Who We Are
The Musiker Family has directed award winning, well supervised, educational summer programs for students for over 40 years. Our unique partnerships with some of the world’s most prestigious universities allow our students unparalleled access to great academics, culture, sports, and residential life. We are proud that every summer more teenagers choose Summer Discovery than any other program of its kind. Year after year, we receive positive word-of-mouth recommendations from thousands of satisfied students, parents, teachers, guidance counselors and administrators.
We invite you to join a wonderful group of teenagers from all over the USA and around the world this summer on campus.
Sincerely,
The Summer Discovery Family
The Musiker Family has directed award winning, well supervised, educational summer programs for teenagers for over 40 years. Each campus has its own Discovery leadership team of experienced directors, knowledgeable academic advisors, and dedicated resident counselors. Our on-campus administrative staff is the most experienced in the pre-college field — nobody else comes close.
Classes are taught by college professors, graduate teaching instructors, top secondary school teachers, artisans and professionals. Most classes are small and interactive, making learning meaningful and fun.
All R.C.’s are over 21 years of age and non-smokers. For a more supportive and personalized program, students are divided into small R.C. groups of approximately 10-12, with their own Resident Counselor. Frequent R.C. group meetings provide an environment for social and academic interaction and adjustment.
Summer Discovery Program Leadership
- Bob Musiker
A founder of Summer Discovery, Bob earned his BA in Political Science at Colgate University, studied communications at UCLA, debating & literature at Cambridge and music at the University of Madras, India. 29th year
- Jimmy Musiker
A founder of Summer Discovery, he has traveled and studied all over the world, including Asia, India, & Cambridge University in England. Jim earned his BA in Political Science from Hobart College. 27th year
- Wil Burns-Garcia
Wil was born in Puerto Rico, raised in Evanston, Illinois and earned his BS in Economics and Teacher’s Certificate from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. 14th year
- Neal Chervin
Neal earned his BA in Communication Arts & Sciences at Queens College in New York. Neal teaches turbo-bike spinning and has traveled to 48 of 50 United States. 28th year
- Rouel Belleza
Born in the Philippines, raised in California, he received his BS in Social Science from the Cal. State Polytechnic University, and his MA from Boston University. Rouel works as a Guidance Counselor. 14th year
- Shari Siegel
Shari is in charge of hiring several hundred staff each summer. For 10 years, she taught in Rochester, New York. She earned her BA at SUNY Cortland and her MA at SUNY Brockport. 8th year
- Carrie Ann Mugridge
Carrie received her BA from UC Santa Barbara and her MA in Renaissance Art History from Syracuse University in Florence, Italy. After teaching in Florence for 3 years, Carrie relocated to NY with Summer Discovery. 4th year
- Ron Jones
Ron received his BA from the University of Maryland in Criminology and was a fraud investigator and security consultant in the insurance industry. 14th year
- Jenn Occhionero
Jennifer earned her BA in Psychology from Central Connecticut State where she was a member of the swim team. Jenn taught at-risk students in Connecticut. She works full-time at Summer Discovery. 5th year
- Ellie Belleza
Ellie received a BS in Communications Studies from the University of Central Florida. She is a certified Speech Pathologist and mother to two boys. 14th year
- Tom Fuchs
Tom is a Professor at SUNY Cortland. He is a certified American Red Cross Lifeguard Trainer and received his BS and MS in Physical Education from the State University of New York at Cortland. 21st year
- Bernie Degraw
Bernie is the Head of Guidance Services in the Southern Cayuga School District, New York. He has a BA from SUNY Cortland and his MA in School Counseling from Niagara University. 21st year
- Jonathan Shulman
Jonathan earned his BA at Tufts University and his MA at King’s College London. He is now the Chairman of the history department at La Jolla Country Day School in San Diego. 14th year
- Andy Cornblatt
Director Andy is an expert in college admissions. He earned his BA from Harvard and his Law degree from Boston College School of Law. He is Dean of Admissions at the Georgetown University Law Center. 15th year
- Jose Garcia
José earned his BA in History from Cal State Northridge. He is currently a teacher for Puc Charter Schools in Los Angeles, where he also coaches soccer. José is fluent in Spanish. 6th year
- Dan Simmons
Dan earned his BS in Physical Education and MS in Adaptive Physical Education from SUNY Cortland. Dan is certified in First Aid and CPR, teaches, and coaches football and baseball in Canastota, NY. 20th year
- Amy Simmons
Amy received her BS in Mathematics from SUNY Cortland and her Masters in Special Education from Sage Graduate School. She is a high school teacher and varsity volleyball coach in upstate New York. 17th year
- Greg Sewell
Greg earned his BA in Education and teaching certification from SUNY Cortland and now teaches sixth grade in a middle school in Suffolk County, New York. 5th year
- Bryan Gaiser
Bryan earned his BA from Pace University and his MA in Education from Iona College. He has taught Science at Pleasantville Middle School for the past 10 ten years and at the NY School for the Deaf. 14th year
- Ali Schwartz
Originally from New York, Ali moved to Burlington to earn her degree in Elementary Education from the University of Vermont. She stayed in New England to teach first grade in Burlington. 10th year
- Jennifer Tsivitis
Jenn earned her BA in Communications and Marketing from Palm Beach Atlantic University and is currently working on a Master's in School Counseling at Long Island University. 6th year.
- Ed Healy
Born in Denver, raised in New Hampshire, Ed earned his BA in Biology from the University of Kansas and his Juris Doctrate from Vermont Law School. Ed attended Summer Discovery as a high school student. 4th year
- Sam Berry
Sam graduated with a BS in History and Social Studies Education from NYU. He lives in Costa Rica, where he teaches English and Social Studies at The Country Day School. 4th year
- Victor Luna
Victor received his BA in Business Economics at Cal State Long Beach, and his Master’s in Social Work from USC. He is a school Social Worker for the Los Angeles Unified School District. 8th year
- Keith Grasmann
Keith earned his BS in French Education at SUNY New Paltz, and his MA in ESL at Lehman College. He was a Fulbright Scholar, and teaches French and Spanish in Pleasantville, New York. 4th year
- Sarah Behm
Sarah received her BS at Cal Polytechnic State University. She received her MBA in Spain at Instituto de Estudios Bursatiles, Madrid. Today, you will find Sarah working as an educational consultant. 4th year
- Christy Booth
Christy received her BA in English and Psychology from U. of Michigan. She is currently pursuing an MA from Michigan State University and teaching language arts to eighth grade students in Birmingham, MI. 6th year
Associate Directors and Administrators
- Mike Musiker
Director of College Counseling
BA, Northeastern U.;
MS, Columbia University
- Karen Tarantino
BS, Adelphi University
- Helene Korman
BS, SUNY Oneonta
- Susan Kornick
BA, University of Wisconsin
- Lori Widelec
BA, SUNY Stony Brook
- Stacey Todisco
BA, SUNY Buffalo
- Tim Hoke
BS, Teachers Cert., York College of PA.
- Laura Corrigan
BS, New York Institute of Technology
- Marc Brousseau
BS, Teachers Cert.,
Boise State MEd, USC
- Sean Grady
BA, Salford University;
Cert. of Ed., Cambridge U; MS, London University
- Arthur Giordano
BA, City College of New York
- Ann Carman
BA, Western Kentucky University
M. Ed. Clemon University
6th year.
- Nicole Coviello
BS, University of Tennessee
MA, University of Memphis
5th year
