Sara Colombo

I am a residence life and higher education professional with over seven years of experience in student housing, community development, and staff leadership across universities in the United States and New Zealand, currently serving as Associate Director at Mercy College in Manhattan, a role I have held since August 2022, where I am responsible for hiring, training, supervising, and evaluating Residence Life staff, managing the budget for Resident Education, overseeing educational and social justice programming, and administering the Residence Life conduct process.

Prior to this role, I served as Deputy Head of Te Puni Hall at Victoria University of Wellington for nine months, where I worked closely with the Head of Hall to shift to a student-centric model, support budget performance, and ensure compliance with university policies. I also served as Assistant Head of Arana College at the University of Otago for over four years, where I supervised an eleven to twelve-person Residential Assistant team and twenty tutorial staff, oversaw activities and mental health support for four hundred and three live-in residents, managed serious misconduct procedures, promoted diversity and inclusion, and managed social media and communications.

I also serve as a Consultant at Campus Nest, a self-employed role I have held since March 2024, where I work to revolutionize residential experiences in educational institutions worldwide.

Across my career in residence life, higher education, and student development, my work has been driven by a commitment to creating safe, inclusive, and thriving residential communities where students can grow, connect, and succeed. Whether I am leading staff teams, managing student conduct, or developing programming initiatives, I bring a student-centered approach, strong leadership skills, and a dedication to fostering environments that support student well-being and holistic development. I am proud of the work I have done throughout my career and excited to continue serving students and the higher education community through my work at Mercy College and Campus Nest.