Meet Our Staff

Viviana Zambrano is the Director for the Office for Student Retention and Educational Innovation. As a two-time Seton Hall University graduate, Viviana holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a Masters of Education in Counseling.

Prior to joining Kean University, she worked as a Counselor/Academic Advisor in the Educational Opportunity Program (EOF) at Montclair State University. Viviana has also worked with the EOF programs at Seton Hall University and Rutgers University. In addition, she served as Chair of the Emergency Assistance Fund and as a State Schools Sector Representative on the Educational Opportunity Fund Professional Association Board (EOFPANJ). 

Before joining Kean University, she worked as a Counselor/Academic Advisor in the Educational Opportunity Program (EOF) at Montclair State University. Viviana has also worked with the EOF programs at Seton Hall University and Rutgers University. In addition, she served as Chair of the Emergency Assistance Fund and as a State Schools Sector Representative on the Educational Opportunity Fund Professional Association Board (EOFPANJ).

Viviana is an alumna of Upward Bound and EOF Programs. She understands the importance of mentorship and is a strong advocate for college access, especially for First Generation College students.

When she's not working, Viviana loves to read, go to Broadway shows, and spend time with her family.

Christopher Sclafani serves as the Student Success Coordinator in the Office for Student Retention & Educational Innovation at Kean University. A proud two-time Kean alumnus, Chris earned both his undergraduate and graduate degrees from the university and has been a dedicated member of the Kean community since 2019.  

In his role, Chris oversees the development of new initiatives for first-generation students and leads initiatives related to students looking to return to the university after some time away. Chris is currently writing his dissertation for his PhD in I/O Psychology. In addition to his role, Chris is an instructor for the Department of Psychology, teaching graduate-level courses on Advanced Research Methods, Psychology of Aging, I/O Psychology, Group Dynamics, and Organizational Behavior.  

Before this role, Chris served as the Graduate Assistant in the Office for Student Retention, supporting various retention-related initiatives and developing new programs for the Kean Community. Chris also served as a member of the Kean University Board of Trustees, working directly under the Chief of Staff out of the President's Office. Additionally, Chris was a Project Manager for the Vice President of Student Affairs, working on several initiatives that contributed to the strategic, mission-focused efforts to support student success.

Outside of work, Chris enjoys reading research, traveling, and attending Broadway shows in New York City.  

Arely Ayala serves as a Student Success Coordinator for the Office of Student Retention & Educational.

Innovation. Arely earned her B.A. in Psychology and Sociology from Montclair State University and her Master's in Social Work from Fordham University. Additionally, Arely is a Licensed Social Worker for the States of NY and NJ. 

Prior to joining Kean University, she worked as the Director of Enrollment Management in the Center for Excellence Department at Big Brothers Big Sisters of NYC - where she supported NYC mentors and mentees from enrollment to matching.  
Arely is a first-generation student and understands the importance of advocating for college access and success. When she's not working, Arely loves to stay active by running, going to the gym, or taking an F45 class. She also loves spending time with her husband, pup, and family/friends.

Sandra Bandeira is the current Academic Specialist for the Office of Student Retention and Educational Innovation. As a First-Generation College Graduate, she earned her bachelor's degree in communications with a minor in Marketing from Kean University in May 2024. She is a part of the inaugural class inducted into the Tri-Alpha First Gen Honor Society Iota Gamma Chapter.

During her time at Kean, Sandra gained valuable experience in public relations and social media marketing, serving as a Kean University Content Creator under University Relations and the Director of Public Relations for the Student Government Association, along with holding various other roles around campus focusing on customer service, communications, and social media.

In addition to her professional pursuits, Sandra is the founder of Social Elev8tion LLC, where she helps small businesses enhance their social media presence. Outside of work, she enjoys creating content, running her business, and spending quality time with family and friends.