Meet the Staff

Edward J. Connor '92

Edward J. Connor '92

• Dean of Admissions
• Class of 1992

Regional responsibilities: Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands

Julie Chapman

Julie Chapman

• Senior Associate Director of Admissions

Originally from Westborough, MA, I hold a Bachelor of Arts in Social Work from the University of New Hampshire. As a City Year Boston corps member and education volunteer at the New England Aquarium, I discovered I really enjoyed mentoring high school students as they began the college search process. I have been at WPI and lived in Worcester for over 10 years and have loved every minute of it. Worcester is a great college town! I'm a fan of the restaurants, the Hanover Theatre, the art museum, the Ecotarium, and the many state parks within a half hour from home. When I'm not hanging out in the Admissions Office, I'm probably still on campus with my little boys. Robots, rockets, video games, racecars, NASA events...they think WPI is the coolest place ever!  And I do too.

Emily Cox

Emily Cox

• Assistant Director of Admissions

I hail from Simsbury, Connecticut, but spent around 7 years in the Southeast. I received my BA from Wake Forest University and worked for 3 additional years in Charleston, SC. I missed shoveling so much that I returned to my native New England to join WPI Admissions in 2010. When I have the time, you can find me skiing at Mt. Wachussett, taking classes at the Worcester Art Museum, or rowing on Lake Quinsigamond. I am known in the office being eager to travel anywhere they will send me.

Regional responsibilities: Alabama, Arizona, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, New Mexico, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, West Virginia

Donelle Durham

Donelle Durham

• Assistant Director of Admissions

Originally from the Southern region of the United States, college brought me here to the northeast and I've been making snow angels ever since! College admissions has always been a passion of mine as I stumbled through the process as a high school senior. I am now fortunate enough to be able to assist students like myself who are interested in obtaining a college degree and attending an institution that will leave a lasting impact on their lives. If you're like I was in high school, currently stumbling through the admissions process, feel free to send me an email for some help, I'd be happy to speak with you.

Regional responsibilities: Connecticut, Florida, Massachusetts

Adam Epstein '05

Adam Epstein '05

• Associate Director of Admissions
• Class of 2005

I have worked in the Admissions Office since 2007 and earned both bachelor's and master's degrees from WPI. While my job focuses on bringing students to WPI, my favorite time on campus is actually graduation when we see the results of our—and more importantly their—hard work. When not working you are likely to find me listening to Bruce Springsteen (ok, usually while working too), watching Seinfeld or sports, training for marathons, or making spontaneous travel plans. Like XKCD? Me too (#214).

Regional responsibilities: Alaska, California, Colorado, Delaware, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, Wyoming

Kaitlin Gentile

Kaitlin Gentile

• Senior Assistant Director of Admissions

I'm originally from Candia, NH and completed by Bachelor's degree in English at Providence College in 2003. With the goal of working in higher education, I completed my Master's degree in School Counseling at Rivier College in 2007. Though I come from a very different educational background than our applicants, I really enjoy working with the kinds of students who apply to WPI. When I'm not busy reading your applications, I'm trying to stay active. I'm an amateur runner, I've hiked 23 of the 67 "four thousand footers" in New England, I try to ski when I can, and I'm a Padi-certified scuba diver. But let's face it: when it's really cold outside, I'm often reading at home on the couch.

Regional responsibilities: Arkansas, Massachusetts, New York, Oklahoma, Texas

Transfer candidates: last names beginning A-L

Karen Goudey

Karen Goudey

• Associate Director of International Admissions

I have worked in international student admissions for over 13 years. I've been at WPI since 2005 – and in the undergraduate admissions office since 2006. I hold a Master of Arts in Intercultural Relations from Lesley University and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and French Studies from Smith College. I've been lucky enough to spend three years living abroad – as a high school exchange student in Croatia (then Yugoslavia), on my junior year abroad in Geneva, and then a year after I graduated from college in Germany (the year the Wall came down!). I enjoy traveling to new places, meeting people, and trying all the wonderful kinds of food the world has to offer! When I'm not traveling, I love spending time with my family and friends – including our four-legged family members: two dogs, two cats, a bearded dragon and a ferret!

