Contact

Office of the Divisional Dean
UC San Diego Division of Biological Sciences

Natural Sciences Building 6205 *
Phone: 858-534-5635
Fax: 858-534-7314

Dean Steve Kay

Steve A. Kay, Ph.D.
Dean & Richard C. Atkinson Chair in the Biological Sciences
858-534-4281
skay@ucsd.edu

Rick Firtel


Richard A. Firtel , Ph.D.

Associate Dean for Operations
Urey Hall Room 1625
858-534-4714
Fax: 858-534-5535
biodeanops@ucsd.edu

Gabriele Wienhausen


Gabriele Wienhausen, Ph.D.

Associate Dean for Education
858-534-3105
gwienhausen@ucsd.edu

Administrative Staff

Pam Daener


Pamela Daener, Ph.D.

Assistant Dean and Executive Officer
Responsible for budgetary and fiscal matters, space planning, and analysis and policy development; consults on academic personnel policy, divisional safety program, capital planning, and divisional administrative questions and organizational issues.
858-534-1966
pdaener@ucsd.edu

Lestelle Antonette


Antonette Lestelle

Office Manager
Serves as office manager and executive assistant to the dean; manages the dean's calendar and compilation of meeting documents; coordinates the dean's travel and supervises daily activities of the Dean's Office support staff. Supports the dean on research collaborations; organizes meetings, conferences, and colloquia, including the Dean's Symposium. Manages the Kay laboratory research program.
858-534-4281
alestelle@ucsd.edu

Melanie Ridenour


Melanie Ridenour

Senior Personnel Analyst
Serves as academic personnel point of contact for the division; reviews and analyzes all academic personnel actions; provides counsel to the Dean, Section Chairs, faculty and staff regarding current, proposed and new academic personnel policies, procedures and practices.  Melanie also coordinates endowed chair appointments and works on various special projects.
858-534-1967
mridenour@ucsd.edu

Brandy Misquez


Brandy Misquez

Office Assistant
Supports the office manager, coordinates events, including the Nature Matters lecture series; supports the Associate Dean for Education with calendar, travel, and meeting preparation; provides administative support to the dean's staff; supports outreach, educational, and development events and programs.
858-534-5635
bmisquez@ucsd.edu

External Relations / Communications / Development Staff

Kim McDonald


Kim McDonald

Director of Science Communications
Serves as the science communications officer for both the Biological Sciences and the Physical Sciences Divisions; publicizes research and other activities for the divisions in the popular news media through news releases, magazine articles, interviews, and television programs.
Natural Sciences Building 2105
858-534-7572
Fax: 858-534-5224
kmcdonald@ucsd.edu

Susan Brown


Susan Brown

Associate Director of Science Communications
Serves as the associate science communications officer for both the Biological Sciences and the Physical Sciences Divisions; publicizes research and other activities for the divisions in the popular news media through news releases, magazine articles, interviews, and television programs.
Natural Sciences Building 2103
858-246-0161
Fax: 858-534-5224
sdbrown@ucsd.edu

Katie Frehafer


Katie Frehafer

Media Specialist
Provides editorial, communications and publications assistance to the Dean's Office staff and the division as requested; staff advisor to the Saltman Quarterly; editor of BioSphere and division ENews; coordinator and webmaster for Dean's Office web sites.
858-534-3112
kfrehafer@ucsd.edu

Michael Horvat


Michael Horvat

Director of Development
Manages major gifts to the division and stewardship programs for donors and potential donors; oversees development planning; serves as liaison between the Dean's Office and central Development, Alumni Affairs, and External Relations.
858-822-5738
619-436-8686
mhorvat@ucsd.edu

James Vermillion


James Vermillion

Assistant for Development
Provides administrative support to the Dean, the Director of Development, and the Dean's staff on development and alumni outreach programs and activities; serves as coordinator of development and alumni events; manages the division's restricted awards database.
858-822-3540
jvermillion@ucsd.edu

*Unless otherwise stated, Dean's Office Staff are located at 6205 Natural Sciences Building on the Revelle College Campus.