Changes to the Graduate Programs Office

We are sad to report that later this month Assistant Director Tendai Ndabvonga will be leaving our Graduate Programs team and pursuing other opportunities.  An integral part of our team, we will miss her sunny disposition but we wish her the best of luck.  We will begin the process of finding her replacement as soon as possible.

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Tendai Ndabvonga

Congratulations are also in order for Tina Williams. In August, Tina will pursue her love of teaching full time with a new position in the Department of Management.  Fortunately, Paul Russell is well qualified to undertake directorial responsibilities and will assume the position of Interim Director of Graduate Programs when Tina departs.

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Tina Williams

Obviously these personnel changes will necessitate some immediate procedural modifications to ensure our students are well served.  One such change is in the way we will assign advisors to MBA and certificate-seeking students.  Until a new assistant director is in place and up to speed with our office’s operations, Assistant Director Sarah Smith will advise students whose last names begin with A-C and N-Z.

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Sarah Smith

Paul Russell will advise students whose last names begin with D-M. To further increase student services, we hope to have a full-time administrative assistant working in our office very soon.  We will also continue employing graduate assistants in our office.  Our GA’s are highly-trained and more than willing to share their insights as current graduate business students. Don’t hesitate to ask them questions you would normally pose to an advisor; they are an excellent source of factual information.

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Paul Russell

We anticipate the reorganization of other responsibilities within the office as well.  These changes will ensure our team has the ability to focus on our students’ needs; recruiting, advising, and retention continue to be our top priorities.  With the assistance of our exceptional GA’s, we anticipate a seamless transition and continued high quality operations in the Graduate Programs office.  If you have questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out to us.

Written by: COB Graduate Programs Office