Graduate School Staff
Suzanne Barbour
Dean of The Graduate School
sbarbour@unc.edu, (919) 962-7791
Bynum Hall, Room 214-A
Ally training: Green Zone
Suzanne Barbour, who has received 20 awards for teaching excellence in her academic career, became dean of The Graduate School on Sept. 3, 2019. She also is a professor in the School of Medicine’s biochemistry and biophysics department.
Barbour received her bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Rutgers University and her doctorate in molecular biology and genetics from Johns Hopkins University. She received postdoctoral training at the University of California San Diego within chemistry.
Barbour previously served as dean of the University of Georgia Graduate School (2015-2019), and she also was professor of biochemistry and molecular biology. In her role as dean, she was responsible for administering more than 250 graduate degree programs.
Before joining the University of Georgia, she was a program director (2013-2015) within the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) Directorate for Biological Sciences. Barbour is currently a member of the NSF’s Biological Sciences Advisory Committee.
From 1993 to 2013, Barbour held several positions at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), including faculty appointments in microbiology and immunology, biochemistry, biology and African American studies; and director of research training within the VCU Center on Health Disparities (2010-2013). She received her 20 teaching excellence awards while a member of the VCU faculty.
Barbour has extensive national service in initiatives focused on increasing opportunities within graduate education and preparing graduate students for careers of the future. Among her national leadership positions are membership on the Graduate Record Examination Board (2019-2023), the NSF Committee for Equal Opportunities in Science and Engineering (2018-2021), the National Professional Science Master’s Association Southern Region working group (2018-present) and the Council of Graduate Schools Diversity and Inclusiveness Advisory Committee (2018-2019).
Rob Bacchus
Assistant Dean for Development and Alumni Relations
rbacchus@email.unc.edu, (919) 962-7790
Bynum Hall, Room 214
Rob Bacchus is the assistant dean for development and alumni relations and leads The Graduate School's overall advancement efforts. In this role, he works to engage alumni and friends in the life of The Graduate School and secure resources critical to the School's mission. An important partner in these efforts is the Graduate Education Advancement Board, whose meetings and initiatives he helps to facilitate.
Prior to The Graduate School, Bacchus held leadership roles in development at The University of Texas at Austin, Elon University and Southwestern University. Before moving into fundraising, Bacchus worked with international corporations such as Dell Inc. and Hewitt Associates (now Aon), as well as Convio (now Blackbaud). After seeing the impact of graduate education on his own life, he strongly believes in the power of supporting graduate students and their success.
Born in Austin, Bacchus received his bachelor's degree from The University of Texas at Austin as a Plan II/History major and a Master of Nonprofit Administration degree from the University of Notre Dame. He and his wife are the parents of three boys. He is a huge soccer fan and general sports enthusiast, and is also a voracious reader in his fleeting moments of leisure.
Allie Barton
Program Coordinator, Diversity and Student Success
bartonae@email.unc.edu, (919) 962-7824
Graduate Student Center, Room 204
Ally training: UndocuCarolina, Green Zone
Allie Barton supports the Diversity and Student Success Program. Areas of responsibility include event management, program management, and working with financial awards to students. Barton updates the DSS website, creates invitations, events and newsletters, and collaborates with the communications team. She is passionate about student success and is particularly interested in digital accessibility in higher education.
Renata Buchanan
Admissions and Enrolled Students Specialist
Supporting: School of Government, Kenan-Flagler Business School (PhD), and Gillings School of Global Public Health MPH@UNC
rcbuchan@email.unc.edu, (919) 962-7783
Bynum Hall, Room 205
Ally training: Green Zone
Renata Buchanan serves as the first line of contact providing information and administrative assistance for applicants, students and staff members in the programs listed above; administers admissions applications, enrollment, registration and graduation; reviews graduate student applications for in-state residence and assists graduate students in submitting electronic theses and dissertations.
Rhonda Ethridge
Administrative Support Specialist
rhondae@email.unc.edu, (919) 962-7772
Bynum Hall, Room 200
Ally training: Green Zone
Rhonda Ethridge provides information to prospective applicants, currently enrolled students, visitors, and faculty and staff members of the campus community; provides accounting and administrative support for The Graduate School.
