Staff Profiles
Richard Beatty
Senior Associate Provost
Richard Beatty comes to Stony Brook with more than a decade experience in student recruitment, operations, and strategic enrollment planning. He has worked in small and large private institution and has spent the last 8 years at Farmingdale State College – SUNY serving populations across Long Island and New York.
During his time at Farmingdale, he has led the integration and management of the customer relationship management system and other technologies, shaped enrollment strategy, and led data driven enrollment decisions across campus. He has worked with partners across campus in updating the application process, assisted in the development of target communication and recruitment plans, and analyzed existing processes to improve the overall student experience. These efforts combined with the work across campus saw Farmingdale grow 11.6% in total enrollment and a 47% increase in the number of incoming first year students.
“I am eager to be joining an institution that is dedicated to the same principles that have defined my career, student access and success, and am excited to be joining an exceptional enrollment management team as Stony Brook confronts the new challenges facing higher education.”
Diane Bello
University Registrar
Diane Bello has earned her Bachelor of Arts and Masters of Arts at Stony Brook University. Diane Bello began her career at Stony Brook in 1988 in the History Department and has held various positions during her 27-year tenure at the University. Prior to accepting the University Registrar position, Diane served as Senior Associate College Registrar and Associate University System Analyst in the Registrar's Office.
Diane is a member of several national organizations and higher education groups. This year Diane was nominated to serve on the Committee of Academic Standing and Appeals (CASA). In 2013, Diane was selected to serve as part of the People Soft Student Record Product Advisory Group (SRPAG). Diane held the Treasurer position for the State University of New York Registrars Association (SUNYRA) 2011-2014. During this same time period Diane served on the Executive Board of this organization. During 2009-11, Diane served on the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO) Transfer Committee.
Diane is leading Stony Brook's SUNY-wide Degree Works project currently underway. As part of Stony Brook Universities Project 50 Forward, Diane and her team have been working on the implementation and improvement of departmental and university degree audits. Diane is also working closely with Academic and Transfer Advising Services to expand electronic course-by-course transfer articulations.
Personal goals include continuing to develop and enhance knowledge and proficiency in administrative affairs, as well as technical knowledge, as they relate to and are associated with higher education. Work to develop communication and interaction to make experiences positive for all parties. Expand knowledge and experience that allows creativity, technical growth and independence to make decisions and implement changes as discussed and sanctioned.
Lori Carron
Director, Financial Management and Administrative Services
Lori Carron joined Stony Brook in 2009 in the Graduate School where she has served the last eight years as the school's Senior Assistant Dean of Finance & Administration. While in this position, Lori was responsible for the school's accounting, financial and budget management, human resources and event planning. In addition to leading the school to leverage tight resources to provide the best possible support and programs for graduate students, staff and faculty, she worked on many projects that benefited the graduate community. During her tenure at the Grad School she also served in the School of Professional Development, creating operational efficiencies, process improvements and creating financial best practices for the school. Perhaps what Lori enjoyed most at her time at the Grad School was helping to coordinate the annual May Doctoral Hooding & Grad Award ceremonies- where she was able to witness and be a part of the celebration of some of Stony Brook's brightest and accomplished graduate students. Prior to becoming a higher education administrator, she held various business manager positions at the financial services firm UBS.
Lori received a Bachelor of Science degree at SUNY Albany in Business Administration with a finance concentration. Many years later, while working full time at Stony Brook, Lori received her Masters of Arts in Higher Education Administration from Stony Brook. She was the recipient of the 2016 Dr. Deborah C. Hecht Award for her thesis paper; “Historical Economic Events Transforming Universities in the U.S.: The Impact of War and Recessions on Higher Education Reform”.
Mark A. Cortez
Executive Director of Admissions
Mark A. Cortez joined Stony Brook from The Ohio State University where he served as the Director of Outreach and Recruitment, Undergraduate Admissions. In his time at Ohio State, he has enhanced the organization through work with marketing and recruitment, policy, planning, and compliance, staff supervision and development, and assessment and benchmarking across domestic, international and transfer admission, and visit programs. Collectively, his efforts contributed to consistent application and yield growth that reflected university values and goals.
