The rockefeller university

Tim Stearns is the Dean Graduate and Postgraduate Studies and Vice President of Education at The Rockefeller University, where he is also Professor and Head of the Laboratory of Cellular Dynamics. He oversees all of Rockefeller’s education, training, and science outreach activities, and teaches several courses for graduate students. Before coming to Rockefeller in 2022, Tim was a faculty member at Stanford University, where he was chair of the Biology Department and an HHMI Professor. He has also taught at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, the Marine Biological Laboratory, and internationally in Chile, Ghana, Tanzania, and South Africa. Tim’s research in cell biology is focused on understanding the structure and function of the centrosome and cilium, important components of animal cells, and the relationship between defects in these components and human disease.

Emily Harms is the Senior Associate Dean at The Rockefeller University, where she utilizes her combined experience in research, education, mentorship, and leadership to contribute to the training and development of undergraduates, graduate students, and postdoctoral researchers through the university’s educational programs. She participates in all aspects of graduate program administration and support, including participation in graduate program recruitment and admissions, writing grants to support student programs, and counseling students on curriculum, lab rotations, fellowship applications, and career related matters. She serves as a key liaison for postdoctoral researchers, Tri-Institutional programs, and other university departments. She is the university’s Accreditation Liaison Officer and Director of the Chemers Neustein Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Program. Emily earned a BS in biology and English from Mount Holyoke College, a PhD in Genetics from Stony Brook University, and conducted postdoctoral work at Rockefeller. She has been in the Rockefeller Dean’s Office for 20 years.

Andrea Morris is the Assistant Dean of Graduate and Postgraduate Studies and the founding Director for Career and Professional Development at Rockefeller, where she is involved in graduate student recruitment and advising for academic and research advancement, fellowships, and career explorations. Additionally, Andrea works with all students, postdocs, and research associates, through tailored programming and individual mentoring, to help them build strong communication, management, and leadership skills that will ultimately lead to success in a wide range of careers for biomedical scientists. Prior to becoming a full-time academic administrator, Andrea taught and headed a research lab studying vertebrate retinal axon guidance as a tenured Associate Professor of Biology at Haverford College. She is also a leader in the nation’s efforts to diversify academia and the scientific workforce, serving on numerous institutional advisory boards and NIH grant review panels. Andrea holds a Ph.D. in Molecular Biology from Princeton University and completed postdoctoral work at Emory University and Morehouse College.

Kristen Cullen is the Graduate Admissions Administrator and Registrar of The David Rockefeller Graduate Program. She has three primary functions involving students and faculty. She works with the Deans on PhD admissions, the faculty on scheduling courses, and students on academic tracking. Her main goal is to always be a reliable point of contact who helps facilitate communication between students and faculty, starting with the applicant interview phase and continuing throughout their graduate student careers. As Registrar, Kristen is the contact person for course registration and the management of academic records. Kristen holds a B.A. and an M.A. in English and American Literature.

Marta Delgado is the Director of Graduate Program Finances and Student Affairs at Rockefeller University, where she oversees all financial operations related to the graduate program. Her responsibilities include overseeing student account transactions, internal and external fellowships, and graduate program-related expenditures, as well as assisting students with financial letters and loan deferments as needed. In addition to her financial responsibilities, Marta provides guidance and support to graduating students throughout their final-year thesis planning and assists with student recruitment for the SURF and PhD programs. Marta holds a BA in Biology and Sociology from SUNY Albany and has been an integral part of the Rockefeller University community for nearly four decades.

Kevin German helps to support the educational objectives of the Dean’s Office by answering general inquiries, assisting graduate students and student clubs with purchases and reimbursements, scheduling and planning meetings and events, and assisting with the graduate program admissions process and recruitment events. Kevin also serves as Coordinator for the Chemers Neustein Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) program. Kevin has more than ten years of experience working in higher education. Before joining Rockefeller, Kevin worked at Hunter College as an administrative coordinator in the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students. Kevin received both his Master of Public Administration and Bachelor of Arts degrees from Baruch College.

Mercedes Harris is a point of contact for student and postdoctoral academic affairs. Her responsibilities include assisting with graduate program admissions and administratively supporting student clubs and postdoctoral organizations. Mercedes seeks to promote opportunities for student and postdoctoral researchers to advance their academic and personal development. Before joining the Dean’s Office in 2023, Mercedes organized informal science communication programs for the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and the New York Botanical Garden. Mercedes received her BSc in Biology from Salisbury University and her MSc in Environmental Conservation from UMass Amherst.