandeis University in 2002.  While taking graduate courses at Brandeis, he served as an advisor and mentor to a group of 10 students selected by Brandeis and the Posse Foundation to receive full tuition scholarships in recognition of their outstanding leadership skills.  In 2007, he began advising full time, serving first as the Advisor to the First Year Class, before being promoted to Director of Class Based Advising.  In December of 2012, PJ accepted the offer to move across town and fill the role of Assistant Dean of Academic Services & Director of the Academic Advising Center.  In addition to his work with Bentley students, PJ is currently working on his Ph.D. dissertation which focuses on the history of the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola, specifically examining continuity and change at the prison in the wake of the civil rights movement and the federal court's intervention in the governance of the prison in the 1970s.  He is also a novice wood turner, devoted husband, and an enthusiastic uncle and godfather.

 


Henrietta Genfi- Assistant Director

 

  • Campus Address:  Lindsay 21
  • Phone Number:  781.891.2092
  • Email Address:  hgenfi@bentley.edu

Hometown: Brooklyn, NY

Undergraduate Degree & Institution: B.A. Anthropology and English Literature; SUNY Plattsburgh

Graduate Degree & Institution: Master of Science in Education; University of Pennsylvania

Advising Interests: Working with diverse populations; Promoting campus diversity initiatives

Henrietta Genfi began working at Bentley in 2006, after completing her Master’s Degree at the University of Pennsylvania. Henrietta originally planned to work as a school counselor at an elementary school, but realized she wanted to work with college students after interning as an advisor while in graduate school. Henrietta enjoys helping students figure out how to coordinate all of the academic opportunities available to them at Bentley, and working closely with students who are struggling academically.  Her dedication to students and academic advising was publicly acknowledged when she was chosen by the National Academic Advising Association (NACADA) for an Excellence in Academic Advising Award in the New England region.  In 2011, she was promoted to Assistant Director of the Advising Center.

In her free time, Henrietta enjoys reading, watching movies, avoiding exercise, and eating. Henrietta is also interested in American Sign Language (ASL) and has worked as an ASL tutor in the past.


Melissa Jenkins- Assistant Director

Hometown: Billerica, MA

Undergraduate Degree & Institution: B.A. English/Secondary Education; Merrimack College

Graduate Degree & Institution: M.Ed. in Higher Education in Students Affairs; Salem State College

Melissa Jenkins joined the Academic Advising Center as a graduate intern in the fall of 2007 and spent the academic year immersing herself in the Bentley community.  Following her graduation from Salem State, Melissa accepted a full-time position in the AAC in July, 2008 as an academic advisor and was promoted to Assistant Director in 2011.

Prior to joining us, Melissa spent several years as an adjunct faculty member at Middlesex Community College.  Through her work and graduate program experience, she has developed a passion for advising students and assisting them in reaching their educational, career, and personal goals.  She has embraced the opportunity to continue her work with the students, faculty, and staff at Bentley University and was recently chosen by the National Academic Advising Association (NACADA) for an Excellence in Academic Advising Award in the New England region.

Outside of her work at Bentley, Melissa volunteers her time working with Robert J. Farrell Jr. Memorial Giving Fund and the American Cancer Society.   She enjoys reading, watching her favorite local sports teams and spending time with her family.


Meghan Charbonneau- Academic Advisor

Hometown: Peabody, MA

Undergraduate Degree & Institution: B.S.W; Salem State College

Graduate Degree & Institution: M.Ed. in Higher Education in Student Affairs; Salem State College

Meghan joined the Academic Services team in September 2009 as a graduate intern specializing in academic support services.  She worked very closely with the Peer Tutoring program, the Strategies for Academic Success seminar, and did one-on-one advising with students.  She accepted a position as a full-time advisor in September 2010.  Meghan enjoys working with each student to find a unique balance and combination of challenge, support, and motivation they need in order to succeed, develop, and flourish throughout their college career.

Outside of work Meghan enjoys reading, swimming, live music, watching movies, practicing yoga, spending time with her family, and going out with friends.

