UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO - Key Persons


Aaron Dinner

Job Titles:
  • Deputy Dean for Academic Affairs
Background Aaron supports the Dean of Students office, coordinates with the Master of the Physical Sciences Collegiate Division, and serves as liaison to various University offices and to PhD programs in the Physical Sciences Division.

Abigail Vieregg

Job Titles:
  • Director, Kavli Institute for Cosmological Physics

Aleksandra Ninova-Parris

Job Titles:
  • Director of Diversity and Inclusion

Alma Ceballos

Job Titles:
  • Director of Career Services
Background Alma oversees the career services and employer relations strategy for the division. She collaborates with other career services personnel across the PSD, as well as allied campus partners, to provide professionally oriented graduate students with the essential tools and resources needed to position themselves for career success.

Andres Silva

Job Titles:
  • Andres Silva HR Coordinator
  • HR Coordinator
Background Andres is the main Human Resources Partner for the Applied Data Science Master's Program and is a point of contact for the Department of Computer Science. Alongside this, Andres is working closely to facilitate projects, assist with data organization, and standardize processes between all departments in the PSD and the PSD HR Team.

Andrew J. Campbell

Job Titles:
  • Chairman, Geophysical Sciences

Anne Collard Grants

Job Titles:
  • Anne Collard Grants and Contracts Supervisor

Bahareh Lampert

Job Titles:
  • Bahareh Lampert Dean of Students and Associate Dean
  • Dean of Students and Associate Dean
Background Bahareh provides comprehensive oversight and support for the Physical Sciences Division's graduate programs, serving well over 2000 students in nine PhD programs and five Master's Programs. She oversees all aspects of student administration in the Division, including registration, funding, financial aid, recruitment, admissions, advising, diversity and inclusion initiatives, student events and wellness programming, crisis intervention, and academic integrity issues. She also leads strategy on developing policies and programs that improve the student experience, and provides support to faculty, staff, and central administration on all matters related to student affairs.

Brian Lease

Job Titles:
  • Office Manager
  • Brian Lease Office Manager
Background Brian is the administrative coordinator and assists the director of academic affairs and chief of staff and associate and deputy deans. He supports many functions of the Dean's Office, including office management and event logistics. If the food is cold at the lunch meeting, it was his fault.

Britni Ratliff

Job Titles:
  • Britni Ratliff Director of STEM Pedagogy for the PSD, Associate Master of the PSCD
  • Director of STEM Pedagogy for the PSD, Associate Master of the PSCD
Background Britni is a lead force for promoting effective, equitable, and evidence-informed instruction across the Physical Sciences Division. She directly manages the Chemistry Collaborative Learning Program and supports PSD-wide Collaborative Learning Initiatives. Britni advises and assists the Master and coordinates with campus partners to support the PSCD.

Bảo Ch u Ngô

Job Titles:
  • Chairman, Mathematics

Carly Bloss

Job Titles:
  • Associate Director of Academic Affairs
Background Reporting to the Director of Academic Affairs and Chief of Staff, Sharon Bryant, Carly manages all aspects of the appointment, reappointment, and other academic action processes for Other Academic Appointee ranks in PSD, including part-time lecturer, instructional professor, adjunct professor, clinical professor, research scientist, research professors, and CASE appointments. Together with Christine Taylo, Assistant Director of Academic Affairs, she also works on Workday entries, Interfolio support, and other special projects and initiatives.

Caroline Santana - CHRO

Job Titles:
  • Director of Human Resources
  • Caroline Santana Director of Human Resources
Background Caroline Santana provides strategic advice and support for organizational goals, talent acquisition, learning and development, performance management, compensation, benefits, and employee and labor relations. Caroline specializes in compensation, job architecture and job description design to provide expertise to the entire PSD. She also serves as the HR partner for the Departments of Computer Science, Data Science Institute, and the Applied Data Science Master's program and serves as the PSD's representative on the University's HR Council.

Christine Taylo

Job Titles:
  • Assistant
  • Christine Taylo Executive Assistant to the Dean
  • Executive Assistant to the Dean
Background Christine manages all business matters related to Dean Olinto including scheduling, meeting preparation, tracking agenda items, drafting communications, and providing high-level dedicated executive support to help advance the work of the Dean and the Division.

Christopher Leather

Job Titles:
  • Christopher Leather Director of Graphic Arts
  • Director of Graphic Arts

Dan Nicolae

Job Titles:
  • Co - Director, Data Science Institute and Committee on Data Scienc

Dave Schmitz

Job Titles:
  • Dave Schmitz Deputy Dean of Diversity and Inclusion
  • Deputy Dean of Diversity and Inclusion
Background Dave Schmitz works with units and the dean's office to advance diversity and inclusion in the division.

