Meet the Staff
Administrative Support
Lorene Hall-Jennings
Title: Executive Administrative Specialist
Email: lorenej@usf.edu
Lorene Hall-Jennings is the Executive Administrative Specialist in the Office of Graduate
Studies (OGS) at the ÐÜèAVÃâ·Ñ. In this role, she provides high-level
administrative support to Dr. Derek Wildman, Dean of the Office of Graduate Studies, and offers collaborative support across
multiple OGS teams. Her work is integral to the smooth operation of the Dean’s Office
and the advancement of graduate education initiatives at USF.
Lorene joined the Office of Graduate Studies in June 2025, bringing with her over
30 years of experience in higher education at USF. Throughout her career, she has
held a variety of roles that have deepened her understanding of university operations
and student services. Her long-standing commitment to the institution and its mission
gives her a unique perspective on the evolving needs of students, faculty, and staff.
A proud USF alumna, Lorene earned her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration
from the Muma College of Business. Her connection to the university extends beyond
her professional and academic achievements—two of her children and her mother are
USF graduates, and another child is currently pursuing a master's degree at the university.
This multi-generational bond with USF fuels her passion for supporting student success
and fostering a welcoming, inclusive academic environment.
Lorene is enthusiastic about contributing to the goals of the Office of Graduate Studies
and is dedicated to making a positive and lasting impact on the graduate student experience.
She values collaboration, integrity, and service, and is proud to be part of a team
that champions academic excellence and innovation. Go Bulls!
Sharon Johnson-Hamilton
Title: Office Assistant (Part-time)
Email: sjhamilton@usf.edu
Sharon Johnson-Hamilton serves as a part-time Office Assistant in the Office of Graduate Studies (OGS) at the ÐÜèAVÃâ·Ñ. In this role, she provides front desk support, welcomes and assists visitors and students, directs inquiries to the appropriate staff members, and helps maintain an organized and efficient office environment. She also supports a variety of OGS events, programs, and initiatives.
Sharon joined the OGS team following a brief retirement from the University of South Florida, where she spent many years serving as the Faculty Coordinator for the Office of Faculty Affairs for the College of Arts and Sciences. She is delighted to be back at USF and continues to bring her extensive experience, dedication, and passion for student and faculty support to her role.
Stephanie Harper, Ph.D.
Title: Assistant Director, ETD & Writing Services
Email: stephanieha@usf.edu
Dr. Stephanie Harper is the Assistant Director of ETD and Writing Services in the Office of Graduate Studies. She joined OGS full-time in 2024 after working as the ETD Administrative Specialist for several years. Dr. Harper holds a BA in Fine Arts and earned her Ph.D. in English Literature at USF. She has over 10 years of editing, writing center, and writing instruction experience and helps graduate students align their manuscripts with USF’s institutional guidelines for thesis/dissertation publication.
Responsible for managing electronic thesis/dissertation (ETD) operations and processes, Dr. Harper develops and presents workshops on ETD processes, procedures, and formatting guidelines that assist students with the process. She also develops, organizes, and facilitates writing workshops and work groups relevant to graduate-level writing with a focus on collaborative discussion and practical application of strategies. She is available for one-on-one consultations on ETD formatting and sustainable writing strategies.
Laura Murphy, M.A.
Title: International TA Coordinator
Email: murphyl@usf.edu
Passionate about languages and cross-cultural communication, Laura Murphy brings extensive experience teaching English as a Second Language (ESL) to adult learners both in the United States and abroad. She specializes in assessing oral English proficiency for International Teaching Assistants (ITAs) and supporting international graduate students through workshops designed to strengthen communication skills and ease the transition to new cultural and educational environments.
In addition, Laura provides individualized writing support for multilingual students and offers one-on-one assistance with thesis and dissertation formatting to help students prepare their manuscripts for final submission.
Chandler Balkcom, M.A.
Title: Web Content Administrator
Email: cbalkcom2@usf.edu
Chandler Balkcom serves as the Web Content Administrator for the Office of Graduate Studies at the ÐÜèAVÃâ·Ñ. He earned his Master of Arts in History from the ÐÜèAVÃâ·Ñ in Spring 2022. Prior to joining the Office of Graduate Studies in May 2026, Chandler worked as the Digital Marketing Manager at WUSF Public Media, where he gained extensive experience in website management and digital communications.
In his role with the Office of Graduate Studies, Chandler oversees the accuracy and maintenance of departmental webpages for students and faculty. He also supports the office’s social media presence and assists with the formatting and submission process for electronic theses and dissertations.