Our Team
At CUIMC, we view our residence as much more than accommodations. We are here to assist in making your stay with us as enjoyable and successful as possible. We are here to assist with campus resources, community engagement opportunities, leasing requirements, and connecting you to our campus partners.
Administrative Team
Sam Bassford
- Assistant Director of Residential Experience, Office of Housing Services
Sam Bassford has been with the Office of Housing Services since August 2021 and currently serves as the Assistant Director of Residential Experience. In this role, she oversees door attendants, community development, and customer service functions, including 50 Haven Athletic Center and the resident assistants. Sam is responsible for enhancing the residential experience by developing community engagement initiatives, managing resident support services, and ensuring smooth daily operations within Housing Services. She also plays a key role in staff training, crisis response, and policy implementation to maintain a welcoming and secure living environment for residents.
With over a decade of experience in residential life, Sam has worked in the Metro New York area at both Pace University campuses and Adelphi University. She holds both a Master of Science in Media and Communication Arts from Pace University’s Pleasantville campus and a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies from the New York City campus.
Sam is passionate about student success and remains dedicated to fostering an engaging and supportive residential experience at Columbia by developing inclusive programming, streamlining customer service operations, and collaborating with campus partners to enhance student living.
Fun Facts About Sam:
- Which team(s) do you root for: Yankees and Jets
- If you could choose one superpower: Teleportation
Noemi Bueno
- Assistant Director of Housing Assignments, Office of Housing Services
Noemi Bueno has been a key member of the Office of Housing Services team since 1997, and currently oversees housing assignments for students and postdoctoral candidates. She works closely with the team to keep students informed about housing procedures and processes throughout the year.
Noemi has an open-door policy for students and staff and warmly welcomes anyone who may have a question or concern about the housing process. Each year, she enjoys being part of Commencement and seeing students who once entered on-campus housing graduate and receive their degrees. She holds an associate degree in applied sciences-computer programming from LaGuardia Community College.
Fun Facts About Noemi:
- Favorite place on campus: 11th Floor Rooftop at 50 Haven Avenue
- Top must-visit destination: Vatican City, Italy
Rocío Guzman
- Customer Service Coordinator, Office of Housing Services
Rocío Guzman ensures prospective residents receive detailed information regarding accommodations and leasing procedures. She also conducts all lease signings at Columbia University Irving Medical Center. A native New Yorker, she is always eager to welcome CUIMC community members to Washington Heights. She loves interacting with residents and enjoys getting to know them and their stories. Rocío also assists students and CUIMC affiliates interested in off-campus housing, providing them with housing listings and connecting them to local brokers.
Rocío joined CUIMC in 2011 as a service representative for Facilities Management and Campus Services. She transitioned to the Office of Housing Services in late 2014. She previously worked as a senior loan officer with BBVA-Bancomer Hipotecaria Nacional Mexicana and holds a BA in international studies and human services from Mount Saint Mary College.
AJ Lutz
- Associate Director of Housing Services, Office of Housing Services
AJ Lutz joined the Office of Housing Services as associate director in June 2021. He is responsible for the administrative and customer service operations of the department, including the implementation and maintenance of new technologies to deliver better experiences and services for on-campus residents.
AJ has worked in the higher education and housing industry for fifteen years at various institutions, including The New School, University of Illinois at Chicago, Western Illinois University, and the University of Iowa. He holds an MS in College Student Personnel from Western Illinois University and a BA in Theatre Design from the University of Missouri in Columbia.
Fun Facts About AJ:
- Favorite place on campus: Still discovering, but right now, it is the green space between Tower 2 and Tower 3 that overlooks the Hudson River and George Washington Bridge
- If you could choose one super power: The ability to travel any distance without taking any time–to instantly go places!
Mario Rapetti
- Executive Director, Office of Housing Services
Mario Rapetti joined the Office of Housing Services as director in March 2020. Mario manages the daily operations of the Office of Housing Services, which includes all aspects of housing assignments and residential facilities and operations for CUIMC’s seven on-campus residential buildings. In his previous role as the assistant dean of Student Life at SUNY Purchase College, Mario oversaw the offices of housing and residence life, student life, leadership, and orientation programs.
Mario received an MA in student affairs in higher Education from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and a BS in biology from Ramapo College of New Jersey. He also a certified Emergenetics Associate and holds a certificate in human resource management from Elizabethtown College.
Mario is an avid traveler, visiting 40 countries. When not traveling, he enjoys spending time with his two dogs and exploring the many benefits of New York City.
Fun Facts About Mario:
- One item you can’t leave home without: My CUIMC ID
- Top must-visit destination: Antarctica
