What is the College Academic District?
See the Space, Meet the Team
Crafting Dreams, Shaping Futures:
The College Academic District
The District includes staff from the College of Arts and Sciences that are devoted to helping all students from the day they enroll through the day they graduate.
About the Main Space
A Hub for Academic Resources
The College Academic District's main space is located in Founders Hall, Room 117, and is a central hub where all University of San Diego undergraduate students, no matter their major or USD school, can access various academic resources, including academic advising and pre-professional advising.
The space is designed to enhance the student experience and create a welcoming environment for socializing, group projects and studying.
How We Can Help
Direct Student Support Team
As part of the College Academic District, these offices and roles provide direct support to all undergraduate students. These roles fall under the Dean's Office in the College of Arts and Sciences.
Coordinator, Undergraduate Studies
Leslie Racanelli
lracanelli@sandiego.edu
Founders Hall, Room 117
I support the success of students and faculty through providing administrative and logistical support to the Undergraduate Studies and Learning Communities teams.
College Academic Advisor
Emily Bolender, MA
casadvising@sandiego.edu
Founders Hall, Room 117
I support students and faculty in navigating graduation requirements and other academic questions.
Learn more about CAS Academic Advising!
Academic Advisor
Karina Westra, MA
casadvising@sandiego.edu
Founders Hall, Room 117
I support students and faculty in navigating graduation requirements and other academic questions.
Learn more about CAS Academic Advising!
Director of Pre-Health Advising
Cassandra Gomez, MPH
cagomez@sandiego.edu
Founders Hall, Room 117
I provide advising to students pursuing health professional school (e.g., medical school, nursing school, etc.).
Director of Liberal Studies and Special Assistant to Associate Dean
Margaret Daley, PhD
mdaley@sandiego.edu
Founders Hall, Room 117
I teach in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and advise students who are interested in pathways for PK-12 teaching.
Assistant Dean, Undergraduate Studies
Pauline Powell, MA
casadvising@sandiego.edu
Founders Hall, Room 117
I serve as a resource for students and faculty related to academic policies and advising, consider academic appeals and support students in exploring academic options when they are experiencing challenges.
Assistant Dean, Undergraduate Studies
Stephanie Bernasconi, MA
casadvising@sandiego.edu
Founders Hall, Room 117
I serve as a resource for students and faculty related to academic policies and advising, consider academic appeals and support students in exploring academic options when they are experiencing challenges.
Associate Dean of Undergraduate Studies
Amanda Petersen, PhD
apetersen@sandiego.edu
Founders Hall, Room 117
I am a professor in the Department of Languages, Cultures and Literatures, and I oversee the academic side of the Learning Communities, major and minor advising in the College of Arts and Sciences, as well as undeclared students exploring majors.
People Behind the Scenes
Additional Offices and Roles
These are the offices and roles in the College of Arts and Sciences that work to support students behind the scenes of the College Academic District.
Noelle Norton, PhD | collegedean@sandiego.edu
Oversees all of the academic and administrative departments in the College of Arts and Sciences.
Jillian Tullis, PhD | Associate Dean, Faculty | jtullis@sandiego.edu
Engages in faculty development, including new-faculty programming, chair support and leadership development, and facilitating the College mentoring program and represents the College on the University-wide Space Committee.
Ronald Kaufmann, PhD | Associate Dean, Programs and Curriculum | kaufmann@sandiego.edu
Responsible for working with departments to keep their programs and courses current, overseeing the academic program review process and assessment of student learning for College departments and programs, and representing the College on the University Assessment Committee.
Mary Dupree | Executive Assistant to the Dean | marydupree@sandiego.edu
Responsible for supporting the Dean of the Colleges of Arts and Sciences and managing the office.
Nancy Kuelbs | Lead Scheduler/Building Operations | nkuelbs@sandiego.edu
Orchestrates academic schedules for the entire university.
Xiomara Pastenes Garcia | Executive Assistant, Dean's Office | xpastenesgarcia@sandiego.edu
Responsible for supporting staff in the Dean's Office and managing the office.
Esther Aguilar | esthera@sandiego.edu
Kaitlin Wheeler | kaitlinwheeler@sandiego.edu
Lana Nguyen | ananguyen@sandiego.edu
Department Managers oversee Executive Assistants in the academic departments of the College of Arts and Science to ensure consistency in administrative operations and marketing.
Tania Batson, MM and CSPG | Director of Development | tbatson@sandiego.edu
Keely Gaeta | Development Manager | keelygaeta@sandiego.edu
The Development Office raises money to support programs, projects and scholarships in the College of Arts and Sciences.
Frances Kuhn, MBA | Assistant Dean for Finance and Administration | franceskuhn@sandiego.edu
Hanna Pitts, MS | Budget and Operations Manager | hpitts@sandiego.edu
Carla Wilson, MFA | Finance and Administration Executive Assistant | wcarla@sandiego.edu
The Finance Office oversees the accounting and finance administration for the College of Arts and Sciences.
Michelle Kennedy, MA | Director of Marketing and Communications | michellekennedy@sandiego.edu
Tanya Aubin | Creative Manager | taubin@sandiego.edu
Gaby Ortiz Flores | Digital Content Manager | gortizflores@sandiego.edu
The Marketing Office oversees the marketing, social media and web presence for all the departments in the College of Arts and Sciences.
Suzanne Sanders, MA | suzannesanders@sandiego.edu
Works collaboratively with campus partners and community colleges to smooth the transfer process for students.
David Miller, PhD | davidmiller@sandiego.edu
Works collaboratively with local schools to create a pipeline for students to attend the University of San Diego.