Meet Your GUE Colleagues: Winter 2026

Meet Your GUE Colleagues: Winter 2026

Carole Cafferty

Carole Cafferty headshot

Co-director
The Educational Justice Institute (TEJI)

  • My role: I manage our ESG-based program, which offers undergraduate students the opportunity to learn alongside incarcerated students, while graduate students teach courses within carceral facilities.
  • Years at MIT: 8
  • Last great book you read: Some Bright Nowhere by Ann Packer and I’m currently enjoying Revenge of the Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell.
  • Favorite sports team: The New England Patriots. Go Pats!
  • On the weekends, I love to: Spend time in the White Mountains skiing or relaxing with a good book at Good Harbor Beach in Gloucester.
  • My favorite dessert is: A brownie sundae.
  • If I won the lottery, I would: Travel the world, then establish a philanthropic foundation to support disenfranchised populations.

Genevre Filiault

Assistant Dean for Curriculum and Faculty Support
Registrar’s Office

  • My role: Collaborate with faculty, students, and staff to facilitate review of and improvements to undergraduate education and educational policies.
  • Years at MIT: Longer than most of our undergraduates have been alive.
  • Favorite hobbies or DIY projects: I enjoy traveling, reading, listening to music, and watching foreign mystery series. Recently, I’ve been expanding my knowledge of a variety of crafting techniques.
  • Last great book you read: American Sirens by Kevin Hazzard was an interesting read.
  • Favorite food or cuisine: Fresh seafood consumed with a scenic ocean view.
  • Proudest moment in your life: Completing my master’s degree, while working full time.
  • What was your first job? I worked at Hersheypark, (an amusement park in Hershey, Pennsylvania).

Jamie Chelel

Communications Assistant
Edgerton Center, K-12 Maker Lab

  • My role: I split my time between managing communications for the Edgerton Center and contributing creatively to the K-12 Maker Lab.
  • Years at MIT: 3.083
  • Favorite hobbies or DIY projects: I love playing guitar in my free time! You can actually catch me strumming and singing some Taylor Swift or having fun interpreting classical art songs with guitar accompaniment. Outside of MIT I’m a professional classical musician and having a musical outlet aside from my primary instrument is really helpful in managing stress and keeping things light.
  • Last great book you read: I recently reread the Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins. I love the addition of the prequels!
  • Favorite sports teams: Sorry to report I am a lifelong Yankees fan.
  • Proudest moment in your life: Easy — my graduating recital at the Boston Conservatory! I had just performed an hour of memorized classical vocal music (spanning 6 languages and several centuries) for an audience of my classmates, teachers, family, and school community. I was sad that the recital was over but delighted that many years of hard work and dedication resulted in such a rewarding performance experience. (Fun fact: I sang a duet on this program with my now-husband!)
  • Famous person (living or dead) you’d love to meet, and why: I’d love to meet Ina Garten! She’s had a fascinating journey through her career and personal life, and she would probably make us a fabulous dinner to chat over.
  • Guilty pleasure: I am guilt-free about this, but lots of people put reality television in this category. I speak fluent Real Housewives, know the ins-and-outs of the Below Deck universe, and have lots of opinions about Scandoval (IYKYK).

Nathan Castanon

Counselor for Student Financial Counseling
Student Financial Services

  • My role: I support all of our Student Financial Counseling Team, which includes our Financial Aid, Financial Education, and Customer Service teams.
  • Years at MIT: 1.5
  • Dream vacation spot: A nice cabin in the middle of the woods.
  • What was your first job? Cashier at a thrift/vintage store.
  • Favorite dessert or treats: Key lime pie or anything citrus flavored.