Two New Faculty Join Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. School of Education

Two new faculty members have joined the Ed.D. in Executive Leadership program in the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. School of Education at St. John Fisher College. Dr. Daniele Lyman-Torres will serve as the director of the program’s Syracuse site at Onondaga Community College and Dr. Stephen Draper will teach in the School’s Westchester location at Iona College.

Lyman-Torres has more than 20 years of experience in key community leadership positions including for Arc of Yates County, Rochester-Genesee Regional Transportation Authority, and Trillium Health. Most recently, she served as commissioner of the Department of Recreation and Human Services for the City of Rochester, planning and directing bureaus including recreation and park stewardship, community athletics, youth services, crisis services and violence prevention, animal services, and the public market.   

A 2018 graduate of the Ed.D. program, Lyman-Torres has served as an adjunct professor for the past three years. Over the course of her teaching career, which includes several years at Roberts Wesleyan College, Lyman-Torres has taught more than 50 cohorts of graduate and doctoral students. In her new role, she will direct the program’s extension site at Onondaga Community College in Syracuse. She will continue to teach in the program and serve as an advisor and dissertation committee member for candidates, as well.

Lyman-Torres earned an associate’s degree from Monroe Community College, where she is a member of the Alumni Hall of Fame; holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Roberts Wesleyan College; and as previously mentioned, is a graduate of the College.

Draper joins Fisher as a visiting assistant professor at the program’s extension site at Iona College. A familiar face for the program, he previously served as an adjunct professor and dissertation committee chair at Iona.

Draper’s background is varied and encompasses business, education, administration, and research. He conducted quantitative research for organizations in the finance and investment industry, including Lehman Brothers and Merrill Lynch, among others. He brings extensive experience in K-12 school leadership, having served in several business operations and administrative services capacities at the North Merrick and Baldwin school districts. During his tenure at Baldwin, he was also an adjunct professor at St. John’s University.

Draper holds a bachelor’s degree from Skidmore College, a master’s degree from Columbia University, several certificates from New York University, and doctoral degree from St. John’s University.