Patrick O’Brien serves as a point of contact and resource for all students, faculty, and staff in communicating and interpreting GSAS (Graduate School of Arts and Sciences) policy and procedure. He monitors graduate students’ status in maintaining satisfactory academic progress and advises students on administrative interaction and processes within FAS and across campus, including issues related to a student’s progress toward the degree and non-resident status, for example traveling scholars and leaves of absence. He coordinates the transfer and readmission processes, the Exchange Scholar Program, the non-resident application process, the JD/PhD coordinated program, and annual events, including January@GSAS, GSAS Welcomes events, and the GSAS Commencement Diploma Awarding Ceremony. He advises students, faculty, and staff through all procedures and petitioning processes tied to registration and course enrollment and helps international students access English proficiency resources and coordinates the summer Professional Communication Program for new international graduate students. Assistant Dean O’Brien serves as a liaison to the MD/PhD program, to the Health Sciences & Technology program, and for all interfaculty PhD programs.