PAC Chair
Daniella Lisle |
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Photo Coming Soon! |
Major |
Business Marketing |
Minor |
Communication Studies |
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Year in School |
Junior |
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Expected Graduation |
May 2014 |
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PA Experience |
Dani was a PA for two years before becoming PAC chair |
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USD Involvement |
Honors Program, Kappa Alpha Theta sorority, intramural soccer |
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Fun Fact |
Dani is passionate about her Italian heritage and will be traveling to Italy for the fourth time this summer. |
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PAC Members
Blake Busby |
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Photo Coming Soon! |
Major |
Business Economics |
Minor |
Finance |
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Year in School |
Sophomore |
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Expected Graduation |
May 2015 |
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PA Experience |
Blake was a PA for one year, this is his first year on PAC |
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USD Involvement |
Ambassadors Club |
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Fun Fact |
Blake refuses to eat vegetables! |
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Alli Chlapaty |
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|---|---|---|
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Major |
Environmental Studies, Political Science |
Minor |
History | |
Year in School |
Junior | |
Expected Graduation |
May 2014 | |
PA Experience |
Alli was a PA for one year, this is her second year on PAC | |
USD Involvement |
Ambassadors Club, Young Democrats, Phi Alpha Delta (Pre-Law Fraternity), and the Honors Program | |
Fun Fact |
Alli has traveled to 5 continents! | |
Sydney Davis |
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Photo Coming Soon! |
Major |
Biology |
Minor |
Chemistry | |
Year in School |
Sophomore | |
Expected Graduation |
May 2015 | |
PA Experience |
Sydney was a PA for one year, this is her first year on PAC | |
Involvement |
Tour Guide for Undergraduate Admissions, Student Outreach and Recruiment Club (SOAR), and the Black Student Union | |
Fun Fact |
Sydney loves animals and is passionate about saving endangered species and being green for the planet! | |
Jim Kinney |
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Photo Coming Soon! |
Major |
Math, Music |
Year in School |
Sophomore | |
Expected Graduation |
May 2015 | |
PA Experience |
Jim was a PA for two years, this is his first year on PAC | |
Involvement |
Outdoor Adventures, PRIDES, and Ambassadors Club | |
Fun Fact |
Jim toured Italy this past January singing in various venues, including St. Peter's Basilica with the Choral Scholars. | |
Claire Kuelbs |
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Photo Coming Soon! |
Major |
Biology |
Minors |
Chemistry, Math | |
Year in School |
Sophomore | |
Expected Graduation |
May 2015 | |
PA Experience |
Claire was a PA for one year, this is her first year on PAC | |
USD Involvement |
Dept. of Marine Science & Environmental Studies student worker, ASTRA, and the Honors Program | |
Fun Fact |
Claire has never been out of the country. | |
Alison Lebenbaum |
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Photo Coming Soon! |
Major |
Behavioral Neuroscience |
Minor |
Chemistry | |
Year in School |
Junior | |
Expected Graduation |
May 2014 | |
PA Experience |
Alison was a PA for two years, this is her first year on PAC | |
USD Involvement |
Invisible Children Club, University Ministry, Tijuana Spring Breakthrough, and Psychology Dept. researcher | |
Fun Fact |
Alison's middle name is Bliss. It's weird, but she's pretty sure that's why she's such a happy person! | |
Elizabeth Szewczyk |
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|---|---|---|
Photo Coming Soon! |
Major |
History |
Minor |
Political Science | |
Year in School |
Sophomore | |
Expected Graduation |
May 2015 | |
PA Experience |
Elizabeth was a PA for one year, this is her first year on PAC | |
USD Involvement |
Alpha Chi Omega sorority | |
Fun Fact |
Elizabeth runs a sorority craft business called Etsy. | |
Brooke Thayer |
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|---|---|---|
Photo Coming Soon! |
Major |
History |
Minors |
Classical Studies | |
Year in School |
Sophomore | |
Expected Graduation |
May 2015 | |
PA Experience |
Brooke was a PA for one year, this is her first year on PAC | |
USD Involvement |
Honors Program, National Society of Collegiate Scholars, and Intramural Soccer | |
Fun Fact |
Brooke has a miniature dachshund named Moose! | |
Valerie Thorngren |
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|---|---|---|
Photo Coming Soon! |
Major |
Biochemistry |
Year in School |
Sophomore | |
Expected Graduation |
May 2015 | |
PA Experience |
Valerie was a PA for one year, this is her first year on PAC | |
USD Involvement |
The PA Program! | |
Fun Fact |
Valerie is a champion at Bop It Extreme 2! | |
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 and Director, 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).