He has served across numerous local, state, and national organizations. Recently he was a member of the Strengthening Ohio’s High School Math Pathways Advisory Council, a state-wide representative group of stakeholders focused on equity, communication, and the support surrounding the systems and structures that are needed to implement new math courses in Ohio high schools. He has also recently served as a member of the National Association for College Admissions Counseling Rural and Small-Towns Ad Hoc Committee, a member of College Board’s Preparate Conference National Advisory Committee, and a scholarship reader for the national transfer honor society. He currently is serving the National Association for College Admissions Counseling as part of the Admissions Practices National Committee, the Ohio Association for College Admissions Counseling as the Government Relations Chair, is a member of the SCOIR Council, and is a fellow for the College Board.
Prior to his current position, Cortez served as the director for articulation and transfer policy with the Ohio Department of Higher Education. Starting his career with Ohio State at their Lima campus in admissions, he later served the university across multiple areas of admission, including first year and transfer. He earned his bachelor’s degree in communication from Ohio State and his master’s degree in higher education administration from Tiffin University.
Heather Lynch
Assistant to the Senior Associate Provost
Heather Lynch joined Stony Brook in 2013 as the Assistant to the Associate Dean for Scientific Affairs. In 2014, she took on a new role as the Assistant to the Chair in the Department of Biomedical Informatics (BMI). The department was new to Stony Brook and it was here where Heather learned the many facets of creating a new graduate program, while assisting the Chair and Administrator with day to day operations including duties related to HR, Procurement, Facility Management and Finance. Organizing BMI’s Inaugural Student Orientation event was most satisfying to Heather as she was able to join faculty and staff as they welcomed their first class of students. Most recently, Heather has joined Enrollment Retention Management as the Executive Assistant to the Associate Provost and is excited for the opportunity to be immersed in environment that fosters student success.
Prior to joining Stony Brook, she was a paralegal in the mortgage banking industry for 12 years, as well a dedicated elementary school teacher for 6 years in the private sector and while she does miss that environment, she is thrilled that her career path has led her to higher education. Her professional experience is unique and has contributed to her enthusiasm and passion for education and assisting others as a vital team member.
Heather obtained a Paralegal Certificate from Long Island University in 1991 and later in 2006 returned to Dowling College where she received a Bachelors in English and a Master’s degree in Childhood education.
Nicholas Prewett, Ed.D.
Executive Director of Financial Aid and Scholarship Services
Nick Prewett, Ed.D., joined Stony Brook in 2020 as director of financial aid and scholarship services. An advocate of access and affordability in higher education, Nick brings nearly 20 years of financial aid experience at AAU institutions to Stony Brook. Prior to joining Stony Brook, Nick was the executive director of the University of Missouri.
Nick has served multiple roles in the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA), once as a nationally elected representative at large and once through his role as President of the Midwest Association of Financial Aid Administrators. He holds all NASFAA credentials including consumer information, cost of attendance, direct loans, federal Pell Grant, gainful employment and return of Title IV funds. In 2019, Nick became a Certified Financial Aid Administrator.
A native of Missouri, Nick received his Bachelor’s in Political Science and History from Missouri Southern State College and a Master’s in Political Science and Doctor of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies from the University of Kansas.
Michael Riordan
Director of Enrollment Research
Raised in Queens, NY, Michael holds a Bachelor’s degree from New York University and an MBA from St. John’s University. Michael has 20 years of market research experience in market research in the corporate and higher education sectors. In his role at Stony Brook, Michael researches enrollment trends and analyzes data to enable the University to make fact-based decisions related to admissions and recruitment activity.
Meagan Schuster
Project Director, Strategy & Initiatives
Meagan Schuster comes to Stony Brook after spending the last 8 years at Hofstra University’s Office of Undergraduate Admission, most recently as Associate Dean of Admission.
During her time at Hofstra, Meagan held roles planning the University’s admission events, assisting with marketing and communication efforts, growing the dual-degree Physician Assistant Studies program, innovating the admission interview process, and serving as the lead of the University’s Undergraduate Transfer team, among other tasks.
Originally from Long Island, Meagan earned her BA in English and Psychology from Binghamton University, State University of New York. From there, while working in the Undergraduate Admission office, Meagan earned her MSEd in Higher Education Leadership and Policy Studies from Hofstra University.
After spending the last year in North Carolina, Meagan is looking forward to returning home to Long Island and to her SUNY roots to help support new initiatives and efficiencies to help provide a great Stony Brook experience to all students.