Staff Directory

Office of the Dean

Office of the Dean
109 Low Library, MC 4306
535 West 116th Street
New York, NY 10027
[email protected]
(212) 854-2861

Carlos J. Alonso
Carlos J. Alonso

Dean
Vice President for Graduate Education
[email protected]
(212) 854-2861

Andrea Solomon
Andrea Solomon

Vice Dean and Dean of Academic Affairs
[email protected]
(212) 854-8856

Areas of Responsibility:

  • Oversight of management and operations for the Graduate School
  • Supervision of Academic and Student Affairs, Academic Diversity, Communications, and Alumni Relations
Rebecca Hirade
Rebecca Hirade

Dean for Finance and Operations
[email protected]
(212) 854-3789

Areas of Responsibility:

  • Oversight of budget and financial operations, financial and strategic planning, institutional research, finance compliance, and HR operations
  • Supervision of Financial Aid, Admissions, and Information Technology
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Harold Ansah

Assistant Director of Budget Planning and Finance
[email protected]
(212) 854-6726

Areas of Responsibility:

  • Management of day-to-day financial operations, including accounts payable/receivable and purchasing
  • Monitor of Financial Aid and administrative budgets

      Student Affairs

      Student Affairs
      107 Low Library, MC 4304
      535 West 116th Street
      New York, NY 10027
      [email protected]
      (212) 854-4932

      Richard Slusarczyk
      Richard Slusarczyk

      Senior Associate Dean of Academic and Student Affairs
      [email protected]
      (212) 854-8428

      Areas of Responsibility:

      • Supervision of academic and student affairs staff
      • Student advisement on GSAS policies, procedures, and opportunities
      • Primary liaison for Public Safety, CPS, ISSO, and Global Travel
      • Review of proposals for international agreements; course proposals
      Gennet Black
      Gennet Black

      Assistant Dean of Academic Programs
      [email protected]
      (212) 854-6727

      Areas of Responsibility

      • Point person for internal fellowships and the Fulbright fellowship
      • Coordinates the Ivy Plus Exchange program
      • Manages the Teaching Scholars program
      • Assists in reviewing TA assignments
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      Emily Luongo

      Assistant Dean of Graduate Studies
      [email protected]
      (212) 853-4668

      Areas of Responsibility

      • Oversees doctoral student affairs operations and timely academic progress of doctoral students
      • Advises and monitors academic progress for the Doctoral student population
      • Manages PhD student leaves of absence, returns, withdrawals, and terminations
      • Supervises the Dissertation Office staff
      Emma Johnson
      Emma Johnson

      Assistant Dean of Student Life & Well-Being
      [email protected]
      212-854-2854 

      Areas of Responsibility

      • Urgent student issues and concerns
      • Leaves of absence, withdrawals, and reinstatements
      • Parental accommodations
      • Primary liaison to Disability Services, and Columbia Residential
      • Student misconduct and academic integrity
      Sophia Cheng
      Sophia Cheng

      Assistant Director of Student Affairs: Academic Records
      [email protected]
      (212) 854-5972

      Areas of Responsibility:

      • Registration and enrollment concerns
      • Reporting on academic progress and milestones
      • Library access for MA students
      • Compliance communications
      • Point person for the IUDC program for GSAS

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        Lucia Espineira

        Student Affairs Officer: Student Life and Well-being
        [email protected]
        (212) 853-4891

        Areas of Responsibility:

        • Advising ASGC and other student groups
        • Support with disability accommodations
        • Library carrel assignments
        • Managing compliance with University-wide trainings
        TBD

        Dissertation Office Manager

        Areas of Responsibility:

        • Management of the Dissertation Office: committees, defenses, and deposits
        • Dissertation Progress Reports and registration holds
        • Convocation eligibility and PhD conferrals
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        Walker Clermont

        Administrative Assistant
        [email protected]
        (212) 853-4820

        Areas of Responsibility:

