The Plan II Staff

Mary Dillman
Academic Advisor Coordinator

Thesis administration, manual and symposia; registration advising, student organizations, freshman orientation, sophomore advising, advising manual and degree plans.

Office: WCH 4.104
Phone: 512-471-1442
mdillman@mail.utexas.edu

Bio:
Although born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Mary grew up in Round Rock, Texas and attended UT as an undergraduate, majoring in History. When people would ask her, "What are you going to with a major in History, teach?" Mary would respond, "Nope!" and simply continued to study what she loved without worrying about what career would come her way. After graduation, she interned with the Texas Historical Commission and parlayed her research and writing skills into a full-time position there, working on historic preservation projects across Texas for four years. Eventually, the call of medieval studies took her to Arizona State University, where she received her MA and also realized that there is no other place in the world she'd rather live than Austin. Having loved working with students as a TA in graduate school, she turned to academic advising and was hired with the Biology department at UT in 2001. Mary worked there for nearly five years before moving to Plan II, where she is thrilled to be working with students who have a passion for Liberal Arts.

In her spare time, Mary loves hiking, film, reading historic fiction, and is quite active in her church.

Laurie Gonzales
Office Manager, Assistant to the Director

Office Management, Director's calendar, Travel Management, Accounting and Management of Endowments and Purchasing.

Office: WCH 4.104
Phone: 512-471-1442
l.gonzales@mail.utexas.edu

Bio:
Laurie was born in Fort Worth in 1971 but moved to Austin in 1990 to attend The University of Texas. After 3 not-so-successful semesters, UT recommended a hiatus from college so Laurie entered the work force. She accepted a position with Sprint as a telecommunications operator for the deaf. An increased typing speed and exposure to Microsoft Office allowed Laurie to transition into a career with The University of Texas. From her first UT job as an administrative assistant, Laurie has worked her way through the ranks, finally arriving at Plan II in August of 2008.

Laurie has been married to her exceedingly patient and witty husband Jason since 1993. Their son Matthew, born in 1995, provides copious hugs and comic relief to both his parents. Laurie's not yet made it back to taking classes but has been overheard saying that it is her goal to achieve a BA before Matthew.

Jacinda Herrera
Accounting Assistant

Assists with all aspects of office accounting and other duties as assigned.

Office: WCH 4.104
Phone: 512-471-1442
j.herrera@mail.utexas.edu

Bio:
Jacinda was born in Austin and was raised in a little town named Buda (south of Austin). She has a sister named Jasmine and parents Jerry and Jackie. She has three dogs, a Chihuahua named Baby, a Basset Hound named Lucky, and a Dachshund named Oreo. In her spare time, Jacinda likes to play basketball, weight training, take the dogs for a walk, hang out with her family and friends, and is very active in her church.

Jacinda graduated from Jack C. Hays High School in 2007. She worked at the H-E-B Plus during her senior year and after graduation. After leaving H-E-B, she went to work for a CPA as an accounting assistant. Jacinda joined the Plan II Honors Program in October of 2008 and is very honored to be part of such a great team filled with wonderful people.

Michael McFarlin
Development Associate

Alumni Relations and Events, Alumni (electronic) and Annual Newsletters, Scholarship Disbursements, Research and Travel Grants, Special Event Coordination, Development and Computer Purchasing

Office: WCH 4.104
Phone: 512-471-1442
mcfarlin@mail.utexas.edu

Bio:
Michael joined the Plan II Honors Program staff in the fall of 2003 and has worked for UT since 1997. Previously, he worked for the University's ITS, Telecommunications and Networking Department, and for the College of Communication Career Services office.

Michael was born and raised in northern Ohio. He has worked as an Intelligence Analyst for four years in the U.S. Army, including one and a half years at the National Security Agency. While in the Army, Michael met and married his wife, Carmen--a native Austinite. Michael is a UT alumnus, having completed the History Honors Program for his undergraduate degree. Michael is also a graduate student in the School of Information's Preservation Administration program run through the Kilgarlin Center for the Preservation of the Cultural Record.

Michael and Carmen live in South Austin with their three daughters; Evangeline, Ginger, and Lillian.

Melissa Ossian
Senior Academic Advisor

Office: WCH 4.104
Phone: 512-471-1442
melissaossian@mail.utexas.edu

Bio:
I was born in New Jersey but moved to Clearwater, Florida (close to Tampa) when I was five years old and for the most part grew up in the Sunshine State. I attended Florida State University in Tallahassee where I earned a Bachelors Degree in Interdisciplinary Social Science, and graduated Summa Cum Laude with Honors (yes, I even wrote a thesis). After finishing up my undergrad degree, I decided to stay at Florida State for graduate school where I earned a Master of Arts Degree in International Affairs. While in grad school I took advantage of a wonderful internship that lead to a full time position in the Florida Department of State's Office of International Affairs. In the international office I coordinated the two grant programs focused on international education exchange and sister city programs, organized the visits of international dignitaries and events/conferences, and ran the office internship program. After several years, I returned to Florida State University to work as a Grants Coordinator for the Florida Learn and Serve and Title IV Community Service Grant programs which awarded service learning grants to K-12 schools and community organizations throughout the state of Florida.

