Kolleen Sullivan

Kolleen Sullivan is a staff member and currently the Assistant Director and Career Path Coordinator for the Autism Initiative at Mercyhurst and is from Buffalo, New York. She has worked for Mercyhurst from 2013 – 2017 as a Career Development Counselor in the Career Development Center at Mercyhurst. She left for a short period of time but found herself back on the hill to make a difference in students’ lives. She graduated from Hilbert College in Buffalo, New York with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Human Services with a minor in Rehabilitation Services and received my Masters of Science degree in Higher Education and Student Affairs Administration from SUNY Buffalo State in Buffalo, New York. She currently does not play a sport but was very active in athletics growing up. She started at a young age playing soccer, basketball, volleyball and softball but by the time I attended high school, she was only playing softball not only for her school but for a traveling team as well. She also played softball during her undergraduate career but retired after getting hurt.

The reason she first chose Mercyhurst is because when she first became employed at Mercyhurst in late 2013, she was ecstatic to work here. Mercyhurst’s traditions, values and mission tired directly to my career goals and my personal endeavors. Mercyhurst faculty, staff and administration made you feel at home and empowered you to work towards making a difference. She enjoys every minute of my experiences here and mostly the impact students have on her.

Some things she wanted to share is that she has three dogs, Bella, Cooper and Sassy and foster dogs whenever she can help. She also loves to travel and has been to a lot of places domestically and internationally. She also loves to bake and cook. She even almost went to culinary art school after she graduated from high school but realized that it was something she loves to do but did not want to make a career out of it. 

Leya Belnavis

Leya Belnavis is a senior from Kingston, Jamaica majoring in Psychology with a minor in Criminology. She is involved with several clubs on campus, including Psych Club and Afrobeats.

She is a massive Harry Styles fan and has seen him in concert once, and she plans to attend more concerts. Not only does she love Harry Styles, but she also enjoys music in general, especially the musician Halsey. She will often sing along to any music that she listens to; she grew up singing and playing the piano.

She is addicted to coffee, and she drinks at least two cups a day, usually more. She also enjoys tea as well; she grew up putting milk in her tea. She also loves french fries with a dying passion, ginger ale, and any form of sweets.

Leya also enjoys animals, especially pets like dogs, and cats and cannot watch a movie when an animal is harmed most slightly. She will refuse to watch a film or scene if it has anything to do with harming animals.

She is also very family-oriented, she contacts her family daily back in Jamacia, the states, and in England. Leya is the youngest of three siblings, but she only recognizes two of her siblings. Her sister named Jordan or Jordy is married with a child living in Atlanta, Georgia. Her brother Jared and his girlfriend live in Aylesbury, England.





Leya wants to get her masters in counseling because she likes to listen to people's problems and offer advice. In high school, her classmates would often go to her for her guidance. So, she found a calling for pursuing phycology as a career.

- Isabel C. Merriman