Amy Weber- Academic Advisor

  • Campus Address:  Lindsay 21
  • Phone Number: 781.891.2832
  • Email Address: aweber@bentley.edu
     

Hometown: Lexington, MA

Undergraduate Degree & Institution: B.A. Spanish; Tufts University

Graduate Degree & Institution: M.A. Teaching English as a Second Language; Pennsylvania State University

Amy Weber joined the Academic Advising Center at Bentley University in the summer of 2011.  She received her undergraduate degree from Tufts University.  While at Tufts, she took advantage of the Study Abroad program and spent a semester in Spain.  Initially planning on a teaching career, she went to The Pennsylvania State University to earn her Master of Arts in Teaching as a Second Language.  After teaching ESL for three years, she decided that she wanted to work with college students in more of an advising role than a teaching role.  She began work at Salem State College in 1996 as a Program Advisor in the Student Life Division.  Amy spent 9 years working full-time at Salem State, holding several positions within the academic administration.  In 2005, she left her full-time job to care for a new daughter, but she continued to work part-time at the college, as an academic adviser and as the coordinator of the Life Experience Credit program.   Since joining the Office of Academic  Services at Bentley University Amy has worked part-time as an academic advisor and works with the Peer Tutoring Program.  In her free time, Amy enjoys reading, traveling, watching movies, and spending time with her family.

Patrick Abate- Peer Advisor

Year: Senior
Major: Management
LSM:  Global Perspectives
Minor(s):  Finance and Psychology

Hometown:  Burlington, Connecticut

How did you pick your major:  I have always been interested in how dynamics of the workplace impact productivity and output.  Management has really provided some great insight into this.  I have also found the management major to be applicable in everyday life.

Favorite class you have taken at Bentley:  Negotiating (MG 360), Interpersonal Relationships in Management (MG 240), International Relations (GLS 116), GB 110, and Comparative Government (GLS 102)

Internship(s): Community Health Network of Connecticut (2009-2012), Fidelity Investments (2012)

Bentley student activities you have been involved in:  Study Abroad, First Year Seminar, Ski Club, and R.E.A.L.

Reasons why students should visit a peer advisor:  Course registration and college in general can be overwhelming and we have lived through it.  Visiting a peer advisor is a great way to get information from the source and from someone who has likely experienced some of what you may be experiencing or may have had some of the questions you have.

One piece of advice you have for students: Get involved on campus and make sure you keep a healthy balance between school work and social life.


Lindsay Connors- Peer Advisor

Year:  Bentley University Class of 2012 :: Current Graduate Student
Major: Accountancy
LSM:  Ethics and Social Responsibility

Hometown:  Norwood, Massachusetts

How did you pick your major:  After taking general business classes and learning the basics of accounting I realized that I enjoyed the subject.  I like working with numbers and know that I want to work in the corporate environment upon graduation.  When picking a major it was important to me that I choose something that I like and will continue to like throughout my entire career.  I also love to learn and feel that the accounting field is a place of ever changing polices and will provide me with jobs that will challenge and motivate me intellectually.    

Favorite class you have taken at Bentley:  GB 203: Managerial accounting.  203 is the class which confirmed that I wanted to be an accounting major.  I really enjoyed the subject and wish that it had been more than just half a semester.  The most interesting class I have taken at Bentley however was Native American Literature.  This class opened my eyes to a different culture and through it I read many interesting novels and short stories.

Internship(s): Boston Scientific

Bentley student activities you have been involved in:  I am a pledge of Beta Alpha Psi, will serve on the e-board next semester for the Catholic Campus Connection.  I also have participated in three semesters of service learning and went on the winter Habitat for Humanity project this past winter session with Bentley in Bridgeport CT.  I play intramural sports and also work in the Accounting Department here at Bentley!

Reasons why students should visit a peer advisor:  I think that peer advisors are great resources for students when they are choosing classes.  As a student that has utilized the peer advisors before even thinking about becoming one, I find it extremely helpful and personal to speak to a student who understands firsthand the issues that arise when students pick classes. 

One piece of advice you have for students: Do not take everything so seriously and get wound up about the small things; prioritize and always remember what is most important.

 

Ross Denkin - Peer Advisor

Year: Junior
Major: Actuarial Science
Minor(s): Finance, Management

Hometown: Newtown, PA

How did you pick your major: I like math and most other people don't! When I visited on Accepted Students day I was steered down the actuary path and they just added this major!

Favorite class you have taken at Bentley: Actuarial topics in Probability and Risk Management (MA 310), Discrete Probability (MA 243H) 

Bentley student activities you have been involved in: Intramurals, Volleyball Game event staff.

Reasons why students should visit a peer advisor: Students should visit a peer advisor if they have any questions about their future courses. It's nice to have a fellow student perspective on the issue, and an experienced one.

One piece of advice you have for students: If you can, study abroad!  There is little chance that you'll have the same opportunity again.

 

Daisy Fernandez - Peer Advisor

Year:  Junior
Major: Corporate Finance and Accounting (CFA)
Minor: Computer Information Systems (CIS)

Hometown:  Brockton, Massachusetts

How did you pick your major:  I felt in love with accounting when I was in high school, because I thought it was bookkeeping, which really help me grasp the concept of debits and credits, and journal entries. Hence, when I took major accounting courses I found them challenging, and interesting, which I really enjoyed.

