Claudia Marin Andrade ’02 was a first-generation student coming to Manhattanville and had no idea of what to expect. “It was frightening at first,” says Andrade, but after quickly becoming comfortable with her environment and her advisors, she made Manhattanville her home. After just one semester, Claudia found it easier to navigate and became much more involved, not just as a student but also an employee at Manhattanville. Claudia had an on-campus job working in many offices: the bookstore, the registrar's office, the admissions office, as well as working with residence life as a resident advisor. Claudia feels that having the opportunity to be involved academically and professionally was enriching for her college experience; it was a life-changing experience to be able to work and communicate with many different people from diverse cultures. Claudia enjoyed the  experiences that Manhattanville gave her. Claudia gives credit to her professors for teaching her new skills and allowing her to succeed. 

Claudia made Manhattanville her home away from home, continuing to be employed by Manhattanville as the Residence Hall Director for an additional two years after graduating. Manhattanville prepared Claudia for the job she currently fills at Columbia University, where she is the Associate Vice President of Student Success and Intervention. The student support center helps students overcome life's obstacles in student conduct hearings, case management, student support, welcoming students to the Columbia Food Pantry, helping students navigate resources for basic needs that may hinder their academic success. "It's a place where we will help students, where typically students find themselves at their lowest point of their college career.” Another goal for Claudia’s department is to teach those students how to advocate for themselves, and those students sometimes in turn become the mentors, and ‘navigators’ for future and incoming students.

Claudia gives credit to Manhattanville for giving her the personal support and confidence to become the leader she is today and considers her four years at Manhattanville to be some of the greatest that she has had. Still calling Manhattanville home, Claudia comes back to campus to alumni events, concerts, and galas. Claudia was even married at Manhattanville, to another Manhattanville alum. Claudia and her husband continue to support Manhattanville in any way possible just as Manhattanville supported her from the start.
Sascha Gillen ’25