Undergraduate Studies
Associate Dean's Office Staff
Jessica Hatherill, EdD, Executive Director, Undergraduate Studies and College of General Studies
Maryellen Gannon, Director of Operations
TBD, Administrative Coordinator
Responsibilities:
- Coordinates the annual assessment of the General Education Requirements
- Coordinates the AMPCO-Pittsburgh Prize nomination and selection process
- Coordinates Mid-Term Progress Reports for first-year students
- Serves as the primary maintainer of the Dietrich School Undergraduate Catalog
- Serves as Secretary of the Dietrich School Undergraduate Council and CGS Council
- Works with the Office of Measurement and Evaluation of Teaching (OMET) on Student Opinion of Teaching Surveys
Undergraduate Student Services
Susan Crain, Director of Student Records and Academic Administration
Responsibilities:
- Academic policies and procedures
- Certifying students for graduation
- Transfer credit evaluation
- Advanced Standing
- Study Abroad
- Regional relocation
- Internal transfer students (incoming and outgoing)
- Works with academic departments, Student Affairs, and Student Appeals to assist students in distress
Derek Fischer, Director of Advising
Responsibilities:
- Academic advising for all undeclared Dietrich School students and all CGS students
- Coordinates the academic portion of orientations for incoming first-year students
- Partners with departmental advisors to ensure consistent advising throughout the student career
- Seat management of first-year and external transfer appropriate courses
- Peer Advisor Program
Laura Dice, Assistant Dean and Director of First-Year Programs
Responsibilities:
- Academic Foundations/Intro to Arts and Sciences courses (FP 0001, FP 0002, FP 0003, FP 0004, and FP 0006)
- Academic Communities (clusters of themed courses that provide a cohort-experience for first-semester students)
- Freshman/First-Year Socialization Funds
Mary Napoli, Director of Study Lab and Academic Success
Responsibilities:
- Partners with faculty, staff, and administrators within the Dietrich School and across campus to improve student persistence and graduation
- Academic standing policies and procedures, including Academic Alert, Probation, Suspension, Dismissal
- Peer Tutoring
- Academic Coaching
- Academic Skills Workshops
Michele Lagnese, Director of Student Support Services
Responsibilities:
- Oversees the federally-funded TRIO grant serving first-generation and low-income students (serves 250 undergraduates across Pitt and provides wrap-around services like advising, tutoring, and academic skills development.)
Patrick Mullen, Director of the Office of Undergraduate Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activity
Responsibilities:
- First Experiences in Research (FE-R) and Continuing Experiences in Research (CE-R)
- Field Studies in New York and London
- Archival Scholars Research Awards (in partnership with the University Library System)
- Summer Undergraduate Research Awards
- Curiosity Grants
- BRIDGES Scholar program for underrepresented students who are scholarship recipients
- Works with departments to enhance/develop undergraduate research opportunities
Michael Giazzoni, Director of College in High School and Accelerated High School
Responsibilities:
- College in High School (CHS)
- Works with academic departments, faculty liaisons, and high school teachers to ensure high school teachers are certified and trained to teach Pitt courses.
- Accelerated High School (AHS)
Updated: March 23, 2022