Our College Discovery Faculty and Staff members are here to help you.
Dr. Pedro Perez, Director
Email: pperez@bmcc.cuny.edu Phone: (212) 220-8154 Room: S-335A
Education: Associate Professor; B.S.W. Lehman College; M.S. Long Island University; Ed.D. Nova Southeastern University; NYS Licensed Mental Health Counselor
Memberships: American Counseling Association, NY Mental Health Counseling Association
Interest/Specialty: Solution focused in all areas of counseling and administration
Sport: One-wall Paddleball
Quote:”To achieve balance, nutrify the four dimensions: mental-physical-social/emotional-spiritual” (see Steve Covey)
COUNSELORS
Troy Brown
Email: trbrown@bmcc.cuny.edu Phone: (212) 220-8155 Room: S-335E
Education: M.S., Mental Health, Counseling, Mercy College; B.A. Forensic Psychology, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, CUNY; Provisional Mental Health License
Memberships: American Counseling Association; American Mental Health Counseling Association; Phi Gamma Mu
Interest/Specialty: Working with young males of color who come from socioeconomic deprived communities. Using CBT(Cognitive behavioral Therapy) and Structural family therapy allows me to help these young men to modify their current behavior and thought process, while identifying the significance of the role they play in their current family.
Sport: Playing basketball and working out
Quote:”The ever going battle of change vs. complacency, is only won by the rational and mature individual. With change comes growth”- Unknown.
Nelson Izquierdo
Email: nizquierdo@bmcc.cuny.edu Phone: (212) 220-8001 Room: S-335F
Education: M.S., Education, College Counseling, SUNY-College at Brockport; B.A., Psychology, SUNY-University at Buffalo
Memberships: American Counseling Association, American Counseling Association, Chi Alpha Epsilon (XAE) National Honor Society Member and BMCC Gamma Nu Chapter Faculty Advisor
Interest/Specialty: Academic success; adjustment/transition to college and life skills counseling; multicultural counseling, including LGBTQ and 1st generation college students; emotional/psychological issues, including relationship, couples and family counseling; bereavement (grief & loss); depression and anxiety counseling; crisis intervention and suicide prevention. Fluent in Spanish.
Sport: Member of the Metro Atlanta Coaster Club (Roller-coaster enthusiast)
Quote:”If you are not willing to learn, no one can help you. If you are determined to learn, no one can stop you.” – Zig Ziglar
Justyna Jagielnicka
Email: jjagielnicka@bmcc.cuny.edu Phone: (212) 220-8000; ext.7478 Room: S-335C
Education: M.A., Forensic Mental Health Counseling, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, CUNY; B.A., Forensic Mental Health, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, CUNY. New York State Licensed Mental Health Counselor.
Memberships: American Counseling Association, Chi Alpha Epsilon Alpha Xi Omega Chapter Honorary Member.
Interest/Specialty: Strategies for Supporting Immigrant Students, Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Prevention, Crisis Intervention, Academic Coaching, HS to College Transitions. CD Club Advisor. Fluent in Polish and Spanish.
Quote: “Next time someone says you are ‘too political,’ tell them silence is a political stance. It is a full throated endorsement of the status quo.”
Professor Vanessa Rozzelle
Email: vrozzelle@bmcc.cuny.edu Phone: (212) 220-8157 Room: S-335
Education: M.A., Counseling Psychology, Teacher’s College Columbia University; M.Ed., Vocational and Rehabilitation Counseling, Teacher’s College Columbia University; B.A., Psychology, Lincoln University, PA. HeartMath Certified Practitioner, Licensed Professional Counselor.
Memberships: American Counseling Association, American College Counseling Association
Interest/Specialty: Positive Psychology, mindfulness and stress management, personal development and self-care, adjusting to college life, student empowerment and academic success.
Adrian Solomon
Email: asolomon@bmcc.cuny.edu Phone: (212) 220-8159 Room: S-335D
Education: M.S.W., Silberman School of Work at Hunter College; B.A., The City College of New York, CUNY; Juris Doctorate at NY Law School.
Memberships: American Counseling Association
Interest/Specialty: Assist first generation college student cope with mental health, navigate personal relationships, and identify society stress factors while attempting to balance the stress of academia. Developing strategies to help students maintain health and wellness.
Bryce Tolbert
Email: btolbert@bmcc.cuny.edu Phone: (212) 220 8173 Room: S-340D
Education: M.A., Humanities and Social Thought, NYU; B.A. Psychology and Sociology, Temple University
Memberships: American Counseling Association
Interest/Specialty: Gender Politics
Sport: Crossift (Coach – L2)
Quote: “When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.”
ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT STAFF
Nahshon Baum
College Assistant
Email: nbaum@bmcc.cuny.edu Phone: (212) 220 8000 Ext. 5197 Room: S-335
Education: B.A., The Art of Communication & Literature, Baruch College, CUNY
Interest/Specialty: The Age of Social Media and the effect it is currently having on Millenials and will have on the next generation.
Pastime: Currently working on writing a book of Poems
Quote: “Life is really simple but we insist on making it complicated”~Confucius~, Langston Hughes
Jessica Rodriguez
College Assistant
Email: jesrodriguez@bmcc.cuny.edu Phone: (212) 776-7094 Room: S-335
Education: B.A., Hispanic Languages and Literature, Queens College, CUNY; A.A., Writing and Literature, Borough of Manhattan Community College, CUNY
Memberships: National Honor Society, Quill and Scroll, Sigma Delta Pi – Delta Alpha Chapter, Provost Scholar
Interest/Specialty: Help high school student transitioning into higher education; explore opportunities for immigrant students. Fluent in Spanish
Quote: “It is not true that people stop pursuing dreams because they grow old, they grow old because they stop pursuing dreams.” ― Gabriel García Márquez
