Dr. Scheidel leads ongoing efforts to provide holistic and inclusive support to all UConn students and alumni interested in pursuing postgraduate study to enter the health and legal professions. Sarah is a proud first-generation college graduate, having earned a BA in Psychology from Bay Path University, an MS in Applied Educational Psychology (College Student Development and Counseling) from Northeastern University, and an EdD in Educational Leadership from the University of Hartford. Prior to serving as the PPA Director, Sarah led the First Year Experience (FYE) program at UConn; prior to FYE, Sarah served as an Academic Advisor in the Department of Psychological Sciences. Before UConn, Sarah worked in TRiO Student Support Services at Springfield Technical Community College and in Residence Life and Housing at Emmanuel College. Sarah brings her experience of building peer mentorship programs, designing curriculum, promoting diversity and inclusion, and engaging authentically with students to the dynamic staff team in the Office of Pre-Professional Advising. In her free time, Sarah enjoys cooking or trying new restaurants with her partner, catching up on her favorite TV shows, rooting on the NY Rangers, and cuddling with her two cats, Ginger and Pepper.

Krista serves as the Assistant Director of Pre-Professional Advising. She received her BA in Japanese Studies (IMJR) from UConn and her MA in TESL from Simmons University, returning to UConn as professional staff in Enrichment Programs in 2015. She enjoys connecting with everyone from first-semester students to alumni through advising. In particular, she encourages the development of their diverse passions while on a pre-health professional track–whether in the form of artistic/musical pursuits, parallel plans of study, or hobbies for fun. Anything can be tied back to the Core Competencies for professional school! She also takes a leading role in coaching applicants to medical and dental schools through the office’s applicant support processes. In her free time, Krista enjoys teaching Japanese at UConn, translating for an online news blog, teaching ice skating to young children, hiking, and playing with her energetic yellow lab, Lexi.

Megan Baro serves as a Health Professions Advisor in the Office of Pre-Professional Advising. In this role, Megan supports and advises students and alumni interested in pursuing careers in the health professions. Megan is a proud Blue Hen and received a B.S. in Human Services from the University of Delaware. She also received a M.S. in Human Resource Development from Xavier University, with a focus on learning & development, career development, and organizational development. Prior to joining the Office of Pre-Professional Advising, Megan worked for the Honors Program at UConn, and previously worked in Human Resources. Megan has professional experience in student development, program coordination, and managing people-related initiatives such as employee onboarding, early-career recruitment, and intern programs. In her free time, Megan enjoys being outdoors, traveling, and spending quality time with her family and two cats.

Christina serves as a Pre-Professional Advisor in the Office of Pre-Professional Advising. She works to support students and alumni interested in pursuing postgraduate study to enter the health and legal professions. She has an BA in Communication Sciences from Case Western Reserve University and her MA in Higher Education and Student Affairs from The Ohio State University. She has been working for UConn since 2009 but has still not seen a basketball game in person. In her free time, she enjoys baking, sewing, watching far too much TV, sneaking treats to her dog, and napping.

Dr. Sanford has been with UConn for over forty years, serving in various roles at the UConn Medical School including Director of Financial Assistance, Director of Admissions, and Assistant Dean for Medical Student Affairs and Admissions. He joined the Honors & Enrichment team in 2010 as a Pre-Health Advisor and has contributed to the development and support of programs in the department. He cherishes connections with students, alumni, faculty, and staff through university service advising and teaching activities at Storrs and Farmington.