Admissions Staff

Anna Hicks-Jaco is the Interim Assistant Dean of Enrollment Management at the College of Law. Prior to this role, she worked with over 20 law school admissions offices across the U.S. as the Chief Operating Officer of the Spivey Consulting Group, the premier law school admissions consulting firm in the country. She has also worked in data and research for the Office of Career and Professional Development at the University of Florida Levin College of Law, where she had the opportunity to serve on the Dean's Leadership Council. She holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of Miami magna cum laude, and she attended the University of Virginia School of Law as a Dillard full scholarship recipient before withdrawing to work in law school admissions consulting full-time. She is a co-author of The PowerScore/Spivey Consulting Law School Admissions Bible. alhicksj@syr.edu

Steve Budgar is the Director of Admissions and joined the College of Law in February of 2018. Steve received his Associate's in Business Administration from Finger Lakes Community College, Bachelor's in Business Administration from The College at Brockport, and Master's in Management from Nazareth College. Before joining the SU Law Admissions Office Steve spent 15 years as the Assistant Director of Admissions at NY Chiropractic College. 

Budgar also teaches in the business department at Finger Lakes Community College and Keuka College and coaches youth football for the Geneva Junior Panthers. Steve is involved with all aspects of the recruitment, evaluation, and enrollment of prospective students.  

sbudgar@syr.edu

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Kristin Shea is the Director of Financial Aid for the College of Law and has served in various roles with the College for more than a decade; as Financial Aid Coordinator and Assistant Director of Financial Aid, and as part of the College's Advancement Team, overseeing alumni relations and annual fund-raising activities. 

Shea holds a BA in biology and minor in psychology from Le Moyne College in Syracuse, where she also earned an MBA with a concentration in marketing. Shea worked in Le Moyne's Office of Alumni and Parent Programs and the Office of Career Services. She has additional professional experience working in both the corporate and non-profit sectors, in marketing, fund-raising, event planning and human resources. 

Shea connects current and prospective students with resources for financing their legal education and counsels students and alumni on budgeting, fiscal responsibility and post-graduate loan repayment. 

kapardee@syr.edu

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Danielle Burgo is the Associate Director of Admissions, joining the team in 2016. Burgo earned her Bachelor's degree in criminal justice and psychology from Roger Williams University.  Prior to joining the Office of Admissions and Financial Aid, Burgo worked in Faculty Support at the College of Law and is a certified title examiner in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Burgo is involved with all aspects of the recruitment, evaluation, and enrollment of prospective students. 

dlburgo@syr.edu

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Missy Vetrano is the Assistant Director of Admissions & Financial Aid and started at the College of Law in June of 2016. 

Vetrano earned her Bachelor's in psychology from SUNY Geneseo, and her Ed.M and C.A.S. in school counseling from the University at Buffalo. She has worked in various aspects of higher education, including admissions, career services, and orientation and first-year programs. 

Vetrano helps process applications & student aid, and can be reached to address individual questions and concerns.

mvetrano@syr.edu

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