Contact Admissions

The GSB Admissions Committee is a talented group of professionals dedicated to student service. Our goal is to be as helpful, available, and committed to assisting prospective students in selecting the right business school. The Admissions Office is the primary point of contact for prospective GSB students. Feel free to contact us at any time, should you need anything.

Office of Admissions and Financial Aid
The University of Chicago
Graduate School of Business
5807 South Woodlawn Avenue
Chicago, Illinois 60637
Telephone: 773.702.7369
Fax: 773.702.9085
admissions@ChicagoGSB.edu

Who We Are

Rosemaria Martinelli
Associate Dean, Student Recruitment and Admissions

Rose assumed her current position as Associate Dean for Student Recruitment and Admissions in May 2005. Prior to coming to Chicago GSB, she was Director of MBA Admissions and Financial Aid for five years at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania where she led the team that transformed the MBA admissions process, focusing on transparency, effective communications and engagement of key constituent groups in the admissions process (alumni, students and corporate partners).

Rose received both her undergraduate and master’s degrees in vocal performance from Northwestern University, spending the first 15 years of her career as a professional opera and concert singer. In 1995, she joined the staff of the President’s Office of the University of Pennsylvania before joining the Wharton MBA Admissions Office.

Kurt Ahlm
Director of Admissions

Kurt joined the Office of Admissions in the Fall of 2002. He started his career in admissions working for Northwestern University’s Office of Undergraduate Admissions. After four years serving as both an Assistant and Sr. Assistant Director, he moved on to the corporate recruiting world where he spent two years as a Manager of Campus Recruiting for PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Kurt grew up in the Chicagoland area and currently lives on the northside, a homeruns distance from Wrigley Field, with his wife two kids and their German Shepard. Kurt holds both his undergraduate and masters degree from Northwestern University.

Kurt coordinates the day to day operations of the Admissions Office and works closely with Dean to formulate new strategies for the office.

Eddie Pulliam
Senior Associate Director of Admissions

Eddie joined the Admissions Office in 1987 and held several positions before becoming Associate Director. Prior to coming to the Admissions Office, he worked for the University of Chicago Hospitals, Development and Comptroller Offices. Along with recruiting, reading applications and interviewing candidates for Chicago GSB, his primary responsibility is spearheading recruitment initiatives for under-represented minorities including African American, Hispanic American, Native American, women and gays and lesbians. He has served as a co-chair for the annual Graduate Management Admission Counsel (GMAC) conference and manages the visa process with the Office of International Affairs for incoming international students.

Eddie received his bachelor's degree from Chicago State University in 1979. An avid trivia and movie buff, (appearing as an extra in several major movie productions!), he volunteers for the Blind Services Association and enjoys running. Eddie has lived on the south side of the city in the Chatham neighborhood all of his life and enjoys all of the hidden treasures that visitors to Chicago rarely see.

Joanne Legler
Associate Director of Admissions

Joanne has been with the GSB's Admissions Office since September of 2006. She previously worked as Assistant Director of Admission at Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Joanne received her bachelor’s degree in American Studies from Hamilton College in 1997 and her M.Ed in Student Affairs from the University of Delaware in 2001. Joanne lives in the South Loop and loves living close to the Lake and the Museum Campus. She is originally from New York and is a die hard Yankees fan!

Joanne is responsible for supervising our Graduate Assistant staff, writing our monthly e-newsletter and moderating the online discussion forums. She most enjoys reading applications and interacting with prospective students, and loves the travel she gets to do to promote the GSB.

Donna Swinford
Senior Associate Director of Operations and Technology Management

Donna joined the Office of Admissions in 2005. Donna is responsible for handling all issues related to technology, application systems and operations. Prior to moving to Admissions she held the positions of Project Manager for the computing services office and Information Services Manager in MBA Career Services at Chicago GSB. Donna was integral in the development and implementation of our online application system. Donna has been at Chicago GSB since 1997.

Donna and her husband live in Chicago along with their three children.

Andrea joined the GSB admissions team in August of 2007. Previously, she spent five years as the Undergraduate Program Coordinator at the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Nursing managing recruitment, admissions and student advising for the bachelor's of science in nursing program. Her additional experience in higher education includes positions as the New Student Coordinator and Director of Student Management at the International Academy of Design and Technology in downtown Chicago. Andrea's responsibilities at the GSB include moderating the online discussion forums and working closely with the Dean's Student Admission Committee (DSAC).

Andrea grew up in a small town north of Minneapolis, Minnesota and hopes to someday retire far away from the snow. She received her bachelor's degree from Drake University and moved to Chicago in 1998. Andrea currently lives in the Lakeview neighborhood of Chicago and is an avid Cubs fan.

Carrie Lydon
Assistant Director of Admissions

Carrie joined the GSB admissions team in August of 2008. Prior to joining the Admissions Office, she served as the Development Director for Girls in the Game, where she led the organization's resource development and event planning. Her professional experience also includes non-profit development and management with the Center for Economic Progress. Carrie received her bachelor's degree from Ball State University in 2001. In addition to serving on the Admissions Committee, her responsibilities include planning prospective student events and moderating the online discussion forums.

A Chicagoland native, she currently resides on the south side, between Chinatown and US Cellular Field. In her free time, she enjoys performing throughout Chicago with her band, volunteering, and running along the lakefront.