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Meet the EOF Staff

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Elizabeth O’Brien

Director Of The Educational Opportunity Fund Program

Phone: 732-571-3595

Education

  • B.S. in Child and Family Studies; State University of New York College at Oneonta, 2003
  • M.S.Ed. in Education Counseling; Monmouth University, 2011
  • Certificate in Professional Counseling; Monmouth University, January 2018

Biography

I am originally from New York where I lived in various parts of the state and even lived in Rhode Island for a short time before I moved to New Jersey. I joined Monmouth University in August 2006 working in Residential Life, Student Employment and now the Educational Opportunity Fund program. I have a strong passion for working with college students and helping them grow to follow their dreams. As a first generation college student my goal is to help ease the transition into college and assist others in navigating campus life. In my free time I can usually be found hanging out with my three children, husband, and golden retriever at the park or on the boardwalk. My hobbies include watching the NY Rangers, fishing, and spending time with family and friends.

Cassandra Figueroa

Cassandra Taylor

Assistant Director of the Educational Opportunity Fund Program

Education

  • B.A. in Communication, Journalism/Public Relations cluster; Monmouth University, 2014
  • M.A. in Public Policy; Monmouth University, 2016

Biography

I was raised in south Jersey and I moved to West Long Branch in 2010 after being selected for the EOF program at Monmouth University. I am a two-time Monmouth University graduate with a bachelor’s degree in Communication concentrated in Journalism/Public Relations, and a master’s degree in Public Policy focused in welfare policy. After graduation, I worked at a transitional housing program for homeless families in Monmouth County as the Assistant Program Coordinator, before rejoining the MU EOF program in February 2020 as a Counselor. In my free time I enjoy hiking, horticulture and reading. I understand the unique barriers our students face, and I plan to create an environment that will allow them to overcome their challenges and become successful MU graduates.

Ryan Csordas

Ryan Csordas

Counselor

Education

  • B.S. in Labor and Employment Relations; Rutgers University School of Management and Labor Relations, 2016
  • Master of Labor and Employment Relations (MLER); Rutgers University School of Management and Labor Relations, 2023
  • Certificate in Diversity in the Workplace; Rutgers University School of Management and Labor Relations, 2016

Biography

I am a proud first-generation, two-time graduate of Rutgers University, having attained a bachelor’s in Labor and Employment Relations and a master’s in Labor and Employment Relations from the School of Management and Labor Relations. I started working as a counselor for Monmouth University’s Educational Opportunity Fund (EOF) Program in March of 2023. Before coming to Monmouth, I worked for Rutgers University’s EOF programs for nearly five years (The School of Arts and Sciences Educational Opportunity Fund (SAS EOF) Program and Rutgers University – Newark’s Academic Foundations Center/Educational Opportunity Fund (EOF) Program). I also previously served as a union representative and bargaining team member (negotiator) for the Union of Rutgers Administrators – American Federation of Teachers (URA-AFT). I’m passionate about helping scholars get into college and serving as both an advisor and an advocate to ensure they can achieve academic, personal and career success. In my spare time you can usually find me along the shore spending time with my family and friends or making home repairs to my 1920s bungalow in Keansburg where I live with my wife, my daughter, our beloved chihuahua (Coco), a spectacled amazon parrot (Yippy), and our three cats: Luna, Grazie, and Midnight.  

Photo of Cherryl Guker

Cherryl Guker

Office Coordinator

Photo of Al Fure

Albert Fure

Tutor;
Math Specialist