Director

Betsy C. Montañez has over seventeen years of recruiting, career counseling, and Veterans Affairs experience. Her expertise and “leadership by example” approach as an advocate, a mentor, counselor and facilitator has garnered her respect and recognition as a “go to” team leader.

Associate Director

Ida holds an MA in Higher Education Administration from Stony Brook University and a BBA in Business Administration from Berkeley College. She has over 20 years of experience in higher education. Her expertise is in student financials, academics and student veteran services.

Communications Strategist

Kevin Sparkowich is a communications strategist, Marine Corps veteran, and internationally-emerging artist. He holds a BFA from Parsons School of Design, and is a graduate of the Defense Language Institute. With a background in visual storytelling and a deep understanding of message development, he bridges thoughtful design with impactful communication.

Onboarding Coach

Marine Corps veteran with 9 years of experience working with a multitude of veteran service organizations, veteran offices in higher education, and corporate veteran hiring initiatives.

Web Developer

Chase Haynes is a web developer and designer who engineers thoughtful digital experiences from the ground up. With a BFA in Design and Technology from Parsons School of Design and five years of service in the Marine Corps, Chase approaches his work with both creative intuition and technical precision. He specializes in bridging the gap between design and engineering—crafting clean, high-performing websites and interfaces that balance aesthetics with usability.

Career Counselor

Lucie Piper, LMSW joins The New School with a strong background in workforce development, social work, and nonprofit leadership. With extensive experience supporting military families, veterans, and marginalized communities, Lucie brings a human-centered and equity-driven approach to her work. She is currently completing her Ph.D. in Integrative Social Work, with a focus on transition and its impact on military and veteran families. Lucie is excited to contribute to The New School’s mission of fostering socially engaged, innovative learning environments.