Graduate School of Arts and Sciences

What do you do in the GSAS office?

I do a little bit of everything! One of my main responsibilities is communications, so I write most of the articles that you see on the GSAS website and put together our monthly newsletters. I also send TA hire letters, review dissertations and theses, maintain our website, support with the budget process, and answer lots of questions that come into my email inbox.

Outside of GSAS, what are you passionate about?

I am passionate about theater, which I fell in love with when I was six years old and saw my school’s eighth grade production of Guys and Dolls. I acted in lots of school and summer camp productions as a kid and teen; my best role was either Scar in The Lion King (age seven) or Rosie in Bye Bye Birdie when I reached eighth grade myself! These days, I am more of a spectator and theater trivia nerd. I love going to plays and musicals around Boston and am always happy to share recommendations. A fun fact about me is that I have seen at least one show in all forty-one Broadway theaters! I saw my first Broadway show in 2001 and finally hit my last theater this spring. (I lived in New York City from 2009 to 2015, which helped a lot.)

Any other cool interests or hobbies?

I got my PhD in English from GSAS in 2020, so, naturally, I am always reading and am an active member of two book clubs (including the GSAS one). I also like cooking, traveling with friends, singing karaoke, listening to Kpop girl groups, and wearing fun hats and brightly patterned socks. And you can often see me walking to and from campus!

What do you do in the GSAS office?

The short answer is that I’m the point of contact for any academic or curricular policies and processes for all GSAS students and programs. The longer answer is that I represent GSAS in many committees and meetings and I collaborate with other units across campus to support and advocate for GSAS students and faculty. I work very closely with my GSAS colleagues in student affairs, admissions and finance to triage student problems, questions and concerns. You’ll probably see me out and about at your orientations, talks, and GSAS community events–talking to students is the best part of my job!

Outside of GSAS, what are you passionate about?

I have 9-year-old twins, Judah and Ava. Ava has Trisomy 21 (Down Syndrome) and our family is active in the MDSC (Massachusetts Down Syndrome Congress). I volunteer with the First Call program, which is a confidential and non-judgmental support resource for people who have received a pre- or post-natal diagnosis of Trisomy 21. This program was so critical for my wife (Jill) and I as we came to terms with the prenatal diagnosis. I’m committed to supporting other people in this way, specifically those with LGBTQIA+ journeys into parenthood and family building.

Any other cool interests or hobbies?

I’m always reading (and I’m a longstanding member of the GSAS book club). My wife and son are soccer players and fans, so there is always a game being played, watched or followed! We just went to Yankee stadium in July to see the FC Series, Manchester City v. AC Milan! Man City lost (boo) but it was a great experience for our whole family!

What do you do in the GSAS office?

I like to think of myself as a background student support person. I answer email questions from incoming students from the application stage through the matriculation stage. I also process the official transcripts for incoming students and help to ensure that students get paid, including stipends, TA/CA/grader payments, and any awards earned.

Outside of GSAS, what are you passionate about?

Since it is summer, my passion would have to be my garden. I started last year by building five raised garden beds (5’x10’ each). This year, since I didn’t have to build the garden, I was able to start most of my plants from seed. This means that the garden season starts in March with the planting of lettuce, cucumber and tomato seeds. These seedlings are then transplanted a few times into progressively large pots until it is safe to put them outside at the end of May. I have both fruits (blueberries, peaches, strawberries, and rhubarb) and vegetables (lettuce, carrots, cucumbers, zucchini, tomatoes, peppers, and onions). So far, I have managed to keep my garden organic, using either my own compost or certified organic fertilizers. One of my favorite things is walking into my garden at dinner time and picking my organic, home-grown dinner. I also like to home-can jams and vegetables and hope to be able to use all my own fruits and vegetables by next year. I would have had enough peaches this year to make peach jam, canned peaches and a peach pie except, sadly, squirrels ate all of my peaches. My on-going battle with wildlife is a story for another time.

Any other cool interests or hobbies?

Another interest of mine is native plant landscaping. Last year I started a project to replace large parts of our lawn with native plants with a focus on plants that attract pollinators. Not only is the greater diversity of life much better for the local ecosystem, but it also reduces the amount of watering and chemical fertilizer and herbicide use, which is also better for the environment. This is one way that I try to leave the planet a better place than I found it for my kids and future generations.

What do you do in the GSAS office?

My main responsibility is to counsel and educate incoming and enrolled GSAS students regarding financing their education. If you have questions about your award, your bill, borrowing loans, the cost of attendance, or budgeting--I am your person.

During the admissions season, I process award letters, oversee the VIDOF communication for our international student population, and manage the application waivers and tuition deposit processes.

Outside of GSAS, what are you passionate about?

I am most passionate about my family and spending quality time together. I love cheering my daughter on from the sidelines but also like to get off the bench. I currently coach my daughter’s youth basketball program and volunteer as the enrichment program coordinator at her school.

I love regular family bike rides as well as long solo trips. My longest ride in a day was from Boston to Provincetown (126 miles). Since my favorite childhood book was Anne of Green Gables, I cycled over five days, 300 miles around Prince Edward Island. Recently, I rode with 30,000 fellow cycling enthusiasts in NYC’s forty mile TD Five Boro Bike Tour.

Any other cool interests or hobbies?

