Welcome High School Partners!

ERICA SCHACHT
Vice President of Academic Affairs and Dean of Faculty
914.831.0237
ESchacht@cw.edu

Dr. Erica Schacht is the Vice President of Academic Affairs and Dean of Faculty at The College of Westchester. With a distinguished career in higher education, Dr. Schacht has been a pivotal figure at the college since 2008.

Dr. Schacht’s expertise spans student retention, particularly in the first year, and faculty development. Her dedication to education is evident through her previous roles as Dean of First Year Experience and Chair of General Education. In her role, she is committed to fostering faculty growth and student success.

She holds an Ed.D. in Higher Education Leadership from Walden University, an M.A. in English Literature from Iona College, and a B.A. in English Literature from Salve Regina University.

Outside of her professional life, Dr. Schacht enjoys running marathons and spending time with her dog and two nephews.

NOEL D’ALLACCO
Coordinator of Community Partnerships
913.831.0331
NDAllacco@cw.edu

Noel D’Allacco is the Founder of the national 501c3 nonprofit organization, Operation Prom National Network, Inc., which provides free prom dresses and tuxedos to teens in need. The organization is based in Westchester County, New York, with additional locations in NYC, NJ, CT, PA, LA, IN, GA, and CA.

Noel has been with The College of Westchester since 2006. From 2018 to 2022 Professor D’Allacco was the Chair of the School of Business, and most currently she continues to teach as Coordinator of Community Relations.

Noel also provides virtual workshops for individuals and nonprofits with the New York Public Library. With over 20 years of experience in the nonprofit industry, Noel has been featured on countless local and national news networks and media outlets, including: CNN, Fox’s Good Day New York, NBC Nightly News, ABC’s Dateline, The Huffington Post, The New York Times, Woman’s Day, and Westchester Magazine. In 2024 Noel was a recipient of the 914 Inc. Westchester Magazine’s Women in Business Award.

Noel earned an MS in Organizational Leadership from Mercy College and BA in Behavioral Science from Concordia College.

www.NoelDallacco.com

Cody Velez
High School & Community Relations Presenter
914.831.0397
cvelez@cw.edu

Cody facilitated many college and career readiness presentations during her time working as Program Director of a Middle School Afterschool Program and a high school Summer Youth Employment Program.  After meeting her for the first time, you will see that she is 100% authentic when speaking with young people.  Because of her compassionate approach and enthusiasm in assisting students with various subjects, her workshops are consistently valued by the high school teachers she supports.

Cody graduated from Mercy College in the Bronx with a BS in Community Health. A cool fact about Cody is that she is also a children’s party entertainer (aka. clown) who knows how to paint faces and make balloon animals!

MATT CURTIS
Vice President for Enrollment Management
914.831.0313
mcurtis@cw.edu

Matt Curtis serves as the Vice President for Enrollment Management at The College of Westchester. In this role, he oversees the college’s enrollment strategies and with his team, help guide prospective students through the admissions process to help ensure they receive the support needed for academic success.

Matt actively participates in initiatives aimed at enhancing educational opportunities for young people. Notably, he played a pivotal role in CW’s collaboration with the White Plains Youth Bureau on Project Digital JumpStart. This program is designed to bridge the digital divide by providing high school students with essential digital skills and employment opportunities, thereby preparing them for success in today’s technology-driven job market.

As an Eastchester resident, Matt Curtis’s dedication to student success and his commitment to community engagement reflect his passion for education and his belief in empowering individuals through learning.

HASANI FIGUEROA
High School & Community Relations Presenter
To schedule an event with Hasani, click here.
914.831.0227
hfigueroa@cw.edu

As a member of the High School & Community Relations team, Hasani will be leading workshops to help prepare students for life beyond High School. You may also catch him at a college fair or a community event. What he loves most about his work is building relationships—with students, educators, and industry professionals—while guiding young people toward success.

As an active member of The Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc., a historically Black fraternity dedicated to serving underrepresented communities, Hasani is also deeply passionate about instilling confidence and practical skills in our youth for their futures.  Whether through one-on-one conversations, classroom presentations, or tabling events, Hasani strives to empower students to reach their full potential.

Hasani earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in American Studies from Amherst College and has several years of corporate recruiting experience prior to joining CW.

CW partners with numerous high schools and BOCES programs to offer dual enrollment opportunities and articulation agreements, allowing students to earn college credits while still in high school. These programs help provide a seamless transition to college, making higher education more accessible, cost-effective, and academically rewarding.

The CW Jumpstart program offers students a valuable opportunity to begin their college coursework early, helping to reduce the overall cost of earning a degree. Taught by experienced CW faculty, courses provide both knowledge and practical skills to support academic success. Best of all, CW Jumpstart courses are completely free. Participation in the program also grants conditional approval for early acceptance, pending fulfillment of admissions eligibility requirements.

Additionally, students may qualify for a $250 scholarship for each completed Jumpstart course—up to a maximum of four courses or $1,000—upon acceptance and enrollment at CW. Other scholarships and grants may also be available based on eligibility.  Students receive an official transcript documenting their completed courses, allowing them to transfer credits to CW or another college of their choice.

CW grants credit for many AP exams with a score of 3 or higher. For more details, students can consult their high school guidance counselor or visit AP Credit and Placement.

CW recognizes the IB Program and grants credit for many exams with a score of 4 or higher. While IB credits enhance academic progress, students should consult advisement regarding transferability to other institutions.

Students who have earned professional certifications may be eligible for college credits, allowing them to leverage their specialized skills to expand their academic credentials.

Informing students about the opportunity to earn college credits through these exams can appeal to those who are self-motivated and have acquired substantial knowledge outside of the traditional classroom setting.

Students can test out certain courses if they can demonstrate competence in the subject area can attract those who wish to expedite their education by skipping introductory courses.

Transfer credits are accepted from other accredited institutions which helps to recognize student’s previous academic work. This helps reduce redundancy in learning and accelerates their academic progress.