Music Grad Handbook

Staff and Schedules

Faculty Administrative Roles (23-24)

Chair, Lawrence Zbikowski (larry@uchicago.edu)

  • responsible for appointment recommendations
  • a resource for other concerns
  • evaluates department’s discretionary commitments

Director of Graduate Studies (DGS), Jessica Baker (jessicabaker@uchicago.edu)

  • advises students on curricular policies and recommended paths
  • accepts petitions for an adjusted course of study
  • oversees degree milestones
  • addresses other issues of student progress

Director of Professional Development (DPD), Martha Feldman (rore@uchicago.edu)

  • advises students through professionalization (job market) programming and implementation of teaching plan
  • connects graduate student lecturers with teaching mentors
  • serves as an advisory resource for graduate student lecturers

Goodspeed Staff

Academic Affairs and Operations Manager, Sasha Schellenberg (sschellenberg@uchicago.edu)

  • supervises Goodspeed-based music staff
  • budget and finance—approves payments, supply procurement
  • hires student workers (not student teaching appointments)
  • facilities projects
  • keys and building access
  • faculty and guest payments
  • coordinates faculty search, appointment, promotions, and tenure processes
  • manages the department’s event sponsorship
  • can unlock a room that should be unlocked
  • backs up other duties in the absence of others

Student Affairs Administrator, Alison Balaskovits (abalaskovits@uchicago.edu)

  • primary graduate student–facing staff member and contact for academic milestones: candidacy, comps, musicianship, language exams, dissertation defense/submission
  • assists faculty and instructors in developing course schedule, office hours, reserves teaching and meeting spaces
  • registers students for classes that require consent, including colloquium, and tracks colloquium attendance
  • serves as first point of contact for curricular questions
  • assembles and maintains yearly progress review documents
  • coordinates and collects Wadmond applications; arranges student payments with Academic Affairs and Operations Manager
  • coordinates admissions process and orientation programming
  • coordinates the student teaching appointment process
  • serves as internal resource for UChicago’s student affairs; provides referrals as needed
  • along with DUS, DPD, and Chair, can help resolve or refer challenging registration issues
  • can unlock a room that should be unlocked

Department Assistant, Claire Franksen (cfranksen@uchicago.edu)

  • office supply procurement
  • administrative contact for the colloquium series
  • primary point of contact for Departmental guest faculty, visiting speakers, and job candidates
  • primary contact for catering and travel arrangements
  • coordinates department-wide events
  • shipping and mailing
  • Goodspeed locker requests, facilities issues
  • schedules office-hours or non-curricular bookings in classrooms
  • fields general public inquiries
  • can unlock a room that should be unlocked

Operations Assistant, Paul Storm (stormp@uchicago.edu)

  • procurement
  • connectivity support (loading printers, etc.)
  • operational support for classroom technology
  • technology/software purchasing, licensing, & support
  • can unlock a room that should be unlocked

Performance Program Staff

Operations Manager, Performance Program, Lara Madden (madden1@uchicago.edu)

  • oversees planning and operations for performances and other events for the performance program and ensembles
  • assists with planning and facilitating additional events for the performance program, Department Artists-in-Residence, Don Michael Randel Ensemble-in-Residence, CCCC, and other local artists and performing entities
  • oversees the performance calendar

Artistic Operations Manager, Jennifer Woodrum (jwoodrum@uchicago.edu)

  • responsible for Fulton Hall bookings and for performing events
  • primary staff liaison to the Logan Center, Mandel Hall, Rockefeller Chapel
  • coordinates Performance Program ensembles, etc.
  • books/curates Tea-Time Concert series (booked far in advance, almost a year at a time)
  • coordinates student recitals
  • manages instrument supply
  • supervises student workers for onsite event management
  • coordinates the audition process and most performance events
  • manages scheduling and operations for CCCC
  • can unlock a door that should be unlocked

Digital Communications Coordinator (shared with UChicago Presents), Sophia Janevic (sjanevic@uchicago.edu)

Director of Communications and Public Relations, Margo Strebig (mstrebig@uchicago.edu)

Graphic Designer, Claire Snarski (csnarksi@uchicago.edu)

Joint Responsibilities:

  • Updating the Department website
  • Publicizing events for the Department, Performance Program, Ensembles-in-Residence, and CCCC
  • Publicizing student and alumni news/awards/prizes

Piano Technician, Ken Orgel (orgel@kopiano.com)

UChicago Presents Staff

Executive Director, Sarah Curran (scurran@uchicago.edu)

  • If you’re interested in giving pre-concert talks, contact the executive director, or ask your mentor for a recommendation or referral. These book up several months in advance.

Director of Production and Education, Jessica Wolfe (wolfej@uchicago.edu)

  • When you are a Lecturer, explore curricular tie-ins to our professional concert events to enrich students’ experience of your course content.
  • Contact the box office directly for tickets: UCP Student Ticketing

Associate Director of Marketing, Alexandra Kunath (akunath@uchicago.edu)

Digital Communications Coordinator (shared with Performance Program), Sophia Janevic (sjanevic@uchicago.edu)

Division of Humanities Dean of Students

Dean of Students Office (humdos@uchicago.edu)

  • questions about stipend, health insurance, international student issues, PTP, candidacy, graduation
  • Shea Wolfe (Dean of Students) and Joyce Kuechler (Associate Dean of Students) are the most common points of contact
  • work through/with the DGS when you contact this office

Time Schedules

Course meeting times and locations can be found at http://coursesearch.uchicago.edu. Course descriptions are available on the department website or by inquiring with faculty.

Advising and Registration

Registration dates and deadlines can be found at https://registrar.uchicago.edu/calendars/registration-dates-deadlines/

Students should receive information from the Student Affairs Administrator regarding registration dates, deadlines, and any quarterly updates. Before registering, students will meet with their assigned faculty mentor, who will assist students in making a plan for course of study. Students can consult with the DGS about challenging or unusual situations. Please direct any registration issues and requests for instructor consent to the Student Affairs Administrator.

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