Office of Student Affairs

Welcome

 

Greetings from the Office of Student Affairs! Our office is here to provide matriculated medical students with information about our medical school, including policies, services, and resources. We support students with academic and personal concerns and enjoy guiding them through this journey of medical education. As the Dean of Students, along with an Assistant Dean, Assistant Director and staff, we help and empower students to enjoy their medical school experience and overcome any challenge which is presented in their path. 

During the course of the student’s medical education, we host several presentations to provide guidance for each class year, are available for individual appointments and connect medical students with career advisors.

Our mission is to provide the highest quality service and support to our students.  We are a dedicated team of student affairs professionals who believe in caring for the whole person and demonstrating compassion in our work.  Our core values are advocacy, service, professionalism, excellence, diversity & inclusion, and stewardship.  We embrace our Jesuit values of spirituality, discernment, compassion, and social justice.  Our guiding principles are teamwork, collaboration, integrity, commitment, and promoting student success at all times. 

Best Regards,

James G. Mendez, Ph.D.
Senior Associate Dean for Student Affairs 

(708) 216-8140

 

Meet the Team

 

Lupe Zarco, MAOL

Assistant Director for M3 & M4 Students, Office of Student Affairs
gzarco@luc.edu
(708) 216-8617

Lupe serves as the primary contact and advisor for all third (M3) and fourth (M4) medical students. Lupe is responsible in implementing programs and services that support student progress, career planning, and well-being for the M3 and M4.

Common reasons to contact Lupe:

  • Curriculum Vitae (CV) Review    
  • Request an Excused Absence
  • Academic Policy Questions         
  • Careers in Medicine
  • Summer Opportunities

 

 

Tina Marino, MA

Assistant Director for M1 & M2 Students, Office of Student Affairs
tmarino@luc.edu
(708) 216-4935

Tina serves as the primary contact and advisor for all first (M1) and second (M2) medical students. She is responsible in implementing programs and services that support student progress, career planning, and well-being for the M1 and M2.

Common reasons to contact Tina:

  • Curriculum Vitae (CV) Review    
  • Request an Excused Absence
  • Academic Policy Questions         
  • Careers in Medicine
  • Summer Opportunities

 

 

Haydeé R. Nauert, MSF

Assistant Dean, Medical Student Administration
hnauert@luc.edu
(708) 216-3137

Haydee is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operation management of the Office of Student Affairs, affiliation agreements and budgets for the Office of Student Affairs and the Office of Medical Education.

 

 

JoAnne Kremske, MA

Executive Administrative Assistant, Office of Student Affairs
jkremske@luc.edu
(708) 216-8140 

Supports Associate Dean Mendez, Assistant Dean Martinez, and Assistant Dean Nauert.  JoAnne schedules all meetings for the OSA Deans and Dean Nauert, assists with the Medical Student Performance Evaluation (MSPE) letters, and documents pertinent to Match Day and Graduation.

Common reasons to contact JoAnne:

  • To schedule appointments with a Dean & check in when arriving for appointments
  • Assist students to obtain partial funding for presentation of research projects at professional conferences
  • Answer general inquiries germane to Student Affairs

 

Office of Registration & Records

Agape Lamberis

Director, Office of Registration & Records
aglamberis@luc.edu
(708) 216-3222

Agape, along with her staff, are “keeper of the records.” She receives the student records of incoming students from Admissions and updates and adds to the records throughout the medical student’s career until graduation.

Common reasons to contact Agape:

  • Questions regarding your student file, grades and evaluations
  • Enrollment in courses and clerkships both required and elective
  • Academic calendar
  • Degree requirements, transcripts, diplomas, licensure
  • Graduation

 

Julie Steinecker

Assistant Director, Office of Registration & Records
jsteinecker@luc.edu
(708) 216-3220 

Julie assists students with registration and scheduling, particularly for third and fourth year required clerkships and electives. She also assists course directors and coordinators with grading and other course registration issues.

Common reasons to contact Julie:

  • Questions about graduation requirements          
  • Scheduling issues
  • Help with clerkship sequencing                                 
  • Questions regarding electives
  • VSLO
  • EPIC and Workday access issues

 

 

Rosemary (Rose) Calcagno

Registration Specialist, Office of Registration & Records
rcalcag@luc.edu
(708) 216-3222 

Rose is responsible for processing away rotation applications through VSAS and Non-VSAS as well as assists with processing grades for away rotations. She also works with visiting students from US and international medical schools that would like to complete a rotation Loyola University Medical Center (LUMC).

You are welcome to contact Rose with any questions regarding the below:

  • Away Rotations
  • Good Standing Letter Request
  • Transcript Request
  • Verification of Enrollment
  • NBME Certification of Enrollment Forms
  • Visiting Students
  • EPIC and Workday access issues

 

 

Claire Manor

Records Coordinator, Office of Registration & Records
cmanor1@luc.edu 
(708) 216-3222 

Claire is responsible for the coordination of student records. She processes licensure forms, education verifications, transcript requests, diploma replacements, and other student requests.

