Graduate Program Administration

Staff

• Director of Graduate Studies (DGS) – Prof. Colleen Dunlavy – oversees all aspects of the Graduate Program
• Graduate Program Coordinator (Advisor) – Leslie Abadie – counsels graduate students about departmental and Graduate School degree requirements for the various study programs; coordinates all aspects of the program
• Graduate Admissions Coordinator/Program Assistant – Abby Kennison – coordinates applications and admissions process; provides administrative support for the grad program
• Payroll and Benefits Specialist – Jana Valeo – handles all payroll and benefits matters
• Graduate Program Project Assistant – Cori Simon – trains and supports teaching assistants; provides all-around assistance on projects designed to enhance our graduate program such as recruitment and retention initiatives, diversity workshops, and professional development
• Department Receptionist – Isaac Lee – greets visitors and manages department front office; answers numerous inquiries about a large variety of subjects both in person and on the telephone and directs people to the correct source for further information

Administrative Bodies

• Graduate Council – has overall responsibility for the graduate program and curriculum. It is chaired by the DGS and is composed of four other faculty members, appointed by the Department Chair, and four elected graduate student representatives. The Graduate Program Coordinator, Graduate Program Assistant, and Graduate Program Project Assistant serve ex officio.
• Graduate Council Meeting Agendas and Minutes
• Faculty members, 2017-2018
  • Prof. Colleen Dunlavy (Chair)
  • Prof. Judd Kinzley
  • Prof. Rudy Koshar
  • Prof. Emily Callaci (Spring 2018)
  • TBD
  • Leslie Abadie (ex-officio)
  • Abby Kennison (ex-officio)
  • Cori Simon (ex-officio)
• Student representatives, 2016-2017
  • Sergio Gonzalez
  • Ayanna Drakos
  • TBD
  • TBD
• Fellowships and Scholarships Committee (F&S) – has principal responsibility for awarding fellowships, grants, and prizes. It is composed of the DGS (chair), three faculty members appointed by the chair, and the Graduate Program Coordinator.
• Faculty members, 2017-2018
  • Prof. Colleen Dunlavy (Chair)
  • Prof. Neil Kodesh
  • Prof. Lee Palmer Wandel
  • Prof. Judd Kinzley
  • Leslie Abadie (ex-officio)
• Joint Committee on Teaching Assistants (JCOTA) – supervises the hiring, training, and ongoing professional development and evaluation of teaching assistants and hears concerns relating to teaching assistantships. Its membership consists of two faculty members from the Undergraduate Council, two faculty from the Graduate Council (one of whom serves as chair), three elected graduate student representatives, and the Graduate Program Coordinator.
• Faculty members, 2016-2017
  • Rudy Koshar (Chair)
  • UGC Member TBD
  • Leslie Abadie (ex-officio)
• Graduate student representatives, 2017-2018
  • TBD
  • TBD

Want more information? Just ask. Appointments with staff members are usually not necessary, although during busy times each semester it may be a good idea to arrange one. The DGS holds regular office hours during the semester for graduate program business.