Pam Frome
Research Associate for Graduate Education Studies
frome@unc.edu, (919) 843-8611
Carr Building, Room 306
Ally training: Green Zone
Pam Frome conducts research and tracks data related to graduate students and graduate education.
Chris Harris
Admissions and Enrolled Students Specialist
Supporting: College of Arts & Sciences- Natural Sciences & Mathematics and School of Dentistry
harriscr@email.unc.edu, (919) 962-7780
Bynum Hall, Room 205
Ally training: Green Zone
Chris Harris serves as the first line of contact providing information and administrative assistance for applicants, students and staff members in the programs listed above; administers admissions applications, enrollment, registration and graduation; reviews graduate student applications for in-state residence and assists graduate students in submitting electronic theses and dissertations.
Sarah Jacobson
Assistant Dean for Admission/Enrolled Students
sjacobson@unc.edu, (919) 962-7779
Bynum Hall, Room 204
Ally training: Green Zone
Sarah Jacobson manages the office of admissions and enrolled students services, and serves as ETD Site Administrator, providing statistical information and responses to inquiries regarding admission, enrolled student services and graduation.
Betty Lewis
Admissions and Enrolled Students Specialist
Supporting: College of Arts & Sciences- Social Sciences, School of Information & Library Science, School of Social Work, and Professional Science Masters in Biomedical & Health Informatics and Digital Curation
bhaggert@email.unc.edu, (919) 962-7782
Bynum Hall, Room 205
Betty Lewis serves as the first line of contact providing information and administrative assistance for applicants, students and staff members in the programs listed above; administers admissions applications, enrollment, registration and graduation; reviews graduate student applications for in-state residence and assists graduate students in submitting electronic theses and dissertations.
Faye Lewis
Executive Assistant to the Dean and Alumni and Donor Relations Coordinator
flewis@email.unc.edu, (919) 962-7789
Bynum Hall, Room 214
Ally training: Green Zone
Faye Lewis is the primary administrative support for the dean of The Graduate School. This position oversees the dean's calendar as well as creates correspondence on the dean's behalf as needed. She is the prime contact for questions related to the dean's participation in numerous internal and external activities. As the alumni and donor relations coordinator, she works with the assistant dean for development and alumni relations, the office of University Development as well as other staff members as part of a development team that oversees and manages events, communications, solicitations, acknowledgements, stewardship, and other activities.
Jenny Lewis
Admissions and Enrolled Students Specialist
Supporting: College of Arts & Sciences- Fine Arts & Humanities, School of Education, Hussman School of Journalism & Media, and the Gillings School of Public Health-Public Health Leadership
lewis923@email.unc.edu, (919) 962-7784
Bynum Hall, Room 205
Ally training: Mental Health First Aid, UndocuCarolina, Green Zone
Jenny Lewis serves as the first line of contact providing information and administrative assistance for applicants, students and staff members in the programs listed above; administers admissions applications, enrollment, registration and graduation; reviews graduate student applications for in-state residence and assists graduate students in submitting electronic theses and dissertations.
Kate McAnulty
Associate Dean for Student Affairs
kmcanulty@unc.edu, (919) 962-7774
Bynum Hall, Room 203
Ally training: Green Zone
Kate McAnulty, associate dean for student affairs, is responsible for overseeing and supporting the overall graduate student experience. McAnulty coordinates award processes and campus-wide events promoting graduate student achievement; leads Graduate School initiatives related to recruitment and retention, with special emphasis on students from underrepresented groups; and directs a variety of graduate student support services and student affairs issues.
Abby Mitcham
Admissions and Enrolled Students Specialist
Supporting: Gillings School of Global Public Health-all programs except MPH@UNC and Public Health Leadership
amitcham@email.unc.edu, (919) 962-7781
Bynum Hall, Room 205
Ally training: Mental Health First Aid, Safe Zone, HAVEN, UndocuCarolina, Green Zone
Abby Mitcham serves as the first line of contact providing information and administrative assistance for applicants, students and staff members in the programs listed above; administers admissions applications, enrollment, registration and graduation; reviews graduate student applications for in-state residence and assists graduate students in submitting electronic theses and dissertations.
