Meet the 8 New Senior Administrators Bolstering Our Leadership Team
Brooklyn Law School welcomes eight new administrative leaders in finance, legal counsel, human resources, student and residential life, and campus safety. Together they contribute a wealth of experience and fresh ideas to our community.
The new team includes the following:
Todd Bristol, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, brings to the Law School nearly 30 years of experience managing the finances and operations of complex academic research institutions, including a decade as associate dean for administration, finance, and planning for Princeton University’s School of Public and International Affairs. He has also served as chief operating officer for Bard Graduate Center, as vice dean for administration for Rutgers University’s School of Arts and Sciences, and as senior assistant dean for administration, finance, and planning at Columbia University’s School of Social Work. We welcome his extensive knowledge and experience in strategic planning; budget modeling; and financial administration and oversight of major capital projects, information technology, human resources, and communications.
“I am honored and humbled to serve as the new executive vice president of Brooklyn Law School, drawn by the opportunity to support and advance the school’s important mission under the leadership of President and Dean David Meyer and his exceptional team,” Bristol said. “Having served at such large academic institutions as Columbia, Princeton, and Rutgers during the past three decades, I am delighted to now join an independent school that is committed to serving a diverse and vibrant community in the heart of Brooklyn.”
Jeffrey Dulow, Controller, arrives at Brooklyn from Bergen Community College, in New Jersey, where he also served as controller. Dulow is a seasoned finance professional with wide experience in treasury, accounting, auditing, tax preparation, and operational functions. His career path has taken him from leading a team with the U.S. Department of Defense’s U.S. Army Budget Group to CIT Bank Consumer Finance and to CIT’s Global Accounting Office. He received his M.B.A. in financial management from Pace University and an M.S. in accounting from Seton Hall University.
“In joining the dynamic team at Brooklyn Law School, my goal is the continuation of timely and accurate financial reporting to senior management and other stakeholders so informative decisions can be made in the best interest of our students,” Dulow said. “Furthermore, along with other members of the administration and finance teams, I will provide exceptional customer service that our outstanding students and alumni deserve and expect.”
Dominique Fowler, Director of Student Life, has more than a decade of deep experience developing, implementing, and championing educational and student-driven initiatives, most recently as director of student engagement for Iona University. Previously, Fowler served in that position at Coker University, in Hartsville, S.C., and was director of alumni relations at Virginia Union University, where he is himself an alumnus, having received his master's in education there. He is currently working toward his Ed.D. in executive leadership at St. John Fisher University.
“I find profound satisfaction in immersing myself in the welcoming Brooklyn Law community and being accepted as me,” Fowler said. “In addition to embracing the diversity of our student body, and nurturing collaborative relationships with campus partners, it has been amazing to engage with the vibrant energy of our student body, work alongside the Student Bar Association (SBA), and current and aspiring student leaders. I believe that collectively we have the ability to re-envision the landscape of student engagement and cultivate an inclusive and innovative environment that fosters holistic development, leadership development, and meaningful connections within our historic institution.”
Alexis Grafakos, Director of Residential Life, joins us from SUNY Maritime College’s Office of Residential Life, where she was most recently interim assistant director and was previously the interim Title IX coordinator. She also served as area coordinator at SUNY Geneseo’s Office of Residential Life. Grafakos has consistently devoted herself to campus engagement, counseling first-year students to help them ease their transition to college; facilitating safe spaces for LGBTQ+ students; and making connections to resources for students who have faced sexual misconduct and gender discrimination. She is also a member and former executive board vice president of Hermandad de Sigma Iota Alpha, a sorority devoted to expanding awareness of Latinx and diverse cultures. Grafakos received an M.A. in higher education and student affairs administration from New York University.
“I am really looking forward to being able to better the residential experience for our community and ensuring that everyone feels at home in Feil Hall,” Grafakos said.
Sarah Luke, General Counsel, has built an impressive career around her great expertise in higher education, good governance, contracts, compliance, and labor and employment law. She joins the Law School from Brooklyn College, where she served as executive legal counsel and labor designee, and interim chief diversity officer. Previously, she served as general counsel and vice president for Governors State University, as assistant general counsel for both Wayne State University and Rutgers University, and in private practice as senior counsel at Bond Schoeneck & King. Luke received her J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School. She is also a frequent presenter at conferences of the National Association of College and University Attorneys and is a pro bono volunteer for the Lawyers Alliance for New York.
“It is an honor to join such an innovative institution,” Luke said. “Brooklyn Law School’s commitment to access, equity, and academic excellence resonates deeply with my own values, and I am eager to take part in its mission.”
Sara Moran, Director of Human Resources, has guided human resources (HR) teams for a wide variety of organizations, from arts and cultural institutions (the New York Philharmonic and the Intrepid Museum) to nonprofits such as the health-care-focused Puerto Rican Family Institute and the Central Park Conservancy. Most recently, she was HR Director for nonprofit public-affairs programmer and educational organization BronxNet TV, where she helped develop new departments and performed strategic evaluations to advance its success.
“As the HR Director at Brooklyn Law, I look forward to working with employees and the organization to strengthen the BLS community,” Moran said.
Jonathan Santiago, Director of Campus Safety, was formerly manager of training and development for Columbia University’s Department of Public Safety, where he was previously a sergeant on the public safety team. He served as an aviation manager for the U.S. Army, later transitioning to the Army National Guard as a military police officer. Santiago holds an M.S. in enterprise risk management from Columbia University, an M.B.A. from Adelphi University, and a dual M.A. in Criminal Law and Procedure and Police Administration from John Jay College.
Of joining Brooklyn Law, Santiago said, “I am truly blessed to be provided this opportunity to cultivate a professional and inclusive environment within our community. My primary goal is to assemble a dedicated campus safety team that not only ensures the security of our campus but also fosters a culture of awareness and collaboration. I envision implementing programs that promote safety education, proactive risk assessment, and community engagement. By laying a solid foundation, I aim to pave the way for future leaders to thrive and evolve within our institution.”
Heather Spielmaker, Associate Dean of Career Development, joins the Law School’s Career Development Center after leading successful programs as assistant dean of career development at the James E. Rogers College of Law at the University of Arizona, as assistant dean of career services at the University of Kansas School of Law, and as assistant dean at the West Virginia University College of Law.
Spielmaker also has extensive firsthand experience with independent law schools. She received her J.D. from the independent Western Michigan University Cooley Law School, after already launching her career in law school administration at Cooley’s Center for Ethics, Service, and Professionalism. There, she developed and administered many pro bono programs (including a legal assistance program for returning troops and veterans) and rose to director while simultaneously working toward her law degree.
“I’m thrilled to be part of the Brooklyn Law School career development team,” Spielmaker said. “We are committed to fully supporting our students and new graduates in their job searches and look forward to expanding our employer outreach, so students have a wonderful variety of opportunities to pursue. Nothing is more fulfilling for us than seeing students excited about their employment outcomes.”