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Shannon Sullivan
Graduate Program Coordinator
Department: School of Bio-medical Engineering
Years At Tech: 8
Background: BS in Psychology from University of North Carolina, MS in Counseling from Georgia State University.
Professional Awards or Accolades:Licensed Professional Counselor in GA, National Certified Counselor
Want to congratulate Shannon... email her.
so what is it that I do at Tech?
I am the point person for most everything related to the graduate program in the Biomedical Engineering department. I help manage the admission process for new students, then counsel and advise them as needed after they arrive. Much of my job is administrative, helping the students and faculty navigate departmental and institutional policies and procedures. Our joint department with Emory means that there are two sets of policies, forms, records, computer systems, etc so there is a lot to keep up with! My goal is to help everyone get the answers they need.
what is the best advice you give your students?
Balance is key. Graduate students are managing a lot -- they are both students and employees who often also have families. It's a critical transition time in life and there are many high expectations. My best advice is to find time to relax and keep it all in perspective.
favorite part of my job...
When students drop by just to say hi.
i learned from students that...
There are always going to be special circumstances and it's important to be compassionate even while needing to follow the rules.
favorite things at Tech...
Basketball (I'm a Tar Heel as well as a Yellow Jacket!), walking across campus and imagining what everyone is up to, teaching GT1000, my co-workers in BME, and of course -- the students!
when I am not at Tech...
I am enjoying my family -- my husband, Patrick (who is a Tech alum and huge sportsfan, too), and our 2-year-old daughter, Emma (who chants Yellow Jackets and Tar Heels, but amazingly doesn't mix them up!).
how would I describe GTAAN or what have I learned from GTAAN?
GTAAN is an incredible resource for networking and sharing information and ideas. When I moved from Undergraduate Admissions to BME, I immediately started attending GTAAN meetings so that I could meet my peers. There weren't a lot of graduate advisors attending then, but now we have a large and active group with the GTAAN Graduate Committee. I can always count on finding an answer for a challenging question, a tip on how to do something better, and a sympathetic ear when needed!
