Guide to Departments in the Division of Student Affairs

The departments within The Division of Student Affairs constitute a broad-based system of programs and services designed to meet the intellectual, artistic, occupational, emotional, spiritual, physical and cultural needs of the student body.

Career and Professional Development Center
Farouk Dey,  Director
University Center Lower Level / 412-268-2064

The Career Center is committed to motivating and empowering students to explore academic and professional options as they pursue their career paths. The center provides a comprehensive range of services, programs, and materials focusing on career exploration and decision making, skill development, experiential learning, and career placement. Career consultants partner with the seven colleges to provide individualized support, general career programming, and college-specific workshops.

Counseling and Psychological Services
Cynthia Valley, Director
Morewood Gardens E-Tower / 412-268-2922

Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) at Carnegie Mellon offers students the opportunity to talk about personal or academic concerns in a safe, confidential setting. Students come to CAPS for many reasons including but not limited to problems with family, friends, or school; concerns about the future; and feelings of stress, low self-esteem, anxiety, depression, or loneliness. We're here to talk with students about issues that are significant for them. We also offer consultation to staff, faculty, and parents who have concerns about a student's well-being. Any discussion regarding a client of the center necessitates a written consent by the student permitting us to release information including whether the student has been seen at CAPS. Counseling Center services are provided at no cost. Crisis assistance is available 24 hours a day by calling the center.

Health Services
Anita Barkin, Director
Morewood Gardens E-Tower / 412-268-2157  

Health Services offers quality health care that recognizes the physical, emotional, social and spiritual needs of a diverse student population. Services include general medical care, allergy injections, first aid, gynecological care and contraception as well as on-site pharmaceuticals. Examinations by Health Services staff for illness or injury are free of charge; however, fees for prescription medications, laboratory tests, diagnostic procedures and referral to the emergency room or specialists are the student's responsibility. Health Services also has a registered dietician and health educator on staff to assist students in addressing nutrition, drug and alcohol and other healthy lifestyle issues. Additionally, the office administers the Student Health Insurance Program which covers most of the fees for care at Student Health Services.

Office of the Dean
Gina Casalegno, Dean of Student Affairs
Warner Hall 301 / 412-268-2075

The Office of the Dean provides central leadership and guidance of the metacurricular experience at Carnegie Mellon including the direction of divisional strategic planning, coordination of student support and crisis intervention and referral, and facilitation of divisional and student life assessment efforts. The office is an important contact point when a student's need is apparent and it is not clear where to turn for help. Staff members within the office also serve as housefellows to Morewood Gardens and Resnik and West Wing.

Office of International Education
Linda Gentile, Director
Warner Hall Third Floor / 412-268-5231

The Office of International Education (OIE) supports, promotes, and celebrates individuals in an intercultural environment. We advocate for and facilitate international and cross cultural experiences, perspectives, and initiatives. OIE is the primary contact for study abroad programs and immigration-related matters for all students and scholars (foreign professors and researchers) who are not United States citizens or permanent residents. Study abroad advisors in the office assist students through every step of the process of exploring and developing a study, work, or research experience by providing information to help students find the appropriate opportunity abroad, preparing students to go abroad, and providing resources to help students successfully transition back to Carnegie Mellon and the U.S. Foreign student and scholar advisors in the office assist incoming international students in successfully transitioning to Carnegie Mellon by advising on immigration, personal, academic, social and acculturation issues; conducting orientations; and  presenting programs of interest such as international career workshops, tax workshops, and cross-cultural and immigration workshops.

Office of Orientation & First Year Programs
Anne Witchner, Director and Assistant Dean of Student Affairs
Morewood Gardens 1B8 / 412-268-4887

The Office of Orientation and First Year Programs is responsible for providing vision and leadership for a comprehensive approach to new student orientation and transition programs. The office provides programs, opportunities and services to help students and family members successfully transition to the Carnegie Mellon community. Areas of concentration include new student Orientation, Family Weekend, and special event planning. The Assistant Dean also serves the housefellow for the Welch and Henderson house communities.

Student Activities
Elizabeth Vaughan, Director
University Center 103/ 412-268-8704

The Office of Student Activities complements students' academic experiences by providing services and resources that engage students in creating campus culture through social, cultural, intellectual, spiritual, athletic, recreational, artistic, political, and service opportunities. Our staff is committed to delivering quality advising, resource materials, leadership development opportunities, and administrative support services to impact students' growth and development and enhance the success of each student organization.

Student Life
John Hannon, Associate Dean and Director of Residence Life
Morewood Gardens A-Tower / 412-268-2142 

The Student Life Office provides opportunities that emphasize community engagement, leadership and social responsibility while actively supporting the personal and professional development of students. To this end, we coordinate residence life for first-year, upperclass and Greek students through our house model.  Our professional staff, called Housefellows, advance a broad-based vision for student development by utilizing the residential house community as a focal point for the student experience on campus. The Housefellow's role involves serving as students' primary metacurricular advocate at the university while enhancing their social, academic, intellectual, artistic and personal development. Students lead the development and implementation of a vibrant, engaging experience in these houses through their work as Resident Assistants, Community Advisors or house council members, all of whom are advised by the Housefellow.

Additionally, the Student Life Office coordinates a number of developmental programs, initiatives and services for the broader campus community.  We coordinate educational initiatives and accountability processes related to community standards;  provide resources and facilitate programs related to gender and gay/lesbian/bisexual identity including GenderTalk and OUTSpoken, the MOSAIC conference, SafeZone training and Pride Month events;  advise student safety initiatives such as Sexual Assault Advisors, 1 in 4, and Safewalk;  advise and support the twenty-four social, Greek-letter organizations and associated governing bodies that comprise the fraternity and sorority community; offer leadership programs such as the First-Year Leader Retreat and Emerging Leaders;  coordinate spirituality and meaning-making programs such as the Big Questions series; and advise the Student Dormitory Council.