Favorite class you have taken at Bentley:  I’ve enjoyed every class I’ve taken at Bentley because from each one I learned something new. For example, in Tools & Concepts in AC & FI (GB112), I really enjoyed working on the term project as it granted me with the opportunity to use the trading room and I found myself enjoying analyzing the information I gather. But my most favorite has been Problems of Philosophy (PH101) with Carolyn Magid. Indeed, this class helped me learn more about myself, and I really liked the readings she assigned and the debate issue as they were relevant and current.

Internship(s): eXplore participant at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, Launch Intern at Ernst & Young LLP

Bentley student activities you have been involved in:  America Clicks, Bentley Green Society, National Association of Black Accountants (NABA), Habitat for Humanity West Palm Beach Florida

Reasons why students should visit a peer advisor:  Choosing classes here at Bentley is a major deal, as if you get into the wrong class it can delay your expected graduation date. But when you visit with a peer advisor we help you avoid some of this stress, as we’ve been trained to understand the DAS, and more than likely these are classes that we’ve taken. ­­

One piece of advice you have for students: Visit your professor’s office hours. I can’t emphasize how important this is. Although the classroom sizes at Bentley are small in comparison to other schools, sometimes just going to class isn’t enough. Hence, going to your professor’s office hours will set you apart from your peers, and many other great things will come from it.

 


Caroline Janson- Peer Advisor

Year:  Junior
Major: Accountancy
Minors:  Law and Spanish

Hometown:  Kennebunk, Maine

How did you pick your major:  I come from a finance and accounting oriented family, which was my initial reason for choosing accounting.  However, I realized my passion for accounting in GB 112 and 212.  The strict guidelines and rule-oriented focus appealed to my strengths and learning styles and I found I really enjoyed the material. Each accounting class I have since taken has solidified in my mind that it is the career path I will continue to enjoy for years.

Favorite class you have taken at Bentley:  The Fiction and Film of Jane Austen with Dr. Moul is, by far, the best class I have taken at Bentley.  Dr. Moul is so engaged in the subject matter and makes the class discussion-based, open, and fun.  Despite the long reading assignments, presentations, and papers, I feel like none of my assignments are “work.”

Internship(s):  Audit intern at Berry, Dunn, McNeil, and Parker; Portland, Maine

Bentley student activities you have been involved in:  Beta Alpha Psi, Delta Sigma Pi, Bentley Green Society, First Year Seminar Co-Facilitator, and ACE Lab Tutor.

Reasons why students should visit a peer advisor:  Choosing classes, scheduling, choosing majors, minors, and LSMs…it all sounds so daunting, but it doesn’t have to be! We are students who have dealt with all of the above and more, and we can help you through it, too. We can’t tell you what to do and we know that our way won’t work for everyone, but we can give you our perspective and the knowledge we’ve learned since being at Bentley to help you navigate these four years on your own.

One piece of advice you have for students: Get involved in as much as you can throughout your college experience.  These four years are the easiest time in your life to join many different clubs and organizations—find your passion, meet new people, and have fun!


Kristen Longobardi- Peer Advisor

Year:  Bentley University Class of 2012 :: Current Graduate Student
Major: Corporate Finance and Accounting
LSM:  Quantitative Perspectives

Hometown:  Glastonbury, Connecticut

How did you pick your major:  I had the opportunity to intern in public accounting the summer after sophomore year and had a great experience.  I also really enjoyed my first finance class so CFA seemed like a good match for me.

Favorite class you have taken at Bentley:  I have enjoyed many classes that I have taken so far at Bentley, but my favorite would have to be EC 112 (Introduction to Macroeconomics) with Professor Tommasi.  Professor Tommasi is a great teacher and he really helped me stay up to date with current events.  The issues I learned in macro have helped me better understand the world economy as well as helped me in my business classes at Bentley.

Internship(s):  Fidelity, Boston, MA; J.H. Cohn LLP, Glastonbury, CT

Bentley student activities you have been involved in:  Tutor in the Economics-Finance-Statistics Lab, Volunteer for the 2+2=5 Program, 2009 Orientation Leader, and 2009 International Orientation

Reasons why students should visit a peer adviser:  I think it is important that students take the classes they want to take during their four years at Bentley.  Peer advisors can help students take the right classes from the beginning and give a student view of courses at Bentley.

One piece of advice you have for students: I believe students should go abroad at some point during their four years either for a semester or a short term program.  It is a life changing experience!