Meet the Paraprofessional Team

Gina Torino, Interim Dean

Profile picture of Dr. Gina Torino, Interim Dean of the School of Social and Behavioral Sciences at SUNY Empire State College.Gina C. Torino, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Psychology, received her doctorate in Counseling Psychology from Columbia University in 2009.  She has authored numerous scholarly articles, book chapters and peer reviewed studies on the teaching strategies used to cultivate culturally competent clinicians; processes of White racial identity development; and the manifestation and impact of microaggressions.  She is a licensed psychologist in the state of New York.  For more information including a list of selected publications, blogs, and interviews, please visit: http://www.ginatorino.com/. 

Chanel J. Clark, Administrative Assistant

Profile picture of Chanel Clark, Administrative Assistant for the Paraprofessional Program.Chanel J. Clark joined the Paraprofessional team in July 2022.  She graduated from SUNY Empire in 2012, earning her bachelors degree in Interdisciplinary Studies.  Chanel also earned a master's degree in Business Administration from the Metropolitan College of New York.  As a proud alumni of SUNY Empire, she enjoys travelling internationally and counseling survivors of domestic violence.  She hopes to become an Adjunct Professor some day, in hopes to engage students in learning more about behavioral and personality disorders.  Mental health awareness is near and dear to her heart because she wants to help people fight depression. 

Alison Murray, Academic Advisor

Alison Murray is part of the Social and Behavioral Science Department as a Pre-enrollment & Academic Advisor to the Paraprofessional community.  Her areas of study include: a Bachelor's degree in Individualized Studies in Public Health at SUNY Buffalo State College, and a Master's degree in Social Work at CUNY Hunter College.  Prior to joining SUNY Empire, Alison has worked with mothers as a Program Coordinator at Forestdale Inc., and prior to that opportunity, she was an Advisor and Career Specialist in CUNY Kingsborough Community College.  Overall, Alison is adventurous at heart, and finds fulfillment in celebrating others and empowering them in overcoming challenges. 

Meet Our Mentors

When you enroll at SUNY Empire, you’ll be assigned a faculty mentor. Think of your mentor as a personal academic coach—a trusted advisor who learns your goals, talents and abilities and works with you one-on-one to develop them, from day one to graduation and beyond.

At SUNY Empire, mentors take the educational journey with you, helping you develop your personalized degree program, ensuring that you stay on course, and making sure you get resources and opportunities that move you forward at every step.

Learn more about mentors serving paraprofessional students at SUNY Empire following the links below:

Contact Us

For more information about the program, please contact Chanel Clark at chanel.clark@sunyempire.edu or (347) 695-9606, ext #1733.