Monica Hope

Monica Hope immigrated to the United States from Panama and attended high school in Brooklyn. When she was accepted to the University at Albany, she knew her life would be changed forever. She obtained her bachelor's degree in psychology and her master's degree in education, with specialization in counseling and personnel services, from UAlbany and went on to dedicate 36 years to the program that had accepted her: the Educational Opportunity Program.

Beyond advising her regular caseload of students, she spent the spring semesters calling incoming first-year students to prepare them for testing and the mandatory summer program. As she saw times changing, she created the online testing for the summer program.

Her skills in advisement, which she obtained while working at the University, afforded her the opportunity to also advise students in high schools and community colleges. She has been an adjunct psychology instructor at Hudson Valley Community College for more than 20 years. She also serves as a pastors at a church in Schenectady.

She was awarded the Anacaona Award Tradition for dedication in advising, the Chancellor Award for Excellence in Counseling and The Hope Hildreth Lifetime Achievement Award for Excellence in Academic Advisement.