McDonough School of Business

Program Team and Advising Team

Patricia Grant

Patricia J. Grant, Ed.D., MBA

Senior Associate Dean of the Undergraduate Program

Patricia Grant is the senior associate dean for the Undergraduate Program at
Georgetown University McDonough School of Business. Dr. Grant is passionate about student success, integrating Jesuit values into undergraduate education, and creating high-impact student experiences inside and outside of the classroom. At Georgetown
McDonough, she has revamped the undergraduate advising structure; expanded
career trek opportunities; laid the groundwork for a robust undergraduate research
program; contributed to curricular innovations such as an entrepreneurship fellows
program and first-year seminar program; and created a variety of diversity and inclusion
initiatives for incoming students, including one that partners with PwC.

Dr. Grant has more than 25 years of experience in undergraduate, graduate, and
executive education program administration. She has taught courses at the University of Pennsylvania, the College of New Jersey, Temple University, and Georgetown University. Additionally, she worked in the Office of Executive Education at Penn to develop and launch six master’s and doctoral programs. She holds an Ed.D. and M.S.Ed. from the University of Pennsylvania, MBA from Brown University, and an A.B. from Cornell University.


Program Team

Stephanie Bautista

Stephanie Bautista, M.A.

Assistant Director for Student Development and Leadership Programs

Prior to working at Georgetown McDonough, Stephanie worked at NYU Stern School of Business advising student leaders in undergraduate pre-professional business organizations. Stephanie also has experience working at Barnard College and at the University of Maryland – College Park, where her expertise ranges from student well-being, leadership development, and student experience events. Stephanie earned her B.S. in Behavioral and Community Health from the University of Maryland – College Park and her M.A. in Higher Education and Student Affairs from New York University.

In her spare time she enjoys reading, finding new coffee shops, and watching true crime documentaries.

Adam Loew

Adam Loew

Assistant Director for Data Operations, Assessment, and Analysis

Prior to joining McDonough and Georgetown, Adam Loew worked for the McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas at Austin as an Administrative Associate in their Career Management and Corporate Relations department. Loew earned his B.A. in political science/international relations from Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota.

In his spare time, Loew enjoys playing soccer, expanding his baking repertoire, and waking up too early to watch Premier League games on the weekend. Additionally, as a relatively new resident of D.C., he’s always looking for recommendations on coffee shops and restaurants in the DMV to visit!

Eric Lupo

Eric Lupo, M.A.

Administrative Coordinator

Eric has worked in higher education for over 8 years. He comes to Georgetown from Florida Atlantic University (FAU) where he worked in the Controller’s Office and eventually the College of Medicine in various roles.

Lupo is a graduate of FAU and completed his M.A. in political science in 2017.

In his free time, Lupo enjoys going to the beach, exploring Washington, D.C., and spending time with family and friends.

Talia Schatz

Talia Schatz, L.M.S.W.

Assistant Dean of the McDonough Undergraduate Career Development Center

Talia Schatz is an experienced higher education professional with an extensive background in professional development, leadership coaching, student advising, program management, and recruitment. She works collaboratively with students to help them define and achieve their professional goals. Before Georgetown, she oversaw the professional development team at Barnard College of Columbia University.

She earned her MSW from New York University and a B.A. from Wellesley. Schatz is delighted to be back at Georgetown where she started her career and enjoys trying new restaurants, traveling, and volunteering at the Capital Area Food Bank.

Schedule Appointment with Dean Schatz
Justin Smith

Justin C. Smith, Ed.D.

Associate Dean for Strategic Initiatives

Justin Smith has 20 years of experience working in higher education in a variety of capacities. Dr. Smith provides leadership and strategic vision for student support initiatives through carefully crafted assessment strategies and an outcomes-based approach. In addition, he oversees several institutional priorities and major projects in his role including the Senior Thesis Program, Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF), AACSB Accreditation, Retreats and Student Formation, 5th Year Programs, and more.

