Professional & Continuing Studies

Click below to view biographical and contact information for members of the University of Delaware Division of Professional and Continuing Studies leadership team.

George Irvine Photo
George Irvine, Ph.D. Title: Associate Vice Provost, Division of Professional and Continuing Studies Department: PCS-Associate Provost (07401) Campus address: 136 501 South College Ave, Newark, DE 19716 Campus phone: 302-831-2894 Email: girvine@udel.edu

George has extensive experience building knowledge partnerships between universities and businesses/organizations in order to catalyze organizational and economic development. At the UD Lerner College of Business and Economics, George extended the college’s research-based knowledge to the Delaware and Mid-Atlantic business community via customized and open-enrollment executive education programs. In prior positions at UD, UNC Chapel Hill and IIE, George managed international education and technical assistance projects in partnership with US government agencies (USAID, DOC, USDA, and the State Department) and corporate foundations. George earned his PhD in Urban Affairs and Public Policy in May 2018 from the University of Delaware. His dissertation focused on the changing public identities of American research universities between 1975 and 2015. His teaching and research interests include research university publicness, international development public policy, corporate social responsibility and environmental policy. He has work and travel experience in twenty five (25) countries on four continents and is proficient in German and French.

Aviva Heyn photo
Aviva Heyn Title(s): Dir, Digital Learning , PCS-Academic Programs Department: PCS-Academic Programs (07410) Campus address: 501 S. College Ave, Newark, DE 19716 Campus phone: 302-831-3933 Email: aheyn@udel.edu

Aviva Heyn serves as Director of Digital Learning at the University of Delaware’s Division of Professional and Continuing Studies. She leads instructional design, state authorization compliance, and the UD Online Testing Center. She also supports the planning for and management of UD Online programs with campus partners. Prior to joining the University of Delaware, she worked at an educational technology startup in Southern California. Aviva earned her Doctor of Education (EdD) in Educational Leadership at the University of Delaware. She holds a MA in Social Anthropology from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, Israel. Her undergraduate degree, also from the Hebrew University, is in Art History, Sociology, and Anthropology. Aviva has experience with teaching and designing instruction for blended and online learning environments, including immersive simulations, serious games, and mobile learning. Her areas of interest include online learning, educational technology, and instructional design.

Steven Kendus photo
Adam Kamras, MA Title(s): Director, Communications Department: Graduate College & Division of Professional and Continuing Studies Campus address: Graduate College and Division of Professional and Continuing Studies Campus phone: 302-831-3893 Email: akamras@udel.edu

Adam S. Kamras is the director of communications for the University of Delaware Graduate College and the Division of Professional and Continuing Studies. Kamras manages the strategies, personnel, budgets, projects, deliverables and day-to-day operations of a marketing and communications team tasked with promoting credit, noncredit, professional development, academic advisement, customized training, UD Online and Osher Lifelong Learning Institute programs to prospective graduate students and nontraditional learners. He previously served as a communications specialist with the same team. During his time at UD, Kamras has received numerous awards from the Delaware Press Association, National Federation of Press Women, and University Professional and Continuing Education Association for his individual work and his contributions to projects completed by the marketing and communications team. Prior to his arrival at UD, he worked in public relations at Cecil College and athletic communications at Colby-Sawyer College, Monmouth University and the University of Pennsylvania. A member of the Colby-Sawyer College Athletic Hall of Fame, Kamras earned a B.A. in English writing with a minor in economics from the University of Pittsburgh and an M.A. in journalism and mass communication with a concentration in public relations from Kent State University.

Jennifer Merrill Photo
Michelle Parnell Photo
Michelle L. Parnell, M.A., M.Ed.  Title(s): Director, Student Services, PCS-Academic Programs Department: PCS-Academic Programs (07410) Campus address: 208 UD Online Resource Center, Newark, DE 19716 Campus phone: 302-831-8843 Email: mparnell@udel.edu

Michelle Parnell is the Manager of the Professional & Continuing Studies ACCESS Student Services Center. She is an accomplished student services professional with more than 20 years of career counseling and student advisement experience. Prior to working at the University of Delaware, Michelle was a therapist, specializing in counseling individuals with drug and alcohol and mental health disorders. Much of her early work was with counseling adolescents and young adults. Michelle has a Master of Arts (M.A.) and a Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Counseling Psychology from Teachers College, Columbia University. While in New York City, Michelle worked in the Office of Counseling & Psychological Services at Baruch College where she counseled students on therapeutic and educational/career issues.

Cynthia Rechsteiner, MBA Title(s): Business Officer, Graduate College and PCS Department: Graduate and Professional Educ (01501) Campus address: 140 501 South College Ave, Newark, DE 19716 Campus phone: 302-831-6870 Email: cindyr@udel.edu

Cindy Rechsteiner serves as the business officer for the University of Delaware Graduate College and Division of Professional and Continuing Studies. She also oversees the human resources and IT functions and groups.  Cindy has extensive experience in business and project management, creating budgets and projections, financial and cash flow analysis, and performance reporting. She possesses superior analytical, critical thinking, and decision making skills and is skilled in managing complex projects that produce exemplary results.  Prior to her business officer role, Cindy served as senior business administrator for UD PCS, business administrator for UD’s department of Plant and Soil Sciences, and senior accountant for the Delaware Biotechnology Institute. She also held finance and business management roles with Labrador Mobile and Fleet Bank.  Cindy has a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Boston University Graduate School of Management and a Bachelor of Science (BS) from the University of Illinois. She also completed UD certificate programs in Women’s Leadership, Management Essentials, and Valuing Diversity and Differences. 

Vic Wang Headshot

Vic Wang, MBA – Director, Noncredit Professional Programs Vic Wang is the director of noncredit professional programs for the University of Delaware’s Division of Professional and Continuing Studies (UD PCS), where he oversees the creation, management, and successful implementation of all online and face-to-face noncredit programs, certificates, workshops, conferences, and customized programs. Prior to serving in his current role in UD PCS, Vic served as manager of customized learning and noncredit program coordinator responsible for management of business- and IT-related programs. Vic has more than 12 years of higher education experience, primarily working with adult learners and community college transfer students. Prior to working with the University of Delaware, Vic served as assistant director of community and university partnerships for University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC), where he managed the UMGC Completion Scholarship Program, the largest scholarship program designed for community college transfer students in the state of Maryland. He provided services to 1,500+ students and managed a $2.75 million budget. He previously served as UMGC’s project manager tasked with redesigning and relaunching the Completion Scholarship Program. Vic earned his Master of Business Administration degree from Old Dominion University and his Bachelor of Science degree with triple majors in Management, Marketing and Global Trade from High Point University. He is an active member of the University Professional & Continuing Education Association, the leading association for professional, continuing and online education.