The Office of Student Success and Development is here for you from the moment you register for your first class until you receive your diploma. When you get accepted, you are paired with a coordinator who can assist you with overcoming personal barriers or just answer your questions. We often help students with navigating SUNY Empire systems and procedures, getting connected to resources, and understanding how to work best with your mentor. We offer workshops throughout every term, which you can learn more about on our website. In addition to our coordinators, we want you to get to know some of our “behind the scenes” team members who keep our office running smoothly. Some of these staff members you may speak with once for assistance, or you may work with them often and maybe you don’t even know. Hopefully getting to know our staff in this way will make you feel more comfortable reaching out to us for assistance! 

 

Meet Phillip Bruno, Administrative Assistant for Student Success and Development!

 
Background info: 

I work as an Administrative Assistant for Student Success and Development where I provide coverage for the inbox, studentsuccess@esc.edu and the main phone line, plus much more. I have a bachelor's degree in Psychology from Baruch College (1996). I am a lifelong New Yorker. 
 

How long have you been working here? 

I have been working for SUNY Empire since May 2017. I transferred here on a promotion from NYS Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, where I had started as an Office Assistant in April 1999. 
 

Where are you located? 
 
Manhattan location, 4 Park Avenue. 

 
What’s your favorite part of your job? 

I like being able to accomplish what I need to, whether it be helping a student and/or colleague. I especially enjoy this to help prevent students from being transferred from office to office if they have a question or are in need of further assistance.  Student Success recently took over processing reinstatements for first dismissals, and I enjoy that very much we well, as I did reinstatements when I originally started with Student Academic Services. 

 
If you were a potato, how would you like to be cooked? 

Mashed 

 
What is a fun fact you’d like to share? 

I love animals, especially cats. I love old movies, and I enjoy exercising when I can. 
 

What is a piece of advice that you would share with a student?  

• Do the best you can with the courses you are enrolled in. Make sure to stay in constant communication with your instructors and mentor. 
• Be sure to stay active in your courses so you do not get an administrative withdrawal (ZW). 
• Use all the resources we have available to you, such as Academic Support, Jumpstart workshops, workshops offered by Student Success, as well as our convenient drop-in sessions during office hours. 
• Always feel free to reach out to the Office of Student Success anytime you need help and guidance. Our Student Success coaches are really awesome.