Meet Our Staff
Catherine Koverola
Dean of the Graduate School of Arts and Social Sciences
Phone: 617-349-8467
Email: koverola@lesley.edu
Dr. Catherine Koverola came to Lesley in July 2011 as Dean of the Graduate School of Arts and Social Sciences. Dr. Koverola previously worked at Antioch University Seattle where she served as Dean of the School of Applied Psychology, Counseling and Family Therapy as well as Interim Vice President of Academic Affairs. She has also served in a number of administrative posts such as Department Chair of Psychology and Director of the Alaska Rural Behavioral Health Training Academy at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. In Alaska, Dr. Koverola was the founding director of a doctoral program in psychology. Dr. Koverola began her academic career at the University of Manitoba in the Department of Psychology. Learn more.
Sandra B. Walker
Associate Dean, Academic and Administrative Affairs
Phone: 617-349-8449
Email: swalker6@lesley.edu
Sandra Browne Walker is Associate Dean for Academic and Administrative Affairs in the Graduate School of Arts and Social Sciences at Lesley University. She has oversight of financial, administrative, and academic affairs, including the planning and implementation of academic policies, procedures, and systems, managing faculty personnel procedures, and coordinating curricula issues and faculty development initiatives. Originally from Trinidad and Tobago, she lives in Hyde Park, MA with her son, Christopher. She is also a member of the Board of Bar Overseers and has served on the Board of Boston Trinity Academy, Troubadours, Cambridge Center for Adult Education and Museum of Fine Arts – Multi-Cultural Audience Development Committee. In addition to her other roles, she volunteers for People Making a Difference and Bethel AME Church. Sandra received her MBA from Simmons College School of Management. In her spare time, she loves reading, traveling and baking.
Laraine Sheridan
Executive Assistant to the Dean
Phone: 617-349-8467
Email: lsherid2@lesley.edu
Laraine manages the schedule and administrative responsibilities of the Dean and provides support for the Dean’s advancement initiatives for the Graduate School of Arts and Social Sciences. She came to Lesley in November 2010 from Harvard University where she served as Alumni Relations and Annual Fund Coordinator at the Kennedy School of Government. Prior to that she spent several years as a Legislative Aide to the Governor of Massachusetts, the Massachusetts House of Representatives and the Massachusetts Senate. Laraine graduated from the University of Massachusetts with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English.
Elizabeth Chambers
Coordinator for Institute and Special Projects
Phone: 617-349-8833
Email: echambe5@lesley.edu
Beth Chambers is the Coordinator of Institutes and Special Projects in the Graduate School of Social Sciences, developing conferences, speaker series and other special events for the Lesley community and professionals in the field with the Institute for Arts in Health and the Psychology and the Other Institute. Beth also coordinates the credit option program at Lesley University, and facilitates the course evaluation process for the school. Beth is a graduate of the Lesley University MA program in Counseling and Psychology, and received her BA from Dartmouth College. She enjoys traveling and backpacking with her family.
Angela Crawford Ervin
Budget Manager
Phone: 617-349-8466
Email: aervin@lesley.edu
Angela is responsible for the budget development, expense monitoring, and financial stewardship for the Graduate School of Arts and Social Sciences at Lesley University. She joined the Dean's Office in 2012 after serving in Lesley's Human Resources Department. Angela has extensive leadership experience in the public, non-profit, and private sectors. Her vast work experience includes accounting, human resources, and administrative roles. Angela holds a Bachelor of Science in Human Services from Cambridge College and an Associate Degree in Business Administration from Roxbury Community College. Away from work, Angela enjoys spending time with her family and volunteering at several local non-profit organizations.
Laura Gerhard
Administrative Coordinator, Accreditation
Ph.D. Program
Phone: 617-349-8434
Email: lgerhard@lesley.edu
Laura has been in the Dean's office since 2009. She is responsible for the coordination of the accreditation processes for GSASS, as well as the administrative coordination of the Expressive Therapies Doctoral Program. She graduated with a BS in Communications from Emerson College. She enjoys reading, drinking coffee and spending her free time with her family on Cape Cod or skiing in Vermont.
Bailey Ray
Web Content Development Coordinator
Administrative Coordinator, Academic Affairs
Phone: 617-349-8175
Email: bray2@lesley.edu
Bailey has been in the Dean’s Office since 2012, where she is responsible for the development and coordination of all online content for the Graduate School of Arts and Social Sciences. She also provides administrative coordination for curricular and academic affairs issues. She holds a B.A. in English from Green Mountain College, and an M.A. in English from Simmons College. Her scholarly work focuses on issues of race and gender in American narratives, with an emphasis on film and television, and has appeared in both online and print resources on gender and civil rights history in America. Outside of work, Bailey enjoys good food and travel.