Julie Montaigne
Director, Fellowships Office
julie_montaigne@unc.edu, (919) 962-7798
Bynum Hall, Room 216
Ally training: Mental Health First Aid, Green Zone, Carolina F1RSTS Advocate, HAVEN
Julie Montaigne coordinates internal and external fellowship support, including funding initiatives and The Graduate School fellowship review process and processes payments of tuition, grants and fellowships.
Yesenia Pedro Vicente
Asst. Director, Diversity and Student Success
yesipv@email.unc.edu, (919) 962-7812
Graduate Student Center, Room 102
Ally training: Mental Health First Aid, Safe Zone, Green Zone, Carolina F1RSTS Advocate, HAVEN, UndocuCarolina
Yesenia Pedro Vicente supports the Diversity and Student Success Program. Areas of responsibility include event management, program management, and working with financial awards to students. Pedro Vicente updates the DSS website, creates invitations, events and newsletters, and collaborates with the communications team. She is also a facilitator for the UndocuCarolina training program.
Lou Anne Phelps
Program Review & Student Services Coordinator
laphelps@email.unc.edu, (919) 962-7804
Bynum Hall, Room 218
Ally training: Green Zone
Lou Anne Phelps assists with scheduling student services, such as the foreign language proficiency assessment and GRAD professional development courses, assists with revising publications, coordinating workshops, scheduling academic program reviews, and special projects and maintains The Graduate School's Contact Directory.
Elizabeth Poindexter
Director, Communications
elizabeth_poindexter@unc.edu, (919) 962-7788
Bynum Hall, Room 213
Ally training: Mental Health First Aid, Safe Zone, Green Zone
Elizabeth Poindexter specializes in writing and editing content that promotes the importance of graduate education at UNC-Chapel Hill. Working with colleagues within The Graduate School and communications colleagues campus-wide, she generates and pursues story ideas focused on The Graduate School’s support for graduate students and graduate students’ commitment to research, teaching and service.
Laura Pratt
Fellowship Programs Coordinator
lepratt@email.unc.edu, (919) 962-7806
Bynum Hall, Room 218
Ally training: Mental Health First Aid, Safe Zone, Green Zone, HAVEN, UndocuCarolina,Carolina F1RSTS Advocate
Laura Pratt is responsible for planning and implementing various activities and events, managing student services and information, and communicating with programs, students and alumni as relates to The Graduate School’s interdisciplinary fellowship programs. These fellowship programs include the Royster Society of Fellows, the Weiss Urban Livability Program, and the National Science Foundation grant recipients. She manages annual student assessments as well as student and program data. She earned a B.A. from UNC Charlotte and an M.A. in Higher Education Administration from Georgia Southern University.
Alicia Rogers
Human Resources Manager
alicia_rogers@unc.edu, (919) 962-7787
Bynum Hall, Room 209
Ally training: Mental Health First Aid, Green Zone
Alicia Rogers manages the overall provision of human resources services and policies for The Graduate School.
Shaun Rutherford
Admissions and Enrolled Students Specialist
Supporting: School of Medicine, School of Nursing, College of Arts & Sciences-Exercise & Sport Science, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, and Professional Science Masters in Toxicology
srutherford@unc.edu, (919) 962-7785
Bynum Hall, Room 205
Ally training: Mental Health First Aid, Green Zone
Shaun Rutherford serves as the first line of contact providing information and administrative assistance for applicants, students and staff members in the programs listed above; administers admissions applications, enrollment, registration, and graduation; reviews graduate student applications for in-state residence and assists graduate students in submitting electronic theses and dissertations.
Brian Rybarczyk
Assistant Dean for Graduate Student Academic & Professional Development
brybar@unc.edu, (919) 962-7811
Graduate Student Center, Room 101
Ally training: Mental Health First Aid, Safe Zone, Green Zone, Carolina F1RSTS Advocate, UndocuCarolina
Brian Rybarczyk coordinates and implements academic and professional development training for graduate students across disciplines; manages the Graduate Student Center; teaches courses and directs the Preparing International Teaching Assistants Program (PITAP); is program coordinator for the SPIRE Postdoctoral Fellowship program and is co-administrative director at UNC for the Center for the Integration of Research, Teaching, and Learning (CIRTL).