David Lee Shillinglaw

Job Titles:
  • Distinguished Service Professor in the Department of Chemistry, the James Franck Institute, the Institute for Biophysical Dynamics, and the College

Dominick Longbucco

Job Titles:
  • Dominick Longbucco Associate Director of Grants & Contracts

Donte Taylor

Job Titles:
  • Assistant
  • Building Manager
  • Donte Taylor Assistant Building Manager
Background Donte supports building managers by providing training to service workers on how to deliver mail and packages, as well as power tool use. He also assists with PSD asset tag reports and making sure buildings are running properly.

Eckhart Hall

Job Titles:
  • Human Resources Generalist

Ed Blucher

Job Titles:
  • Director, Enrico Fermi Institut

Fuad Khaleel Grants

Job Titles:
  • Fuad Khaleel Grants and Contracts Supervisor

Gabriela Perez

Job Titles:
  • Human Resources Generalist
  • Gabriela Perez Human Resources Generalist
Gabriela is the main point of contact for the Computer Science Department and Data Science Institute.

Guillaume Bal

Job Titles:
  • Director, Committee on Computational and Applied Mathematics

Hank Hoffmann

Job Titles:
  • Chairman, Computer Scienc

Hannah Fry

Job Titles:
  • Assistant Director of Leadership Annual Giving
  • Hannah Fry Assistant Director of Leadership Annual Giving
Background Hannah collaborates with Dean Olinto and the PSD Development Team to accelerate excellence within the Physical Sciences Division through strategic philanthropy. She identifies and cultivates impact-driven donors bridging their passions and interests with PSD initiatives. Hannah graduated from Indiana University Bloomington with a BSPA in Nonprofit Management and Leadership.

Hannah Lawrence

Job Titles:
  • Associate Dean
  • Hannah Lawrence Associate Dean

Henry Way - CFO

Job Titles:
  • Financial Director
  • Henry Way Financial Director
Background Hank directs the Local Business Center (LBC), which provides financial management of grants and contracts. The LBC is also the primary point of contact for a variety of financial and payroll transactions for departments and institutes in the Division.

Jennifer Woods

Job Titles:
  • Director of Program Development & Special Projects
Background Jennifer works with faculty to prepare grant proposals for their research and educational initiatives. She identifies and disseminates funding opportunities, provides writing and editing services, coordinates the development of complex proposals, and facilitates interactions with University research administration.

Jess Valle

Job Titles:
  • Operations Manager
  • Jess Valle Operations Manager
Background Jess oversees daily activities and ensures that functional and organizational components are addressed in the William Eckhardt Research Center, Michelson Center for Physics, and the High Bay Research Building.

Jiwoong Park


Joe Bernstein

Job Titles:
  • Grants and Contracts Manager

Joshua A. Frieman

Job Titles:
  • Chairman, Astronomy & Astrophysics

Ka Yee C. Lee

Job Titles:
  • David Lee Shillinglaw Distinguished Service Professor in the Dept. of Chemistry, JFI, IBD, and the College, Was Named Interim Dean of the Physical Sciences Division in 2024
  • Interim Dean
Interim Dean of the Physical Sciences Division David Lee Shillinglaw Distinguished Service Professor in the Department of Chemistry, the James Franck Institute, the Institute for Biophysical Dynamics, and the College Ka Yee C. Lee, David Lee Shillinglaw Distinguished Service Professor in the Dept. of Chemistry, JFI, IBD, and the College, was named interim dean of the Physical Sciences Division in 2024.

Katie Bailey

Job Titles:
  • Associate Dean
  • Director of Development
Background Katie works with Dean Olinto to identify and cultivate a pool of donors and prospects with the capacity to make impactful gifts to the Division. Additionally, she collaborates with faculty and staff to build proposals that bring together interesting research projects and give voice to a broad-based need. Together with the Associate Director of Development and Assistant Director of Development, she also manages the Dean's Council for the PSD. She graduated from the University of Chicago College in 2010, and from the Biological Sciences with a doctorate in human genetics in 2015.

Kevin Corlette

Job Titles:
  • Director, Institute for Mathematical and Statistical Innovation

Laura Rigazzi

Job Titles:
  • Laura Rigazzi Senior Associate Dean of Students for Recruitment, Admissions, and Financial Aid
  • Senior Associate Dean of Students for Recruitment, Admissions, and Financial Aid
Background Laura provides strategic oversight and supervision for recruitment, admissions, and graduate student funding and financial aid within the Dean of Students office. She leads Divisional efforts to ensure the accurate and timely payment of over 900 PhD students, funded through a diverse range of mechanisms.

Lilith Swygert Grants

Job Titles:
  • Lilith Swygert Grants and Contracts Manager

Luisana Romero

Job Titles:
  • Human Resources Generalist

Marcela Reyes - CCO

Job Titles:
  • Director of Communications
  • Marcela Reyes Director of Communications
Background Marcela (Marce) manages PSD's communications, working to maximize positive exposure for PSD research, ensure brand alignment, and build communications infrastructure and capacity throughout the units.

