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Deans & Staff

WHO TO ASK:

Please email [email protected] with questions or to set up an in person or virtual meeting.

Brown University Graduate School
47 George Street, Box 1867
Providence, RI 02912 (401) 863-2600

Email Addresses:
Graduate Admission Staff: [email protected]
Graduate School Deans: [email protected]
Webmaster: [email protected]
Conference and travel funds: [email protected]
General inquiries: [email protected]

Leadership

Thomas A. LewisThomas A. Lewis

Thomas A. Lewis
Interim Dean of the Graduate School
Professor of Religious Studies
Biography

Fall 2022 & Spring 2023 Office Hours: Mondays from 3-4 pm; locations will vary
Email [email protected] to request an in person or Zoom meeting.

Sarah DelaneySarah Delaney

Sarah Delaney
Senior Associate Dean of Academic Affairs
Professor of Chemistry

  • Liaison to programs on academic affairs
  • Doctoral/MFA program reviews
  • Academic affairs policy
  • Academic issues/concerns
  • Academic code cases for doctoral students

Meetings by appointment.

Vanessa RyanVanessa Ryan

Vanessa Ryan
Senior Associate Dean of Student Development

  • Student development programming and policy
  • Distinctive Opportunities
  • Professional development and liaison to CareerLAB and Sheridan Center
  • Liaison to the Office of the Dean of the College

Office hours appointments, Tuesdays 1-3 pm, and appointments at other times are available through online self-scheduling.

Alycia Mosley AustinAlycia Mosley Austin

Alycia Mosley Austin
Associate Dean of Diversity and Inclusion

  • Develops initiatives to foster positive and supportive climate and community
  • Liaison to programs and offices to support positive student experience and retention
  • Liaison to programs on recruitment planning and outreach

Appointments available through online self-scheduling.

Maria SuarezMaria Suarez

Maria E. Suarez
Associate Dean of Student Support
Deputy Title IX Coordinator  

  • Support practices and policies
  • Support for individual students
  • Medical and personal leave
  • Coordinates with Office of Institutional Diversity
  • Liaison to the Office of Campus Life and Student Services, including Student and Employee Accessibility Services, as well as to Counseling and Psychological Services

Meetings times available through online self-scheduling, and by appointment. 

Ethan BernsteinEthan Bernstein

Ethan Bernstein
Executive Dean of Administration and Finance

  • Administration management
  • Admission
  • Day-to-day operations 
William WittelsWilliam Wittels

William Wittels
Assistant Dean of Academic Affairs

  • Graduate Digital CV
  • Program review support
  • Updating of academic policies
  • Fellowship application support

Staff

Barbara BennettBarbara Bennett

Barbara Bennett
Academic Affairs Manager

  • Liaison to Registrar and Bursar
  • Processing of Master's theses and PhD dissertations
  • Processing of leaves, withdrawals, and exchanges
Susan ElySusan Ely

Susan Ely
Communications and Special Events Manager

  • Graduate School website manager
  • Social media 
  • Graduate School communications and special events
Maria FariaMaria Faria

Maria Faria
Admission Coordinator

  • Program liaison for the PhD programs in Africana Studies, American Studies, Anthropology, Archaeology/Ancient World, Chemistry, Classics, Comparative Literature, Computer Science, Earth, Envir. & Planetary Sciences, Economics, Egyptology and Assyriology, Engineering, English, French and Francophone Studies, German Studies, Hispanic Studies, Italian Studies, Literary Arts, Mathematics, Modern Culture & Media, Music: Multimedia Composition, Music: Musicology & Ethnomusicology, Philosophy, Physics, Portuguese & Brazilian Studies, Religious Studies, Slavic Studies

 

Maria GlanvillMaria Glanvill

Maria Glanvill
Executive Assistant to the Dean and Graduate School Office Manager

  • Executive administrator for the dean
  • Programming support
  • Special events planning and logistics
Maija HallsmithMaija Hallsmith

Maija Hallsmith
Assistant Director of Academic Diversity

  • Diversity, equity and inclusion programming and outreach
  • Graduate program climate and community support
Julie KindschyJulie Kindschy

