Dean's Office in the College of Arts & Sciences

Mary K. Boyd, Dean
Mary K. Boyd was appointed Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences in July 2008. Prior to coming to USD she was Professor and Chair of Chemistry at Georgia Southern University from 2005-2008 and a faculty member in the Department of Chemistry at Loyola University Chicago from 1990-2005.

Dean Boyd received a B.Sc. in chemistry in 1984, and her Ph.D. in organic chemistry in 1989 from the University of Toronto. She was an NSERC Post-doctoral Fellow at SUNY-Stony Brook from 1989-1990. Dean Boyd was a Faculty Fellow in the Center for Ethics and Social Justice at Loyola in 2004. She received the Sujack Award for Teaching Excellence in the College of Arts and Sciences at Loyola.

Her research focus is in organic photochemistry, including the development of novel photocleavable protecting groups and carbocation photochemistry. She is co-editor of a forthcoming book “Broadening Participation in Undergraduate Research: Fostering Excellence and Enhancing the Impact.” Dean Boyd has served as Principal Investigator for several National Science Foundation grants. She has directed several doctoral dissertations and mentored numerous undergraduate research students.

Dean Boyd is a chemistry councilor for the Council of Undergraduate Research, and serves on the American Chemical Society Committee on Minority Affairs and Executive Committee of the Division of Organic Chemistry. She has served as Secretary and Advisory Board member of the Inter-American Photochemical Society. Office F114, x4545 mboyd@sandiego.edu

Anne A. Sturz, Associate Dean
Anne A. Sturz was appointed Associate Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences in January 2007. She has been member of the University of San Diego Arts and Sciences faculty since 1991. She is a Professor of Marine Science and Environmental Studies and served as the Chair of that Department from 2003 to 2006.

Professor Sturz earned a Bachelor of Science in Geology in 1974 and Master of Science in Geochemistry in 1976 at San Diego State University. She received her PhD from University of California San Diego Scripps Institution of Oceanography in 1991. Dr. Sturz' research focused on hydrothermal fluid chemical composition and secondary mineral formation at oceanic spreading ridges. She was shipboard inorganic geochemist during Leg 128 of the Ocean Drilling Program in the Japan Sea (1989) and shipboard fluid geochemist during Leg 158 at the TAG Hydrothermal Mound (1995). More recently, she worked on the Erupt Project ecosystems studies at Deception Island Antarctica and geothermal activity near the Salton Sea Imperial County California.

Professor Sturz is a member of the Executive Committee of the American Association for the Advancement of Science Pacific Division (AAAS PD). She served as President Elect of AAAS PD from June 2007 to June 2008 and President of AAAS PD from June 2008 to June 2009. Office: F136, X4545 asturz@sandiego.edu

Neena Din, Assistant Dean
Neena Din was appointed Assistant Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences in August 2007. She came to USD from Loyola College in Maryland, where she earned tenure as an Associate Professor of Biology in 2005.  At Loyola, Dr. Din taught courses in the areas of Cell and Molecular Biology and Microbiology, as well as carrying out research on the processes of cell cycle events in bacteria. She also served as Loyola’s Pre-Health advisor for three years.

Dr Din earned her BSc in Microbiology at University College in London in 1984.  She then moved to Vancouver, Canada and earned her MSc and PhD degrees in Microbiology from the University of British Columbia. From there she moved to Indiana University in 1994 as a Post-Doctoral Fellow/part-time Assistant Professor and accepted an Assistant Professor position at Loyola College in 1998.

Dr. Din’s research has been published in several prestigious journals including the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, and her excellence in teaching has been recognized through her nominations for teaching awards at Loyola College. She brings this teaching and research experience along with her extensive advising background to her position of Assistant Dean in the College. Her responsibilities include working with the Dean and the Associate Dean with interpretation, revision and enforcement of College policies and procedures, assisting with activities that support the faculty, counseling students, taking an initial role in the resolution of student academic problems, and supervision of the Executive Assistants in the College. Office F-114 x4545 ndin@sandiego.edu

Pauline Berryman Powell, Assistant DeanMs. Powell has served as Assistant Dean in the College of Arts and Sciences since 2001. She is primarily responsible for working with students, and works directly with the Dean and the Associate Dean to interpret, revise, and enforce the College policies and procedures. Her responsibilities also include: assisting with activities that support faculty, supervision of staff, fiscal management, student academic advising and foreign transcript evaluations.

Ms. Powell earned her BA degree from Azusa Pacific University in International Studies with an emphasis in Communications in 1987. Previously, Ms. Powell served as admissions recruiter at Azusa Pacific University’s highly selective internship program and as Director of Student Recruitment within Student Affairs at the Southern California College of Optometry (SCCO).  While employed at SCCO she earned a Master’s degree in Leadership Studies in 1994. Ms. Powell’s solid experience in working with diverse student populations and educational background has soundly prepared her for the position in Academic Affairs as Assistant Dean at the University of San Diego. Office: F114 x4545 berryman@sandiego.edu

