Meet your Office of Student Experience staff!
Erica W. Valenzuela, EdD (she/her/hers)
Assistant Dean for Student Experience
Dr. Erica W. Valenzuela holds a Doctorate in Educational Leadership and Administration from the University of South Dakota. Her research focuses on Social Justice and Retention of Marginalized Students in Predominately White Education Systems. She has a Master of Arts Degree in Organizational Leadership from Rider University and received her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology with a minor in Women's Studies from Ramapo College of New Jersey. She has been educating students, faculty, staff, and community members on these topics for over 15 years. As a proud First-Generation Queer Black Woman, she is profoundly passionate about ensuring access, resources, and inclusive spaces for all in Higher Education. As the Assistant Dean for Student Experience, Dr. Valenzuela leads the Office of Student Experience, Career Services, and the Office of Advising and Student Success. She is a fearless student advocate whose door is always open.
Best Advice: Be an active participant in cultivating a campus and school that is inclusive. Join RSOs, Student Advisory Council, Student Ambassadors, etc. Your voice matters and we need to hear it.
Favorite NOLA Restaurant: Floating Island Bakery and Café (in NOLA East)
Contact: ewhitiker@tulane.edu | 504.988.3899
Director for the Office of Student Experience
Leslie Bayonne serves as the Director for the Office of Student Experience and has over ten years of experience supporting students and has over twenty years in leadership, supervisory and budgetary experience. In this role she manages OSE and maintains a “Student First” focus through leading school initiatives, coordinating and supporting student programs and activities including orientation, graduation, social and special events. As a co-advisor for SPHTM recognized student organizations Leslie helps to develop student leaders, assist with meeting and event planning, and collaborates with uptown student programs to ensure university student group standards are met. After serving on many committees the latest has been the most meaningful to her due to the critical intersections with public health, and its alignment with the SPHTM Student Experience mission and university-wide EDI and antiracism efforts. The SPHTM Outreach and Special Student Populations committee focuses on equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging (EDIB), and the needs of different student populations including culturally diverse, religious, LGBTQ+ and historically underrepresented populations. As a first generation BIPOC undergraduate and graduate student who encountered many challenges it is the memories of college that enables Leslie to care about students and continue to find and seek ways to improve campus life.
Best Advice: Keep an eye out on Tulane social media pages, publications, and announcements to connect with people and resources that spark your interests, and to build a network that could make a difference in your future.
Favorite NOLA Restaurant: The Velvet Cactus
Contact: lbayonne@tulane.edu
Colin Foret, M.Ed. (he/him/his)
Program Coordinator
Colin received his bachelor's degree from Louisiana State University and his master's degree from the University of New Orleans. After completing an internship as a mental health therapist during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Colin recognized the urgent need for people to stay connected. Colin comes to Tulane with the goal of bringing SPHTM students back together through diverse programming and promoting an inclusive and welcoming school culture. Colin serves as the chair for the LGBTQIA+ Faculty/Staff Affinity Group.
Best Advice for Getting Involved in the Community: Volunteer! Giving your time freely to the community can go a long way. No job is too small in bringing needed change to the world.
Favorite NOLA Restaurant(s): Juan's Flying Burrito
Contact: cforet1@tulane.edu | 504.988.3409
