Provost Office Staff
Provost and Senior Executive Vice President
973-313-6229
Presidents Hall 129A
katia.passerini@shu.edu
Leads the Academic Affairs areas of the University. Activities include strategic, operational and resource planning for the University Schools and Colleges, in alignment with the University Strategic plan and in collaborations with the Deans and key university stakeholders. She is responsible for academic resources management, faculty hiring, development and professional success; academic programs quality; research and innovation activities; academic policies and processes; partnership development locally, nationally and internationally. Katia serves the Office of the President as Senior Executive Vice President in key strategic initiatives with particular focus on coordination and collaboration around the teams working on the University strategic plan and its progress and implementation at the local level, especially in academic and research units. She also promotes alignment across administrative units that interface closely with Academic Affairs.
Erik Lillquist, J.D.
Deputy Provost, Chief Administrative Officer and
Executive Vice President
973-761-9018
erik.lillquist@shu.edu
In the Office of the Provost, Erik is responsible for integration of academics and the University’s Catholic Mission; hiring, evaluation, and development of faculty members across the University, academic financial resources management; academic programs quality and viability assessment; academic infrastructure and capital innovation; and academic processes optimization and integration across University’s partners. As Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer, Erik works on process improvement and planning across units, in close collaboration with Human Resources, the Department of Information Technology and the Division of Finance.
Father Gerald Buonopane, Ph.D.
Vice Provost for Academics and Catholic Identity
President's Hall 206
(973)-275-3474
gerald.buonopane@shu.edu
Biography »
As Seton Hall University's Vice Provost for Academics and Catholic Identity, Father
Buonopane leads strategic decisions of the University Core and works to achieve broader
participation from across the University. He supervises the Director of Core Studies
in implementing the strategy through the Core Offices, the Core Fellows and in collaboration
with the University Core Committees. Father Buonopane works with the faith-based and
mission-based Centers, Institutes and Directors.
Associate Provosts
Associate Provost for Research and Innovation and
Dean of University Libraries
University Libraries 226
(973) 761-9019
john.buschman@shu.edu
Oversees the Office of Grants and Research Services with a focus on achieving higher grants and research outcomes and deploying the affordances of technology for efficiency, effectiveness and transparency in pursuit of grant support. Promotes partnerships with Deans and outside agencies for the same goal. Undertakes other initiatives to promote faculty accomplishments.
Associate Provost for Academic and Graduate Affairs
Presidents Hall/Schwartz Hall
(973) 761-7554
christopher.cuccia@shu.edu
Christopher Cuccia is the Associate Provost for Academic and Graduate Affairs and Institutional Research. From the outset of his tenure with the University in November of 2014, he has contributed to promoting the operational efficiency, compliance and reporting infrastructures in the Office of the Provost & Executive Vice President. Presently, he heads the Office of Graduate Affairs. In this capacity, he ultimately oversees all aspects of graduate recruitment, application processing and systems administration, spearheads graduate analyses and reporting and collaborates with the academic units and faculty on the conceptualization and development of new programs. In addition, he provides strategic leadership and direction to the Office of Institutional Research and leads or contributes to a variety of other projects and committees within Academic Affairs.
Associate Provost for Strategy and Finance
Presidents Hall 117
(973) 761-9102
Kurt.Rotthoff@shu.edu
Kurt W. Rotthoff is the Associate Provost for Strategy and Finance. In that role, he focuses on academic administration in the areas of University policy, budget and finance, human resources, and long-term strategies. Dr. Rotthoff provides financial and budgetary oversight for all of the centers and units that report through the Provost's Office, including all of the Colleges and Schools of the University. He also coordinates with the Department of Human Resources on employment policies and personnel matters for all academic areas, and he works with the College and Schools of the University in assessing their hiring needs and coordinating their faculty hiring. Dr. Rotthoff uses data-driven outcomes to ensure strategic use of university resources.
Assistant Provosts
Assistant Provost and Dean of Continuing and Professional Education
Schwartz Hall 207
(973) 275-3577
mary.naatus@shu.edu
Mary Kate Naatus is responsible for the development and implementation of the vision
for Continuing Education, including the expansion of online and professional programming,
development of programmatic offerings, creation of strategic domestic and international
partnerships and optimization of summer offerings.
