Meet the Team

Darlene Robinson

Director, R.I.S.E Gen 1 Program

Darlene Robinson serves as the Director of the R.I.S.E Gen 1 Program. Darlene is focused on creating a community of support, culture of belonging and pride in being a first-generation student. Darlene has held prior roles at Seton Hall including Financial Aid Counselor and Assistant Director of Financial Aid for Student Employment. Darlene earned her B.A. in Communication and M.A in Education from Seton Hall University. As a proud pirate and a first-generation graduate Darlene is determine to be a source of guidance, encouragement and support for first generation students as they transition into college and throughout their college journey.

Nicholas Mangal

Program Coordinator, R.I.S.E Gen 1 Program

Nic Mangal serves as the Program Coordinator for the R.I.S.E. GEN 1 program at Seton Hall University. Nic is focused on providing spaces for first-generation students that aid in the transition into the university setting. Being a first-generation student is something that Nic takes pride in, and he wants to be part of the support system offered for the first-generation students at Seton Hall.

Nic is originally from Jersey City, NJ and earned his B.A. in Criminal Justice and M.Ed. in College Student Affairs, both from Rutgers University. The experience Nic has in various higher education spaces such as Student Life, Residential Life and Academic Advising gives him the tools needed best to support our first-generation students at the institution.

Gen 1 Mentors

Sasha Orozco

sarah Orozco Sasha Orozco attends Seton Hall University as a first-year student. She is currently studying political science in the 3+3 dual law degree program in the College of Arts and Sciences, in the Department of Political Science and Public Affairs. She is very organized, persistent, detail oriented, and strives to complete everything to the best of her ability. She is from Mount Olive, New Jersey. She acts as a Peer Mentor which is special to her because she is looking forward to encouraging and being part of the journey of other first-generation students. She finds it important that students come together and establish support for one another through their commonalities to continue or establish legacies. After her undergrad she is looking forward to going to law school and pursuing a career as a real estate attorney as well as eventually opening her own firm and working with immigration law. She is a strong believer in the fact that you should live for yourself and have enough faith in yourself to take risks. "The people worth impressing are your five-year-old self and your 85-year-old self."