Meet the Staff

Mileiry “Milly” De La Cruz (she/her) currently serves as the Associate Director of Academic Support and Care. Milly is a first-generation Dominican American who was born and raised in Providence, Rhode Island.

Milly’s life experiences as a low-income, first-generation college student inspired her to work in the field of higher education and help college students thrive both personally and academically. She understands how challenging it is to balance multiple responsibilities while pursuing a college degree, which is why she is thrilled to be working in the Office of Academic Support and Care to help eliminate barriers to our students’ education. She is someone who considers herself an empathetic leader and always strives to create a safe space for all students.

Milly earned an Associate of Arts degree in General Studies from the Community College of Rhode Island, a Bachelor of Arts in Communication from Rhode Island College, and a Master’s degree in Higher Education from Providence College.

In her free time, she enjoys spending time outdoors, going out to eat, and going to spas!

Della Burke (she/her) is currently the Assistant Director of Academic Support & Care. She came to Clark in July 2022 from the University of New Hampshire after completing an M.A. and Ph.D. in Sociology, her research examined LGBTQIA+ student experiences on campus. She has previously served as an instructor, teaching assistant, and career advisor.

Della is passionate about contributing to students’ success by empowering them to make informed decisions about their educational journeys. She believes that access to higher education is vital and feels lucky to play a part in Clark students’ experiences. Della’s favorite part of the day is when she gets to meet with students, come say hello!

In her free time, Della enjoys baking, playing games, and anything New England sports-related.

Lauren Cyr (she/her) is the Assistant Director of Academic Support & Care. Lauren has been a part of the Clark community for over 10 years having graduated with a B.A. in 2014 and an M.A. in 2015. She has held various academic support positions at Clark and within the Worcester community, serving as a G.E.D. instructor, a teaching assistant, a writing consultant, and a student success advisor.

Lauren is also a Ph.D. Candidate in the History Department, where she examines historical understandings of “student” as an identity, and its intersections with race, class, and gender in higher education in the United States. Her historical research interests influence her present-day teaching and activism, as she enjoys working one-on-one with students to explore strategies that make them feel empowered over their academic journey.

In her free time, Lauren should be working on her dissertation, but is often found taking a generous coffee or tea break with a fiction book instead.