Although I am on a bit of a hiatus from both, I love blogging and running. My blogs have covered topics on loss and healing through bike therapy. I completed the Boston Marathon in 2015. Since then, I have enjoyed the less intense 5K runs. My favorite course is the B.A.A. 5K in the spring. It is a beautiful and fun way to take in the awesomeness of Boston. My favorite run to sightsee was around Porto, Portugal.

What do you do in the GSAS office?

I work with GSAS students to help them to identify diverse career paths and ultimately achieve their professional and career development goals. This includes assistance with career exploration, resume and CV development, how to utilize LinkedIn, thinking through transferable skills, building a network, interview preparation and salary negotiation. I love helping students to recognize their unique skill set and assist them in building their confidence in these skills to create a career story. In my role, I run our Career Fellows annual program which gives GSAS students across all disciplines skills to help them prepare for careers in academia, non-profits, industry and beyond, fostering a community of students committed to planning for their post-MA or PhD future. I also run our annual Three Minute Thesis (3MT) event competition that challenges students to effectively explain their research to a broad audience in just three minutes (not an easy task!)

Outside of GSAS, what are you passionate about?

I am a huge champion and educator for neurodiversity and also combine this in the work I do everyday at GSAS with students. I am a mom of two kids, eight and eleven, and most weekends you can find me avidly cheering them on in their various activities including soccer, skating and swimming. I love planning for our next family trip, whether it be to the mountains in New Hampshire or the beach.

Any other cool interests or hobbies?

I have played the piano since I was eight and still do today. I enjoy going to a variety of musicals and concerts in the Boston area.

What do you do in the GSAS office?

While I am technically part of the Provost Finance Team, my primary assignment is to support GSAS staff and students. I advise the Dean of GSAS on budget issues, in particular the PhD student support budget, as well as other matters of fiscal policy. Another significant task is providing guidance across GSAS regarding the expenditure of endowment gift funds that support student scholarships and fellowships. All of this to say that I spend a majority of my days with Workday on one screen and Excel on the other.

Outside of GSAS, what are you passionate about?

Board games. I grew up playing the usual Sorry and Monopoly but also learned cribbage from my grandfather. When my wife and I met, we discovered that we both knew how to play cribbage. Our enjoyment of that game eventually led us to pursue other games and discover a whole new world of amazing board games. Some of our current favorites are Wingspan and Everdell. I have even developed a liking for solo board games, with my favorite being Spirit Island.

Any other cool interests or hobbies?

I have a collection of fossilized shark teeth in a bedside lamp that I have found while visiting the Gulf coast of Florida. Most are found by sifting through the sand where the waves are crashing, but I most enjoy the opportunity to find them while snorkeling. I also enjoy searching for and cooking vegetarian recipes; our favorite chef/author is Yotam Ottolenghi.

What do you do in the GSAS office?

My role is to support graduate student well-being and connect students to on-campus and community resources. Have a question about your student health insurance? Facing food insecurity? Need to talk about academic or life stressors? I’m a person who can help you problem-solve a broad spectrum of issues and direct you toward the person/office that can assist. I also supervise the Graduate Department Representatives (GDRs) and host monthly meetings that give students a direct line of communication with the GSAS Administration. GDRs provide valuable feedback about student concerns and needs. If you haven’t met your program’s GDR yet, send them an email to introduce yourself!

Another facet of my position is building community among grad students by hosting a range of events throughout the year where students across the disciplines can meet and network. Be sure to check out the GSAS Upcoming Events page for details on upcoming events such as the Welcome Back Ice Cream Sundae Social, Trivia Night at BakBar, and the next meeting of the GSAS Book Club.

Finally, I run the social media accounts for GSAS. Follow us on Facebook, X, and Instagram to hear about upcoming events across campus, professional development opportunities, important deadlines, and more! GSAS loves showcasing our talented and ambitious students, faculty, and alums, so send me announcements you would like to share with the community.

Outside of GSAS, what are you passionate about?

Cooking! I come from an Italian-American family, in which food is love. I have a pasta attachment for my KitchenAid mixer and started to make my own pasta during the pandemic. I was diagnosed with Celiac Disease a couple of years ago, so I had to relearn how to cook many of my favorite things, including homemade pasta, without gluten. While it’s been a learning curve, and my gf baking is still a bit wonky, I’ve been able to perfect some of my favorite recipes and learn some new ones.

Any other cool interests or hobbies?

I not only do event planning in my professional life but in my personal life as well! I especially love to plan and host themed parties. Some of my favorite themed parties have been an Iron Chef party in which everyone was paired up and given a common ingredient with which they needed to prepare an appetizer to share, a Y2K party where everyone had to dress the way they did in the year 2000, and a surprise fortieth birthday for my husband where the theme was to dress like him. There were so many people in beards, D&D shirts, and flannel that I kept losing him throughout the night.

What do you do in the GSAS office?

I am a part of the Admissions team and help out with the day to day operations of running the application process including answering questions from prospective students, as well as divisional faculty and staff. In addition to that, I am responsible for the data in the office ranging from application through graduation. Questions and processing of special (non-degree) students also fall in my purview.

Outside of GSAS, what are you passionate about?

My neighbors wrangled me into a candlepin bowling league this summer, so I am currently passionate about not being as terrible as I was when the league started. Our team has the worst average in the league but somehow might end up winning one of the cash prizes at the end of the season -- this is the kind of sport that I can get behind.

Any other cool interests or hobbies?

Outside of candlepin bowling, I am pretty boring. One of my biggest pleasures in life is reading. I like to listen to audiobooks when I am on the move and enjoy diving into an actual book on the couch when I am relaxing at home.