Office of the Dean

Gioia Bales, Dean

Education:  MBA, Hofstra University

Discipline:  Finance

Email:  gbales@molloy.edu

Office Phone Number:  516-323-3090

LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/gioiabales

Office location:  Casey 103

Biography:

Gioia Bales’ professional background spans over forty years and includes experience as a university administrator, faculty member and financial services professional. Previously, Dean Bales was the Senior Associate Dean of the Frank G. Zarb School of Business at Hofstra University where she also held a faculty appointment in the department of finance teaching both undergraduate and graduate students. Dean Bales began her career in financial services at Salomon Brothers where she published extensive research on domestic and international fixed-income markets to institutional investors worldwide. While a faculty member at Hofstra, Dean Bales was engaged at Merrill Lynch as a senior consultant in their global fixed-income research department authoring major studies on bond market composition and structure. Community service is important to Dean Bales. She currently serves on the Zoning Board of Appeals for the Village of Lattingtown and previously was President, Trustee and Endowment Committee member of the Locust Valley Library. In December 2020, she was recognized as a Power Woman of Long Island.

Research Interests:

• Financial Services
• Investments
• Higher Education

Selected Publications and Presentations

Dawn DiStefano, Associate Dean and Director of Undergraduate Programs

Education: 

• Doctor of Professional Studies in Business, with a concentration in Marketing from Pace University

Disciplines:  Economics, Finance, Management, Marketing, Sport and Entertainment Management

Email: ddistefano@molloy.edu

Office Phone Number:  516-323-3096

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/dawn-distefano-02b6aab5

Office location: Casey Building, Room C103

Biography:

Dr. DiStefano became a full-time faculty member in Fall 2015 and now serves as the Associate Dean & Director of Undergraduate Programs.

Prior to joining Molloy, through hard work and commitment, Dr. DiStefano enjoyed a distinguished career at Nassau Community College where she began teaching as a full-time professor in the Marketing Department. She focused on her teaching, committee work, advisement, recruitment, and social responsibility as a faculty member. Her primary area of expertise is in Marketing and Management. In May 2011, Dr. DiStefano received a Service Learning award and later that same year was promoted to Executive Director of the Nassau Community College Foundation. In that role, her primary focus was to grow student scholarships, manage grants, special events, and various college-related fundraising initiatives. Dr. DiStefano successfully partnered with the President of NCC and faculty to pioneer the electronic offering of student scholarships fully online.

Before her transition to academia, Dr. DiStefano’s primary career was in banking and finance where she held a position as Client Service Specialist at Charles Schwab & Co., focusing on daily cashiering, transfer of accounts, and retention dealing with death and divorce. While serving in this role, she acquired her Series 7 and Series 63 licenses and later became an Investment Consultant at Fidelity Investments.

Dr. DiStefano also served as a Senior Gift Officer at the American Red Cross, heading up fundraising initiatives on Long Island reporting to the Chief Development Officer of the Greater New York Region. Well accomplished, she surpassed fundraising goals for their Annual Gala and secured a quarter of a million-dollar donation within her first three months of employment. This donation was renewed later that same year from the same organization equaling a half of a million-dollar donation.

Dawn holds a BBA degree in Business Administration from Hofstra University, where she was awarded the Top Scholar award of her graduating class, an MBA in General Business from Dowling College and a Doctorate of Professional Studies in Business, with a concentration in Marketing from Pace University, Manhattan campus.

Courses Taught:

• Capstone
• Consumer Behavior
• Marketing Analytics
• Digital Media Marketing
• International Marketing
• Organizational Behavior
• Human Resource Management
• International Business, Economics

Research Interests:

• Consumer behavior among various consumer populations

Selected Publications and Presentations

Sheila Curran Carrigan, Operations and Project Manager

Education:

• MBA, Molloy University
• BA, Villanova University

Email:  scarrigan@molloy.edu

Office Phone Number:  516-323-3075

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/sheila-curran-carrigan-mba-2839ba8b

Office location:  Casey 103

Sheila is currently the Operations and Project Manager in the Molloy University School of Business. She has worked in the School of Business for over ten years. Prior to Molloy, Sheila worked at Goldman Sachs and The New York Times. Sheila earned her undergraduate degree from Villanova University and, in December 2022, earned her MBA in Marketing. Sheila is proud to be a member of the first inaugural graduating class of Molloy University in January 2023.

