Yvette Velez

Director, Off-Campus Housing Office
Yvette Velez grew up on the south side of Chicago, in an area known as Marquette Park, and received a Bachelor of Arts in psychology and art from Monmouth College in Monmouth, Illinois.  She came to Massachusetts two weeks after graduation to volunteer for a year with Suffolk’s Organization for Uplifting Lives through Service (S.O.U.L.S.) as an Americorp MACC/VISTA member.       

Yvette started a full time career at Suffolk University in the Undergraduate Admission office immediately following her year of service.  While working with Undergraduate Admission she received a Master of Education in Administration of Higher Education from Suffolk.  Yvette is now the Director for the Off-Campus Housing Office where she enjoys sharing her own stories of the apartment search and speaking to all students about living in Boston.   Yvette is always looking to provide opportunities for commuters to connect, and she encourages students interested in getting involved to stop by the OCHO office.   When Yvette is not on Beacon Hill working with commuter students she spends her time scrap booking, sewing, and searching for a great Mexican restaurant in Boston.

Peter Gemmellaro

Assistant Director, Off-Campus Housing Office
Peter Gemmellaro is a native of Massachusetts, having spent most of his life in Westford, a town north of Boston.  Peter attended college in-state at UMass Dartmouth where he received his Bachelor of Arts in English with a concentration in Writing/Communications. He was involved in both Residence Life and Student Activities during his time at UMD.

While completing a fellowship in the Office of Residence Life and Summer Programs here at Suffolk University, Peter received a Master of Education in Administration of Higher Education.  Immediately following the close of his tenure in that office, Peter took a position working in the Welcome Center for Undergraduate Admission. He most recently held a position as Admission Counselor at Lasell College in Newton, MA before returning to Suffolk in May 2008 as Assistant Director of Off-Campus Housing.

Peter feels passionately about the importance of student involvement on-campus and urges all commuter students to utilize the OCHO as a resource. When Peter is not working within the Suffolk community he spends his time reading, patronizing the various restaurants of Boston and playing kickball in his local league.

Matthew Sadowski

Graduate Fellow
Matthew Sadowski joins the OCHO staff as the Graduate Fellow for the 2009-2010 academic year.  Matthew is currently a first-year graduate student in the M.Ed School Counseling program. He is originally from Agawam, MA and completed his undergraduate degree at Newbury College in Brookline, MA. At Newbury College, Matthew obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and was highly involved as a Resident Assistant, the Vice President of his graduating class, and a four-year member of the varsity volleyball team.  Matthew has also worked for five years at Six Flags New England in the Human Resources office.
 
Matthew will be living in Brighton and is most excited about being in the city more.  Matthew is eager to meet new people, connect to the Suffolk community, and help with some of OCHO’s great programs. He urges fellow commuter students to stop by, say hello, and check out what the office offers.  When Matthew is not in class or working, he enjoys playing volleyball with his club team and spending time with friends and family.

Housing Assistants

Housing Assistants
Housing Assistants are work-study students employed by the Off-Campus Housing Office.  They are an integral part of our office and are responsible for maintaining a high level of customer service to the Suffolk University population interested in using our services.  Housing Assistants support the office with special events, projects, student outreach and general office duties for the purpose of improving and expanding upon current programs and initiatives.