Contact Us
Weingarten Center
Stouffer Commons, 3702 Spruce Street, Suite 300, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6026
Office hours: Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. ET
Center for Accommodated Testing
Holman BioTech Commons, 3610 Hamilton Walk, one floor down from the main entrance on the Blue Level
Testing Center hours:
- Monday – Thursday, 8:30 a.m. – 7 p.m. ET
- Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. ET
Our Team
Jane F. Holahan, EdD, Executive Director, Weingarten Center
Key Responsibilities:
- Create initiatives that integrate the services of the Weingarten Center to strengthen programs for students
- Serve on University committees to promote the Weingarten Center mission and collaborate with campus stakeholders to advertise the services of the Weingarten Center
- Incorporate the University Life mission and goals within the Weingarten Center services
- Facilitate Weingarten Center Advisory Board meetings, participate in planning for the Annual Disability Symposium, and support professional development activities for Weingarten Center staff
Simuelle Myers, MA, Director of Instructional Design for Integrated Care
Key Responsibilities:
- Determine technology services and products for students to integrate within their learning strategies and for Weingarten Center staff to incorporate into their approaches in handling their position responsibilities.
- Create and cultivate relationships with academic entities and promote the pedagogical elements and benefits of Univeral Design.
- Create and teach workshops for a variety of audiences on topics ranging from incorporating technology in instructional design to using applications to strengthen study strategies.
Amy Weiss, JD, MS, Case Manager for Integrated Care
Key Responsibilities:
- Meet with students to assess their needs, recommend services, and aid students in navigating Weingarten Center services.
- Collaborate with Weingarten Center staff in assembling a profile of services for students seeking academic and/or disability services
- Serve as a consultant for the Weingarten Center staff in determining which University resources can be instrumental in helping students and to facilitate outreach to University offices.
Operations Team
Sheryl D. Warfield, MBA, Associate Director of Operations
Key Responsibilities:
- WorkDay – Hiring, approve timesheets, job changes, terminations, requisitions, etc.
- BEN Financials – Manage, track, and reconciled division ProCards. Create and manage purchase orders, process accounts payables and accounts receivables
- Concur – Process reimbursements for travel and employee purchases
- Manage all financial accounts – Financial management of business activity; run reports, monitor account activity, prepare and reconcile budget accounts
- Manage operations in Stouffer Commons
Lauren Swain, BA, Financial and Operations Coordinator
Key Responsibilities:
- Work collaboratively with the Operations team
- Process payroll
- Process new student accommodation requests
- Assist in building maintenance
- Triage support to students, parents, and faculty
- Serve as a liaison to the Penn Employee Solution Center to inquire about any HR or payroll-related issues
Barbara Gardner, Operations Supports Coordinator
Key Responsibilities:
- Work collaboratively with the Operations team
- Answer incoming calls from students, parents, and faculty
- Provide information, namely navigating the website, requesting/renewing accommodations, and sharing general information regarding the Weingarten Center services
- Process payroll
- Process new student accommodation requests
- Assist in building maintenance
Neysa Porter, BS, Operations Supports Coordinator
Key Responsibilities:
- Work collaboratively with the Operations team
- Answer incoming calls from students, parents, and faculty
- Provide information, namely navigating the website, requesting/renewing accommodations, and sharing general information regarding the Weingarten Center services
- Process payroll
- Process new student accommodation requests
- Assist in building maintenance
Learning Specialists
Ryan Miller, EdD, Director, Academic Support
Key Responsibilities:
- Coordinate Academic Support workshops and other programs, ensuring that all relevant assessment and attendance data is documented
- Support Executive Director with respect to staff development, hiring, budget priorities, external communication, and reporting
- Meet with a limited number of students for individual appointments and facilitate and co-facilitate workshops for a wide variety of Penn students.
