Meet the Staff

Assistant Dean for Graduate Student Life

Ghada Endick

Ghada Endick (she/her) has been a long-standing member of the Rutgers University-New Brunswick community and served in a multitude of leadership roles within academic and student affairs for graduate student life, orientation and transition programs, student engagement, learning communities, and residence education. As the Assistant Dean for Graduate Student Life at Rutgers, she is responsible for supporting the quality of life for the graduate student experience, advocating for graduate students, and connecting graduate students to university resources. Dean Endick welcomes conversations with students to talk about their graduate student experiences.

Office Hours: By appointment. Email gendick@echo.rutgers.edu.

Assistant Director

Kelly Martini

Kelly Martini (she/her) joined the RU-NB family as an undergrad in 2003. She holds a B.A. from Rutgers College and, more recently, an Ed.M. from the Rutgers Graduate School of Education, where she is currently pursuing her Ed.D. Kelly has worked with graduate students since 2019 and is committed to creating inclusive and empowering spaces for them to thrive. As a first-gen, post-traditional student, Kelly brings both lived experience and professional expertise to her work in student support, advocacy, and program development. She is passionate about equitable access and asset-based approaches that center the student voice.

Office Hours: By appointment. Email martini@rutgers.edu.

Program Coordinator

Jillian Lynch

Jillian Lynch joined the Rutgers New Brunswick community in 2023 and serves as the Program Coordinator for the offices of Graduate Student Life and Student Orientation and Transition Programs. She holds a Master's in Communication and Media from Rutgers School of Communication and Information. In her role, she leads the administrative tasks of the office while aiding in event support, planning, and customer service. She is passionate about creating a welcoming environment for students and creating easy-to-follow processes to help students in their journey at Rutgers. 

Jillian is available via email at jl3341@echo.rutgers.edu.

Graduate Program Coordinator for Graduate Student Life

Shurafa Thowfeeq

Shurafa Thowfeeq is a Graduate Social Work Intern at the Office of Graduate Student Life. She is pursuing her Master of Social Work with a concentration in Policy and Management at Rutgers University, where she also earned her B.A. in Psychology. As a Cooper Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship recipient, she investigated goal-striving stress in academic environments and later completed an honors thesis on academic integrity and AI. Her work reflects a broader interest in how educational policy and equity frameworks can support student well-being. Alongside her research, Shurafa has worked as a writing tutor and learning assistant, experiences that deepened her commitment to creating inclusive, supportive student spaces.

Grad Student Life Weekly Digest Coordinator

Victoria Brown

Victoria is a Ph.D. candidate in the Cell and Developmental Biology program. Her primary research interests are in cell morphogenesis, development, and genetics! Victoria has a passion for providing students with support through their academic journeys. As a result, she has developed initiatives to support students at her alma mater Kenyon College and has mentored dozens of students throughout her academic career. She is the current President of the Graduate Student Association (GSA) and was previously the President for the Council of Black Graduates. Victoria's long-term goals are to contribute to the field of knowledge and make academia more accessible, diverse, equitable, and inclusive to all.

Graduate Program Coordinator for Graduate Student Affinity Groups 

Brianna Lopez

Brianna Lopez is a 3rd year PhD student in the Social Psychology program. Her research examines the self-identification and identity-related experiences of individuals with pluralistic or fluid identities, as well as what factors shape how others view these individuals. She is also broadly interested in prejudice reduction and improving diversity efforts, which she champions in both practice and research. She is a member of the Social Area Diversity and Climate Committee in her department and works to support initiatives that help graduate students succeed.

Graduate Social Work Intern for Graduate Student Life

Ariana Caruso

Ariana Caruso is a Graduate Social Work Intern at the Office of Graduate Student Life. She is pursuing her Master of Social Work at Rutgers University, building on a professional background in strategic communications and higher education. Prior to beginning her MSW, Ariana led communications initiatives at the Federal Reserve System and Drew University and served as an AmeriCorps VISTA. She is passionate about fostering inclusive, supportive environments where students feel empowered to thrive both personally and academically.

Graduate Student Parent Resource Navigator

Jacqueline Rodriguez

Jacqueline Rodriguez is a graduate student at Rutgers University School of Communication and Information, where she is pursuing a Master of Communication and Media with a research focus. A first-generation, non-traditional student, Jacqueline earned her B.A. in English, cum laude, and has a strong academic interest in leveraging communication systems to advance effective advocacy. With more than a decade of experience in community organizing and civic engagement, Jacqueline brings a commitment to helping individuals navigate complex systems to her new role as the Graduate Student Parent Resource Navigator.