Community and Belonging Staff

Christine Albain (she/her/hers) is originally from Minnesota and has been spending the last few years slowly moving east. Christine earned a bachelor's degree in Psychology from Valparaiso University (Valparaiso, IN) where she was an honor's scholar in Interdisciplinary Humanities and also studied French & Dance. Before starting at Mount Holyoke in 2016, she worked at the Culinary Institute of America (Hyde Park, NY) in Residence Life. When she's not at work, Christine enjoys dancing (ballet/ballroom/latin), consuming excessive quantities of tea, and reading everything she can get her hands on. 

Mark Gionfriddo is the Director of Jazz Ensembles at Mount Holyoke College, conducting the Big Band, Chamber, and Vocal Jazz Ensembles. Mark also serves as Staff Accompanist for the Music Department and is an Instructor in Jazz and Classical Piano. In addition, he is Catholic Music Director for the Office of Religious and Spiritual Life, conducting the Abbey Chapel Singers. Mark is well known as a pianist/keyboardist, composer, arranger and musical director in the Pioneer Valley and Berkshires of Massachusetts.

Amelia Ender has been the Advisor to the Jewish community since 2006. In addition to being a religious advisor, Ender says that her experiences with dance and dance movement therapy “in another life” contributed to her sense of body/mind consciousness that is fundamental to her spirituality. She emphasizes that the connection between the body and mind are inseparable.