In 2019, the School of Business embarked on candidacy for IACBE (International Accreditation Council for Business Education) accreditation. Sheila acted as Administrative Coordinator facilitating between faculty, school administration, and the accrediting body.

Sheila participates on many committees throughout Molloy University. She was elected as the Administrative Council Committee Officer at Large; elected as a member of the Health and Welfare Council Committee; and a member of the Professional Day Committee. Although these committees are important to her, Sheila feels that one of her most impactful contributions to Molloy is incorporating students with special needs from the MOST program into the School of Business and other offices at Molloy. The Molloy Opportunity for Successful Transition (MOST) Program is a three-year college experience program for individuals with developmental disabilities, combining classroom and internship experiences to build the skills for an independent adult life. 

Daiana Cepin, Undergraduate Coordinator

Education:

• Molloy University

Email:  dcepin@molloy.edu

Office Phone Number:  516-323-3120

Office location:  Casey 103

Daiana is the Undergraduate Coordinator for the Molloy University School of Business. Prior to Molloy, Daiana worked for more than 20 years in the hospitality and tourism industry primarily in New York City. She held managerial and supervisory positions within luxury hotels such as training manager and payroll specialist. Daiana prides herself in being recognized for her exceptional customer service skills, attention to detail, and reputation as a collaborative team player.

Daiana is a valued member of numerous committees at Molloy. She has been a member of the School of Business Mission Committee, the School of Business Strategic Planning Committee, the University Professional Day Committee, the University President’s Barbecue Committee, and several search committees. Daiana co-founded and is the current co-chair of the Latino/a/x/e Affinity Group, a subcommittee of the University Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee. Daiana worked with the Molloy University High School and Pre-College Coordinator to manage the highly successful 2023 School of Business Summer Business Boot Camp for rising high school seniors. Daiana loves to travel, spend time with her family, and binge-watch drama series.

Kisha Chandler, Business Career Coordinator

Education:

• Ed.D. Candidate, Molloy University
• MBA, Molloy University
• MS, Ed., Molloy University
• BA, Queens College

Email: kchandler@molloy.edu

Office Phone Number: 516-323-3081

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kishachandler/

Office location: Casey 103

Kisha Chandler is the Business Career Coordinator in the School of Business at Molloy University. In her primary role, she works with companies connecting them with business students, and leads workforce development activities targeting undergraduate and graduate business students. The career enrichment activities include Career Panels and partnering with professional groups such as the IMA of Long Island, HerSuite Spot, and HumanUptions to expose students to various careers and professional opportunities.

Kisha has been with Molloy University for 17 years. In addition to her duties, her other responsibilities include assisting in coordinating and developing new academic programs, creating and planning students' club activities, and various special events. Kisha piloted a successful badging program and leads the Excel certification for all business students. She is co-creating a Securities Industry Essential (SIE) program with sponsorship from Equitable Advisors.

Kisha is passionate about expanding access to higher education and helping prospective and current students navigate the college process and reach career success. As a result, she serves on the Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion committee, chairs the School of Business Badging Committee, is the Molloy Business Association Advisor, and is a member of various committees on campus. This year she co-founded and co-chairs the Latino/a/x/e Affinity Group. She has served as President of the Molloy College Staff Advisory Board from 2008-2010, The Common Reading Committee, and The Molloy Philanthropy Council. She has also coordinated international trips within the School of Business with the International Education Department. This partnership has included her chaperoning student trips to China, Japan, Portugal, & Germany and representing Molloy at academic conferences in Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Portugal, Greece, Italy, and Austria.

Before joining Molloy University, Kisha held several administrative positions in the corporate and non-profit sectors. She has also worked as a science, social studies, and essay writing instructor at Tutor.com for students in grades 4-12.

She is a member of the Sigma Beta Delta Honors Society, Kappa Delta Pi Honors Society, and AAC&U Future Leaders Society.

Kisha is also active in various civic, professional, and cultural organizations, including Prospanica, for which she serves as the VP of Education. She is a founding board member of 100 Hispanic Women LI, the 1st VP of the Metropolitan New York College Career Planning Officers Association (MNYCCPOA), and an IMA Long Island Chapter Board Member.

