New Faculty and Staff

Omayra Muñoz is a certified rehabilitation counselor and received her doctoral degree in counselor education from the University of Maryland, College Park, and her master’s degree in rehabilitation counseling from the University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras. She has worked extensively with Latinx, immigrant and Spanish-speaking communities as a bilingual mental health counselor and rehabilitation counselor. Her scholarly and collaborative interests include the acculturation process of immigrant and Latinx clients, the transition from high school to college for Latinx youth with disabilities and counselors’ commitment to social justice and inclusion. She’s looking forward to her new role as clinical assistant professor and, the year ahead at UB for herself, her husband, also a faculty member at UB as well as her daughter Yulisa, who is starting her second year of college.

Samuel Dodson joins the Department of Information Science after earning his PhD in library, archival and information studies from The University of British Columbia. He specializes in human-computer interaction and information retrieval to study how individuals learn and collaborate in online information environments. In his work so far, he has enjoyed investigating a range of issues in these areas, from the ethics of search engines to the information practices of engineers. He is interested in the implications of how people make sense of information, as well as the design of systems that support learners’ needs and potential. Samuel was drawn to joining the GSE community, inspired by its commitment to conducting highly interdisciplinary research and teaching and is looking forward to learning with students and colleagues.

Jennifer Dexheimer, BA ’09, MS ‘12, the new clinical coordinator for the rehabilitation counseling program, has a background in higher education and human resources and specializes in supporting the underserved and individuals with developmental disabilities. A UB and GSE alumna, she has a master’s degree in rehabilitation counseling and roots in Buffalo, where she lives with her husband, two young daughters and extended family.

Karen Herdzik, PhD ’08, will help students get hands-on clinical experience that aligns with their professional goals in her new role as the interim clinical coordinator for the counseling and school psychology program. Herdzik is herself a graduate of the program and has a private counseling practice. In her career, she has also worked at a pediatric rehabilitation center and as a psychologist in Nevada, North Carolina and Washington. After her many travels, Herdzik is glad to return to her hometown and, once again, enjoy the snow and a Buffalo winter.

Tammy Prosser, BA ’04, EdM ’10, the new clinical coordinator for the school counseling program, was a school counselor in local public and private schools and an adjunct lecturer in school counseling at Niagara University. Prosser, who is GSE alumna with a master’s degree in school counseling, is excited to join the GSE team and help shape the next generation of school counselors. In her spare time, she likes to bake, play softball, go to church and hike with friends.

Eduvijez “Duvi” Sanchez, a new admissions assistant, has worked as an admissions advisor and recruitment counselor at UB’s Educational Opportunity Center before joining GSE. She earned a bachelor’s degree in public relations and international relations from SUNY Fredonia and a master’s degree in higher education and student affairs administration from SUNY Buffalo State. She has a passion for admissions and higher education and helping students start careers in post-secondary and graduate education.