Meet the Staff
Administrative Support
Amber Thomas (Tampa campus)
Title: Executive Administrative Specialist to Dean Ruth Bahr
Phone: (813) 396-0344
Email: amberthomas2@usf.edu
Meet Amber, a highly skilled and experienced executive assistant based in Florida.
With a proven track record of success, she has honed her abilities to manage complex
tasks, streamline processes, and provide exceptional support to executives and their
teams. Her deep roots in the community make her a trusted and respected figure among
colleagues and peers alike.
Beyond her work as an executive assistant, Amber is an avid supporter of education
and a champion of diversity and inclusion. In her free time, she volunteers with local
organizations and lends her time and expertise to causes she is passionate about.
Stephanie Harper, Ph.D.
Title: ETD Administrative Specialist
Email: stephanieha@usf.edu
Stephanie Harper is the Electronic Thesis & Dissertation Administrative Specialist
in the Office of Graduate Studies. She is a recent Ph.D. recipient from the University
of South Florida, specializing in nineteenth-century Literature and women writers.
She helps graduate students finalize their ETD formatting to ensure it adheres to
USF’s institutional guidelines. She also works as an Academic Coach and teaches courses
in First Year Writing and Literature.
Having recently undergone the dissertation process, she really enjoys the opportunity
to help guide students through this final step and working to make the process as
easy and straightforward as possible.
Gianna Taravella (Tampa campus)
Title: Web Content Administrator
Email: gtaravella@usf.edu
Gianna Taravella is the Web Content Administrator for the Office of Graduate Studies (OGS). Her work at USF includes management of the OGS website and social media outlets, as well as guiding students throughout the Electronic Thesis and Dissertation (ETD) processes. A Tampa native, she joined OGS after working in student administration and client-based marketing agencies in her hometown. She holds both a B.A. in Communication and a B.A. Advertising and Public Relations from The University of Tampa. In her free time, Gianna creates digital art, and enjoys family time, live music, and performances.