Meet the Advisors

Academic Advisors are available by appointment and for drop-in advising throughout most of the academic year. During the summer and school breaks, advisors are available by appointment only. All Business Administration majors have an assigned academic advisor; Marshall minors can meet with any available advisor. Marshall majors can verify their advisors and schedule appointments by calling the Office of Undergraduate Advising at 213.740.0690 or stopping by BRI 104.

Current USC students who are seeking to add a Marshall major or minor can also contact our office about meeting with an advisor.

Office Of Undergraduate Advising

	Maureen McHale, Ph.D. \| Director mmchale@marshall.usc.edu Maureen is a native Angeleno. She graduated from UCLA with a BA in Psychology, an MA in Higher Education and Work, and a PhD in Higher Education and Organizational Change. While in graduate school, her research focused on student retention and the impact of college on students’ attitudes and values. Maureen has a wide range of experience in the area of undergraduate education, and she was the Senior Dean of the Advising Center at Columbia University prior to coming to USC in 2008. Previously, she oversaw Instructional Improvement Programs in UCLA’s Office of Instructional Development. In her free time, Maureen enjoys travel, reading, hiking, the beach, and spending time with her family.
	Janet Vera \| Associate Director jvera@marshall.usc.edu Janet received her BA in Sociology and Spanish Literature from UCLA. She completed her M.Ed.s in Postsecondary Administration and Student Affairs at the USC Rossier School of Education in 2005 and is now pursuing her Doctorate in Education at USC. Prior to working at USC, she worked for UCLA’s Science Research Center and for the UCLA Psychology Department. Janet enjoys advising, teaching, traveling and most of all spending time with her daughter.
	Aba Cassell, Ed.D. \| Associate Director acassell@marshall.usc.edu Aba is a native of Los Angeles, CA. She graduated from UC Berkeley with a BA in Interdisciplinary Field Studies. She earned her M.Ed. in Postsecondary Administration and Student Affairs and an Ed.D. in Higher Education Administration from USC’s Rossier School of Education. Her dissertation focused on how mid and senior level student affairs administrators balance work and family life. She plans to continue her research on topics surrounding: how women become leaders, the impact of mentoring on career advancement, and the transition for midlevel to senior level administration in student affairs. In 2012, Aba celebrates her 10th anniversary as an employee of USC and has worked in the Rossier School of Education, the School of Architecture, and the Department of Kinesiology. In her free time, Aba enjoys traveling, cooking, watching movies, and spending time with family and friends.
	Russell Sommer \| Assistant Director rdsommer@marshall.usc.edu Russ hails from Bridgeport, Michigan. He completed a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from Saginaw Valley State University and received a Master of Arts in Educational Leadership with an emphasis in Student Affairs from Eastern Michigan University. While at Eastern, Russell gained valuable experience working as an academic advisor and international student specialist. Russ has been with USC Marshall since 2008, and received USC’s Outstanding Academic Advisor award in 2011. He is currently pursuing his Ed.D. at USC’s Rossier School of Education. Russ enjoys listening to music and playing beach volleyball.
	Jennifer Siemer \| Assistant Director jennifer.siemer@marshall.usc.edu Jennifer was born and raised in southern California. She majored in history at Azusa Pacific University and went on to receive her master’s degree in Postsecondary Education and Student Affairs at USC. Prior to becoming an academic advisor at Marshall, Jennifer served in the development office at Pepperdine University and worked as an advisor to the Pepperdine Ambassadors Council. In her free time, Jennifer enjoys spending time in her kitchen, whether cooking up dinner or trying to perfect her recipe for a delicious, albeit temperamental macaron cookie.

	Mayra Miranda \| Academic Advisor mayramir@marshall.usc.edu Mayra was born and raised in Southern California. Prior to joining USC Marshall, she spent eight years working at Mount St. Mary’s College in Los Angeles. After a year in the Registrar’s Office, Mayra moved to the Advisement Center where she first served as an Academic Advisor and then as Associate Director. She completed her undergraduate degree in Sociology at MSMC, where she will soon complete her Masters of Arts in Humanities as well. In her free time, Mayra enjoys traveling, camping and spending time with her family and friends.
	Katie Crawford\| Academic Advisor crawfork@marshall.usc.edu Katie is a northern California native. She majored in Psychology at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo and went on to receive her master of arts degree in Education with a Counseling and Guidance emphasis. Prior to joining Marshall, Katie has worked with nonprofit organizations and Community Colleges where she strived to create a personalized student-centered counseling environment. Katie is an avid CrossFitter who also enjoys spending time with family and friends. Additionally, each week Katie looks forward to playing on her co-ed softball team.
	Christina Garcia \| Academic Advisor cmgarcia@marshall.usc.edu Christina grew up in central California. She majored in Business Administration at California State University, Fresno and is currently pursuing her master of arts degree in Guidance and Counseling at Loyola Marymount University. Prior to joining Marshall, Christina worked for Academic Services at Loyola Marymount University as a graduate assistant. Her professional experience also includes working at the UCLA Anderson School of Management where she supported students as they prepared for the college and graduate school admissions processes. In her free time, Christina enjoys playing softball and soccer with her co-ed sports teams and spending time with her family.
	Lauren Schlessinger \| Program Coordinator schlessi@marshall.usc.edu Lauren is a southern California native. She received a degree in Business Administration from USC’s Marshall School of Business in 2010. During her time as an undergraduate, she worked in the advising office as a student worker. After graduation, she applied for a full-time position and is now the Program Coordinator. She is currently pursuing a Master’s in Teaching in the Rossier School of Education at USC and obtaining her single-subject teaching credential. After the completion of the program, she hopes to teach high school math. Lauren enjoys traveling, running, reading, and spending time with family, friends, and her dog, Abbey Rose.