Catherine Cornell, Budget & Special Projects Manager
The Budget and Special Projects Manager is responsible to the Dean for managing, coordinating, monitoring and implementing the fiscal and operational resources of the College. Provides direct assistance to the dean on a wide range of assignments involving the highest level of administrative work associated with complex problems of a confidential and sensitive nature. With considerable autonomy, fully responsible for managing approximately 500 full and part-time faculty contracts, stipends and awards, exercising discretion and diplomacy. Prioritizes budget and special projects for the Dean. Trains and supports department chairs and program directors on budget processes. Serves as Dean’s liaison to the Associate and Assistant Deans, coordinating decanal financial goals, priorities and projects. Serves as the Dean’s liaison to the provost’s office, Purchasing, Financial Services, etc. Plays a key role in College-wide planning and policy-making. Responsible for endowment management and liaison to University Relations regarding gifts and donations. The Budget and Special Projects Manager ensures the efficient and effective functioning of the College. Office: F128-A, X4545 cornell@sandiego.edu

Carol Moffett, Director of Pre-Health and National Awards Advising
Ms. Moffett, Director of Pre-Health and National Awards Advising, assists pre-health students with identifying specific professional school academic prerequisites, locating volunteer and community service opportunities, and understanding the professional school application process. Ms. Moffett acts as the liaison to various professional schools, hospitals, serves as club advisor to 8 USD pre-health clubs, and supervises the Pre-Health Peer Advisor and Pre-Health Peer Ambassador programs. Additionally, she assists with identifying and assisting students apply for nationally competitive fellowships. Ms. Moffett is credentialed with a M.Ed.-Counseling from Azusa Pacific University.

Janey Middleton, Executive Assistant
Manages the daily operations of the Dean's Office including: the overall management of the front office area. Provides direct administrative assistance to the Associate Dean and the Assistant Dean. Overseas fifteen Executive Assistants' time cards. Maintains Executive Assistant budget lines. Trains and supervises five Work Study Students and one Administrative Assistant. Interviews and hires temporary Executive Assistants as needed. Interviews, hires and supervises casual workers as needed. Orders capital items for the College of Arts and Sciences. Acts as facilitator and resource person for the Transfer Analyst, other departments, faculty, administrators, staff, students and the general public. Provides secondary support for three Executive Assistants:, the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, the Scheduler and the Honors Program. Office: F114 x2466 middleton@sandiego.edu

Lori Stevenson, Executive Assistant to the Dean
Performs detailed administrative work for the Dean's office. Schedules Arts and Sciences classrooms for the campus community during the year. Responsible for preparation of Fall & Spring Arts and Sciences class schedules. Responsible for the preparation & submission for publication of the University's Fall & Spring Directory of classes. Supports the Associate Dean in scheduling academic committee meetings and workshops. Responsible for bi-annual review of classroom and office furnishings in Arts and Sciences classrooms and offices. Responsible for maintaining the Arts and Sciences website. Provide secondary support for the Executive Assistants in the Dean's office. Office: F114 x2614 loris@sandiego.edu

Lynne Stearns, Transer Analyst
Ms. Stearns is the transfer analyst in the College of Arts and Science. She has 40 years experience at the university level; the past 9 years have been at USD. She holds a B.A. in Child Development and M.A. in Special Education from San Francisco State University. The transfer analyst primary function is to evaluate transcripts of new freshman and transfer students and provide students and their faculty advisor with written evaluations of their status regarding college core requirements; this includes standardized examinations of Advanced Placement, CLEP and International Baccalaureate. She has a close working relationship with Undergraduate Admission and Registrar Offices. Other duties include preparation of Re-admit application files for Associate Dean's review. Ms. Stearns continues to work as a facilitator for International Studies Abroad articulating courses for Semester at Sea program.

She also reviews transfer of credit petitions for currently enrolled students who are seeking credit for courses taken at another accredited institution. On a continuum Lynne is here to assist and guide students to successfully meet their educational goals. Office F128B x7749 lstearns@sandiego.edu

Starla Tudor, Building Manager
Starla is the Building Manager for the Shiley Center for Science and Technology. Originally from Colorado, Starla has a B.S. in Microbiology from Colorado State University. She has worked in the San Diego biotech industry for over 12 years with jobs ranging from molecular biologist to facility coordinator. As the building manager of the Science Center her responsibilities include chemical hygiene, waste management, radiation safety , equipment installation, and facility management. Starla works closely with the department chairs for Chemistry, Biology, Marine and Environmental Science, and Physics to ensure that the facility meets their needs and provides a safe environment for its occupants. Office

Nancy Kuelbs
Serves as the initial resource person for the Dean's Office, College of Arts and Sciences, faculty, administrators, staff, students and the general public. Serves as an assistant to the office manager in maintaining the overall traffic flow in the Dean’s office. Supports, on a daily basis, the Associate Dean, Assistant Deans, the Transfer Analyst and the Executive Assistant to the Dean. Supports the various Chairs of the departments within the College of Arts and Sciences as well as the different departmental Executive Assistants, and supports the University. Office: F114, X4545, nkuelbs@sandiego.edu

Sara Stillwell
Sara Stillwell performs detailed administrative work for the Honors Program and the Dean's office. She assists the Honors Program Director in all aspects of the Honors Program and is responsible for coordinating the University's annual Honors Convocation, as well as assisting the Associate Dean in the Preceptorial and Summer Advising Program. She received her B.A. in 2005 from the University of California, Santa Barbara in Political Science and History. She has been in the San Diego area for 3 years, working in the non-profit industry and joined the Dean’s office in the Summer of ’07. Office: F119, X4545, sstillwell@sandiego.edu