Stephanie Schmitt
Associate Dean for Academics
sschmitt@email.unc.edu, (919) 962-7799
Bynum Hall, Room 217
Ally training: Safe Zone, HAVEN, Green Zone, Mental Health First Aid
Stephanie Schmitt is the associate dean for academics in The Graduate School. In this position, she is responsible for administrative oversight for graduate education assessment efforts such as the campus-wide Program Review Process. This includes approximately 8 external reviews each year and an equal number of closure meetings and midpoint evaluations for prior reviews. The review process is conducted for all undergraduate and graduate programs at the university in concert with the Provost's Office and includes the preparation of a self-study, a site visit by external reviewers from peer institutions, and extensive follow-up from the recommendations such as program responses and midpoint progress evaluations.
Schmitt also has collaborative oversight for several academic initiatives, including The Graduate School's academic policy interpretation, admissions and enrolled student services for graduate programs, academic and professional development for graduate students, international collaborations and initiatives, and major data collection and reporting initiatives within The Graduate School. Other academic initiatives falling within the scope of Schmitt's responsibilities include facilitating new and revised degree/program requests for graduate studies at Carolina, overseeing the graduate certificate policies process, chairing the Academic Policy Committee of The Graduate School's Administrative Board, maintaining the university's polices on graduate faculty designation, and updating academic policies like the Graduate Handbook relevant to graduate education.
Schmitt also represents graduate education interests on various university-wide committees, including the Student Data Stewards, Friday Center Advisory Board, International Advisory Council, Curriculum Committee, Diploma Task Force, and Academic Planning Task Force.
Prior to coming to The Graduate School Schmitt was an executive with a management consulting firm and served as a nonpartisan policy analyst with the North Carolina General Assembly. An alumna of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Schmitt earned her BA in International Studies and Political Science, her MPA from the School of Government, and her PhD in Public Policy. She has participated in and worked closely with programs at Carolina Leadership Development, Carolina Women's Center, and the Graduate and Professional Student Federation, for which she was inducted into the Order of the Golden Fleece honor society and the Frank Porter Graham Graduate & Professional Student Honor Society.
Antonio Squire
Graduate Funding Coordinator
antonio_squire@unc.edu, (919) 962-7773
Bynum Hall, Room 200-A
Ally training: Mental Health First Aid, Safe Zone, Green Zone, HAVEN, UndocuCarolina
Antonio Squire manages student funding for current fellows, the GradStar system, GSHIP, and other financial tasks related to students.
Rachell Underhill
Director, Web & Information Systems
runderhill@unc.edu, (919) 962-7817
Graduate Student Center, Room 202
Ally training: Mental Health First Aid, Safe Zone, Safe Zone - Transgender/Nonbinary, Green Zone, HAVEN, Implicit Bias
Rachell Underhill develops and manages Graduate School web sites, builds and administers custom web applications and internal databases, and produces analytical reports and other documents. She develops custom technical solutions to support The Graduate School and provides training and guidance on information technology matters, including digital communications, digital accessibility, and information security.
Underhill serves on the board of directors of the UNC Web Professionals organization and is a charter member of the national HighEdWeb Association where she is currently appointed to the Safety, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee.
Kathy Wood
Director, Diversity and Student Success
kathy_wood@unc.edu, (919) 962-7816
Graduate Student Center, Room 201
Ally training: Safe Zone, Safe Zone - Transgender/Nonbinary, Green Zone, Carolina F1RSTS Advocate, HAVEN, UndocuCarolina, Implicit Bias
Kathy Wood is the director of Diversity and Student Success where she has built an award-winning program for diverse graduate scholars. She has created a recruitment and retention program for graduate students with varying identities: first-generation in a graduate program, Black/Indigenous/People of Color (BIPOC), international, LGBTQIA+, and military-affiliated. Kathy has 18 years of Diversity Equity, & Inclusion (DEI) experience in higher education and is passionate about building sustainable communities of belonging that ultimately produce student success.
Beverly Wyrick
Director, Administration and Finance
beverly_wyrick@unc.edu, (919) 962-7827
Bynum Hall, Room 201
Ally training: Mental Health First Aid, HAVEN, Green Zone
Beverly Wyrick directs and oversees personnel, budgets, and the office of The Graduate School, and manages financial accounting for all Graduate School awards to graduate students including fellowships, grants, and tuition support.