Dean of Students Office Personnel

Scott Halvorson, Dean of Students, sh287@columbia.edu

Dean Halvorson began working for the School of General Studies in 1997. For ten years he served as the Director of the Program for Academic Leadership and Service (PALS), a scholarship initiative that he helped design especially for GS. Dean Halvorson has taught courses for Columbia’s Undergraduate Writing Program and School of the Arts (Film Division), and he holds three master’s degrees—from Columbia, Harvard, and Rutgers, respectively. He earned his undergraduate degree from Jamestown College. 

Vanessa Karahalios, Assistant Dean of Students, vk2104@columbia.edu

In addition to her regular advising responsibilities, Dean Karahalios coordinates and oversees study abroad opportunities for GS students. She is an instructor in the University Studies Course and advises international students at GS. Prior to GS, Dean Karahalios held positions as faculty advisor and association dean at the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Virginia. An award-winning teacher, she has taught courses on strategies for academic success, Latin, and ancient and modern Greek. She spent most of her childhood in Greece, where she still has family. She holds a bachelor's degree from Cornell University and a master's degree from the University of Virginia.

Kay Kurashige, Assistant Dean of Students, kk2562@columbia.edu

Dean Kurashige has been at Columbia since 2007. She worked as Assistant Director of Admissions at the GS Office of Admissions before moving to the Dean of Students Office. Prior to coming to Columbia, she worked as an admissions officer and academic advisor at Brown University. While at Brown, she was also an active member of a mentoring program for students of color and served as an advisor for College Horizons, a college preparatory program for Native American students. She is a graduate of Brown University. 

Leslie Limardo, Associate Dean for Academic and Administrative Support Services, lal48@columbia.edu

Dean Limardo came to Columbia in September 2002 after serving as Assistant Director of the HEOP Program at St. Thomas Aquinas College in Sparkill, New York. At GS Dean Limardo oversees the Academic Resource Center in 308B Lewisohn and coordinates academic support services such as tutoring, learning strategy workshops, and placement exams. She has also been responsible for coordinating New Student Orientation and Extended Orientation as well as overseeing the Global Scholars Bridge Program and Graduation activities. Dean Limardo was recently named the Dean of PALS and Associate Director of the Global Scholars Program. Dean Limardo holds a bachelor’s degree from St. Thomas Aquinas College and a master’s degree from Columbia University’s Teachers College. 

Megan Massimiano, Student Affairs Officer, mm3572@columbia.edu

Before coming to GS, Ms. Massimiano served as an assistant director at the Center for Career Education, where she provided career advising and programming for students and recent graduates from Columbia's undergraduate schools. Previously, she worked in human resources and career services at the NYU Stern School of Business and in career services at Cooper Union. She holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Marist College and a master’s degree in higher education administration from New York University.

Phil Mendoza, Assistant Dean of Students, pm2421@columbia.edu

Prior to coming to GS Dean Mendoza worked at SUNY-Buffalo, where he advised students on internships and served as a retention coordinator. From 2004-2006 Dean Mendoza served as Class Dean in the Columbia College/School of Engineering and Applied Science First-Year-Sophomore Advising Center. He has also been an academic advisor at Bronx Community College and Montclair State University. He is a graduate of Ithaca College and earned an M.S. from the Columbia University School of Social Work. 

Ana Maria Ulloa, Assistant Dean of Students, amu2106@columbia.edu

Prior to coming to GS Dean Ulloa worked at Hostos Community College, where she served as the Academic Coordinator for ASAP (Accelerated Study in Associate Programs). She holds a bachelor’s degree from New York University and a master’s degree from Teachers College, Columbia University. Dean Ulloa is the pre-law advisor for GS. She is also responsible for providing leadership and community building activities for the senior class and also serves as the liaison between GS and the Center for Career Education. 

Premedical Advisors

Victoria Rosner, Ph.D., Associate Dean of the Postbaccalaureate Premedical Program and GS Coordinator of Academic Affairs, vpr4@columbia.edu

Office: 612 Lewisohn Hall

Dean Victoria Rosner leads the premedical advising team in support of Postbac Premed students. Rosner also advises a small number of Postbac Premed students. 

In addition to her role in the Postbac Premed Program, Rosner is the GS coordinator of academic affairs where she works closely with the GS administration and the Faculty of Arts and Sciences on all aspects of undergraduate academic affairs. Dean Rosner also teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in late 19th and early 20th century literature and culture, and her writing is focused on modern literature and gender studies.

Prior to joining the School of General Studies, Rosner was an associate professor of English at Texas A&M University where she worked closely with undergraduates and spearheaded a revision of the undergraduate curriculum for the English department.

Dean Rosner earned her A.B. from Columbia College and her Ph.D. in English and Comparative Literature from the Columbia University Graduate School of Arts and Sciences.

Andrew Sunshine, Associate Dean and Director of the Postbaccalaureate Premedical Program, als55@columbia.edu

Andrew Sunshine advises Postbac Premed and undergraduate premedical students. In addition to his advising responsibilities, Dean Sunshine teaches Reading the Body, a spring-term colloquium for Postbac Premed students. He is the Postbac Program liaison for veterinary medicine, MD/PhD programs, and international students, and coordinates the linkage programs. Prior to joining the Postbac Program, he was an Assistant Dean of Students at Columbia College and the Fu Foundation School of Engineering & Applied Science. He earned his A.B. from Columbia College and his Ph.D. from the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences at Columbia University.

Administrative Personnel
 

Lourdes Jimenez, Administrative Coordinator, Dean of Students Office, lj2002@columbia.edu

Lourdes Jimenez joined Columbia in January 2001. She welcomes students on a daily basis to the DOS office suite. Lourdes manages student appointments, advisors’ calendars, and fields questions daily from students seeking information about deadlines and forms. She provides logistical and administrative support for Academic Planning Sessions, GS lockers, GS mailboxes, and special events.

Larry Johnson, Administrative Assistant, Postbaccalaureate Premedical Program, lj56@columbia.edu

Larry Johnson studied business at Denmark Technical College in Denmark, SC, and completed studies in network security at the Chubb Institute.

Mandeep Singh, Administrative Coordinator, Dean of Students Office, ms2142@columbia.edu

Mandeep welcomes students on a daily basis to the DOS office suite. She manages student appointments, advisors’ calendars, and regularly fields questions from students seeking information about deadlines, forms, and other GS matters. Mandeep is a recent graduate of Hunter College.