Regional responsibilities: Asia, Middle East

Jason Laperriere

Jason Laperriere

• Senior Assistant Director of Admissions

I am a proud Bay Stater happy to have called Massachusetts home for my entire life. I grew up in Gardner, Massachusetts, and graduated from college with my Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology. While I loved studying the sciences, I found my true passion working in the Admissions Office at my alma mater as a student tour guide and was ecstatic to join the WPI Admissions team in 2007. My favorite part of the job is meeting prospective students and helping them learn more about WPI followed closely by all the great travel I get to do during fall recruitment season—my itinerary brings me to many US states and other countries! When I'm not working, you might find me training for my next marathon (Boston 2013!) or watching my favorite TV show, Glee, or at the Boston Museum of Science checking out the latest exhibits.

Regional responsibilities: Maine, New Hampshire, New York; Canada, Europe

Eliza Laurent

Eliza Laurent

• Senior Assistant Director of Admissions

I came to the Admissions Office in 2009 after having worked in a corporate setting for nearly 4 years and I have never looked back. One of my favorite events on campus is Quadfest, when all of the students are enjoying the warm springtime weather. But when I am not on campus, I am outside doing something! Whether it is playing golf with my husband in the warm weather or playing paddle tennis with friends in the winter, New England is a wonderful place to be active no matter the season.

Regional responsibilities: Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania

Julie Loveless

Julie Loveless

• Senior Assistant Director of Admissions

After growing up in Northampton, MA, and graduating from college in New Hampshire, I took a leap and moved to Asia to teach English. While there, I discovered that I love working with college students, so I came back to the States and counseled international students on the college admissions process. I wanted to see how admissions worked from the inside so I came to WPI, where I'm working with both international and domestic applicants. In my free time, I like to cook, garden, travel, camp, hike, or catch a concert.

Regional responsibilities: District of Columbia, Guam, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Ohio, Virginia, Wisconsin, AE/AP/AA; Bangladesh, Caribbean, India, Latin America, Nepal, Pakistan

Jenna Noel-Grinshteyn

Jenna Noel-Grinshteyn

• Assistant Director of Admissions

My background is in secondary education where I always loved the interaction with students in the middle and high school grades. I have been in the Admissions field for over 5 years. I am passionate about my work in higher education because we are able to teach and mentor students who are looking to continue their education after high school. Here at WPI, I am constantly amazed by what the students do academically as well as socially. I have a great view of campus where I can see all the activity happening on the quad from my office. Whether students are out playing frisbee, walking a tight rope, bouncing in a jumping house for charity, or just taking a few minutes out of the day to relax, it’s always great to see such vibrant life on campus.

Regional responsibilities: Connecticut, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, New Jersey, New York

Transfer candidates: Last names beginning M-Z

Sue Sontgerath '88

Sue Sontgerath '88

• Assistant Director of Admissions
• Class of 1988

I am originally from Western Massachusetts but now live in the Worcester area. I am a WPI alumna with a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering. I am currently working on a Master of Education degree at Worcester State University. While working as engineer, I had some incredible opportunities which included working for companies that manufactured everything from space shuttle parts for NASA to carbineers for mountain climbing. After taking some time off to raise my children, I returned to WPI in 2008, which was bit like coming home for me.  I am very proud of the commitment WPI has made not only to a superb education for our current students, but also to educating younger K-12 students about the exciting opportunities in available in science and engineering. In my spare time, when I am not taxiing children to a sporting or school event, I love reading, hiking (especially in the awesome New England fall) or spending time on the Cape with my family.

Regional responsibilities: Massachusetts

Quontay Turner '11

Quontay Turner '11

• Assistant Director of Admissions
• Class of 2011

Before coming back to work full time at WPI in the fall of 2012, I worked in the construction management and environmental consulting fields. I hold two bachelors in Civil Engineering and Environmental Studies from WPI, but my love for the school and working with students has brought me to admissions as I pursue a Masters in Higher Education. When I'm not exploring my hometown of Boston or traveling, you can find me munching on chocolate while watching movies or football—go Pats!

Regional responsibilities: Georgia, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Vermont