Dean’s Office Staff
Location: McCormack Hall, 3rd Floor, Room 625
Ira A. Jackson, Dean
Mr. Ira Jackson has a distinguished history of public service and both executive and academic leadership. Jackson was executive vice president and executive director of external affairs of BankBoston and revenue commissioner for the state of Massachusetts. He has also held a variety of positions at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, including associate dean and senior fellow at the Center for Public Leadership. From 2006 to 2010, he served as dean of the Peter F. Drucker and Masatoshi Ito Graduate School of Management at Claremont Graduate University in suburban Los Angeles. More recently, he was a distinguished scholar with the Legatum Center for Development and Entrepreneurship at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
See his complete profile.
617.287.5550/6; ira.jackson@umb.edu
Connie S. Chan, Associate Dean
Professor Chan has held several leadership positions on campus including acting dean of the McCormack Graduate School, interim dean of the College of Public and Community Service (CPCS), co-director of the Asian American Institute, and chair of the Department of Public Policy and Public Affairs. In addition to serving as the college's associate dean, she also serves as director of the public affairs graduate program.
See her complete profile.
617.287.7231; connie.chan@umb.edu
Dean's Office Staff
Tim Blackman, Assistant Dean for Academic Programs
Rashelle Brown, Administrative Assistant
Christopher Brindley, Computer Specialist and Domain Administrator
Candyce Carragher, Business and Grants Manager
Barbara Graceffa, Director, Marketing and Communications
Chayaphon "Pom" Klinthong, Staff Assistant
Shaleah Rather, Administrative Assistant
Elizabeth Sanchez, Executive Assistant to the Dean
Tim Blackman, Assistant Dean for Academic Programs
617.287.5664; tim.blackman@umb.edu
Tim Blackman worked at his alma mater, the University of Chicago, for 17 years as an academic advisor, fellowships coordinator, and associate dean of students. Before joining the McCormack dean's office in 2008, Mr. Blackman served as director of Graduate Admissions at Boston College School of Education and associate director and systems specialist at the Art Institute of Boston.
Rashelle Brown, Administrative Assistant
617.287.5837; rashelle.brown@umb.edu
Rashelle Brown joined the dean’s office staff in January 2013 after working as an administrative assistant in the Departments of Economics and Mathematics. Ms. Brown received her undergraduate degree in studio art, with a concentration in photography and printmaking from UMass Boston. She will provide assistance with general administrative and communication needs, event management, and human resource management duties.
Christopher Brindley
Computer Specialist and Domain Administrator
cell: 617.857.9351; christopher.brindley@umb.edu
Providing technical support to all staff and students across the graduate programs and research centers at the McCormack Graduate School, Christopher Brindley administers our school’s computer systems, databases, and network. Mr. Brindley is also trained as a Microsoft systems engineer and previously worked as a network operator at Stream International in Canton, MA.
Candyce Carragher, Business and Grants Manager
617.287.5553; candyce.carragher@umb.edu
A UMass Boston alumna, Candyce Carragher has worked with us for over a decade. In her current role in the dean’s office, she manages purchasing, grants, contracts, personnel and consultant agreements, and financial analyses for the McCormack Graduate School.
Barbara Graceffa, Director, Marketing and Communications
617.287.6937 barbara.graceffa@umb.edu
After more than 25 years managing graduate programs at UMass Boston, Barbara Graceffa now oversees the marketing and communications activities for McCormack Graduate School. Ms. Graceffa has an MSM from Emmanuel College in leadership development and organizational change and holds a certificate in integrated marketing communications from UMass Boston.
Chayaphon "Pom" Klinthong, Staff Assistant
617.287.5550; chayaphon.klinthong@umb.edu
Pom Klinthong joined the dean's office staff in 2012 after having worked in the Gerontology Institute and Center for Peace, Democracy, and Development as a financial assistant. Here, he assists the business and grants manager as he tracks and manages procurement and accounting activities, personnel actions, and distribution of monthly reports.
Shaleah Rather, Administrative Assistant
617.287.5536; shaleah.rather@umb.edu
Shaleah Rather joined our team in 2011 after working as an administrative assistant in the Edward J. Collins, Jr. Center for Public Management. Previously handling event management and general clerical and communications needs, Ms. Rather now assists with grants and contracts, faculty and staff searches, and faculty promotion and tenure cases for McCormack Graduate School.
Elizabeth Sanchez, Executive Assistant to the Dean
617.287.5556; elizabeth.sanchez@umb.edu
Elizabeth Sanchez was hired in July 2010 but has worked on campus for more than twenty years, most recently at the College of Education and Human Development. In her previous role at McCormack Graduate School, she assisted the Budget and Grants Manager with financial, grants, and human resource management. Today, she serves as the Dean's aide providing administrative support & expertise as the point person of special projects and events. Ms. Sanchez is the primary contact person and liaison for the College with outside groups, agencies, various community contacts and partners.