You are welcome to contact Claire with any questions regarding the below:

  • Licensure Forms
  • Education Verification
  • Transcript Request
  • Good Standing Letter Request
  • NBME Certification of Enrollment Forms
  • Loan Deferment Form
  • Diploma Replacement

 

Office of Admissions

 

Darrell Nabers, MSc

Assistant Dean for Admissions and Recruitment
dnabers@luc.edu

(708) 216-5326

Dean Nabers serves as the primary recruitment and committee administrator for all members of the committee on admissions. He oversees and manages the office of admissions and recruitment efforts. He also aids the office of student life.

Common reasons to contact Darrell:

  • Recruitment of prospective students or providing advocacy for candidates
  • Direction of admissions process and procedures
  • Information about serving on committees associated with the Committee on Admissions
  • Second Look

 

 

Melissa Wergin

Assistant Director, Office of Admissions
mwergin@luc.edu
(708) 216-3240

Melissa works closely with Dean Nabers to coordinate Stritch's admissions processes, including training committee members, managing application reviews, and coordinating interview days.  She’s involved with local and regional recruitment, as well as advising applicants about successful strategies for applying to medical school. 

Common reasons to contact Melissa:

  • Interest in joining an admissions committee
  • Recruitment opportunities or campus visit days​
  • Applicant counseling
  • Questions about Stritch admissions

 

 

Lauren Marin

Admissions Administrator, Office of Admissions
ssom-admissions@luc.edu
(708) 216-8640

Lauren manages the day to day activities of the Office of Admissions. She handles general inquiries and logistics for visit days, applicant interviews, and accepted student pre-matriculation.

Common reasons to contact Lauren:

  • General questions about the Stritch admissions process or medical school requirements
  • Scheduling a Stritch Visit
  • Incoming student pre-matriculation questions or requirements
  • Interview day questions or student host requests
  • Current applicant recommendations

 

 

Josephine Navas

Admissions Counselor, Office of Admissions
jnavas@luc.edu
(708) 216-5325

Josephine's major role involves regional recruitment and management of the admissions application process. She also oversees admissions committees for both current SSOM students and faculty/staff.

Common reasons to contact Josephine:

  • Scheduling a Stritch Visit
  • Recruitment opportunities or campus visits
  • Applicant counseling
  • Interview day scheduling and questions
  • Training and onboarding of committee members

 

Office of Student Life

Catherine Jardien, MA

Assistant Director, Office of Student Life
cjardien@luc.edu

(708) 216-3872

Catherine oversees student events, activities, and organizations. 

Common reasons to contact Catherine:

  • Student Event Planning & Coordination
  • Medical Student Union & Student Organizations
  • Student Organization Fundraising 
  • Student Wellness
  • ASPIRE summer programs

 

 

Sabrina Bynum, MHA

Student Life Coordinator, Office of Student Life
sbynum@luc.edu 

(708) 216-2484

Sabrina assists with student events, activities, and organizations. 

Common reasons to contact Sabrina:

  • Student Event Planning & Coordination
  • Medical Student Union & Student Organizations
  • Student Organization Fundraising 
  • Student Wellness
  • ASPIRE summer programs

  

Office of Financial Aid

Tammy West, MBA, MPA

Associate Director, Office of Financial Aid
ssomfinaid@luc.edu
(708) 216-3227

Tammy advises all first through fourth year medical students regarding all aspects of student financial aid. She also conducts financial aid presentations through the academic year and meets with all first year medical students for their mandatory individual budget planning session.

Tammy is glad to answer any questions regarding:

  • Federal & Private Loans
  • Institutional Loans & Scholarships
  • Financing Options
  • Loan Repayment
  • Leave of Absence
  • Budgeting 

 

Lynn Wawrzyniak

Assistant Director, Office of Financial Aid
ssomfinaid@luc.edu
(708) 216-3227

Lynn advises all first through fourth year medical students and Accelerated Bachelor of Science Nursing (ABSN) students. She also conducts financial literacy presentations and programs.

Lynn is available to answer any questions regarding:

  • Federal & Private Loans
  • Financing Options
  • Financial Literacy
  • Military Options
  • FAFSA Completion
  • Budgeting

 

Office of Bursar

 

Laura Zaucha

Assistant Bursar, Office of Bursar
lzaucha@luc.edu
(708) 216-3228 

Laura is responsible for the billing of tuition and fees, collecting payments, processing refunds and administration of Loyola’s Student Health Insurance plan. 

Common reasons to contact Laura:

  • Questions regarding bills and payment
  • Student Health Insurance