        • Supports the Office of Student Affairs and the Dissertation Office
        • Provides front desk coverage and responds to inquiries to the Offices of Student Affairs
        • Assists in day-to-day administrative operations: general office supplies, equipment, maintenance, mail

        Academic Diversity and Inclusion

        Academic Diversity and Inclusion
        107 Low Library, MC 4304
        535 West 116th Street
        New York, NY 10027
        [email protected]

        Celina Chatman Nelson
        Celina Chatman Nelson

        Senior Associate Dean for Academic Diversity and Professional Development 
        [email protected]
        (212) 851-9851

        Areas of Responsibility:

        • Develops policies, initiatives, and activities to enhance the Graduate School’s diversity and inclusion efforts and professional development initiatives
        • Oversees the Offices of Academic Diversity and Inclusion, Graduate Career Development (Compass), and the GSAS Writing Studio
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        Afiya Wilson

        Assistant Director of Academic Diversity and Inclusion
        [email protected]
        (212) 854-2866

        Areas of Responsibility:

        • Coordinates all aspects of the GSAS Summer Research Program
        • Manages OADI recruitment activities and student programming
        • Plans, manages, and staffs OADI events
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        Barbara Nesmith

        Program Assistant
        [email protected]
        (212) 854-8903

        Areas of Responsibility:

        • Provides programming support for the Offices of Academic Diversity and Inclusion (OADI), Graduate Career Development (Compass), and the GSAS Writing Studio
        • Assists with planning and on-site staffing for events, including career fairs and graduate school fairs
        • As primary staff for front desk reception and operations in 107 Low Library, responds to in-person and telephone inquiries about GSAS

        Graduate Career Development

        Graduate Career Development
        106 Low Library, MC 4304
        535 West 116th Street
        New York, NY 10027

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        Rachel Bernard

        Director of Graduate Career Development
        [email protected]
        212-854-8395

        Areas of Responsibility:

        • Oversees professional development initiatives of the Graduate School 
        • Creates events and services to further PhD and MA student career exploration and development
        • Manages staff in the Office of Graduate Career Development
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        Francesca Fanelli

        Associate Director of Graduate Career Development - Advising and Programming
        [email protected]

        Areas of Responsibility:

        • Works alongside the Director to support the professional and career development of PhD and MA students
        • Coordinates current professional development initiatives of the Graduate School and develops partnerships with internal and external offices 
        • Oversees events and services to further PhD and MA student career exploration and development
        • Assists in hiring and managing the center’s staff, trains and supervises graduate students 
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        Nicole DeLeon

        Assistant Director of Employer Relations
        [email protected]
        Phone: 212-853-4043

        Areas of Responsibility

        • Primary point of contact for employers
        • Responsible for organizing employer information sessions and career fairs
        • Manages GSAS job and internship database in Symplicity

        Writing Studio

        Writing Studio
        319M Lehman Library, International Affairs Building
        420 W 118th St #328
        New York, NY 10027

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        Jess Engebretson

        Interim Director of GSAS Writing Studio
        [email protected]
        212-853-4395

        Areas of Responsibility:

        • Oversees all activities of the GSAS Writing Studio, a space dedicated to supporting Arts and Sciences doctoral students in the process of writing the dissertation
        • Designs and facilitates writing support programming, including workshops, events, writing groups, and peer consultations.
        • Hires, trains, and mentors staff of graduate peer writing consultants.
        Anna Waller
        Anna Waller

        Interim Assistant Director of GSAS Writing Studio
        [email protected]

        Areas of Responsibility:

        • Supports all activities of the GSAS Writing Studio, a space dedicated to supporting Arts and Sciences doctoral students in the process of writing the dissertation
        • Coordinates events, workshops, and consultations
        • Administers policies and manages the space

        Financial Aid

        Financial Aid
        107 Low Memorial Library, MC 4304
        535 West 116th Street
        New York, NY 10027
        [email protected]
        (212) 854-3808

        Tom Tarduogno
        Tom Tarduogno

        Director of Financial Aid
        [email protected]
        (212) 854-3809

        Areas of Responsibility:

