ASAP Staff
Our ASAP Team consists of diverse, enthusiastic, & mindful individuals who aspire to create a comprehensive support network that speaks to our students' needs, both in & outside of the classroom, as well as within our campus & the larger surrounding communities. All of our team members bring a personal, vested interest in our work with the campus community. Combined with our professional & academic experiences, our support is personally tailored to the needs of our students.
Interested in learning more about the ASAP team? Read the biographies below to meet our wonderful staff!
Jennifer Clayton
Jennifer Clayton is the Interim Director for the ASAP Program at SUNY Orange.
Madeline Torres-Diaz
Madeline Torres-Diaz is the Project Lead for the ASAP program at SUNY Orange. In addition to this role, Madeline is the Associate Vice President for Student Engagement and Completion, Director of the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP), and the Title IX Deputy Coordinator for Students. Madeline has worked with the SUNY Orange campus community for over twenty years, supporting students' wellbeing, retention, & success.
Alyssa Walrad, M.A.
Alyssa Walrad (she/her/ella) is the Success Coach for the ASAP Program at SUNY Orange.
This program supports
students in the Business and Justice & Community Engagement communities who are pursuing their education in Accounting (A.S.), Accounting (A.A.S.), Accounting Procedures, Business Administration, Business Management, Healthcare Administration, Criminal Justice, Criminal Justice-Police, & Law Enforcement/Security. She is a passionate higher education professional looking to change the face of education,
one student at a time.
Alyssa's educational career has unique ties to the Hudson Valley: having completed most of her schooling (Kindergarten through her Bachelors Degree) in Newburgh. A fellow SUNY Orange alum (A.S., Class of 2018) and Knight at MSMC (B.A., Class of 2021), Alyssa finished her Masters in Higher Education Administration from Stony Brook University in July 2023. Her vast student involvement as a member of Student Senate and Community Chair Captain in the Board of Activities fueled her love for giving back to students at this beloved institution.
While newly in the world of higher education, Alyssa has gained close connections to our campus student support resources and services while transitioning from student to faculty/staff. Previously working as a Coordinator in the Center for Student Success and as the Health Sciences & Wellness Pathway Coach for PROSPERAR, "collaboration is crucial in creating a sense of belonging for the students". Alyssa combines her skills from CSS/PROSPERAR to elevate the student experience by helping our campus community navigate personal, professional, & academic challenges, as well as life beyond our institution. Alyssa’s favorite places at SUNY Orange are the communal student spaces, located on the second/third floors of the Tower Building on the Newburgh Campus. In her words, these spaces are "hidden gems for studying and seeing some of the best views of the Hudson River.”