Academic & Student Services Staff Responsibilities List for Biology Group

Eileen Mansoorian (EEB & CaSB): Director of Academic Programs & Student Services

  1. Manage all operations and administration of academic programs and student services for undergraduate and graduate programs for CaSB and EEB, including, but not limited to, academic advising and counseling concerns for students, undergraduate and graduate policies, teaching needs and concerns for all faculty and instructors, and direction of a $4 million graduate programs budget.
  2. Supervise a team of undergraduate and graduate Student Services Advisors for CaSB and EEB.
  3. Manage the annual instructional teaching plan for EEB (academic year and Summer Session) and CaSB (academic year), as well as the proposed budget for Ladder, Lecturer, and Adjunct faculty hires.
  4. Work closely with the Chair and Vice Chairs for EEB and CaSB on large-scale curricular changes to undergraduate and graduate curricula.
  1. Manage EEB course enrollment for the academic year and Summer Sessions.
  1. Serve as the advisor to all faculty leadership of EEB and CaSB on issues related to undergraduate and graduate academic programs and student services.
  2. Identify and implement key best practices for the daily functioning of the CaSB Undergraduate Advising Office, EEB Undergraduate Advising Office, and EEB Graduate Student Services Office.

 

Denise Lopez (EEB & CaSB): Manger of Graduate Programs and Student Services

  1. Manage all day-to-day operations of the EEB Graduate Program & CaSB Undergraduate and Graduate Programs.
  2. Supervise the EEB Graduate Programs Coordinator and CaSB Program Coordinator.
  3. Advise graduate students on degree requirements, qualifying exams, thesis/dissertation filing, and academic policies, and assist students with personal/professional concerns.
  4. Manage all graduate student support/funding (fellowships, student awards, stipends, ASE and GSR appointments and hiring, and tuition remissions).
  5. Coordinate graduate admissions process, recruitment, onboarding of admitted students, and orientation.
  6. Assist with the creation of new courses with respect to the EEB and CaSB curricula.
  7. Identify and implement (with faculty leadership) new policies/procedures and curriculum changes related to the EEB and CaSB programs.

 

Stephanie Caranica (EEB): Graduate Programs Coordinator

  1. Coordinate and process all ASE and GSR assignments and hiring for the academic year and summer sessions.
  2. Assist with the confirmation of all students who need ASE or GSR positions conflicting sources of funding.
  3. Support the admission process for all degree programs within the Graduate Student Services Office.
  4. Provide direction in the scheduling of graduate courses (i.e., seminars).
  5. Orchestrate the implementation of policies and procedures for the Graduate Student Services Office and affiliated program.
  6. Collaborate with faculty leadership in order to support graduate students in their roles as students and professionals in their department.
  7. Manage the Departmental Written Qualifying Examination (DWQE) process for PhD and MS students.

 

Jessica Angus (EEB): Undergraduate Advisor

  1. Advise undergraduate students on EEB major and minor program requirements.
  2. Coordination and enrollment of Upper Division (UD) EEB tutorial courses, i.e., EEB 195-199.
  3. Support Undergraduate Faculty Advisor with coordination and evaluation of course substitution/waiver petitions for departmental majors and minors.
  4. Support Vice Chair of Undergraduate Studies regarding exceptions to major and minor requirements.
  1. Support and coordinate the application and interview processes for the Field Biology Quarter (FBQ), Field/Marine Biology Quarter (FMBQ), And Marine Biology Quarter (MBQ) alongside being the administrative point of contact for student participants.
  1. Lead coordinator for annual EEB Research Symposium and EEB Commencement.
  2. Manage the undergraduate course CIMS forms and curricular issues (as needed) with the Director.

 

Wendy Ramos (EEB): Undergraduate Advisor

  1. Advise and counsel undergraduate students on the degree requirements, academic policies, and procedures while processing major/minor change requests and assisting in the enrollment of EEB courses and contract courses.
  2. Serve as the administrative advisor for the EEB Undergraduate Association and assist in the election of EEB UGA leadership.
  3. Support and coordinate the application and interview processes for the Field Biology Quarter (FBQ), Field/Marine Biology Quarter (FMBQ), And Marine Biology Quarter (MBQ) alongside being the administrative point of contact for student participants.
  4. Work with the student services team to plan departmental research symposium, commencement, and other annual events.
  5. Hire, train, and supervise the work of student/work-study workers allocated to the student services team
  6. Maintain informative and aesthetically updated websites on the departmental undergraduate programs site.

 

Maria Sanchez (CaSB): Program Coordinator & Academic Counselor

  1. Advise and counsel incoming and current Undergraduate students via email, in-person, and zoom on major and minor requirements, course planning, internship/research opportunities, and access to educational and personal resources as necessary.
  2. Review student Pre-Major and Major applications- includes submission of 150+ petitions to the students’ college for approval of admission into major and changes to the students account to officially become declared.
  3. Assist and coordinate student enrollment into CaSB courses and Contract courses with Professors and the Dept Chair.
  4. Coordinate and lead our quarterly Computational and Systems Biology Advisory Board meetings.
  5. Oversee Program coordination responsibilities which include, but are not limited to: TA Hiring, working on requests with the UCLA College Academic Personnel on behalf of the IDP, coordinating quarterly social events for students, and working with other departments for course offerings.
  6. Work closely with the Dept Chair and Vice Chair regarding curriculum changes/proposals, student events, and review of petitions and appeals for students within the major.