About Us

Brandy A. Randall, Ph.D.

Dean, Graduate School and Professional and Continuing Education (PACE)

As Dean of the Graduate School, Brandy A. Randall, Ph.D. provides academic leadership, advancing graduate, professional and continuing education programs. Dr. Randall guides these academic units through strategic planning, program innovation and student success initiatives. With a background in developmental psychology and extensive experience in higher education administration, Randall has established herself as a visionary leader committed to fostering excellence and inclusivity in graduate, professional and continuing education.

As Dean, Randall has achieved significant milestones, including the development and implementation of policies on credit for prior learning and the launch of digital badging for non-credit and for-credit activities. She steers Oakland University's graduate Strategic Enrollment Management strategy as part of the SEM Steering Committee and served on the 2024 Oakland University Strategic Planning Leadership Team, co-leading the Academic Offerings and Innovation Theme Team to shape the university’s direction for the next seven years. Randall also established the Graduate and Professional Students Advisory Council to amplify graduate student voices and collaborates with the Graduate School Advisory Board to drive strategic advocacy and implement Graduate School objectives. Committed to maintaining relevance and effectiveness in graduate education, she works with the Graduate Council to regularly revise policies, reviewing at least four each year.

Before joining Oakland University, Randall held leadership roles at North Dakota State University, where she was instrumental in curriculum development, mentorship and student engagement initiatives. She holds a Ph.D. and M.A. in Psychology from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and a B.A. in Psychology from Creighton University. Her dedication to advancing graduate, professional and continuing education exemplifies her commitment to empowering learners and faculty while fostering innovation and growth in higher education.

Mission

The Graduate School seeks to make OU the university of choice for graduate students and a national leader in graduate education. The Graduate School partners with Oakland University's academic units to provide a rich environment for graduate student success that fosters leaders in discovery, innovation, and creative endeavors. The School in collaboration with the schools and college recruits, retains and graduates engaged professionals whose work impacts the state, the nation and the world. 

The Graduate School carries out its mission by: 

• Fostering integrity, excellence and freedom of inquiry in graduate education 
• Creating a rich and diverse intercultural and international community of scholars 
• Providing high standards and clear policies for graduate education 
• Providing personalized services and resources for graduate students and faculty

Role

As the administrative arm of Graduate Council, the Graduate School has responsibility for ensuring the highest standards in student admission; for providing academic records management, academic standing and degree services for currently enrolled students; and for the authorship, maintenance and oversight of graduate policy and standards that promote high quality in educational programs and curricula.

The Graduate School works with faculty, academic departments, and the deans of the College and schools to recruit and develop a graduate student body across the disciplines and professional fields reflective of academic strength and the University’s commitment to diversity, and designs programs to support student achievement and success.

The Graduate School also partners with departments and University governance in program review, accreditation, registration, and evaluation efforts conducted locally and by external authorities, and thereby contributes to the ongoing campus-wide commitment to retention.

Profile of Responsibilities

Commitment to Quality

• Graduate Council — academic policies and procedures
• Graduate program and curriculum
• Course catalog and development
• Graduate academic program review
• Graduate student progress, retention and degree completion
• Graduate academic faculty and program services

Graduate Recruitment and Admission

• Prospective graduate students
• Graduate recruitment
• Graduate admission services
• Graduate guest services

Graduate Student Progress

• Graduate readmission and program transfer
• Plan of study
• Transfer of graduate credit
• Petition of exception
• Graduate assistants and fellowships
• Leave of absence
• Academic standing, probation and dismissal

Graduation

• Dissertation and thesis service
• Manage the application to graduate
• Approve final graduate degree audits

Mission

The Graduate School Advisory Board's mission is to support OU's Graduate School by contributing to the development of its strategic direction and implementation of strategic objectives.

Position

The Graduate School Advisory Board is an invitation only position facilitated by the Dean of the Graduate School. This position will support the work of the Graduate School and provide mission-based leadership and strategic advocacy. The Dean-Board relationship is a partnership.

The Advisory Board Members will serve a three-year term and will be eligible for re-appointment for one additional term. Board meetings are held quarterly and committee meetings will be held in coordination with full board meetings.

Members

Former board members

• Michael Antaran
• Napoleon Harrington
• Amy Butler (deceased)
• Beth Benson
• Beth Talbert
• Emily Olling
• Caryn Reed-Hendon
• Ryan Mostiller

Dean of Graduate School

• Brandy Randall, Ph.D. - (248) 370-3169
  • Dean
• Linda Hutcheson - [email protected] or (248) 370-4156
  • Assistant to the Dean 

Graduate curriculum, retention & academic services

• Claire Rammel - [email protected] or (248) 370-3159
  • Assistant dean
  • Curriculum management includes: 
    • Policy and policy compliance 
    • Off campus site locations
    • Distance programs
    • Graduate council 
    • New programs and program modifications 
    • Program review
    • Graduate student retention 
    • Graduate student academic eligibility decisions 
    • Graduate student and faculty academic service 
    • Graduate applicant appeals 
    • Oversee admission review 
    • Oversee admission decision making for domestic and international applicants 

Graduation services

• Nidhi Khattre - [email protected] or (248) 370-2569
  • Students degree audits 
  • Students progress and candidacy 
  • Students plans of study 
  • Students limited standing review and monitoring 
  • Students academic student program actions for petitions of exception, waiver/substitutions, transfer credits, readmission, program transfers, time extensions
  • CAPP/Degree Works 

Graduate School & Pace 

• Erin Schmotzer - [email protected]
  • Marketing and enrollment coordinator

Graduate analysis, technology and web

• Mark Tomaszewski - [email protected] or (248) 370-2016
  • Senior CRM and data analyst 
    
    
• Svet Alichev - [email protected] or (248) 370-4317
  • Technical communications coordinator and webmaster

Graduate recruitment services

• Todd Steele - [email protected] or (248) 370-3073
  • Develop & execute graduate recruitment strategies
  • Coordinate graduate marketing and corporate relations efforts
  • International and domestic territory recruiting
    
    
• Mikella Douglas - [email protected] or (248) 370-4922 
  • Develop & execute graduate recruitment strategies
  • Coordinate graduate marketing and corporate relations efforts
  • International and domestic territory recruiting

Graduate student services

• Please use the following contact form in regards to questions/concerns/problems including registration, graduation, program transfers, credit transfers and more.

• Adam Panchenko - [email protected] or (248) 370-2653
  • Assistant director  
    
    
• Tina Tucker - [email protected] or (248) 370-4189
  • Applications and admissions services for SON and SHS
    
    
• Alicia Arbour - [email protected] or (248) 370-4899
  • Applications and admissions services for CAS and SBA
    
    
• Lateacha Carr - [email protected] or (248) 370-4553
  • Applications and admissions services for CAS and SBA 

• Dawn Dotson - [email protected] or (248) 370-2558
  • Applications and admissions services 
    
    
• Grayson Athens - [email protected]
  • Applications and admissions services
    
    
• Molly Swiatowy - [email protected] or (248) 370-4805
  • Applications and admission services for SEHS and SECS 
    
    
• Hannah Shoup - [email protected] or (248) 370-4142
  • Applications and admission services for SEHS and SECS
    
    
• Jessica Williams - [email protected] or (248) 370-2962
  • Thesis & dissertation review, scholarships, awards and events. 

Graduate scholarships, assistantships & fellowship awards

• Michelle Smith - [email protected] or (248) 370-4048
  • Budget Graduate assistant agreements, processing and payroll

Sr. Director Annual Giving & Special Audiences

• Kelly Brault - [email protected] or (248) 370-4921