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

  • Diana Mejia

    • Vice President, Student & Campus Services
    Diana Mejia
  • Neliana Acevedo

    • Mail Room Assistant, Office of Housing Services

    Neliana "Nelly" Acevedo has been a part of the Columbia University Irving Medical Center community since 2002. As the mail room assistant, she ensures that all mail and packages addressed to residents who live in 50 Haven Avenue, Georgian Residence, and 154 Haven Avenue are properly logged and received in a timely manner. She also manages the Office of Housing Service's relationship with various mail carriers.

    Nelly previously worked in the Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons Mail Room, where she logged and distributed mail and packages to all departments and offices within the building.

    Fun Facts About Nelly:

    • Favorite sport to watch/team to root for: Baseball/the New York Yankees
    • If you could choose one super power: Teleportation
    Neliana Acevedo
  • Sam Bassford

    • Assistant Director of Residential Experience, Office of Housing Services

    Sam Bassford joined the Office of Housing Services as the assistant director of residential experience in August 2021. Sam oversees the door attendants, community development and customer service functions of the department, including 50 Haven Athletic Center, the Housing Mailroom, 50 Haven event spaces, and the resident assistants.

    Sam has worked in residential life for 9 years in the Metro NY area at both Pace University campuses and recently as a Residence Hall Director at Adelphi University.  She is a double alumni of Pace University where she obtained her Masters of Science in Media and Communications Arts from the Pleasantville campus and a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies from the New York City Campus. Sam is passionate about student success and is looking forward to being about of the Columbia community.

    Fun Facts About Sam:

    • Which team(s) do you root for: Yankees and Jets
    • If you could choose one superpower: Teleport
    Samantha Bassford
  • 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
    Noemi Bueno
  • 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.

    Rocío Calixto
  • 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

    • 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
    Mario Rapetti
  • Kamilah Williams

    • Mail Room Assistant, Office of Housing Services

    Kamilah Williams is a dedicated and dynamic member of our team, serving as a Mailroom Assistant. With an impressive educational background that includes Bachelor's degrees in both Business and Healthcare Administration, Kamilah brings a unique blend of organizational skills and a deep understanding of administrative frameworks to her role.

    Prior to joining our team, Kamilah honed her expertise in fast-paced, detail-oriented environments, having worked with the post office as a Letter Carrier, and being a part of an airport ground crew. Her experiences in these roles have imbued her with a remarkable ability to manage complex logistical tasks, ensuring efficiency and accuracy in our mailroom handling processes.

    Kamilah's passions outside of the workplace are music, traveling, and reading captivating novels that she loves to share with her friends.

    Image of Kamilah Williams, Mail Room Assistant at CUIMC.