SUNY Levin Institute Staff

A lean team leads the development of the SUNY Levin Institute's programs. We work in a spirit of entreprenuership and with an understanding of the need for a competative response to globalization. We work with partners both local and global. The Levin team designs and delivers innovative programs that help New Yorkers meet the challanges of the 21st Century.

Thomas Moebus, Interim Director

Mr. Moebus joined SUNY Levin Institute in July 2006 and served as the Vice President. He previously served as Director of Corporate Relations at MIT, where he helped transform MIT's approach to industry through substantial partnerships with major international firms, and was instrumental in the creation of numerous international programs. He later was Vice Chancellor at the University of California, Irvine. More recently he founded a consulting practice in development and innovation, and co-founded and served as Executive Chairman of OCTANe, a Southern California technology development organization.

Maryalice Mazzara, Director of Academic Affairs

Dr. Mazzara received her doctorate in International Education from Columbia University. Prior to Levin, she was the Director of Education for Global Film Initiative, a non-profit organization promoting cross-cultural learning through the medium of film and was Education Attaché for the Government of Québec (New York office), responsible for Québec academic relations for the office’s region of eight states and DC. Dr. Mazzara was also Director of Teacher Training Outreach for The Harriman Institute’s (Columbia University) U. S. Department of Education’s East European, Eurasian, and Russian National Resource Center for ten years. Her consulting works include cross-cultural training programs for international corporations and education seminars for non-profits including the Soros Foundation in Mongolia and The Business Alliance in Vietnam.

Helene Rude, Director of Educational Programs

Ms. Rude joined Levin in January 2010 to lead Levin’s significant programs aimed at entrepreneurship and career transition – JumpStart NYC and FastTrac. Ms. Rude served previously at the IBM Corporation, where she was most recently responsible for Development at the IBM Executive Business Institute; a group that provided strategic education to IBM clients and IBM business units. In addition to her experience with executive education programs, Ms. Rude brings Marketing, Business Development and Operations expertise to her current role from her tenure at IBM. Helene earned a dual Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing and MIS from New York University’s Stern School of Business, and is a Certified Kauffman FastTrac Facilitator.

Fran Musolino, Program Manager, JumpStart NYC

Ms. Musolino joined Levin in October 2010. She previously served as an Event Manager for IBM’s Executive Business Institute, where she was responsible for managing executive education programs within IBM, as well as for outside clients. Ms. Musolino brings to Levin over 27 years of experience as an administrative professional with background in event planning, customer service, customer experience management, administration, operations and human resources.

Tricia Lapinski, Program Manager, FastTrac

Ms. Lapinski came to the Institute from Babson College, where she held a position as Operations Manager in the Graduate School MBA Center for Career Development. Prior to working in academia, Ms. Lapinski held positions at both a private equity firm and minor league baseball team. She has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst and is currently pursuing an MSEd in Higher Education Administration at Baruch College.

Rebecca Smolar, Project Manager, Global Workforce Project, Globalization101

Ms. Smolar has managed the Globalization101 Project since 2005, under its previous homes at two, DC-based think tanks, The Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Before managing the Globalization101 project, Ms. Smolar was an Officer of Public Affairs at the Embassy of Israel in Washington, DC, where she was responsible for the youth and education portfolio. Ms. Smolar has a Masters in International Communications from American University and a B.S. in Psychobiology from Binghamton University.

Jason Mellen, Project Manager; Executive Assistant to the Director

Mr. Mellen joined Levin in 2011 where he worked as the Project Manager for the New York in the World initiative. Before taking this position, he worked as a Graduate Research Assistant at Teachers College, Columbia University where he also received his masters degree in International Educational Development. Mr. Mellen received his bachelors degree from SUNY Fredonia in English Adolescent Education, where he also gained experience in the SUNY system through involvement in the Student Association, Faculty Senate, and Academic Affairs organizations. Mr. Mellen calls Victor, New York home and is proud to be from Upstate New York.

Irene Gashurov, Grant and Development Writer

Ms. Gashurov joined Levin in February 2010 as grant/development writer. Her development communications experience includes work as editorial director (Columbia University Medical Center; Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation) as grant/news writer (City University of New York) and as proposal/marketing writer (Citigroup). She has also worked for the national media as reporter (Fortune magazine), as copy editor (Time) and research librarian (Time Inc. Library). Irene holds advanced degrees in linguistics (Columbia University, New York University) and in library science (Columbia University). She has taught the Russian language and culture at Columbia, N.Y.U. and Indiana University.

The Levin Foundation:

Michael DiGiacomo, Secretary to the Foundation
Mr. DiGiacomo came to the Levin Institute in its start up phase, and served in various capacities in the building of the Institute. Prior to that, he worked in law and international finance, including positions at major Wall Street firms and service as the chief financial officer of a publishing company. He is a graduate of Yale College and Fordham Law School, where he has been an adjunct professor.