Academic Deans & Staff

Terri A. Camesano has been the Dean of Graduate Studies at WPI since 2014, and was the inaugural full-time Dean of Graduate Studies. In her current role, she oversees Graduate Admissions, Graduate Student Professional Development, Online Graduate Education, and Professional Education. Dean Camesano is also the primary advocate for our 2000+ graduate students, and oversees Master's, PhD, and Certificate programs in all areas of Engineering, Arts & Sciences, and Business. Dean Camesano is also faculty in Chemical Engineering, and has been at WPI since 2000. 

Biography of Rev. Debora Jackson, DMin, MDiv, ME, MS, BS The Reverend Dr. Debora Jackson is the Harry G. Stoddard Professor of Management and Dean of the Business School at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, a premiere STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) based institution recognized for project-based education that integrates the theory and practice of management. In response to changing industry needs, Dr. Jackson seeks to promote research, collaboration, and partnerships that understand broader societal needs and recast the vision for business education in ways that ...

Dr. Jean King is an active neuroscientist and Peterson Family Dean of Arts & Sciences at Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Previously Dr. King was the Vice Provost of Biomedical Research and Professor of Psychiatry, Radiology, and Neurology (with tenure) at UMass Medical School, where she had been a faculty member since 1994.  Together with other administrative leaders at WPI, Dean King has launched new undergraduate and graduate programs in Learning Science, Neuroscience, Interactive Media and Game Development, and AI and has expanded undergraduate research opportunities.  Dr. King’s ...

John A. McNeill was named the Bernard M. Gordon Dean of Engineering in June 2021. McNeill joined WPI in 1994 after nearly a decade in industry and served as the interim Dean of Engineering from September 2018 until being appointed Dean. A senior member of IEEE and a member of the American Society for Engineering Education, the National Academy of Inventors, and the Council for Undergraduate Research, McNeill received a bachelor’s degree in engineering sciences from Dartmouth College, an MS in electrical engineering from the University of Rochester, and a PhD in electrical engineering from ...

Dr. Mimi Sheller is the Dean of The Global School and is an internationally recognized scholar and higher education leader, with fifteen years of executive leadership across academic units, research centers, and professional organizations. Prior to joining WPI, she was tenured Professor of Sociology, Head of the Sociology Department, and founding Director of the Center for Mobilities Research and Policy at Drexel University in Philadelphia. Dr. Sheller was awarded the Doctor Honoris Causa from Roskilde University, Denmark, in 2015, the Drexel Provost’s Award for Outstanding Career Scholarly ...

Debbie supports the dean of Graduate Studies. In this role, she provides organizational and administrative assistance and manages a range of special projects and activities. Her responsibilities include providing financial management support, overseeing the graduate travel fund, and coordinating graduate student events. Debbie brings more than 20 years of experience in retail and business environments. She is the former owner and operator of a full-service bridal shop, and previously served as a flight attendant for United Airlines. She enjoys gardening, hiking, and spending time with her ...

Camille manages the daily research operations and strategic initiatives of the Office of the Vice Provost for Research. She also oversees the recruitment of all non-faculty researcher appointments.   She has a Bachelor's degree from Nichols College in Business with a concentration in Finance, and has a Master's in Management from WPI.

Anna Gold joined the WPI community as University Librarian in 2017. She brought with her a passion for and dedication to polytechnic learning and interdisciplinary research. At WPI she has led projects to renew Gordon Library spaces to better serve as vibrant, productive working and learning spaces where students feel empowered and supported. She has also led the library's Digital WPI initiative that showcases WPI student projects and research as well as the cultural and historical treasures of the WPI Archives. Anna began her career as a research librarian at the Library of Congress. In ...

Antje is the Assistant Vice Provost for Research and in this capacity, she supports the university’s research and technology commercialization enterprises. She directs WPI's research development services and assists in the administration and operations of centers and institutes, internal grant programs, and core instrumentation facilities.  She participates in the negotiation of major research contracts and coordinates corporate research strategy and support with the Academic and Corporate Engagement and the University Advancement divisions.     Prior to joining WPI ...

Lynda manages the day to day operations and functions of the office.

Carla provides information technology support and solutions to the divisions of Academic Affairs by assisting in the design, development, testing and integration of IT tools, applications and products.

Aprile joined WPI in 2019 after a robust career at Bose. At Bose, Aprile worked in HR followed by almost 15 years in the Manufacturing Engineering Group. Most recently, she served as a Project/Program Coordinator, managing various programs, collaborating with cross functional development teams, budgeting, and visual management. Aprile is excited to use her talents for developing systems and structures that result in high quality experiences for teams and customers, such as WPI’s undergraduate students, with WPI’s Dean of Undergraduate Studies team and Summer Undergraduate Courses team. ...

Susan joined the Provost office in October 2008. She provides direct academic support to the Academic Affairs Operations Manager. In her role, she supports a variety of duties such as preparing faculty appointment letters and payroll paperwork (EPAF), Banner entry for all academic appointments, TA/RA tracking, survey submissions, streamline processes, oversees and creates tutorials for all office procedures, Banner programs and forms. She maintains various tracking systems and works on special projects as needed.

As associate vice president for academic affairs at WPI, Kristopher Sullivan is responsible for the financial oversight of the division, including strategic planning, budgeting, space management, assessment of resource allocations and effectiveness, and the development of short- and long-term funding strategies for divisional academic programs. He works closely with the provost, deans, and department heads to provide financial oversight and guidance. He is also a member of several WPI committees, including the Unified Digital Campus Governance Committee, the Committee on Administrative and ...

As a Senior Fellow in WPI’s Center for Project-Based Learning, which I established in 2016, I work with colleagues across campus to help advance project-based learning at colleges and universities around the nation and the globe. We also support project-based learning here on the WPI campus. Most of my scholarly and professional activity has centered around experiential and international education. Through my involvement in organizations such as the Association of American Colleges and Universities and the American Society for Engineering Education, I work to promote WPI’s approach to ...

Bogdan Vernescu is currently Professor of mathematical sciences and the Vice Provost for Research. His research is in applied mathematics for multiscale materials sciences, focusing on the characterization of material properties of composites, porous media, suspensions, emulsions and electrorheological/magnetorheological materials. He has published over 60 research papers, a monograph and a proceedings volume. He has held visiting positions at MIT, the University of Metz, University of Nancy, University of Savoie, University of Rouen, University of Sorbonne Paris Nord, University of Rome La ...

Project-based learning is an enormously powerful approach to education. I've been changed by it; I've watched students be changed by it. I've seen faculty develop a renewed sense of joy in teaching from using it. And now, after over a decade of using PBL with students, I'm embarking on a new phase of helping faculty implement PBL through the work of the Center for Project-Based Learning. The good news - working with faculty on PBL is as much fun as working with students!

Donna Provides support to both the Provost and the Academic Affairs Operations Manager.  In her role as Executive Assistant to the Provost, she coordinates a range of special administrative duties and projects as assigned.