PAC Chair

Toni Deguire

Major(s): Sociology, CJLS
Minor(s): English, Peace and Justice Studies
Year: Senior during the 2012-2013 school year and plans to graduate in May 2013.
PA Experience: Toni served as a PA for one year, and this is her first year on PAC and as PAC Chair.
Campus Involvement: Toni is involved in CASA/CSL, the USD Writing Center, Sociology Honor Society, Relay for Life, and she also tutors at Juniper Achievement Academy.
Fun Fact: Toni has switched her major four times. Past majors include Business Administration, Art History, Psychology, and English.

PAC Members

Alli Chlapaty

Major(s): Environmental Studies, Political Science
Minor: History
Year: Junior during the 2012-2013 school year and plans to graduate in 2014.
PA Experience: Second year in the PA Program, and her first year on PAC.
Campus Involvement: Alli is involved in the Ambassador Club, Young Democrats, and Phi Alpha Delta (Pre-Law Fraternity), and the Honors Program.
Fun Fact: Alli has traveled to 5 continents!

 

Jessica Chang

Major: Business Administration
Minor: Communication Studies
Year: Senior during 2012-13 school year and plans to graduate in May 2013.
PA Experience: Third year in the PA Program, and second year serving on PAC.
Campus Involvement: Jessica is a founding sister of the first multicultural sorority at USD(Sigma Theta Psi), and is Co-President of the Asian Students Association.
Fun Fact: Outside of school, Jessica instructs figure skating at her local ice rink, the San Diego Ice Arena.

Jessica Gomes

Major: Psychology
Minor: History
Year: Senior during the 2012-13 school year and plans to graduate in May 2013.
PA Experience: Third year as a PA, and second year serving on PAC.
Campus Involvement: Jessica is on the Honors Student Board, Honors Council, McNair Scholar program, works at the UFMC, and volunteers at elementary schools in Linda Vista through CASA.
Fun Fact: Jessica has studied abroad in Vienna, loves "How I Met Your Mother," war history, and Little Italy's Farmer's Market.

Chrissy Meoni

Major: Biochemistry
Minor: Anthropology
Year: Senior in the 2012-13 school year and plans to graduate in May 2013.
PA Experience: Third year in the PA Program, and second year serving on PAC.
Campus Involvement: Chrissy is part of the Honors Program and plays on USD's club soccer team.
Fun Fact: Chrissy grew up in a suburb of Washington D.C.

Thomas Nolan

Major: Theology and Religious Studies
Minor: Classical Studies, Business Administration
Year: Senior in the 2012-13 school year and plans to graduate in May 2013.
PA Experience: Third year as a PA and first year on PAC.
Campus Involvement: Thomas works at the Manchester Family Child Development Center, and is involved in CSL Juvenile Hall, University Ministry, and THRS Club.
Fun Fact: Thomas traveled to Italy with the SYE program and also plans to join the Peace Corps after graduating.

Kate Partynski

Major: Biology
Minor: Chemistry
Year: Senior in the 2012-13 school year and plans to graduate in May 2013.
PA Experience: This is Kate's second year in the PA Program and her first year on PAC.
Campus Involvement: She is involved in Student Alumni Association (Leadership Council member), Founders Club, and is a peer advisor for Student Success Coaching in the CSS.
Fun Fact: Kate is obsessed with Goldfish crackers.

Jamie Shea

Major: Psychology, English
Year: Senior in the 2012-13 school year and plans to graduate in May 2013.
PA Experience: This is Jamie's third year as a PA and second year serving on PAC.
Campus Involvement: She is involved in Mortar Board, the Founders Chapel Choir, University Ministry, and works in the History Department.
Fun Fact: Jamie gives tours in the cathedral in Florence, Itlay (the Duomo) to tourists.

 

PAC Advisors

Dr. James Gump - Associate Dean, College of Arts and Sciences

Dr. James Gump currently serves as Associate Dean for Advising and Curriculum in the College of Arts and Sciences, and has been associated with the PA Program from its inception. He previously served as Associate Dean in the College, Chair of the Department of History, and Director of the Honors Program. He has been a member of the USD faculty since 1981 and is a Professor of History. Dr. Gump earned his B.A. in History from the University of Nebraska, an M.A. in History from the University of Auckland, New Zealand, and a Ph.D. in History from the University of Nebraska. He has been the recipient of fellowships from Fulbright, the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Newberry Library, and the Beinecke Library at Yale University. He is also the former recipient of a Davies Chair at USD.

Merrick Marino - Assistant Dean, Center for Student Success

Merrick Marino is the Assistant Dean for the Center for Student Success and is the co-chair of the Committee for Undergraduate Persistence (CUP). He has also co-chaired university-wide initiatives on the First Year Experience and Second Year Experience at USD.  After writing a book for entering college students shortly after graduating himself (1993: College Undercover: What Every Student Needs to Know), Merrick has spent the majorityof his professional career working to support students in their transition to college, and particularly with peer mentoring programs. Before the PA Program was established, Merrick worked with the long-running “Mentor Connection” peer mentoring at USD. Merrick is also a two-time USD alum (’96 M.Ed. Counseling and ’03 MBA).