Seeking more opportunities professionally and socially, I relocated to Austin in June 2005 and have never looked back; the people here are so friendly, the city is great, there is always so much to do and I am truly happy in Austin. After getting settled in Austin, I started working at UT as a Program Coordinator for the Science, Technology and Society (STS) Program, a small interdisciplinary program in the College of Liberal Arts dedicated to studying the societal impacts of science and technology. At STS I wore many hats including undergraduate and graduate advisor, event planner, day to day operations administrator, teaching program organizer, faculty recruiter, project coordinator, marketing specialist, and program liaison. I am very happy to be joining the Plan II team and am excited to work in a program that places such high value on interdisciplinary education and its impact on students.

On Nov. 4, 2006, I married my wonderful husband Rob and this spring we bought our first house (290 West heading toward Dripping Springs). We have no children, but we do have a cat, a black and white short haired tuxedo named Octavius who we rescued as a stray kitten back in Tallahassee. As for hobbies, I enjoy hiking, kayaking, travel, reading, live music, and generally anything fun and social.

Jennifer Scalora
Plan II Honors Admissions Director, Senior Program Coordinator

Freshman and Transfer Admissions, Website Administration, Program Information and Recruiting, Database Administration and Management, Plan II Honors Commencement Convocation and Plan II Family Day Events, Scholarships.

Office: WCH 4.104
Phone: 512-471-1442
scalora@austin.utexas.edu or planiiadmission@austin.utexas.edu

Bio:
Many moons ago when Austin was a more relaxed, cleaner, far weirder, but much less trafficky town, Jennifer came to the University of Texas as an undergraduate in Spanish and Portuguese. When the time came to graduate, she managed to postpone real life several more years by pursuing a Master's in Latin American Studies, specializing in Brazilian literature and music. While in grad school, she started working at the Department of American Studies as the graduate coordinator and eventually also undertook the undergraduate advising. After completing her Master's, she moved to New York City and completed an intensive restaurant management and culinary arts program at the New York Restaurant School. That (almost) fatal decision lead to two years mis-spent in the restaurant business. (The restaurant school was great; actually working in restaurants...not so much.)

Once she regained her sanity, Jennifer came running back (lumbering actually, since she was six months pregnant at the time) to the University for a brief six month stint at Human Resources and then five strange and very busy years at the Population Research Center. She is now completing her twenty-third year of happy (such a relative term) state servitude. The past twelve(+) years at Plan II Honors have been challenging, great fun and extremely rewarding--particularly since Jennifer LOVES to talk and Plan II applicants (and their parents) love to ask questions.

Jennifer has two brilliant and beautiful (if ill-mannered) sons, Griffen (17) and Walker (14) who keep her, and her still more brilliant and ever-patient husband, Will (of the melodious voice and the very cool hair), quite busy.

Jennifer is most proud of two special awards: Outstanding Service by a Staff Member from the College of Liberal Arts, in May, 2004; and, in May 2008, a University Staff Excellence Award. Staff excellence awards honor and recognize the contributions of non-teaching employees who have had a significant impact on the University.

Currently, Jennifer participates on the Executive Committee and is the president-elect of the University of Texas chapter of Phi Kappa Phi. She also very happily takes advantage of (and free lunches with) the Honors Advisers Group. She also serves as the Head HAG-Nag for the Honors Admissions Group (HAGs) where representatives from all the University's honors programs and from the University's Office of Admissions strive to continue stream-lining and trying to add logic to all the persnickity honors application processes.

 

Jennifer served two terms as a member of the Provost's Council on Academic Advising. In the recent past she served as an Executive Officer of the University's Academic Counselor's Association (ACA). She also served a term on the ACA Advisory Committee. In May 2004, Jennifer completed her term as a district representative to the University of Texas Staff Council.

Matt Valentine
Program Coordinator

 (photograph:  Sara McCuistion)

 

Joynes Room Programming/Distinguished Authors and Poets Series; Book Club for Honors Students; Book Club for Honors Students; Poetry WorkshopsWCH

Office: WCH 4.104
Phone: 471-5692
mvalentine@mail.utexas.edu

Bio:
Matt Valentine teaches creative writing for the Plan II Honors Program at the University of Texas at Austin, and is the Program Coordinator for the Joynes Reading Room. Mr. Valentine's fiction has been published in several literary magazines, and he has received writing awards and fellowships from New York University, the Michener Center for Writers, Playboy magazine, the Vermont Studio Center and the Greensboro Review. Also a professional photographer, Valentine's work has been exhibited in group shows at the Gulf and Western Gallery (New York), the NYU Photo Center Gallery, the Silver Eye Center for Photography (Pittsburgh), and the Harry Ransom Center (Austin). His photographs of the September 11th Tragedy were included in the book Here is New York, (Scalo, 2002) and in group shows at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the International Center for Photography, where the exhibition was recognized with the prestigious Infinity Award. Currently, he is working on a series of photographic portraits of major contemporary poets.