Course Taught:

• Business Communications
• MOS Certification
• The College Experience (FST)
• Global Research Seminar

Research Interests:

• Education Equity Gaps in Higher Education
• Project Management
• Career/Workforce Development

Selected Publications and Presentations

Lori Chiraz, Assistant to the Dean and Program Coordinator

Email:  lchiraz@molloy.edu

Office Phone Number:  516-323-3088

Biography:

Lori started her career as a pastry chef and pastry chef instructor throughout the New York City and Long Island area for almost 20 years. After a short transition through retail, Lori changed her career and started working at New York University Grossman School of Medicine. For the next 13 years, she worked her way up from project assistant to program manager. Today, she assists the Dean and coordinates various projects for the School of Business.

Jenny Doherty, Administrative Coordinator, Graduate Programs

Education:

• BA, Fordham University

Email: jdoherty@molloy.edu

Office Phone Number: 516-323-3079

Office location: Casey 103

Biography:

Jenny previously worked as a broadcast executive, holding senior-level positions at The WB Network, Family Channel Network and Turner Broadcasting Network. She began her career at Young and Rubicam as a Research Analyst after graduating from Fordham University with a BA in Communications.

Chelsey Bella Rose Jacobs, Administrative Assistant, Undergraduate Program

Pronouns: she/her/hers

Education:

• Molloy University

Major:

• Finance Dual Degree

Minor:

• Italian

Email: cjacobs2@molloy.edu

Office Phone Number: (516)-323-3083

Office Location: Casey 103

Biography:

Bella is currently an Administrative Assistant in the School of Business at Molloy University. Prior to joining the School of Business in 2023, she was a part of the Philosophy Department as a Work Study Administrator in 2019 when we were Molloy College. Before joining Molloy, she held an administrative position at Blacktop Unlimited in Wantagh, New York with roles and responsibilities that relied heavily on phone and email etiquette. Previous employers have complimented her strong communication skills and her expertise in social media. Bella’s skillset in digital marketing stems from her experience in Content Management roles for a variety of Marketing and Public Relations agencies, as well as in house for The CatholicPsych Institute in NYC. A native to Rockville Centre, Bella has been a student with us at Molloy since her first high school Art Academy class at age 16. In her free time, she enjoys staying active with activities such as hiking and pilates.

Valentina Masiello, Undergraduate Coordinator

Education:

• MBA, Molloy University

Email: vmasiello@molloy.edu

Office Phone Number: 516-323-3077

Office location: Casey 103

Biography:

Valentina has been at Molloy University since 2010, when she began her career in higher education working with the Enrollment Management team. In May 2018, she graduated with her MBA in Marketing and accepted membership in the Molloy Chapter of Sigma Beta Delta. She has since joined the ranks of the School of Business as the Undergraduate Coordinator. In her new role, Valentina takes pride in helping students shape a successful path that allows them to benefit from the many attributes of the Molloy program while guiding them to graduating on time. Her vast knowledge of higher education and specifically Molloy University’s program ensures they achieve their educational goals. Her natural ability to cultivate relationships has given her the opportunity to assist the School of Business with recruitment efforts. Valentina is a professor in Freshman Studies and serves on the FST Task Force.

Valentina loves spending her free time with friends and family, especially her three children and two beautiful grandchildren. She has always enjoyed a healthy lifestyle and most recently began practicing yoga. She loves a good book and just may give Pickleball a shot!

Maurisa Singh, MBA Administrator

Education:

• MBA, Molloy University
• BS, St. John’s University

Email: msingh2@molloy.edu

Office Phone Number: 516-323-3100

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maurisa-s-a2166255

Office location: Casey 103

Biography:

Maurisa is currently the MBA Administrator in the Molloy University School of Business, where she has been working for the past 4 years. With previous experience at Raymond James and JP Morgan Chase, Maurisa brings valuable expertise to her role. She holds an undergraduate degree from St. John’s University and earned her MBA in Marketing from Molloy University in December 2021. Maurisa is proud to have been part of the DEI committee at Molloy University since 2022.

In addition to her role as MBA Administrator, Maurisa serves as the Treasurer of the Working Mother Affinity Group and is an active member of the Professional Day Committee in 2023. She is dedicated to helping students achieve their goals and provides them with the encouragement they need to pursue their ambitions.