Leigh Onimus, J.D.
Assistant Provost for Academic Affairs and Strategic Initiatives
Presidents Hall 111
leigh.onimus@shu.edu
Leigh Onimus is responsible for the coordination and facilitation of the work related
to academic matters in the Office of the Provost. She works with appropriate campus
constituents to draft responses to and address student and parent concerns on academic
matters. With key stakeholders, Leigh develops, implements, measures, and reports
the outcomes of the University’s Strategic Plan. Her role includes identifying and
executing strategic initiatives designed to increase the university's quality and
visibility, especially in accreditation and rankings.
Assistant Provost for Academic Excellence and Assessment
Presidents Hall 310
(973) 313 -6081
sona.patel@shu.edu
Sona Patel leads various strategic initiatives to promote academic excellence and continuous improvement across our university community. Academic excellence, under her guidance, embodies the pursuit of exceptional educational experiences, meaningful student learning outcomes, and the development of innovative and impactful research. She is dedicated to creating a culture of continuous improvement, ensuring that academic excellence is not just a goal, but a tangible outcome achieved through diligent assessment and evidence-based decision-making. She collaborates with faculty to address challenges, facilitate effective communication, and recognize achievements.
Assistant Provost for Faculty Affairs
Presidents Hall
(973) 642-8201
Jamie.Werbel@shu.edu
Jamie Pukl-Werbel is responsible for faculty development, interests, and welfare, in addition to leading various strategic initiatives to promote academic policy and procedures across the university. Jamie works with the Faculty Senate and members of the Academic Affairs team on the faculty guide project and assists in drafting responses on matters of academic policy, procedure, resolutions of the faculty senate, and grievance appeals. Jamie is also the Assistant Dean of Experiential Education at Seton Hall University School of Law.
Directors
Director of Advising and Technology Integration
Presidents Hall 311
(973) 313-6314
anna.calka@shu.edu
The Director of Advising and Technology Integration at Seton Hall University leads
key institutional initiatives to enhance student success, retention, and persistence
to graduation. This role focuses on seamlessly integrating advanced technologies with
academic advising and curriculum management processes. It is dedicated to fostering
an environment where technology and academic advising converge to support the academic
and personal growth of Seton Hall University students.
She oversees the following university-wide systems: Watermark (Activity Insights,
Workflow, and Web Profiles), Leepfrog (CourseLeaf & CIM), as well as SharePoint for
Academic Affairs. In addition, she oversees the newly created Pre-Professional Advising
Center.
Caryn Grabowski, M.S., CCC-SLP, BCS-S
Director of Experiential Learning
Presidents Hall 323
(973) 275-4818
caryn.grabowski@shu.edu
The Director of Experiential Learning drives the expansion and advances the quality of experiential learning opportunities in alignment with the strategic plan and mission. In these efforts, the Director collaborates with the Center for Faculty Development, Office of International Programs, Office of Grants and Research Services, the Career Center and members of the Schools and Colleges to help create, implement, improve and publicize experiential learning endeavors across the University.
Special Projects Coordinator
Presidents Hall 322
973-761-9205
kaerielle.larsen@shu.edu
The Special Projects Coordinator plays a pivotal role in planning, managing, and enhancing
a diverse array of programs, projects, and events that support academic initiatives.
She collaborates closely with the Director of Advising and Technology Integration,
overseeing administrative responsibilities for the CourseLeaf and Faculty Success
platforms. In addition, she works in partnership with the Assistant Provost of Academic
Excellence and Assessment, contributing to the facilitation of the Academies initiative
and ensuring the university's academic assessment processes remain robust and effective.
Stephanie Montalvo, B.A.
Administrative Assistant to the Deputy Provost
Presidents Hall 112
973-761-9018
stephanie.montalvo@shu.edu
The Administrative Assistant to the Provost provides extensive administrative support to the Deputy Provost and Academic Affairs Council, supporting academic initiatives and objectives. She acts as the liaison between the Deputy Provost and all constituents, stakeholders, and direct reports for key communications. In addition to helping with Faculty Senate communications and resolutions, she is the main contact point for the University Rank and Tenure process within the Office of the Provost.