Leadership

Sandra Kim joined NYU Silver in June 2018 as Associate Dean for Finance and Administration after 11 years at NYU’s Department of Biology, most recently as Director of Administration. During her tenure at the Biology Department, she rose through the administrative ranks, overseeing human resource matters for faculty, serving as a financial analyst and manager of grants and philanthropic initiatives, addressing matters related to physical facilities, and finally assuming broad oversight of the department’s finances and operations.

Ms. Kim holds a Master’s degree in Public Administration from NYU Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service and a BA in Social Sciences from the University at Buffalo, State University of New York.

Robert Sommo
Assistant Dean, Enrollment Services

Robert Sommo is the assistant dean for enrollment services at the Silver School of Social Work at New York University with primary responsibilities including admissions, recruitment, registration, and financial aid.

Mr. Sommo’s educational background is in higher education. He has an MA in higher education/educational sociology from the Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development at NYU; an MA in interdisciplinary studies from the Graduate School of Arts and Science at NYU; and a BA in sociology from the University of Connecticut (GO HUSKIES). He is a current member of and frequent presenter for the National Association of Admissions Professionals (NAGAP).

Benjamin R. Sher
Director, Office of Global and Lifelong Learning

Ben is currently the Director of the Office of Global and Lifelong Learning at the Silver School of Social Work. Prior to this position, Ben held numerous titles at the Institute for Community Living, Inc., (ICL) a behavioral healthcare agency serving metropolitan New Yorkers with mental illness and/or developmental disabilities. He began his career at ICL as a Program Director overseeing residential services. He served in this role for ten years when he transitioned to Director of Training and Staff Development, overseeing all clinical, regulatory and student development activities at ICL. Ben served in this role for eleven years. In addition to this work, Ben has been an Adjunct Instructor with Metropolitan College of New York and the Silver School of Social Work. He is an active member of NASW-NYC, where he currently serves as Chapter President, and is a Delegate Assembly member to the national chapter.

Courtney R. O'Mealley
Associate Dean, Student Affairs

Courtney R. O’Mealley is the Associate Dean for Student Affairs at the Silver School of Social Work at New York University. In this position, Dean O’Mealley works with the senior leadership, faculty, alumni, and students to shape the School’s environment into one that is welcoming and inclusive and that stimulates collaboration, debate, and social interaction. He is responsible for all non-academic areas of the School, including student transitions (orientation and convocation), career and professional development, and alumni engagement. He exercises liaisonships with NYU student & alumni affairs departments, collaborates with social work professional organizations, and serves as the student ombudsman.

Dean O’Mealley has over 13 years of leadership experience. His expertise is in higher education administration, leadership, student and alumni engagement, project management, strategic planning, and communication. He has extensive experience in the areas of crisis management, mediation, program development, student services and retention, leveraging technology for service delivery, optimizing and engaging human and organizational resources, and successful administration in complex environments.

Dean O’Mealley received his MSW, with a focus on student community development, from Stony Brook University. He has previously served in leadership capacities in student affairs at The New School and Cornell University.