Monica F. Jacobe, Director of Advising, leads the advising team for Wharton Undergrad and is the primary contact for Wharton-approved study abroad programs in France and Italy. She came to Wharton in the summer of 2022 and has spent over 20 years in higher education in a variety of faculty and leadership roles serving domestic, international, and multilingual learners. A first-generation college student herself, Monica seeks to empower students with all kinds of intersectional identities to be agents of their own success. She holds a Ph.D. in English Language & Literature from The Catholic University of America, an MFA in Creative Writing from The American University, and a BA in English and Mass Communication from Emory & Henry College. She still writes, thinks, and publishes scholarly and creative work—which she thinks is fun. Monica can be reached at jacobem@wharton.upenn.edu.
Lisa Burton-Grika, Sr. Associate Director, joined the advising team just prior to spring 2019. Lisa prioritizes creating a welcoming atmosphere for any student who walks into her office and invites students to bring with them the traditions, values, circumstances, and beliefs that help define who they are. Lisa is the primary contact for students who are returning from a leave of absence or who request/require additional supports through campus resources including Student Health Services, Student Disabilities Services, and Student Intervention Services. She is the liaison to various academic resource centers on campus including CAPS, the Weingarten Learning Resource Center, and the Tutoring Center. Lisa is a native of Chicago and earned a B.A. in psychology from Northwestern University and an M.S.Ed. in psychological services from the Graduate School of Education at the University of Pennsylvania. She regularly supports and attends live performances, dabbles in creative crafts like needlework and jewelry making, and enjoys traveling with her family and sampling locally-sourced foods. Lisa can be reached at lburt@wharton.upenn.edu.
Zachery Colburn, Academic Advisor, joined the advising team in the fall of 2023. As a higher education professional, Zachery is passionate about providing equal opportunities and equity for all students in higher education. Zachery began his studies at Central Piedmont Community College before transferring to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he earned a B.A. in Political Science and Public Policy. Before his career in higher education, Zachery served in the U.S. Army for nine years, three years on active duty, and six years in regular reserves. When he’s not working, Zachery is a casual runner, enjoys watching sports, playing video games, and loves exploring new food and places. Zachery can be reached at zcolburn@wharton.upenn.edu.
Celina Gray, Senior Director of Academic Affairs, came to Penn in fall 2018. She oversees the Wharton Undergraduate advising program and is the primary contact for Wharton-approved study abroad programs in Germany and the Netherlands and non-Wharton programs. Celina began her higher education career as a professor of classical archaeology, with her research focused on funerary imagery and issues of citizenship and immigration in ancient Athens. She earned her B.A. in Greek from Vassar College & her M.A. and Ph.D. in ancient history and Mediterranean archaeology from the University of California, Berkeley. In her spare time, Celina loves to cook, is a grave gardener at the Woodlands Cemetery, and is learning to play cello. Celina can be reached at celina@wharton.upenn.edu.
Maggie Ho, Academic Advisor, joined the advising team in the fall of 2023. Maggie comes to Wharton with admissions and recruiting experience from Drexel University, her alma mater where she graduated with a B.S. in Business Administration, concentrating in Marketing. As a first-generation high school and college graduate, Maggie is passionate about mentoring students and bridging them to their full potential through academic and professional experiences. In her spare time, Maggie enjoys photography and video editing, reading, and spending time with her family. Maggie can be reached at maggieho@wharton.upenn.edu.
Tim Hobart, Associate Director, joined the advising team in spring 2022. Tim is a higher-education professional and has varied advising experience having previously served as assistant director of student success at Western New England University. He draws on his diverse student affairs background to shape his advising practices; he is passionate about helping students find their path and develop their leadership skills. Tim earned his B.A. in history and political science from Union College (NY), an M.Litt in environmental history from the University of St. Andrews (Scotland), and an M.A. in public policy from Trinity College (CT). Outside of work, Tim loves to travel, explore new places with his dog, and enjoys NBC’s Parks and Rec and Apple TV’s Ted Lasso. Tim can be reached at: thobart@wharton.upenn.edu.
Sarah Hoobler, Academic Advisor, joined the advising team in the fall of 2023. Sarah comes to Wharton with academic advising experience from Drexel University, her alma mater where she graduated with a B.S. in Psychology. Prior to starting her career in higher education, Sarah earned her M.A.T. in Secondary Education, serving as a middle school teacher. Outside of work, Sarah is a huge Philly sports fan and enjoys watching and going to sports games, hanging out with her goldendoodle puppy, and loves to travel. Sarah can be reached at shoobler@wharton.upenn.edu.
Lisa Parladé, Associate Director, is a higher education professional passionate about being a resource for students and aiding them in the realization of their goals in college and beyond. Lisa earned her Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration from Morgan State University, her M.Ed. in Student Affairs Leadership from Widener University and her B.A. in Latin American Studies from Temple University. Lisa has varied advising experience having served as a senior academic advisor at Temple University and a college advisor at Towson University, and she pulls from her diverse student-affairs background that helps inform her advising philosophy and practice. Outside of work, Lisa enjoys spending time with her dog, puttering around her garden, and volunteering. Lisa is also a huge fan of genealogy which stems in no small part from her belief in the Akan proverb, that “if I stand tall, it is because I stand on the shoulders of many ancestors.” Lisa can be reached at parlade@wharton.upenn.edu.
Francesca Pugh-Opher, Associate Director, joined the advising team in the fall of 2022. Francesca has experience in teaching, program management, and academic advising. Francesca is passionate about empowering students and helping students achieve their educational and career goals. Francesca draws on her varied experiences in higher education to inform her advising practices. Francesca earned her B.A. degree in Criminal Justice from Temple University, her M.A. in Elementary Education from Arcadia University, and a Ph.D. in Education from Walden University. Outside of work, Francesca enjoys traveling abroad, learning French, cooking, and playing with her four cats. Francesca can be reached at fpugh@wharton.upenn.edu.
Amanda Simpson, Associate Director, joined the advising team in spring 2023. She holds an M.A. in Higher Education and Student Affairs from New York University and a B.A. in Spanish from Mercer University. She has a diverse set of experiences including advising transfer and international students and student organizations, developing student life programs, facilitating orientation programs, teaching and admissions and recruiting. Amanda is passionate about cross-cultural exchange and enjoys supporting students throughout their academic careers. Outside of work, Amanda enjoys spending time with her family and friends, watching good movies and TV shows, and attending fun events like music festivals and concerts. Amanda can be reached at asimps1@wharton.upenn.edu.