Graduate Program Administration

Staff

• Director of Graduate Studies (DGS) – Prof. Daniel Ussishkin – 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 – Lisa Normand – coordinates applications and admissions process; provides administrative support for the grad program
• Payroll and Benefits Specialist – handles all payroll and benefits matters
• Graduate Program Project Assistant – Alice Main – 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 – Sophie Olson – 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 (GC) – 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, 2021-2022
  • Daniel Ussishkin (faculty) (chair)
  • Neil Kodesh (2020-2022)
  • Monica Kim (2021-2022)
  • Allison Powers Useche (2021-2022)
  • Daniel Williford (2021-2023)
  • Leslie Abadie (ex-officio)
  • Lisa Normand (ex-officio)
  • Alice Main (ex-officio)
• Student representatives, 2021-2022
  • Ludwig Decke
  • Francisco Hernandez Moleres
  • Shatrunjay Mall
  • Emma Wathen
• 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, 2020-2021
  • Daniel Ussishkin (chair)
  • Aaron Rock-Singer
  • Sasha Suarez
  • Allison Powers Useche
  • 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 one faculty member from the Undergraduate Council, one faculty member from the Graduate Council (who serves as chair), three elected graduate student representatives, the Graduate Program Coordinator, and the Graduate Program Project Assistant (ex officio).
• Faculty members, 2020-2021
  • Judith Houck (faculty) (chair)
  • Marc Kleijwegt (faculty)
  • Leslie Abadie (ex-officio)
• Graduate student representatives, 2020-2021
  • Brianna Lafoon (student)
  • Isaac Lee (student)
  • Bree Romero (student)

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.