Meet Our Team

Dean Leustek is responsible for all undergraduate and graduate programs, budget, and general administration for the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences. He is also responsible for the administrative aspects of undergraduate education at SEBS, including course and curriculum revisions, teaching assistant and part-time lecturer allocations, articulations with New Jersey community colleges, and assessment of school academic programs.

Ms. Crubaugh provides administrative support to the dean of academic programs and serves as departmental administrator. She coordinates the SEBS Convocation, Baccalaureate, First-Year Student Induction Ceremony, and the Annual Excellence Awards.

Dean Morin undertakes special projects related to curriculum innovation and resource mobilization to enhance academic programs as well as enhancing faculty and staff training and development and the graduate student experience.

Dean Nucci is responsible for leading school co-curricular activities and generating school-wide engagement among faculty, students, and staff. She coordinates existing programs, such as the SEBS Science Cafes, the fall research mixer, and alternative science career programming, develops new programs that support the SEBS community, and provides active collaboration with other SEBS and Rutgers organizations seeking to build our campus learning community.

Ms. Lester is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operation of the SEBS Student to Professional Internship Network (SPIN) program. She also manages employer services, maintaining and expanding the program's network of employers.

Dean Traxler is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Academic Services component of the Office of Academic Programs. This encompasses advising, registration, admissions, recruitment, scholastic standing, degree certification/graduation and all areas related to academic policies, procedures and programs.

Dean Carlson is responsible for tracking and certifying students' graduation status in conjunction with academic departments. She is an Environmental and Business Economics and general advisor and maintains SEBS programs in Degree Navigator.

Dean Pechera is responsible for coordinating the School-to-School transfer process and advising incoming students from other Rutgers units. She focuses on all electronic and online initiatives, overseeing systems such as MyMajor, and serves as a general advisor.

Dean Richardson is responsible for the coordination of all first-year student academic programs, advising, and registration. Dean Richardson evaluates first year transcripts from other institutions as well as international baccalaureate, advanced placement, and A-level exam credits.

Dean Ventola is responsible for providing academic and career advising for all Rutgers students majoring in biological sciences. He directs the SEBS Scholarship Program and is the primary scholarship liaison for scholarships to other Rutgers offices.

Ms. Vaidya is responsible for the maintenance of student academic records, coordination of registration, first year student selection of major processes, and provides general advising for SEBS students.

Ms. Coogan provides administrative support to the associate dean of academic programs. She coordinates scholastic standing, reenrollment and School-to-School transfer processes in addition to providing general advising for first-year students.

Ms. Pontoriero provides administrative support to the associate dean of academic administration and assessment.

Ms. Bassano provides administrative support to the assistant dean of transfer student programs. She triages student calls and walk-ins to the office as well as processes transcripts, syllabi review, and other department forms.

Ms. Goodrich provides administrative support to the assistant deans who work with first-year and senior students. She assists students with general advising questions.

Ms. Mitchell provides administrative support to the assistant deans who work with recruitment and scholarships. She assists students with general advising questions.

Dr. Kaunzinger is an assistant research professor in the Department of Landscape Architecture and is leading efforts to promote the Cook/Douglass campus as a learning laboratory and model of environmental stewardship and sustainability.

Dr. Sukhdeo is responsible for analysis and strategic planning for student retention. She sits on the Academic Retention Committee and the Rutgers-wide Student Success Committee.

Ms. Taylor's research focus is urban agriculture and community-based food systems. She teaches a course on food justice and advocacy and oversees the Cook Organic Garden & Urban Farm Incubator.