Dean's Office Staff Directory

Director - Jessica Maguire: Responsible for directing and monitoring the undergraduate and graduate admission process and counseling prospective students regarding requirements for admission; assuring that admitted students meet required prerequisites and academic requirements 

Administrator - Joni Keating: Responsible for communicating with prospective students and applicants in person, over the phone and via email about admission requirements for all undergraduate and graduate programs, preparing applications for review and processing admitted students prior to enrollment, and processing, tracking and assembling all submitted application items 

Associate Dean of Administration & Finance - Jean Burgess: Responsible for managing all financial activities and budgets for SHRS and serving as the liaison between SHRS faculty & staff and Pitt Human Resources

Director of Grants Administration - Ron Schwesinger: Responsible for preparing and administering grant contracts & budgets and supporting department administrators in their grant writing efforts

Administrator - Nick Weaver: Responsible for managing new, existing and expiring clinical affiliation agreements for student externships and providing administrative support for school-wide financial processes

Director - Kip Ruefle: Responsible for overseeing all Information Technology services within SHRS and steering IT decisions, considerations and implementation

Programmer/Analyst - Greg Capasso: Responsible for supporting faculty and staff with computer and software-related questions and providing technology support for students

Systems Analyst - Mark Denardis: Responsible for providing IT support to faculty, staff and students; maintaining SHRS computer environments; and managing updates and maintenance

Executive Director - Patty Kummick: Responsible for the supervision and execution of all initiatives in the Office of Internal & External Relations, including Communications, Development, Student Engagement, Recruitment, Alumni Relations and the Wellness Pavilion; oversees the planning of internal & external events; Editor of FACETS magazine

Director of Communications - Natalie Baney: Responsible for designing effective communications strategies for traditional, social and digital media; directs all website related editions and media platforms

Director of Development - Anthony Cancro: Responsible for cultivating a strong donor pipeline, stewarding existing donors, and planning events and campaigns for SHRS advancement

Director of Student Engagement - Josette Skobieranda-Dau: Responsible for collecting and using data to develop and implement plans that engage SHRS students and evaluate and improve their experience at the School

Director of SHRS Wellness Pavilion - Channing Moreland: Serving as the inaugural director of the SHRS Wellness Pavilion at the Homewood Community Engagement Center, responsible for developing and deploying all SHRS programming in this community site and overseeing all administrative functions throughout the growth and expansion of the Wellness Pavilion

Recruitment Manager - Nicole Skellie: Responsible for engaging, motivating and recruiting students to SHRS through platforms, events and outlets; serves as main point of contact for departments in their recruiting efforts

Senior Alumni Relations Associate - Emily Mente: Responsible for strenghtening the multigenerational alumni network through events, campaigns and contact; highlighting alumni participation and concerns as they relate to SHRS

Communications Specialist - Brian Bayer: Responsible to the Director of Communications in the strategic planning and deployment of digital communication efforts, including media management, video production and social media management

Administrative Assistant - TBD: Responsible for analyzing and organizing all office operations and supporting the I&ER staff in their areas

Executive Director - Laurie Cochenour: Responsible for leading the development and delivery of innovative online learning for professional degree programs, post-professional certificate programs and continuing education

Senior Instructional Designer - Rae Mancilla: Responsible for managing course design and development with faculty and identifying best practices for the curriculum offered online, providing faculty assistance on accessibility, copyright and other issues related to creating or curating online materials and helping to troubleshoot technology issues that arise

Senior Instructional Designer - Cici Sidor: Responsible for working with with faculty to create digital learning content by providing guidance on strategy, design and production of learning media, and programming instructional tools/technologies

Instructional Technologist - Katy Holt: Responsible for consulting with faculty regarding the appropriate use of technology in teaching and collaborating with internal and external partners on instructional technology integrations for online programs

Administrator - TBD: Responsible for coordinating and documenting the activities of the Office of Online Learning director and staff and managing all administrative and clerical tasks for the office

Project Manager - Debby Keelan: Responsible for organizing projects in regards to space at SHRS and the master plan and serves as the liaison between SHRS, Pitt facilities and UPMC for Forbes Tower building-related concerns

Director, Registrar, Ombudsperson - Kellie Beach:

• Directing student services staff and developing, planning and directing activities and events for undergraduate, graduate and doctoral students

• Serving as liaison with the University Registrar, Office of Financial Aid and the SHRS Associate Deans of Graduate and Undergraduate Studies

• Managing student records data and certifying students’ files for graduation and degree verification

• Applying for all doctoral and graduate financial aid, endowment and gift scholarships

• Updating and maintaining student services webpages, handbooks and university catalogs 

• Overseeing course paperwork and classrooms assignments for Forbes Tower 

• Addressing concerns and serving as mediator and spokesperson for the rights of individuals or groups for SHRS 

Administrator/Assistant to Associate Dean of Graduate Studies - Courtney Fleck:

• Collecting, reviewing and inputting graduation applications data prior to graduation

• Assisting with preparations and plans for student events, Recognition Day ceremonies and Commencement

• Tracking all doctoral student milestones and progress and reviewing electronic thesis dissertations for PhDs and Master’s Thesis students

• Assisting in Doctoral Seminar, graduate faculty meetings and SHRS doctoral award

• Updating Graduate and PhD handbook and catalog materials

• Preparing and administering PhD preliminary exams  

• Facilitating communication with graduate faculty and students 

• Preparing reports including graduate placement data, Petersons and Middle States

Coordinator - TBD:

• Performing administrative tasks in support of the registrar/director of Student Services

• Coordinating the schedule of classes, course management and room scheduling system

• Assisting with student-focused event planning, execution and evaluation