Contact

Get to know the COCIS team and how to contact each member. In this section, you’ll find information on the following:

Operations Director | Operations Specialist | Executive Assistant to the Dean | Executive Assistant to the Division Directors | Academic and Analytics Specialist | Technology Manager | Dean’s Fellow for Information Technology Support | Dean’s Fellow for Information Analysis | Dean’s Fellow for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion | Dean’s Fellow for Social Media and Communication | Dean’s Fellow for Events and Outreach

If you’d like to share general thoughts, ideas, or concerns with Dean Marie desJardins, you can use the confidential COCIS suggestion box.

Joe Braitsch (he/him/his)
Operations Director

As the Director of Operations in COCIS, Joe is responsible for supporting strategic planning while ensuring the timely, accurate, and compliant completion of financial, faculty & academic support, technology and all business operations. Like many on the operational team, he collaborates extensively throughout the college and across the entire University and you can contact him with any questions or concerns related to COCIS. Joe lives in Roslindale with his wife and two children, is a longtime soccer coach, and dances in an annual performance. You can read more about Joe here and contact him at [email protected].

Kendra Giannini (she/her/hers)
Academic and Analytics Specialist

As the Academic and Analytics Specialist, Kendra works with all COCIS divisions to support curriculum development, implementation and scheduling, as well as the creation and maintenance of data repositories to support the academic reporting process. Kendra holds both a B.A. and an M.S. from Simmons, and is now committed to supporting the mission and goals of both COCIS and the University as a whole as an employee. She has spent the last 14 years working in higher education in a variety of roles and has experience with financial aid, curriculum planning and assessment, and student services. You can contact Kendra at [email protected].

Ginny Hudgins (she/her/hers)
Dean’s Fellow for Information Technology Support

As the Dean’s Fellow for Information Technology Support, Ginny works with Technology Manager Martin Mehrling to support COCIS students, faculty, and staff with their technology needs. Ginny works with various applications and software such as WordPress, Omeka, Drupal, and much more to assist the COCIS community in their coursework and various projects.

With a bachelor’s degree in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies from Agnes Scott College in Atlanta, Georgia, Ginny is excited to be a SLIS student at her second historically women’s college. She hopes to become a Public Outreach Librarian focusing on connecting patrons with enriching resources. You can contact Ginny at [email protected].

Nancy Hutchins (she/her/hers)
Operations Specialist

As the Operations Specialist in COCIS, Nancy supports budget processes, faculty and academic processes, and oversees faculty support. Nancy can be contacted for questions and issues around:

  • Faculty hiring and onboarding, including adjunct instructors
  • Faculty processes, such as promotion and tenure, PDMYR
  • Expense reports
  • Facilities requests (e.g., parking tickets, office keys)
  • Faculty support requests (including professional development, student hiring, and general administrative support.)

Nancy is an experienced higher education professional with a wide range of experience in administrative support, faculty support, and operations. She prides herself on her patience and meticulous attention to detail. Nancy is also an avid swimmer and has contributed essays to three volumes of the Outside In book series, reviewing episodes of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, and The X-Files. She is a proud alum of Mount Holyoke College and Syracuse University. You can contact Nancy at [email protected].

Sephora Hollant (she/her/hers)
Executive Assistant to the Dean of COCIS

As Executive Assistant to the Dean of COCIS and part of the operations team, Sephora serves as a behind-the scenes partner, and contributes to day-to-day business operations and long-term office developments. Her responsibilities include, but are not limited to, supporting the Dean of COCIS and the Operations Director, directing faculty requests, and handling the logistics of various dealings and events. Sephora is committed to the growth of COCIS and Simmons University as a whole. She is a growing professional with experience in administrative tasks in both the education and medical research fields and is therefore able to tailor her skills for various needs. With a bachelor’s degree in English and dual minors in both biology and music, Sephora prides herself on her versatility, her communication skills, and ability to adapt. Sephora is also currently pursuing a masters degree. You can contact Sephora at [email protected].

Chris Kaufmann (she/her/hers or they/them/theirs)
Dean’s Fellow for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

As the Dean’s Fellow for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Initiatives, Chris works with the Dean of COCIS and various departments in COCIS and Simmons to create programming highlighting issues of diversity and inclusion, increase access to resources for students, and liaise between different student groups and committees on issues related to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Chris is a PhD student in the School of Library and Information Science, and a public librarian with a background in increasing access for users with special needs. When not working or studying, she is usually outside with her dogs. You can contact Chris at [email protected].

Abigail Lance (she/her/hers)
Dean’s Fellow for Information Analysis

As the Dean’s Fellow for Information Analysis, Abby supports the COCIS operations team and each college with anything data related. Abby analyzes and summarizes data to assist the leadership team with making a variety of decisions. She focuses on tracking and follow up surrounding the college and schools’ strategic plans. Her background is in grants management, tech support, and library makerspaces. Abby is a library and information science PhD student, focusing on diversity in the young adult collection. Her current research focuses on #OwnVoices books. She loves The Office, audiobooks read by the author, and fanfiction. She hates podcasts. You can contact Abby at [email protected].

Khari Linton (she/her/hers)
Executive Assistant to the Division Directors of COCIS

As Executive Assistant to the SLIS, MCS, and B-School Division Directors in COCIS, Khari works to create a cohesive and smoothly running community in the divisions that form COCIS. Her responsibilities include, but are not limited to: supporting the Division Directors, COCIS and student engagement events, aiding with some COCIS faculty requests, student professional development requests, candidate searches and coordinating guest campus visits, amongst other things. Her bachelors in Fashion Design and Production, as well as her natural organizational skills, lend to Khari’s ability to be creative and thorough in her everyday tasks. You can contact Khari at [email protected].

Joe Di Lascio (he/him/his)
Technology Manager

As the Technology Manager, Joe ensures the technical needs of students, faculty, and staff at COCIS are addressed. To this end, he supervises the Dean’s Fellow for Information Technology Support and the Academic Technology Specialists, as well as liaises with Simmons Technology. Joe’s purview includes the COCIS Tech labs, support for curricular technology needs, and support for ongoing research and administrative projects. Joe has spent over 20 years working at the interface of education and technology while pursuing a wide range of interests including philosophy, physics, and theatre. You can contact Joe at [email protected].

Shawnee Sloop (she/her/hers)
Dean’s Fellow for Social Media and Communications

As the Dean’s Fellow for Social Media and Communications, Shawnee communicates and promotes COCIS news and events via social media. She attends COCIS events, and conducts interviews with students, alumni, and faculty for the creation of original news content, disseminated on the Simmons University News page. Shawnee provides ongoing analysis of the various COCIS social media profiles for school leadership. Shawnee is a Master’s student within the School of Library and Information Science in the School Library Teacher program. In the future, she hopes to work at the elementary level. She is passionate about the critical role the school library plays in fostering a reading culture, developing digital literacy skills, and providing a welcoming space for all young people. You can contact Shawnee at [email protected].

Maya Sungold (they/them/theirs)
Dean’s Fellow for Events and Outreach

As the Dean’s Fellow for Events and Outreach, Maya works collaboratively with COCIS staff and faculty to design and support a variety of events, programs, and projects. They bring to this position a passion for community engagement and relationship building from their previous work as an educator, facilitator, and program coordinator. Maya received their BA in Relational Community Organizing from Hampshire College and is currently a Master’s student in SLIS, focusing on young adult services and programming in the public library. You can contact Maya at [email protected].