peter franzese, wsca president

western suffolk
counselors' association

Hello WSCA members.

My name is Peter Franzese. I’m so excited to be serving as the Western Suffolk Counselors’ Association (WSCA) President for the next two years. My career in Higher Education started at Dowling College as an Admissions Counselor, and then in Student Services. I have also worked at LIU Post in Transfer Admissions and in Financial Aid at Stony Brook University. I am currently a Lead Undergraduate College Advisor at Stony Brook University, academically advising first and second-year students. It’s an honor and a blessing to take on this leadership role and to have the opportunity to give back to an association that has meant so much to me over the years.

I hope you had a wonderful summer filled with rest and rejuvenation, and that you're feeling refreshed for the upcoming school year. I'm excited for the year ahead and the opportunities we have to make a positive impact on our students. Let's approach this new year with enthusiasm, a focus on collaboration, and a shared commitment to our students' success.

The WSCA executive council has been hard at work all summer to prepare for the upcoming school year.

We have a full lineup of events scheduled for the Fall. 

First up is our  Fall Membership Meeting taking place on Monday September 29th at the Essex in Brentwood from 4pm to 7pm. 

Hauppauge High School will again be hosting our annual Fall College Fair on Thursday, October 16th from 6:30pm to 8:30pm. This is a great opportunity for your students to make connections with College Representatives.

The tradition of LICAC will continue when SUNY Old Westbury will be hosting the 49th Long Island Counselors Annual Conference on Friday, November 7th, in association with the Nassau (NCA) and the East End (EECA) Counseling Associations. The keynote speaker/topic for this year’s conference will be Joshua Varon, Founder and CEO, Varon Consulting. Unlocking Potential: Empowering School Counselors with ChatGPT and AI. 

Finally, to close out the year we hope you will join us on Monday, December 8th at  Captain Bills  for our Annual Holiday Happening.

An association is only as strong as its members. Mark your calendars now and make a plan to attend as many WSCA events as possible. 

Please consider joining a committee or presenting at an upcoming conference.  

There are so many ways to get involved and make a difference. Our shared passion and commitment in working with students and in helping them reach their full potential is what drives us in our profession. 

I’m excited to discuss how we can work together to honor and extend the tradition of WSCA forward for years to come, and to hear your thoughts and ideas for potential workshop topics/speakers that you believe are meaningful to the counseling community. Your feedback is always welcomed and appreciated!! 

 I’d love to hear from you. My email address is  peter.franzese@stonybrook.edu. 

I hope you have a great start to the 2025-2026 school year and I look forward to seeing you at WSCA events throughout the year!!!

Warm Regards,

Peter Franzese

2025-2027 WSCA President