Contacts
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.

Amanda Hall, MSW, LCSW, LCASA
Student Wellness Coach
amahall@email.unc.edu |Amanda Hall is a Student Wellness Counselor for students in the biomedical sciences. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and a Licensed Clinical Addictions Specialist-Associate, and received her … Continued

Ashalla Freeman, PhD
Director of Diversity Affairs; Director of IMSD
ashalla@unc.edu | 919-843-9597Dr. Freeman directs the diversity recruitment and admissions efforts for UNC’s Biological & Biomedical Sciences Program (BBSP). Dr. Freeman also serves as director of the NIH funded IMSD program. … Continued

Beka Layton, PhD
Director, Professional Development Programs
rlayton@med.unc.edu | 919-843-8439Dr. 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 … Continued

Dave McDonald, PhD
Director of BBSP
david.mcdonald@unc.edu | 919-843-3387Dave directs the BBSP first year training program. In this role Dave oversees the First Year Group course, the BBSP rotation schedule, the BBSP academic calendar, and other aspects relevant to first y … Continued

Debra Ragland, PhD
Director of SOLAR; Assistant Director of Diversity Affairs & IMSD
debra_ragland@med.unc.edu | 919-843-1570Dr. Ragland is the Assistant Director of the NIH funded IMSD program. In this role, she works to promote the development and success of biomedical Ph.D. students from diverse backgrounds. Dr. Ragland … Continued

Dena Perry
OGE Program Administrator
dena_perry@med.unc.edu | 919-843-9910Dena 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 … Continued

Donita Robinson, PhD
Associate Dean for Graduate Education
donita_robinson@med.unc.edu | 919-966-5679As 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 … Continued

Jean Cook, PhD
Advisor to the Office of Graduate Education
jean_cook@med.unc.edu | 919-843-3687As Advisor to the OGE, Dr. Cook contributes to special projects related to graduate education at UNC-Chapel Hill and beyond.

Jeff Steinbach
Director of BBSP Admissions
jsteinba@email.unc.edu | 919-843-7129Jeff is the Director of Admissions for the Biological & Biomedical Sciences Program. Jeff is responsible for the BBSP application, communicating with prospective applicants, supporting admissions … Continued

Kaitlin Blakemore
Student Services Manager, BBSP; Program Coordinator, UNC PREP
blakek@email.unc.edu | 919-843-9617Kaitlin is responsible for enrollment, tuition and fee payments, course management, and providing additional assistance to first year BBSP students. Kaitlin also supports BBSP admissions by serving as … Continued

Lisa Tarantino, PhD
Faculty Director of BBSP
lisat@med.unc.edu | 919-843-7292As Faculty Director of BBSP, Dr. Tarantino oversees the curriculum of the First Year Group, the advising and professional development course of all BBSP students. She works closely with Dr. Dave McDon … Continued

Louisa Steffen
Business Officer, Office of Graduate Education
lsteffen@email.unc.edu |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 … Continued

Melissa Graves
OGE Program Coordinator
megraves@email.unc.edu | 919-843-4142Melissa 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 … Continued

Morgan Church
Administrative Assistant
morgan_church@med.unc.edu | 919-962-4982Morgan Church is the primary point of contact for visitors to the OGE. Additionally, Morgan supports the day to day operations of our office, maintains department websites, and assists with OGE event … Continued

Patrick Brandt, PhD
Director of Career Development and Training; Director of Science Outreach
pdb@unc.edu | 919-843-9342Dr. 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 … Continued

Rob Nicholas, PhD
Associate Director for Graduate Education
robert_nicholas@med.unc.edu | 919-843-9342Dr. Nicholas works closely with the Associate Dean for Graduate Education to lead special projects pertaining to graduate training including Biostatistics, Ethics, and Rigor & Reproducibility cour … Continued
Vacant
Assistant Director of UNC PREP
| 919-843-7882The Assistant Director of UNC PREP, an NIH funded one-year post-baccalaureate research program for students in groups historically underrepresented in the sciences.