Staff
The Graduate School’s experienced and dedicated professional staff further the mission of advancing graduate education and enhancing the graduate student experience by working closely with the equally dedicated staff of the university’s more than 230 graduate programs. The deans, directors, and staff of the Graduate School collaborate with over 120 directors and coordinators of graduate studies to guide applicants, students, and faculty through admissions to completion and every milestone in between and to offer these constituents access to the resources, opportunities, and support needed to succeed now and in the future.
The GS staff have created this website to be a comprehensive and useful tool for UMD students, faculty, staff, and alumni, as well as prospective students and the general public. If you cannot find what you seek on our website, please feel free to contact us by email at gradschool@umd.edu or by phone at 301-405-3644 or toll-free at (800) 245-GRAD (4723).
Office of the Dean
Interim Dean, Assistant Dean and Chief of Staff
(301) 405-4205
- Oversees GS administration, finance, and strategic planning; graduate admissions and enrollment; and student and faculty services
- Coordinates student initiatives and programs and special projects
- Implements policy directives of the dean and Graduate Council
Associate Dean for Academic Standards and Policies, and Associate Professor of Urban Studies and Planning
(301) 405-4901
- Manages Graduate Programs, Curricula and Courses Committee (PCC)
- Enforces Graduate School academic policies
- Oversees Graduate Faculty appointments and service
Amanda Strausser
Assistant to the Dean
(301) 405-6732
- Provides executive administrative support to the dean
- Coordinates GS events and functions
Mary Carroll-Mason
Communications Officer
(301) 405-7792
- Manage Graduate School communications and media relations
- Serve as content manager for Graduate School website.
Anna De Cheke Qualls
Senior Advisor
(301) 405-9428
- Provides strategic support in areas of graduate education – admissions, enrollment, diversity and programming.
Kristina Cassiday
Research Analyst
(301) 405-0370
- Develops surveys, conducts data analysis for the Graduate School and its constituents.
Office of Development and Alumni Relations
Dan Christopher
Director of Development
(301) 314-1178
- Leads fundraising and graduate alumni relations efforts
- Serves as GS liaison with University Relations
Office of Graduate Diversity and Inclusion
Christopher Perez
Associate Director for Diversity and Inclusion
(301) 405-0763
- Manages recruitment, retention, and support initiatives for underrepresented and underserved graduate student populations
- Develops and implements initiatives on diversity in graduate education
- Serves as UMD coordinator for the tri-campus (UMB and UMBC) PROMISE grant
Office of Academic and Professional Development
Director, Graduate Writing Initiatives
(301) 405-3761
- Develops and implements campus-wide writing initiatives and programs for graduate students and faculty
- Oversees the Graduate School Writing Center
Susan Martin, EdD
Director, Professional and Career Development
(301) 405-8236
- Develops and implements campus-wide career and professional development programs for graduate students.
Office of Funding Opportunities
Robyn Kotzker
Assistant Director, Fellowships and Awards
(301) 405-0281
- Oversees competitive GS fellowship and award programs and review processes
- Manages the Graduate Catalog program editing procedures
- Liaison for matters relating to Graduate Faculty Membership Nominations
Office of Postdoctoral Affairs
Blessing Enekwe, PhD
Program Director, Postdoctoral Affairs
(301) 405-6009
- Coordinates programs and outreach to serve postdoctoral scholars.
Ombuds Office
Graduate Ombudsperson, and Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering
(301) 405-3132
- Serves as impartial, independent, and confidential resource for graduate students
- Ombuds Office
GS Operations: Admissions and Enrollment Management
Megan van Son
Manager, Graduate Admissions
(301) 314-4150
- Oversees graduate admissions, especially international admissions
- Serves as GS liaison with Maryland English Institute regarding English proficiency standards and remediation
Joe Lindsey
Business Process and Systems Lead
(301) 405-3644
- Provides IT support and training for admissions software system
Joshua Talastas
Systems Analyst
(301) 405-0310
- Provides IT support for admissions software applications.
GS Operations: Student and Faculty Services
Toyin Oguntolu
Coordinator, Student Services
(301) 405-0827
- Manages academic activities and issues of graduate students from enrollment to graduation
Angela Ambrosi
Information and Policy Support Coordinator
(301) 405-4183
- Updates and maintains Graduate Catalog
- Serves as administrative coordinator for the Graduate Programs, Curricula, and Courses Committee
GS Operations: Graduate Information and Systems
Brian Gharala
Information Technology Coordinator
(301) 405-0070
- Provides primary IT support for admissions software system and GS website
Teddy Wu
Director, Graduate Information and Systems
(301) 405-4181
- Oversees and manages information and systems technologies
- Manages GS Information Desk and communications systems
- Serves as GS liaison with University Division of Information Technology
GS Operations: Finance and Administration
Patricia Woodwell
Director, Finance and Administration
(301) 405-0814
- Oversees and manages GS budget, accounts, and personnel
- Administers University/Dean’s/Merit Fellowship program
- Serves as budget officer for the Graduate School and coordinating official for UMD’s NSF GRFP program
Barbara Ferguson
Manager, Fellowships and Tuition Accounts
(301) 405-0371
- Manages GS fellowship accounts
- Approves graduate assistant/student overloads
Maria Thomas
Coordinator, Administrative Services
(301) 405-0404
- Manages human resources and payroll processes
- Reconciles GS accounts and assists in management of Foundation and grant accounts.
Judith King
Program Administrative Specialist
(301) 405-0369
- Provides administrative support for GS fellowships and tuition accounting