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Contacts in the Office of Graduate Education

The BBSP program is part of the larger Office of Graduate Education (OGE) which is home to a number of graduate education related programs. Here you will find contact information and roles for OGE staff.  We are here to help, so please reach out any time.  Not sure who to contact? Click here.


Ashalla Freeman, PhD

Director of Engagement & Student Success; Director of IMSD

she/her(s) | ashalla@unc.edu |

Dr. Freeman supports recruitment, admissions, and student success efforts for UNC’s Biological & Biomedical Sciences Program (BBSP). Dr. Freeman also serves as director of the NIH-funded IMSD prog … Read more


Beka Layton, PhD

Director, Professional Development Programs

She/Her/Hers | rlayton@med.unc.edu |

Dr. Layton is the Director of Professional Development Programs. In this role she is responsible for career awareness and career development programming for biomedical PhD students. Dr. Layton also me … Read more


Business Officer – Currently Open

Business Officer

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The Business Officer for the Office of Graduate Education (OGE) manages NIH, NSF, and other grants that support OGE programming, and also handles all day to day business operations for the OGE includi … Read more


Cassidy Englund

Administrative Assistant

| cassidy_englund@med.unc.edu |

Cassidy is the primary point of contact for visitors to the OGE.  Additionally, they support the day to day operations of our office, maintains department websites, and assists with OGE events.


Christiann Gaines, PhD

Assistant Director for Doctoral Success in Graduate Education

She/her/hers | christiann_gaines@med.unc.edu |

The Assistant Director for Doctoral Success in the UNC Office of Graduate Education (OGE) has a shared leadership role in the NIH-funded UNC Initiative for Maximizing Student Development (IMSD) and is … Read more


Currently Open

Director of UNC PREP; Co-Director of SOLAR & Scientific Outreach

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The director of UNC PREP, an NIH funded one-year post-baccalaureate research program for students in groups historically underrepresented in the sciences. They also servs as the co-director of scienti … Read more


Dave McDonald, PhD

Director of BBSP

he/him/his | david.mcdonald@unc.edu |

Dave directs the BBSP first year training program. In this role he oversees the First Year Group seminar course, the rotation and academic calendars, and helping students acclimate to graduate school … Read more


Dena Perry

OGE Program Administrator

she/her/hers | dena_perry@med.unc.edu |

Dena is responsible for administrative support for all OGE sponsored programs. In this role she handles reimbursements, pays vouchers, processes travel, and provides other support as needed. Dena also … Read more


Donita Robinson, PhD

Donita Robinson, PhD

Associate Dean for Graduate Education

she/her/hers | donita_robinson@med.unc.edu |

As Associate Dean, Dr. Robinson oversees the operations and mission of the OGE, which supports the development of future biomedical science leaders, promotes innovative recruitment and training, stimu … Read more


Jeff Steinbach, PMP

Director of BBSP Admissions

| jsteinba@email.unc.edu |

Jeff is the Director of Admissions for the Biological & Biomedical Sciences Program. Jeff is responsible for the BBSP application, communicating with prospective applicants, supporting admissions … Read more


Kaitlin Blakemore, MA

Student Services Manager, BBSP; Program Coordinator, UNC PREP

she/her/hers | blakek@email.unc.edu |

Kaitlin supports the BBSP first year training program and BBSP admissions and recruitment. Kaitlin is responsible for enrollment, tuition and fee payments, course management, and providing additional … Read more


Laura Hawkins, DPhil

Director of the Learning and Work Environment

she/her | laura_hawkins@unc.edu |

As Director of the Learning and Work Environment, Dr. Hawkins serves the School of Medicine community as an impartial resource and works to foster a positive, safe, respectful, and supportive environm … Read more


Melissa Graves

OGE Program Coordinator

| megraves@email.unc.edu |

Melissa supports TIBBS, IMSD, PREP, SOLAR, and other programs housed in the OGE. She manages program events, meeting logistics, travel, and other needs.  Melissa also coordinates events and faculty di … Read more


Michelle Itano, PhD

Faculty Director of BBSP

she/her | itano@unc.edu |

As Faculty Director of BBSP, Dr. Itano oversees the curriculum of the First Year Group, the advising and professional development course of all BBSP students. She works closely with Dr. Dave McDonald … Read more


Patrick Brandt, PhD

Director of Career Development and Training; Director of Science Outreach

he/him | pdb@unc.edu |

Dr. Brandt leads Career Development initiatives for biomedical PhD students, including the ImPACT internship program for senior trainees, career advising, and alumni career placement tracking. Patrick … Read more


Scott Williams, PhD

Assistant Dean for Graduate Education

he/him/his | scott_williams@med.unc.edu |

Dr. Williams works closely with the Associate Dean for Graduate Education to collaborate with the PhD programs affiliated with BBSP.


Stephanie Gupton, PhD

Faculty Director of Graduate and Training Programs

She/her | sgupton@email.unc.edu |

Dr. Gupton works closely with the Associate Dean for Graduate Education to lead special projects pertaining to graduate training including Biostatistics, Ethics, and Rigor & Reproducibility course … Read more


Terry Furey, PhD

Faculty Director of BBSP Admissions

| tsfurey@email.unc.edu |

Dr. Furey works closely with the Director of Admissions to oversee the recruitment of PhD students for BBSP.


Zoe Silverman, LCSW

Embedded Counselor

she/her/hers | zoesilv@email.unc.edu |

Zoe Silverman is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) and a therapist within the embedded counseling program at UNC’s Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS). In this role, she works exclusiv … Read more