Meet the Team

Ask5 with Anita DeCianni-Brown

Anita DeCianni-Brown is Empire State University’s Director of Career & Experiential Learning Services. She is a proud two-time alumna, earning her undergraduate and graduate degrees in 2012 and 2015, respectively. With a Master’s in Adult Learning, she brings over 35 years of expertise to the field of career services. Since 2014, Anita has served the SUNY Empire community, dedicated to developing and promoting career programs and services helping job seekers tell their professional story.

Ask5 with Annie Garwood

Ariane “Annie” Garwood is excited to join Empire State University and the Career & Experiential Learning Services team as Assistant Director. Annie comes from Hudson Valley Community College, where she served as Counselor in the Center for Careers & Transfer for the past 11 years. Prior, she worked as Volunteer Coordinator at Animal Protective Foundation in Scotia, NY and Alumni Affairs Associate at Albany Law School. Annie has an associate in liberal arts from Corning Community College, a bachelor’s in psychology from Union College and a master’s in college student services administration from The College of Saint Rose. Currently, Annie resides in Troy with her husband, 3 dogs and 2 cats.

Ask5 with Asia Moore

Asia Moore serves as the Internship Coordinator for Career Services at SUNY Empire State University, where she supports students in navigating career readiness and building confidence as they explore their professional goals. She is currently pursuing her Ed.D. at Empire State University, becoming a two‑time alum dedicated to integrating social‑emotional learning into higher education. research focuses on supporting historically underserved and underprivileged student populations so they can thrive during and after college. Her passion for equity grew from her earlier work in youth advocacy, policy, and community partnership. She has collaborated on youth leadership summits, community resource fairs, and civic engagement projects that empower young people to lead and create change. brings an open mind and a strong commitment to supporting each student’s unique journey, ensuring they feel encouraged and equipped to reach their goals.

Ask5 with Paul Muccigrosso

Paul Muccigrosso II, BS, MSW, MBA has had leadership responsibilities as a member of the board of directors at the Brain-Body Health Technology Institute, LLC, and currently holds leadership roles at The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Buffalo and Western New York and at the National Giving Alliance (NGA) in Philadelphia, PA. He serves as the current Executive Director of the Veterans Advocacy Center – Public Trust 509(a)(2) in Buffalo, New York. His career-long assignment as Corporate Comptroller at Capozzi Paving & Concrete, Inc. has helped hone his wide skill set and strategic vision and planning proficiencies. Paul served as a member of both Daemen College and Medaille College Faculty where he was Director of the Veteran Services Department and was the Program Director and Professor at the school’s College in Prison program at the Albion Correctional Facility, respectively.

Paul is a graduate of Medaille College having earned a Master of Business Administration degree. He is also a graduate of the University at Buffalo’s School of Social Work where he earned his Master in Social Work degree. At UB, Paul is a member of the Institute on Trauma and Trauma-Informed Care and serves there now as a Field Educator in the US Military and Veterans Joining Forces Program. Paul is also a graduate of The State University of New York Empire State College where he earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Human Development.

Paul is a decorated Veteran of the United States Navy having served from 1976 – 1982. Paul has been providing trauma-informed psychotherapy and readjustment care to two populations – US Veterans and those who have experienced the introduction to the criminal justice system and/or a period of incarceration. As a trauma care and response to PTSD social worker at the Veterans Administration Medical Center, Paul developed treatment protocols introducing “self-reinvention” skills designed to desensitize the long- and short-term effects of chronic and episodic exposure to trauma. As a result of providing this care Paul helped develop the direct care provider The Power of Psychotherapy (thepowerofpsychotherapy.com) which provides both clinical and developmental reintegration care to trauma patients and others. Paul sees clients and patients at the clinic, in hospitals/institutions and in the homes of those needing care.

Paul’s connection to those in need of some of life’s most basic essentials such of housing, food, clothing and health care combine his advocacy for social justice equity and access to care with his passion to provide care and services as a mission for which he has been outspoken and deeply committed. Paul is adjunct faculty at the school of social work at Maryville University in St. Louis, Missouri and serves as a Field Educator at the State University of New York @ Buffalo’s School of Social Work where he supervises students whose passion for serving men and women of US Veteran status is his primary focus.

Paul lives in Lancaster with his wife Karen; they have two adult daughters and two grandchildren. In their spare time, Paul and Karen like to travel.