Michael Puma was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York and is a graduate of Fordham University (BS, Psychology & American Studies) and Syracuse University (MsEd, Higher Education). He is currently completing a doctoral degree in Higher Education Administration at the University of Maryland, College Park. He spent his first nine years at Loyola in the Office of Residence Life & Housing serving as both an Assistant Director and Associate Director for Living-Learning Initiatives. In 2011, Puma was named the Student Development Director of Messina. As Director of Messina, he designed and implemented yearly training and professional development opportunities for over 200 faculty, administrators, staff members and student leaders. Additionally, organized programming associated with the first-year Common Text, facilitated academic support sessions for Summer Orientation and Fall Welcome Week and served as a resource for first-year advisors. In 2017, he was recognized as an Outstanding First-Year Advocate Award by the National Resource Center for The First-Year Experience and Students in Transition. In his role as Dean, Mike works closely with the Academic Advising and Support Center, The Study, and the Office of the Dean of Undergraduate Studies to help individual students in their formation during challenging times and to develop programs and practices that raise the academic success of all students. At Loyola, Mike has also served as president of Loyola's Phi Beta Kappa chapter and is a member of OUT Loyola - Loyola's LGBTQ group for faculty, staff and administrators. He also is a trained Loyola Safe Zone and Step Up! Bystander Intervention Facilitator and a member of the Strategic Plan steering committee.

Mary Beth joined the Loyola University Maryland community in 2004 and has served as the director of student support services since 2007. Prior to coming to Loyola, Mary Beth spent 10 years at The Johns Hopkins University Behavioral Pharmacology Research Unit. Mary Beth earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from Wheeling Jesuit University, her Master of Arts degree in Clinical Psychology from Loyola University Maryland, and her Doctorate of Philosophy in Education Policy, Planning, and Administration, from the University of Maryland, College Park.

Leslie A. Chiles, M.A., is the Program Director for Student Success Initiatives. She holds a Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology from Towson University. She joined the Loyola community in 2006 as an Assistant Director in the Academic Advising and Support Center (AASC). She assumed the role of Associate Director in 2017 and joined the Office of Undergraduate and Graduate Studies in 2019.

Leslie is Loyola’s Learning Disabilities Specialist and manages a caseload of over 200 students with Learning Disabilities and ADHD. She works closely with Disability Support Services to support these students in accessing their accommodations and meeting their needs. Leslie works closely with Loyola students who have been placed on academic probation, managing that process and providing individual and group support to assist students in attaining good academic standing. She is the academic co-coordinator of the Ignatius Scholars Program which provides opportunities to students who identify as first-generation college students, demonstrate significant financial need, or come from diverse backgrounds.

Heidi was born and raised in Montgomery County, MD, to parents from El Salvador, and is a first-generation college student. Heidi obtained her Bachelor of Arts in psychology with a concentration in developmental psychology and a minor in education from Trinity Washington University. After earning her bachelor’s degree, Heidi worked at the University of Maryland, College Park as a Faculty Research Assistant in the Human Development and Methodology Department. Prior to joining the Loyola community in March 2023, Heidi was a Program Coordinator at non-profit organization in Montgomery County, MD and served as a College Access Advisor by advising students from underserved backgrounds seek higher education opportunities. Currently, she is a graduate student in the school counseling program in the School of Education at Loyola. As an academic success coach, Heidi guides students through time-management, prioritization, organization, communication, and any academic skills students may need to succeed. She works with students who are referred to success coaching by the Dean and Assistant Dean of Undergraduate Studies. Heidi works closely with Loyola students who have been placed on academic probation by providing individual support to assist students in achieving good academic standing. She also advises students in the Ignatius Scholars Program who identify as first-generation college students, demonstrate significant financial need, or come from diverse backgrounds. Heidi works closely with the First-Generation Hounds Alliance (FGHA) student organization and alongside Mary Beth Mudric to develop and plan student success initiatives

Carla Taliaferro was born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland. Carla worked for Johns Hopkins University supporting two professors in the area of Women, Work, and the Family. She served in the United States Marine Corps for eight years, serving in California, Japan, and Mississippi as a Data Controller and a Recruiter. After her discharge, she earned a Bachelor of Science in Information Systems from University of Maryland Baltimore County. Carla has made a career of serving the public through settling insurance claims with a major automobile insurance company. She recently returned to her roots in the academic arena, aspiring to assist in the growth and development of Loyola’s first year students through the Messina Program.

Sandra Dargakis is the Executive Assistant for the Office of the Dean of Undergraduate Studies, supporting Michael Puma and Dr. Mary Beth Mudric. She holds a Master of Arts in Emerging Media from Loyola University Maryland and a Bachelor of Arts in Management/Leadership from the Johns Hopkins University. With a long history of office experience and business management, she joined the Loyola community in September 2017 as the Program Assistant for the Mathematics & Statistics Department, Chemistry & Biochemistry Department, and the Undergraduate Data Science Program. She assumed the role of Executive Assistant for the Office of Undergraduate Studies in March 2023. Sandra has been active in Staff Council since 2017, a group that represents the interests and concerns of all levels of non-exempt personnel employed by Loyola University Maryland. Sandra is also a member of Alpha Sigma Nu.