Office of the Dean

Location & Contact

Natural Sciences Building 6205
Directions
Phone: (858)534-5635
Fax: (858)534-7314

Deans
Bill McGinnis, Ph.D.
Interim Dean
(858) 534-4281
wmcginnis@ucsd.edu
Richard A. Firtel, Ph.D.
Associate Dean for Operations
Urey Hall Room 1625
(858) 534-4714
Fax: 858-534-5535
biodeanops@ucsd.edu
Gabriele Wienhausen, Ph.D.
Associate Dean for Education
(858) 534-3105
gwienhausen@ucsd.edu
Administrative Staff
John C. Bauer
Assistant Dean and Executive Officer
(858) 534-8202
jcbauer@ucsd.edu

Responsible for budgetary and fiscal matters, space planning, and analysis and policy development; consults on academic personnel policy, divisional safety program, capital planning, and divisional administrative questions and organizational issues.
Alla Reisner
Executive Assistant to the Dean
(858) 534-4281
areisner@ucsd.edu

Serves as executive assistant to the dean; manages the dean's calendar and compilation of meeting documents; coordinates the dean's travel and supervises daily activities.
Melanie Ridenour
Senior Personnel Analyst
(858) 534-1967
mridenour@ucsd.edu

Serves as academic personnel point of contact for the division; reviews and analyzes all academic personnel actions; provides counsel to the Dean, Section Chairs, faculty and staff regarding current, proposed and new academic personnel policies, procedures and practices. Melanie also coordinates endowed chair appointments and works on various special projects.
Maysoon Lehmeidi
Educational Program Coordinator
(858) 534-1920
mlehmeidi@ucsd.edu

Provides comprehensive program management and administrative support for the development and implementation of MAS degrees and Certificate programs in the Division of Biological Sciences. Participates in program and curriculum development, event management, marketing, public relations, and outreach associated with all educational programs within the Division of Biological Sciences.
Bonnie Weems
Dean's Office Assistant
(858) 534-5635
bweems@ucsd.edu

Provides general administrative support to the dean's office including scheduling, travel arrangements, and reimbursements with attention to projects and events managed by External Relations and the Associate Dean of Education.
External Relations / Communications / Development Staff
Kim McDonald
Director of Science Communications
Natural Sciences Building 2105
(858) 534-7572
Fax: (858) 534-5224
kmcdonald@ucsd.edu

Serves as the science communications officer for both the Biological Sciences and the Physical Sciences Divisions; publicizes research and other activities for the divisions in the popular news media through news releases, magazine articles, interviews, and television programs.
Beth Schroder
Director of Development
(858) 534-1966
(c) (410)382-2755
enschroder@ucsd.edu

Beth's major focus is on cultivating new major-gift donors for Biological Sciences, including attention on building the division’s corporate and foundation relations.
Brittany Lonero
Associate Director of Development
(858) 822-5148
blonero@ucsd.edu

Brittany focuses on strengthening relationships with alumni and friends of the Division through philanthropy and engagement. She connects supporters of the Division with their areas of greatest passion so that they may strongly feel the impact of their generosity.
Elizabeth Yang-Hellewell
Assistant Director of Alumni Affairs, Biological Sciences
(858) 822-3540
eyanghellewell@ucsd.edu