DIVISION OF STUDENT LIFE & ENROLLMENT
APPOINT INTERIM POSITIONS
Interim Assistant Vice President for Student Life
Interim Assistant Vice President for Enrollment
The Division of Student Life and Enrollment has named Cynthia Costanzo as the Interim Assistant Vice President for Student Life (AVPSL) and Mona Lucas as the Interim Assistant Vice President for Enrollment (AVPE), effective May 17, 2024.
In the role of Interim AVPSL, Cyndi Costanzo will partner with senior administration to establish division-wide priorities and assessment strategies to enhance the Student Life programs and services. She will also provide leadership and supervision for the following departments: Community Standards, Residential Life, Student Union & Event Services, and UConn Recreation. In addition to working with leaders across these and other areas, Cyndi will serve a critical role in engaging students where they experience challenges and/or emergencies as they navigate these services.
Costanzo has served as the Executive Director of UConn Recreation for 12 years. During this time, she joined University stakeholders in the design, development, and construction of the University’s 200,000-square-foot Student Recreation Center. The facility was recognized as a 2021 NIRSA Outstanding Facility, 2021 Athletic Business Facility, and the 2020 AGC Build CT large new construction award of merit.
Cyndi had a brief career in corporate wellness before joining UConn. From 1993 to 2012, she worked at Western New England College (University) in various roles, including recreation and collegiate athletics. Eventually, she became the Senior Associate Director of Athletics and the first Senior Women Administrator.
Cyndi serves as a member of UConn’s JED Campus Committee, as a board member for the Hartford Marathon Foundation, a board member of the Ellington Recreation Commission, and previously served on the Promising Practices Workgroup, a subcommittee of the NIRSA Wellbeing Taskforce. Additionally, she has contributed to Campus Rec magazine on leadership, management, well-being, and the value of work. She has presented regionally and nationally and coauthored with her husband, Paul, on topics including health and wellbeing and the value of recreational activities to enhance community wellbeing.
Costanzo graduated from the University of Connecticut in 1998 with a Bachelor of Science in Sports Medicine/Athletics Training and in 1990 with a Master of Art in Biophysical Science.
Cyndi is honored to accept this new position as we work collaboratively to build a community of belonging and well-being.
As the Interim AVPE, Mona Lucas will play a pivotal role in overseeing the departments of Admissions and Student Financial Aid Services, ensuring the recruitment, admission, and financial aid processes align with the university's strategic enrollment goals.
Mona has been a part of the university administration for 19 years, starting as the Director of Student Financial Aid Services from 1994 to 2001 and later from 2012 to spring 2017. Since 2017, she has served as the Assistant Vice President for Enrollment Policies and Strategic Initiatives. In this role, she advises the Vice President for Student Life and Enrollment on policy and legislative matters pertaining to Enrollment Management. Furthermore, Mona acts as a liaison between the Office of the Vice President and Governmental Affairs, the UConn Foundation for Scholarships, Hartford Promise, New Haven Promise, Waterbury Promise, and other community-based organizations.
Lucas began her career as a Financial Aid Peer Counselor while pursuing an undergraduate degree at Kansas State University. Since then, she has held several financial aid management and leadership positions at two-year and four-year public and private institutions, as well as a position in the Higher Education Practice Group of a Washington, DC-based law firm.
Mona serves as an active member of the CT College and Career Readiness Work Group (CT Postsecondary Student Success), Hillel International Campus Climate Initiative, University Compliance Committee, Retention and Graduation Task Force (co-chair), Strategic Enrollment Planning Committee, Survey Governance Workgroup, and the Student Welfare Committee of the University Senate.
Lucas earned a Bachelor of Science in Social Work from Kansas State University, a Master of Education in Administrative and Policy Studies from the University of Pittsburgh, and leadership/management certificates from Cornell University.
Mona is grateful to accept this new position as we continue to work towards achieving the university's strategic enrollment objectives.
Please join me in congratulating Cyndi and Mona and thanking them for their leadership and willingness to serve in these interim roles.
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For more information, contact: Janice Canniff at janice.canniff@uconn.edu