        • Supervision of Financial Aid staff
        • Financial Aid liaison with Natural Sciences departments (see list of departments here)
        • Coordinating official for the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program
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        Sandra Peters

        Senior Associate Director of Financial Aid
        [email protected]
        (212) 854-6725

        Areas of Responsibility:

        • Advises students on financing options and debt management; performs needs analyses and award determinations for federal Title IV and private loan programs
        • Administrative oversight of Title IV and private student loan programs, and the Summer Tuition Fellowship
        • Financial Aid liaison to Social Science and Humanities departments (see list of departments here)
        • Coordinating official for the Fulbright-Hays Doctoral Dissertation Research Abroad Fellowship Program
        Shawn Ramirez
        Shawn Ramirez

        Financial Aid Counselor
        [email protected]
        (212) 854-3808

        Areas of Responsibility:

        • Financial Aid resource for visitors to the Graduate School and informational inquiries
        • Processing of Title IV and private loan program funds
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        Kate Jenkins

        Senior Associate Director of Financial Aid
        [email protected]
        (212) 853-4338

        Areas of Responsibility:

        • Financial Aid liaison to Social Science and Humanities Departments (see list of departments here)
        • Collaborates with administrators in the School of International and Public Affairs, the Graduate School of Architecture and the various institutes affiliated with the Graduate School.
        • Advises students on financing options and debt management; performs needs analyses and award determinations for federal Title IV and private loan programs for PhD students.
        • Administrative oversight for FISAP
        • Coordination of NYSED Report

        Admissions

        Admissions
        107 Low Library, MC 4303
        535 West 116th Street
        New York, NY 10027
        [email protected]
        (212) 854-6729

        Renée Schwarz

        Director of Admissions Operations
        [email protected]
        (212) 854-2436

        Areas of Responsibility:

        • Oversight of graduate admissions process
        • Documentation of graduate admissions policies
        Coral Mercedes

        Associate Director of Admissions Operations
        [email protected]
        (212) 854-6729

        Areas of Responsibility:

        • Admissions data reporting
        • Communications to prospective and admitted students
        Anna Marie Tallman

        Admissions Officer
        [email protected]
        (212) 851-9919

        Areas of Responsibility:

        • Graduate admission support to faculty, department administrators, and applicants
        • Application software maintenance and support
        Marisa Phillip

        Admissions Officer
        [email protected]
        (212) 854-6729

        Areas of Responsibility:

        • General administrative support to the Office of Admissions and Office of Financial Aid

        Communications

        Communications
        107 Low Library, MC 4306
        535 West 116th Street
        New York, NY 10027
        [email protected]

        Jahsie Ault
        Jahsie Ault

        Director of Communications Operations
        [email protected]
        (212) 854-2889

        Areas of Responsibility:

        • Production and design for all GSAS communications
        • Strategic planning to promote wider recognition and awareness of the school to internal and external audiences
        • Maintenance of the GSAS website and other digital channels
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        Jessica Vitkus

        Writer / Editor
        [email protected]
        (212) 853-4444

        Areas of Responsibility:

        • Write and edit website, publications, blog, advertising campaigns, print materials, email communications, and social media channels

        Alumni Relations

        Alumni Relations
        109 Low Library, MC 4306
        535 West 116th Street
        New York, NY 10027
        [email protected]

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        Erin Z. Hussein

        Associate Director of Alumni Relations
        (212) 854-6728
        [email protected]

        Areas of Responsibility:

        • Management of programs that enhance alumni engagement with GSAS
        • Liaison with staff partners and volunteer leaders, including the GSAS Alumni Association

        Information Technology

        Information Technology
        107 Low Library
        535 West 116th Street
        New York, NY 10027
        [email protected]

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        Director of Information Technology and Data Analytics
        [email protected]
        (212) 854-0504

        Areas of Responsibility:

        • Oversight of IT functions for the administrative units of the Graduate School
        • Data Reporting and Analytics