Julie Kindschy
Manager, Admission & Reporting

  • Managing admission operations
Byrd McDanielByrd McDaniel

Byrd McDaniel
Assistant Director of Student Development

  • Student development programming
  • Distinctive Opportunities
  • Community Fellows
  • Open Graduate Education program manager
Jessica PorterJessica Porter

Jessica Porter
Assistant Director of Operations

  • Stipend payment distribution questions
  • Process support for emergency funding, medical leave, and parental relief
  • Student insurance enrollment
  • Graduate travel awards
  • Liaison to program administrators
Steven RadillaSteven Radilla

Steven Radilla
Diversity Initiatives Program Coordinator

  • Diversity recruitment
  • DEI programming support
  • PREP program coordination
Michelle RoseMichelle Rose

Michelle Rose
Financial Coordinator

  • Processing and review of graduate student appointments
  • External funding incentive plan and stipend top-ups
  • Conference and Research Travel
Photo coming soon!

Mary Heather Smith
Manager of Data Analytics

  • Design, manage, and produce data reports and visualizations 
  • Assist academic departments and University partners with the use of graduate student enrollment data and reports
  • Serve as University-wide expert on graduate student data definitions and integrity 
  • Prepare data submissions for external agencies and organizations, such as AAUDE and NSF
Lisa TillsonLisa Tillson

Lisa Tillson
Admission Coordinator

  • Program liaison for Applied Math, Biology and Medicine (all programs), Center for Computational Molecular Biology (CCMB), Cognitive/Linguistics/Psychology, History, History of Art, Neuroscience, Political Science, Public Health (Doctoral), Sociology, Theatre and Performance Studies (all programs)

Partners

Lorie Hoyle
Sr. Financial Analyst
Budget, Planning, and Analysis | South Street Landing

  • Graduate School Financial Planning and Budget
  • Operations management (stewardship, grand funds, travel funds, and payroll)
  • Graduate program financial analysis and support
Maj KargboMaj Kargbo

Maj Kargbo
Assistant Director of Professional Development
School of Professional Studies | 225 Dyer St

Make an appointment.

  • Master's student career and professional development 
  • Individual professional coaching and guidance 
  • Develop new initiatives to support Master's student career readiness
Alicia LaPollaAlicia LaPolla

Alicia LaPolla
Associate Dean of Student Affairs
School of Professional Studies | 225 Dyer St

  • Master's student experience and engagement
  • Provide support and additional resources for master's students
  • Develop new initiatives to foster a sense of belonging and inclusion
  • Liaise with master's programs and campus partners such as Student Activities, CAPS, Student Accessibility Services, Financial Aid, and Office of Institutional Equity and Diversity
  • Support academic and student life policies, including leaves of absence for master's students.
Gail LeeGail Lee

Gail Lee
Human Resources Coordinator
University Human Resources | South Street Landing

  • Graduate student payroll administration
Zhichun LinZhichun Lin Zhichun Lin

Assistant Director, Career Counseling (Graduate Students)
Center For Careers & Life After Brown | 167 Angell Street

  • Graduate/doctoral students career development
  • Career development for international graduate students
Morgan OrlandiMorgan Orlandi

Morgan Orlandi
Student Engagement Specialist 
School of Professional Studies | 225 Dyer St

  • Master's student engagement, events, and activities 
  • Liaison with Campus Life, student organizations, and academic departments
Sonja PaulsonSonja Paulson

Sonja Paulson
Assistant Director, International Student Services (PhD and MFA Students)
Office of International Student & Scholar Services (OISSS) | Page-Robinson Hall Suite 420

  • F-1/J-1 students
  • Visiting Research Fellows (VRF)
  • Questions about on and off-campus employment authorization
  • Liaison to departmental administrators
Wendy ZhuWendy Zhu

Wendy Zhu
Labor Relations Data Specialist
University Human Resources | South Street Landing

  • Graduate student union-related union membership policies and processes
  • Graduate student union bargaining unit list management
  • Graduate student union dues processes