Margaret Gardel

Job Titles:
  • Director, James Franck Institut

Matthew Stephens

Job Titles:
  • Chairman, Statistics

Maureen Searcy

Job Titles:
  • Assistant Director of Content
  • Maureen Searcy Assistant Director of Content
Background Through storytelling and content creation and promotion, Maureen helps raise the profile of the Physical Sciences Division: its scientists, faculty research, awards, resources, programs, collaborative work, and impact beyond the University.

Megan Utley Lab

Job Titles:
  • Lab Safety Specialist
  • Megan Utley Lab Safety Specialist
Background Megan is responsible for managing and providing technical guidance, training, and inspective/risk analysis of the PSD laboratory safety program to ensure a safe environment in which to facilitate research and the pursuit of academic excellence. Laboratory safety includes the delivery of safety services to all facilities involved in research for both laboratories and lab support areas.

Michael Grosse

Job Titles:
  • Dean
  • Senior Associate
  • Michael Grosse Senior Associate Dean

Michael J. Franklin

Job Titles:
  • Co - Director, Data Science Institute and Committee on Data Scienc

Michael L. Reedy

Job Titles:
  • Building Manager for Chemistry in Searle, Jones, and Kent
Background Michael provides support as safety officer and manages Chemistry spaces in Searle, Jones, and Kent.

Michael Rust

Job Titles:
  • Director, Institute for Biophysical Dynamics

Natalie Lund

Job Titles:
  • Assistant Dean for Professional Programs and Communications
  • Natalie Lund Assistant Dean for Professional Programs and Communications
Background Natalie partners with the Deputy Dean for Professional Programs and faculty and staff leadership of current programs to develop new strategies for enhancing and supporting PSD's professional programs. She also oversees PSD's communications strategy.

Peter Littlewood

Job Titles:
  • Chairman, Physics

Prentice Bradford Dock

Job Titles:
  • Dock Manager in GCIS
  • Prentice Bradford Dock Manager in GCIS
Background Prentice manages the GCIS dock, including supervising the team as well as accepting and delivering packages. He also provides assistance to people sending outgoing packages and freight. Additional job duties include overseeing the cylinder gas operations-purchasing, distribution, and billing for all cylinder gases sold on campus. He can assist with questions regarding gas selection, purity, mixtures, hardware, availability and lead times, and connections/hookups.

Rachel Nowak

Job Titles:
  • Grants and Contracts Supervisor

Raven Jones

Job Titles:
  • Human Resources Generalist
  • Raven Jones Human Resources Generalist

Ryan Landek

Job Titles:
  • Executive Director of Computing and IT
  • Ryan Landek Executive Director of Computing and IT
Background Ryan develops, leads, and oversees the PSD's computing and information technology strategy and support for all academic, administrative, and research areas within the PSD in collaboration with PSD IT groups across the division. He ensures desktop support, IT security, systems support, and other functions are optimized to serve the needs of the PSD's faculty and students.

Sandra Santizo

Job Titles:
  • Sandra Santizo Director of Grants and Contracts

Sarah Lippert

Job Titles:
  • Assistant Dean of Students
  • Sarah Lippert Assistant Dean of Students
Background Sarah manages the Division's Orientation and Convocation events, and regularly provides student wellness programming throughout the academic year. She serves as the primary point of contact for questions related to Student Disability Services, the Dean's Student Advisory Committee, and all other student leadership opportunities in the PSD. She also frequently supports the implementation of special projects and new initiatives in the Dean of Students office.

Scott Snyder

Job Titles:
  • Deputy Dean for Professional Programs
  • Scott Snyder Deputy Dean for Professional Programs
Background Scott helps develop a strategy for growth of M.S., professional, and continuing education programs in the division, supports new and existing programs, and liaises with campus partners as needed.

Sean Buchanan

Job Titles:
  • Assistant Director of Development
  • Sean Buchanan Assistant Director of Development
Background Sean works to raise support for the Physical Sciences Division. He manages stewardship of gifts to the division and coordinates meetings and communication for the PSD Council.

Sharon Bryant

Job Titles:
  • Director of Academic Affairs and Chief of Staff
  • Sharon Bryant Director of Academic Affairs and Chief of Staff
Background Sharon assists Dean Olinto with all functions of the Dean's Office. She oversees the Division's academic affairs team and action related to academic appointments, partnering with the Deputy Dean for Academic Affairs and the Associate Dean and Master. In collaboration with members of the Dean's staff, she works on special projects, initiatives, and events.

Sierra Sterling

Job Titles:
  • Sierra Sterling Senior Associate Dean of Students for Student Affairs

Sonia Lizardo

Job Titles:
  • Sonia Lizardo Assistant Dean of Students

Steven Bandyk

Job Titles:
  • IT User Support Supervisor

Stuart Kurtz

Job Titles:
  • Stuart Kurtz Associate Dean and Master of the Physical Sciences Collegiate Division

Victor Gavin

Job Titles:
  • Victor Gavin Building Manager for Hinds and Kersten