Meet the Team
Belinda Cortez Vazquez
Associate Dean of Students in the University for Student Affairs and Director, UChicago HELP
T: 773.834.9710
Belinda has been with Campus and Student Life since February 2004 in varying and progressive roles, but always involved with helping students navigate University processes and resources especially during times when they face complex competing life and academic priorities. Before joining the University of Chicago, Belinda had a career in Housing and Residence Life at Northern Illinois University and the University of California, Berkeley.
Belinda received her B.A. in English and her M.Ed. from Loyola University, Chicago. She was born and raised in the Southwest side of Chicago and is proud to hail from the Little Village neighborhood, one of the 77 diverse neighborhoods of this great city. As a proud Chicagoan, Belinda roots for all the Chicago sports teams, however, she is an avid White Sox fan as she is a proud Southsider. In her free time, Belinda spends most of her time with her two sons and dedicates her personal advocacy in advancing the inclusion of people with disabilities in educational settings and extracurricular school, neighborhood, and community activities.
Lynda Daher
Assistant Dean of Students in the University & Associate Director of UChicago HELP
T: 773.702.8762
Lynda has been with the University of Chicago since 2011 and has dedicated her career to campus safety. She currently serves in a key role providing oversight and security management for special events, dignitary visits, and occurrences of activism. She also has extensive experience in leadership roles in emergency management, receiving specialized training and certifications from multiple agencies including OSHA, the US Secret Service, the Department of Homeland Security, the Florida Attorney General’s Office, and the FBI.
Lynda has a B.A. in Communications from Duquesne University and earned her Master of Science in Threat Response Management from the University of Chicago. She recently completed the University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business executive leadership program. In 2016, she became certified as a Mental Health First Aid instructor to provide workshops for campus partners so that they have the skills to support students facing mental health challenges. When she isn’t working, Lynda enjoys running on the Chicago lakefront, watching her hometown Pittsburgh sports teams with family, and relaxing with her adorable toy poodles.
Thomas “Lee” Cravens II
Assistant Dean of Students & Assistant Director, Student Case Management
T: 773.834.4147
Lee Cravens joined with UChicago Help staff in fall 2022 but has been working with college students experiencing difficulty at various institutions of higher learning since 2010. Lee holds a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Indiana University Bloomington, a Master of Social Work from Loyola University Chicago, and a Doctor of Education in Higher Education Administration from Northern Illinois University. Lee believes in a holistic approach to supporting students that fosters their ability for self-efficacy, self-determination, and self-advocacy. When not on campus, Lee is singing in choir or making a new recipe for dinner.
Tania Boisson Sainvilier
Assistant Dean of Students & Assistant Director, Student Case Management
T: 773.834.8359
Tania Boisson Sainvilier is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) with a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois Chicago and a Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology from Northwestern University. Tania’s career has focused on supporting individuals during critical times to meet their needs in order to have a successful life. This has included both direct service work as well as in management roles in community mental health agencies. In addition, Tania has worked in private practice providing mental health services since 2014 for adults, couples, and adolescents. Prior to University of Chicago, Tania spent four and a half years at Oakton College (formerly Oakton Community College) as the inaugural Student Care Coordinator, assisting students experiencing various life events, through appropriate interventions, referrals and follow up services. She also worked closely with faculty and staff to create a culture of care and increase mental health literacy in order to aid in student persistence.
Cassie Kramer joined the University of Chicago community during the summer of 2022 after completing her Master’s Degree in Mental Health Counseling and a Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice at Suffolk University in Boston, MA. She also holds a Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education from Boston University. When not on campus, Cassie can be found playing with her cat or streaming the latest crime show.