	Maureen McHale, Ph.D. \| Director mmchale@marshall.usc.edu Maureen is a native Angeleno. She graduated from UCLA with a BA in Psychology, an MA in Higher Education and Work, and a PhD in Higher Education and Organizational Change. While in graduate school, her research focused on student retention and the impact of college on students’ attitudes and values. Maureen has a wide range of experience in the area of undergraduate education, and she was the Senior Dean of the Advising Center at Columbia University prior to coming to USC in 2008. Previously, she oversaw Instructional Improvement Programs in UCLA’s Office of Instructional Development. In her free time, Maureen enjoys travel, reading, hiking, the beach, and spending time with her family.
	Janet Vera \| Associate Director jvera@marshall.usc.edu Janet received her BA in Sociology and Spanish Literature from UCLA. She completed her M.Ed.s in Postsecondary Administration and Student Affairs at the USC Rossier School of Education in 2005 and is now pursuing her Doctorate in Education at USC. Prior to working at USC, she worked for UCLA’s Science Research Center and for the UCLA Psychology Department. Janet enjoys advising, teaching, traveling and most of all spending time with her daughter.
	Aba Cassell, Ed.D. \| Associate Director acassell@marshall.usc.edu Aba is a native of Los Angeles, CA. She graduated from UC Berkeley with a BA in Interdisciplinary Field Studies. She earned her M.Ed. in Postsecondary Administration and Student Affairs and an Ed.D. in Higher Education Administration from USC’s Rossier School of Education. Her dissertation focused on how mid and senior level student affairs administrators balance work and family life. She plans to continue her research on topics surrounding: how women become leaders, the impact of mentoring on career advancement, and the transition for midlevel to senior level administration in student affairs. In 2012, Aba celebrates her 10th anniversary as an employee of USC and has worked in the Rossier School of Education, the School of Architecture, and the Department of Kinesiology. In her free time, Aba enjoys traveling, cooking, watching movies, and spending time with family and friends.
	Russell Sommer \| Assistant Director rdsommer@marshall.usc.edu Russ hails from Bridgeport, Michigan. He completed a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from Saginaw Valley State University and received a Master of Arts in Educational Leadership with an emphasis in Student Affairs from Eastern Michigan University. While at Eastern, Russell gained valuable experience working as an academic advisor and international student specialist. Russ has been with USC Marshall since 2008, and received USC’s Outstanding Academic Advisor award in 2011. He is currently pursuing his Ed.D. at USC’s Rossier School of Education. Russ enjoys listening to music and playing beach volleyball.
	Jennifer Siemer \| Assistant Director jennifer.siemer@marshall.usc.edu Jennifer was born and raised in southern California. She majored in history at Azusa Pacific University and went on to receive her master’s degree in Postsecondary Education and Student Affairs at USC. Prior to becoming an academic advisor at Marshall, Jennifer served in the development office at Pepperdine University and worked as an advisor to the Pepperdine Ambassadors Council. In her free time, Jennifer enjoys spending time in her kitchen, whether cooking up dinner or trying to perfect her recipe for a delicious, albeit temperamental macaron cookie.

	Mayra Miranda \| Academic Advisor mayramir@marshall.usc.edu Mayra was born and raised in Southern California. Prior to joining USC Marshall, she spent eight years working at Mount St. Mary’s College in Los Angeles. After a year in the Registrar’s Office, Mayra moved to the Advisement Center where she first served as an Academic Advisor and then as Associate Director. She completed her undergraduate degree in Sociology at MSMC, where she will soon complete her Masters of Arts in Humanities as well. In her free time, Mayra enjoys traveling, camping and spending time with her family and friends.
	Katie Crawford\| Academic Advisor crawfork@marshall.usc.edu Katie is a northern California native. She majored in Psychology at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo and went on to receive her master of arts degree in Education with a Counseling and Guidance emphasis. Prior to joining Marshall, Katie has worked with nonprofit organizations and Community Colleges where she strived to create a personalized student-centered counseling environment. Katie is an avid CrossFitter who also enjoys spending time with family and friends. Additionally, each week Katie looks forward to playing on her co-ed softball team.
	Christina Garcia \| Academic Advisor cmgarcia@marshall.usc.edu Christina grew up in central California. She majored in Business Administration at California State University, Fresno and is currently pursuing her master of arts degree in Guidance and Counseling at Loyola Marymount University. Prior to joining Marshall, Christina worked for Academic Services at Loyola Marymount University as a graduate assistant. Her professional experience also includes working at the UCLA Anderson School of Management where she supported students as they prepared for the college and graduate school admissions processes. In her free time, Christina enjoys playing softball and soccer with her co-ed sports teams and spending time with her family.
	Lauren Schlessinger \| Program Coordinator schlessi@marshall.usc.edu Lauren is a southern California native. She received a degree in Business Administration from USC’s Marshall School of Business in 2010. During her time as an undergraduate, she worked in the advising office as a student worker. After graduation, she applied for a full-time position and is now the Program Coordinator. She is currently pursuing a Master’s in Teaching in the Rossier School of Education at USC and obtaining her single-subject teaching credential. After the completion of the program, she hopes to teach high school math. Lauren enjoys traveling, running, reading, and spending time with family, friends, and her dog, Abbey Rose.

USC Marshall School of Business

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Undergraduate Students

Undergraduate Students

Office Of Undergraduate Advising