Leadership Team

Cris Haverty, Ph.D.
Assistant Vice President of Workforce Development and Global Engagement

Maria Cristina Monterroso Haverty, “Cris” is the Asst. Vice President of Workforce Development and Global Engagement at Lasell University in Newton, MA. With over thirty years of experience in higher education as an administrator, educator, and practitioner, Cris combines leadership, collaboration, and innovation to bridge the gap between education and industry.

As AVP of Workforce Development and Global Engagement, Cris works with organizations to develop customized programs responsive to industry-driven needs that empower students and professionals with relevant skills to participate in a dynamic workforce. Creating a shared goal establishes the foundation for building programs collaboratively with employer partners. Well-versed in collaborating with stakeholders, faculty, staff, and administrators across various disciplines, Cris’ expertise includes creating and executing workforce development initiatives, establishing and cultivating partnerships, engaging in collaborative program planning and development, comprehensive assessment measures, accreditation, and competency-based learning.

Since 2000, Cris has served in the division of Academic Affairs as Coordinator of Clinical Education and Internships in the Department of Athletic Training and Exercise Science, later becoming a program director and department chair prior to becoming the Dean of the School of Health Sciences in 2018.

As the founding Dean of the School of Health Science at Lasell, she took an active role in creating an optimal educational experience for students of all levels. Cris supports students and faculty through global and domestic collaborations, scholarship and professional development, advocacy, and academic program development. Cris’ expertise in establishing partnerships, developing educational experiences and programs, and spearheading external accreditation processes led to the rapid expansion of the School of Health Sciences before her departure from the position in 2023 to lead workforce development efforts.

Prior to her arrival at Lasell University in 2000, Cris served as the Coordinator of Sports Medicine at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Cambridge, MA, and was an athletic trainer for the US Soccer Federation. She also held several positions in higher education and athletic organizations. As a professor of athletic training, Cris’ passion for active learning serves as the foundation of the programs she creates and delivers, focusing on student engagement, experiential learning, and the acquisition of professional technical skills that lead to employment opportunities.

Cris earned her Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Leadership in Education from the University of Massachusetts Lowell, her Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Counseling- Sports Psychology from Boston University, Boston Massachusetts, and her Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Athletic Training from Springfield College, Springfield, Massachusetts. Cris Haverty's CV

Jess Cerbo
Program Director, Surgical Technology

Helena Giordano, M.A., R.T. (R)
Program Director, Radiologic Technology

Helena Giordano brings more than 15 years of clinical experience as a Radiological Technologist at Newton-Wellesley Hospital. Helena earned her B.A. in biology from Regis College, followed by her M.A. in anatomy and neurobiology from BU School of Medicine. Helena then earned her Radiologic Technologist certification from the MGH Institute of Health Professions and remains active in clinical practice while leading the program, ensuring students benefit from current industry knowledge, real-world insight, and hands-on expertise.

Lauren Twardy
Administrative Coordinator, Workforce Development & Strategic Initiatives

Lauren Twardy brings experience in higher education, adult education, instructional design, and project coordination to her role as the Administrative Coordinator for Workforce Development and Strategic Initiatives at Lasell University.

Prior to her current role, Lauren worked in academic support at Lasell as a Learning Specialist & Tutoring Coordinator and also taught First Year Seminar courses as an Adjunct Faculty member. In addition to her work at Lasell, Lauren has experience in Adult Basic Education, including teaching courses and coaching instructors in curriculum design for English Language Arts and Digital Literacy for adult learners. Earlier in her career, Lauren served as a Lead Technical Writer and Project Coordinator for the nonprofit Academic Consortium for Global Education, where she collaborated on the development of e-learning courses for two cultural education initiatives for the U.S. Navy.

Lauren earned her M.A. in English from the University of Massachusetts Boston and her B.A. in English Communications from Emmanuel College. She is currently an MBA candidate at Lasell University.