Your Advisors: Pre-Grad

Dr. Carol Hagan has advised pre-health students and alumni at the University of Pennsylvania since 2008.  She also advises Quakers pursuing graduate degrees in humanities, social science and business.  She earned a Ph.D. from Penn in art history and has engaged with students as a lecturer and writing instructor.  Prior to settling in Philadelphia, she earned a B.A. in English and art history from Wesleyan University.  Carol enjoys helping students become professionals and hearing about their wide range of intellectual interests and service commitments.

Dr. Ariana Alexander joined Career Services in 2019 as an Associate Director with the Graduate & Professional School Advising Team.  She advises Penn undergraduates and alumni pursuing law school and medical school.  Her professional experiences include program development, student success coaching, and pre-health advising.  Prior to joining the team, she served as a TRIO Student Success Coach advocating for first-generation college students. During her time at New York University, she worked as a pre-professional advisor to students in the area of pre-health. She earned her BA from Dartmouth College, majoring in English and ethnic studies, and a Ph.D. from New York University in history. She enjoys empowering students to navigate the next steps in their graduate and professional careers.  Originally from Cleveland, Ohio, she is an advocate for local libraries and loves traveling abroad to explore new places.

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Amy joined Career Services in 2022 and serves as an Associate Director on the Graduate & Professional School Advising team. Prior to this role, she was a recruiter on the enrollment management team at Penn’s College of Liberal and Professional Studies. Before coming to Penn, Amy worked in international education at Arcadia University and retirement education at Vanguard. She earned a B.S. in Business Administration from Villanova University and an M.S.Ed. in Higher Education from Penn’s Graduate School of Education. She enjoys working with Penn students and appreciates the energy and enthusiasm they bring to campus and to the pursuit of their personal and professional goals. A native of the Philadelphia suburbs, Amy now lives in Center City and enjoys traveling abroad, reading, exploring new interests, and spending time with family and friends.

Dr. Doris Tabassum joined as an Associate Director with the Graduate & Professional School Advising Team in October 2022.  She advises Penn undergraduates and alumni pursuing graduate and medical school. Prior to joining UPenn, Doris volunteered with the New York Academy of Sciences and America Needs You to support the academic and professional development of international and first-generation students. Doris earned her BA from Mount Holyoke College with a major in Biochemistry and a Ph.D. in Biological and Biomedical Sciences, focusing on Cancer Biology, from Harvard University. In her free time, Doris loves exploring new places, watching movies, reading and crocheting.

Becky Tamayo is the Administrative Coordinator for the Graduate and Professional School Advising team, assisting students and alumni pursuing admission to graduate, medical, and law schools. A Penn alum with her BA in Psychology and Hispanic Studies from the College of Arts and Sciences and her Master of Social Work from the School of Social Policy and Practice, Becky is thrilled to return to campus in this new role and looks forward to working with Penn students and fellow alumni!

Joy Olatunde (she/her/hers) is currently a junior in the College of Arts and Sciences pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy, with a concentration in Political and Moral Philosophy and minors in Africana Studies and Legal Studies and History. As the Pre-Law Peer Coach, she enjoys guiding students to the many resources for pre-law students on campus and helping students plan their path to law school. On campus, Joy also plays an active role in Nigerians at Penn, Penn Undergraduate Law Journal, and Penn Democrats. In her free time, she enjoys reading historical fiction, window-shopping online, and walking to the farmers market near campus. Her favorite study spot on campus is the Van Pelt Shakespeare reading room.

Katelyn Owusu (she/her/hers) is currently a junior in the College of Arts and Sciences majoring in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics with a concentration in Choice and Behavior. As the Pre-Health Peer Coach, she enjoys assisting students in identifying their goals and locating campus resources, as well as determining ways to improve the pre-health experience on campus. Katelyn is a member of the PPE Undergraduate Advisory Board and is involved with The Women’s Network and the Penn Epilepsy Awareness club, amongst others. She enjoys reading, painting, listening to music, hanging out with her friends, and trying out new restaurants in her spare time.