Contact Us

Darryl P. Butt, PhD
Dean, Graduate School
Professor of Materials Science and Engineering

• Dean
• Accreditation Liaison Officer
  

darryl.butt@utah.edu
(801) 581-7009

Bethany A. Buck, PhD
Associate Dean, Graduate School
Associate Professor of Chemistry

• DGS & Graduate Coordinator Liaison
• DGS & Graduate Coordinator Communications Strategy
• DGS & Graduate Coordinator Meeting and Training Support
• Graduate Student Communications Strategy
• 3MT & Postdoc Slam
• Policy

bethany.buck@utah.edu
(801) 581-3186

Holly Crausby
Executive Assistant

• Dean’s Calendar Scheduling 
• Travel for Dean and Associate Deans 
• Administers the nomination process for the Rosenblatt Prize

holly.crausby@utah.edu
(801) 585-5529

Lauren Down
Graduate Degree Coordinator

• Administers graduate student records 
• Works with Graduate Coordinators on petitions and data requirements 
• Training of Graduate Coordinators
• Verifies policy/degree compliance

gradrecords@gradschool.utah.edu
(801) 646-9117

Trista Emmer
Manuscript Editor

• Edits and reviews individual theses 
• Presents to departments and students on the thesis process
• Develops training materials 
• Assures compliance with accessibility and copyright requirements

thesis@gradschool.utah.edu
(801) 581-7642
Schedule an appointment

Kostiantyn Fesenko, M.A.
International Teaching Assistant Program Manager

• Instructor- International Teaching Assistant Program 
• Administers the clearance process for international TAs and RAs
• Liaises with MBCTE to develop supporting resources for international students  

k.fesenko@utah.edu
(801) 585-6659
Book a virtual appointment

Ericka Findley
Manuscript Editor

• Edits and reviews individual theses 
• Presents to departments and students on the thesis process
• Develops LATEX training materials
• Assures compliance with accessibility and copyright requirements

thesis@gradschool.utah.edu
(801) 581-7642
Schedule an appointment

LoGan Gowers
Tuition Benefit Program Administrator

• Administers TBP and Health Insurance 
• Liaises with Department Coordinators for TBP and Health Insurance 
• Trains new Department Coordinators on the TBP process

l.gowers@utah.edu
801 585-1372

Kelly Harward
Thesis Manager

• Administers the thesis process through submission to ProQuest
• Edits and reviews individual theses
• Supervises the Manuscript Editors 
• Assures compliance with accessibility and copyright requirements

thesis@gradschool.utah.edu
(801) 581-7642
Schedule an appointment

Brad Hatch
Fellowship Coordinator

• Professional Development Supplement Awards
• Graduate School fellowships & assistantships (GRF, UTA, Eccles, Steffensen Cannon, etc.) 
  
• National Science Foundation fellowships coordinating official 
  
• Coordination of external graduate fellowship advisement 

Brad.Hatch@utah.edu
(801) 585-1740

Kristina Heitkamp
Manuscript Editor

• Edits and reviews individual theses 
• Presents to departments and students on the thesis process
• Develops video training materials
• Assures compliance with accessibility and copyright requirements  

thesis@gradschool.utah.edu
(801) 581-7642
Schedule an appointment 

Dominic Militello
Career Strategist

• Career strategizing
• Personal career guidance to students
• Resume preperation
• Interview preperation

dominic.militello@utah.edu

Terrie Parker
Director, Accounting & Finance

• Manages Graduate School budget
• Financial reporting and analysis 
• Oversight of emergency management protocols for the Graduate School 
• HR and Payroll liaison  

terrie.parker@utah.edu
(801) 585-6213

Matthew Plooster, EdD
Assistant Dean

• Fellowships
• Scholarships
• Tuition Benefit
• Graduate Health Insurance 
• Graduate Records

matthew.plooster@utah.edu
(801) 581-6020

Helene A. Shugart, PhD
Associate Dean, Graduate School
Professor of Communication

• Assessment 
• Policy
• Program reviews
• Graduate Council
• GAC
• UG Council

h.shugart@utah.edu
(801) 585-7199

Rick Solis
Project Coordinator

• Administers the Visiting Scholar Process 
• Administers Graduate School procurement processes
• Logistics for workshops 

rick.solis@gradschool.utah.edu
(801) 585-0361

Hannah Sorensen
Marketing and Communcations Coordinator

• Weekly emails, Newsletters, and Social Media 
• Grammarly Administration 
  
• Graduate School Website

hannah.sorensen@utah.edu
(801) 581-6739

Paula Spencer
Manager - Academic Policies and Reviews

• Assessment 
• Program Reviews 
• Graduate Council Administration 
• UACI Administration 
• Accreditation Liaison Delegate

paula.spencer@gradschool.utah.edu
(801) 587-5856

Jason Stidd
Software Engineer / IT

• Develops web-based applications for Graduate School functions 
• Supports the Budget Office in developing applications 
• Graduate School website 
• Supports the IT needs of the Graduate School
• Maintains list servs

jason.stidd@gradschool.utah.edu
801-581-6923

Neil Vander Most, PhD
Director of Postdoctoral Affairs

• Postdoctoral Affairs Operations
• Professional development for postdocs 
• Liaison with UPDA
• Liaison with NPA Postdoctoral Affairs Officers to develop multi-institutional resources for postdoc communities  

neil.vandermost@utah.edu
(801) 587-0775
Schedule an Appointment