- Serve as a pre-major advisor in the College of Arts and Sciences and an advisor for the Center for Community Standards and Accountability
Rashmi Kumar, EdD, Associate Director and STEM Learning Specialist
Key Responsibilities:
- Develop active learning and technology-driven learning programs for Penn students in STEM fields
- Guide students towards developing feasible goals and unpacking any misconceptions
- Co-create learning templates and study plans in collaboration with students
Julianne Reynolds, MA, Associate Director and Learning Specialist for International Students
Key Responsibilities:
- Provide individual learning consultations and group workshops on a variety of study, academic writing, and time management topics to all Penn students
- Coordinate and co-facilitate the signature Academics Plus workshop series for new undergraduate and graduate international students
- Serve as a pre-major advisor in the College of Arts and Sciences and an advisor for the Center for Community Standards and Accountability
Jordan Yanoshik, MSEd, Associate Director and Learning Specialist for Students with Disabilities
Key Responsibilities:
- Provide learning consultations to all Penn students as well as tailored support for students with ADHD and other learning disabilities
- Collaborate with Disabilities Services staff and campus partners to ensure that students’ needs are being met
- Discuss with students the individual ways their disabilities impact their academic performance and overall Penn experience
- Coordinate Weingarten Center working groups and other professional development and team-building opportunities
Oscar Escudero, MA, STEM Learning Specialist
Key Responsibilities:
- Facilitate individual consultations and workshops for undergraduate, graduate, and professional students on a variety of study and time management topics, with special attention to approaching STEM courses
- Work with campus partners to facilitate effective STEM learning through customized programs and resources
Pete Kimchuk, BA, Senior Learning Specialist
Key Responsibilities:
- Design and facilitate workshops
- Maintain availability for student appointments
- Collaborate with campus colleagues in areas of student support
- Serve as a resource to Weingarten Center colleagues
Ayoung Lee, MSEd, Learning Specialist and Fellow
Key Responsibilities:
- Support undergraduate, graduate, and professional students through one-on-one consultations to strengthen students’ academic reading, writing, and time management skills by utilizing strategies and techniques tailored to individuals’ needs
- Develop and conduct differentiated workshops and seminars for students and organizations throughout the Penn campus
Leigh Monistere, MSEd, Learning Specialist and Fellow
Key Responsibilities:
- Support undergraduate, graduate, and professional students through one-on-one consultations to strengthen students’ academic reading, writing, and time management skills by utilizing strategies and techniques tailored to individuals’ needs
- Develop and conduct differentiated workshops and seminars for students and organizations throughout the Penn campus
Tutoring services
Valerie Wrenn, MA, Associate Director, Tutoring Services
Key Responsibilities:
- Collaborate with faculty, student groups and campus partners to improve and develop content support including tutoring and embedded workshops or programs
- Oversee the hiring, training, and quality management of 250+ Peer Educators, as well as the design of a comprehensive training program for them
- Design and implement assessment tools for the monitoring and improvement of tutoring services
- Serve as a member of the Weingarten Center Leadership team and participate in other center wide initiatives
Patricia Briscoe-Cypress, BA, Administrative Coordinator, Tutoring Services
Key Responsibilities:
- Manage interview process, evaluate student needs, refer students to other campus departments, as needed
- Outreach to other departments for tutors when needed.
- Follow-up with students after tutor assignment during the 3rdweek and end of semester
- Respond to general tutoring questions
Kate La Spina, MA, STEM Tutoring Coordinator
Key Responsibilities:
- Support the development of STEM focused peer educators through the design and facilitation of specialized training and resources
- Partner with faculty and peer education team to manage STEM focused workshops and programs such as the annual Calculus Start-Up
- Assist in the hiring and supervision of all peer educators
Disability Services
Aaron Spector, MSEd, Director, Disability Services
Key Responsibilities:
- Direct the total service delivery of Disability Services
- Supervise staff in Disability Services
- Serve on the Leadership Team of the Weingarten Center, the scholarship committee, and Disability Symposium planning
- Meet with students who request reconsideration of an accommodation decision
- Promote disability inclusion and accessibility throughout the Penn community
Sharon Douglass, Manager of Academic Accommodations in Disability Services
Key Responsibilities:
- Coordinate and supervise the implementation of legally mandated accommodations and auxiliary services (e.g., tests, notes, CART and/or interpreting services assistive technology) for Penn students with disabilities.
- Collaborate with the Disability Services staff to ensure accommodations are implemented accurately and timely.
- Supervise three staff members who oversee implementation of accommodations.
Amrou Ibrahim, BA, Associate Director for Assistive Technology
Key Responsibilities:
- Responsible for making sure that students with print disabilities (i.e. visual, learning) receive their course materials in accessible formats.
- Oversee the conversion and formatting of texts in accordance with the student’s disability and preferred format.
- Confer with students who need assistive technology software and hardware and provides them with recommendations and training.
- Work closely with faculty, staff, web-developers, and instructional-designers at various schools and offices around campus to address accessibility needs and provide consultation and training
Sabria Kegler, MA, Associate Director, Disability Services
Key Responsibilities:
- Review medical documentation in accordance with established guidelines; conduct interactive consultations with students to determine accommodations
- Advise students through the accommodation process and provide ongoing support to students and recommending University services
- Support the mission of Disability Services and the Weingarten Center by participating in staff meetings and assorted departmental initiatives
Emmett Binkowski, MSW, Disability Specialist
Key Responsibilities:
- Review medical documentation in accordance with established guidelines; conduct interactive consultations with students to determine accommodations
- Advise students through the accommodation process and provide ongoing support to students and recommending University services
- Support the mission of Disability Services and the Weingarten Center by participating in staff meetings and assorted departmental initiatives
Vanessa Dash, MEd, Disability Specialist
Key Responsibilities:
- Review medical documentation in accordance with established guidelines; conduct interactive consultations with students to determine accommodations
- Advise students through the accommodation process and provide ongoing support to students and recommending University services
- Support the mission of Disability Services and the Weingarten Center by participating in staff meetings and assorted departmental initiatives
Axel Wimer, MA, Accommodations Specialist
Key Responsibilities:
- Manage test reservation database to create test schedule, coordinate retrieval of exams from professors, and oversee assigning students to test sites in accordance with established protocol
- Handle note-taking arrangements for students with disabilities
- Coordinate the hiring and training of test proctors and note-takers
Weingarten Ambassadors
The Weingarten Ambassadors program brings together undergraduate, graduate, and professional students from various disciplines and affiliations to increase student awareness and use of the services and programs of the Weingarten Center.