Dana Caponong ’09, has always been passionate about education and helping others find their path to success. Her experiences at STAC — where community and personal connections with professors allowed her to thrive — motivated her to pursue a career in higher education. The College’s commitment to supporting students has had a lasting impact on her.
Dana assists students from inquiry to enrollment, focusing on graduate and international populations, and she also serves as the Principal Designated School Official. Meeting people from all over the world and learning about their cultures is one of the most rewarding aspects of her job. It’s exciting to see how STAC helps each student find their own version of success — whether their path is traditional or non-linear.
In her career, Dana has had the privilege of working in various roles:
2009-2011: Math Teacher, North Arlington High School
2011-2014: Tutor, Huntington Learning Center
2014-2020: Regional and International Admissions Counselor, Assistant Director of Admissions, STAC
2020-2022: Transfer Admissions Counselor, SUNY Maritime College
2022-2024: Coordinator, International Scholar Services and Global Opportunities, SUNY RCC
Education and counseling have always been at the heart of Dana’s career. She’s proud of her students’ successes, like one who earned a 6-year work visa with a major bank after completing an internship, and another who turned a local internship into a successful programming career. Dana’s work has also been deeply influenced by the counseling skills she developed while earning her Master’s degree, especially in empathy and communication.
One thing Dana always emphasizes to students is the importance of communication in the admissions process. STAC is an affordable and supportive institution that provides students with clear guidance every step of the way. STAC faculty, administrators, and staff are committed to student success, both academically and professionally.
When she’s not working, Dana loves spending time with her son and their two rescue dogs, Ten Ten and Pocky. She also loves heavy metal music and plays punk/metal bass guitar.