Dr. Smith started his career at Georgetown in 2012 as the director of orientation, transition, and family engagement before moving to the School of Nursing & Health Studies (NHS) as an assistant dean of academic affairs. Prior to working at Georgetown, he worked at the University of Arkansas and the University at Albany, SUNY, where he also received his B.A. and M.S.Ed. Dr. Smith earned his doctorate from Drexel University in leadership and management.

Schedule Appointment with Dean Smith

Advising Team

Deb Coburn

Deborah Coburn, M.Ed.

Associate Dean and Director for Student Services

Prior to joining Georgetown McDonough, Deborah Coburn worked in financial aid, admissions, and academic advising. Coburn earned a B.A. in history and public relations from Syracuse University. She earned an M.Ed. in counseling in student affairs from University of California, Los Angeles.

She is a huge sports fan, especially college basketball, and enjoys reading, traveling, and spending time with family and friends.

Schedule Appointment with Dean Coburn
Joyce Miranda

Joyce Miranda, MPS

Advising Dean

Joyce Miranda started her career at Georgetown in 2018 as an Administrative Assistant in the Center for Student Engagement. In 2019, Miranda joined the School of Continuing Studies as an Admissions Advisor. Before Georgetown, she worked as a Program Assistant at the University of Washington School of Nursing in Seattle.

Miranda earned her B.A. in Spanish and Latin American studies from St. Mary’s College of Maryland, and recently completed her MPS in higher education administration from Georgetown University.
In her spare time, she enjoys attempting to train her Cocker Spaniel, reading, traveling to the Pacific Northwest, and drinking sparkling water.

Schedule an appointment with Dean Miranda
Nick Russo

Nick Russo, Ph.D.

Assistant Dean for Undergraduate Advising and Student Services

Nick Russo joins Georgetown and McDonough after serving as an academic advisor at Seton Hall University in the College of Nursing. Dr. Russo formerly worked with international students at Drew University and first generation, low income students at Stevens Institute of Technology, both in New Jersey.

He earned his B.A. in history and Spanish and MAT in social studies education from Drew University, and earned his Ph.D. in higher education leadership, management, and policy from Seton Hall University.

Dr. Russo is an amateur baker and loves to bake bagels, soft pretzels, and more! He also enjoys road trips, watching horror movies, and spending time with family who live in the DMV.

Schedule Appointment with Dean Russo
Sara Skillman

Sara Skillman, M.A.

Assistant Dean for Interdisciplinary Programs and BSBGA

Sara Skillman has more than 10 years of experience in higher education. She joined Georgetown University in 2008, working first for the Office of Global Education, where she partnered with undergraduate students involved in study abroad opportunities, before coming to Georgetown McDonough in 2016.

She earned a B.A. in French and animal behavior from Franklin & Marshall College and an M.A. in higher education administration from George Washington University. Skillman speaks French and has studied abroad in France, South Africa, and Japan. In her spare time, she enjoys exploring the District and planning her next international trip.

Schedule Appointment with Dean Skillman
Catherine Vaz

Catherine Vaz, MSc

Advising Dean

Catherine Vaz is an alumnus of the McDonough School of Business where she earned her bachelor’s degree in 2008. After her undergraduate experience at Georgetown University, she worked in Corporate Finance and Corporate Real Estate Strategy for JPMorgan Chase for over 10 years in New York and California. She earned her Masters of Science in Higher Education at the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom and began her education career at Georgetown Prep as their Registrar. Outside the office, she enjoys spending time with her husband, a fellow Hoya, and their young son.

Schedule Appointment with Dean Vaz
Lauren Wagoner

Lauren Wagoner, M.Ed.

Assistant Dean

Before coming to Georgetown McDonough, Lauren Wagoner was as an academic advisor in the School of International Service at American University for several years. Prior to that, she worked as a study abroad advisor at George Washington University, where she also completed an M.A. in higher education administration. She earned a B.A. in communications and Spanish from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. In her spare time, Wagoner enjoys going to see musicals, reading, traveling, and exploring D.C. with friends!

Schedule Appointment with Dean Wagoner