Senior Leadership Team

The Senior Leadership Team serves as the division's immediate leadership and consultative body, focusing on high-level policy and operational decisions.

Salvador Mena

Senior Vice Chancellor for the Student Experience

Salvador Mena came to Rutgers in August of 2014 as the associate vice chancellor for student affairs. In this role, he served as the deputy to the vice chancellor for student affairs, and helped in the day-to-day management of the Division of Student Affairs. Over the last 20 years, Vice Chancellor Mena has had the privilege to serve college students at different institutional types, including both public and private colleges and universities. Prior to Rutgers, Vice Chancellor Mena served as an assistant vice president and dean of students at the City University of New York. He received his doctor of philosophy degree in higher education, student affairs, and international education policy from the University of Maryland, College Park and a master’s degree in student development in higher education and bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Maine. Nationally, Vice Chancellor Mena has been involved with a number of higher education professional organizations, including the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA). He is a regular presenter at national conferences and has published in the Journal of Student Affairs Research and Practice and contributed a book chapter in Cultural Centers in Higher Education: Perspectives on Identity, Theory, and Practice.

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Anne Newman

Senior Associate Vice Chancellor and Dean of Students

Anne Newman oversees areas focusing on student advocacy in the Division of Student Affairs at Rutgers–New Brunswick. Areas of responsibility include the Dean of Students Office, Office of Student Conduct, Office for Student Affairs Compliance and Title IX, Student Legal Services, Graduate Student Life, Professional Development, and College Student Affairs Program liaison. Anne also serves as an affiliate faculty member in the College Student Affairs Program. She previously worked in student conduct and residence life administration. Anne holds a bachelor’s degree in human resource and finance from Adelphi University, a master’s degree in higher education administration from Florida State University, and a Ph.D. in higher education administration from Illinois State University.

Noa’a Shimoni

Associate Vice Chancellor/Associate Vice President for Student Health and Wellness

Dr. Noa’a Shimoni, M.D., M.P.H., is a physician with experience in wellness, community-building, and integrating physical and behavioral health. She received her bachelor's degree in mathematics and statistics from Douglass College and her medical degree from New Jersey Medical School. Prior to becoming the associate vice president for student health and wellness at Rutgers University and associate vice chancellor for Student Affairs, student health and wellness at Rutgers–New Brunswick, Dr. Shimoni revamped the university's immunization verification process, operationalized the university's pandemic response, and served on numerous health committees throughout Rutgers.

In her role, Dr. Shimoni works collaboratively with student health leaders and campus representatives to identify and advance shared health and wellness strategic priorities. She leads population and preventive health initiatives as well as directs and coordinates immunization management for the university with the ultimate goal of improving the health and well-being of students here at Rutgers. Additionally, Dr. Shimoni co-leads the JED Campus initiative to protect student emotional health and prevent suicide. Dr. Shimoni is an associate professor of family medicine at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, which she joined in 2012.

Chris Carey

Assistant Vice Chancellor for Campus Engagement and Belonging

Chris Carey joined the Rutgers team in July of 2023. He spent the previous 17 years working at Temple University in Philadelphia where he worked alongside student leaders and staff in campus programming, student government, fraternity and sorority life, student organizations, and service immersion programs. In his six years in the Dean of Students Office, Chris supported students in crisis and led campus-wide initiatives like Temple Votes and the Good Neighbor program.

At Rutgers, Chris will focus on helping all students feel a sense of belonging through engaging programs and services. He is a firm believe that when students are connected on campus, they will be more successful and get the most out of their years at Rutgers. Chris will lead a team made up of Student Centers and Activities, the Cultural Center Collaborative, and the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs.

Chris has a bachelor's degree in sociology from Saint Joseph’s University, a master’s degree in higher education from Temple University, and a doctoral degree in higher education leadership from Widener University.

Marilyn Chickey

Assistant Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration

Marilyn Chickey, CPA is a New Jersey licensed certified public accountant with extensive professional experience in the field of financial and executive management, and internal auditing in both the public and private sectors. She is a graduate of Rutgers College with a bachelor of arts degree in both business administration and Spanish. Prior to assuming her current position as senior director, Business and Administration for the Division of Student Affairs in 2007, Marilyn began her career at Rutgers in 2004 as a senior auditor in the university’s Internal Audit Department. During her tenure in Internal Audit, Marilyn provided advisory, investigative, and internal audit services to various departments and schools within the university. She also has over 15 years of internal audit experience in the public sector, specializing in the development, implementation, and evaluation of internal controls. Further, she has served as an executive business liaison for a professional transportation management company engaged in the leasing, management, and ownership of parking facilities throughout the United States. In this role, Marilyn was responsible for the business oversight, financial performance, and growth of her assigned portfolio of properties.

Francesca Maresca

Assistant Vice Chancellor for Health and Wellness

Francesca M. Maresca, Ph.D., CHES^®, joined Rutgers University as a health education specialist for Rutgers Student Health, Health Outreach, Promotion and Education (HOPE) in 2001, focusing primarily on sexual and reproductive health and mental health. In 2006, she became the director of HOPE, overseeing education and prevention initiatives including sexual and reproductive health, mental health and suicide prevention, alcohol and other drug education, nutrition, and wellness. In addition, she is responsible for assessing overall health and wellness and co-chairs the Rutgers JED Campus Initiative and the Division of Student Affairs Health and Wellness Committee. In 2021, Francesca stepped into the role of interim assistant vice chancellor for health and wellness. With oversight of Rutgers Student Health; including medical, CAPS, HOPE, and Recreation; Francesca guides the health and wellness vision for the campus, works collaboratively with partners across the university community, and elevates wellness as a priority for students, faculty, and staff. Her duties still include working closely with peer educators and the Sexual Health Advocates, and training faculty, staff, and students in mental health literacy and suicide prevention. Her areas of expertise include sexual and reproductive health and justice, mental health/suicide prevention, and LGBTQ+ health and wellness in higher education. Francesca is a Certified Health Education Specialist and Mental Health First Aid Trainer. In addition, Francesca is an adjunct faculty member of the Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy and the Graduate School of Education. Prior to joining Rutgers, she had roles at New Your University and the Fashion Institute of Technology. Francesca holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from Rutgers University–Newark College of Arts and Science, a master’s degree in liberal studies with a concentration in gender studies and a Ph.D. in health, human sexuality, marriage and family education, both from New York University.

Dayna Weintraub

Assistant Vice Chancellor for Assessment, Strategy, and Planning

Dayna Weintraub joined the Rutgers family in August 2016 after completing her Ph.D. in higher education and organizational change at the University of California, Los Angeles. As director of student affairs research and assessment, Dayna provides leadership, consultation, and support to departments within student affairs regarding individual research and assessment initiatives and serves as the central point of contact between the Division of Student Affairs and the Office of Institutional Research and Academic Planning. Dayna also strategizes, manages, and implements division-wide assessment priorities with the Executive Leadership Team. She trains the division regarding assessment and research and oversees the Student Affairs Assessment and Planning Committee. In addition to her research background, Dayna brings an extensive career in residence life, faculty governance, and curriculum management with her to the division. She is passionate about the importance of well-designed empirical research in providing direction to the student affairs community. She has published research in academic journals and presented her work on parental involvement, gender issues in STEM fields, and civic engagement in community colleges at conferences worldwide. She holds a master's degree in higher education and student affairs from Indiana University Bloomington and a bachelor’s degree in speech communication from Ithaca College.