Meet the Graduate Center Team

Dina Perrone, PhD
Interim Dean of Graduate Studies

Email: Dina.Perrone@csulb.edu 

Dr. Dina Perrone is the Interim Dean of Graduate Studies, serving under the leadership of the Provost. Dr. Perrone previously served as the Associate Dean for Graduate Studies, and as a full-professor in the CHHS School of Criminology, Criminal Justice, & Emergency Management at CSULB. She started as a faculty member in 2010, became a Graduate Advisor in 2014, and is a committed active mentor-teacher-scholar. She maintains a research agenda with about a half-million dollars in grants and is a director on the Board of a two-million dollar harm reduction non-profit. 

As the Interim Dean of Graduate Studies, Dr. Perrone promotes graduate student success; spearheads graduate student recruitment; collaborates with admissions and enrollment services to promote timely degree completion; partners with colleges and graduate programs to increase growth; develops and enhances, through shared governance, graduate studies-related policies; improves communication with, among, and between graduate advisors; implements and analyzes the graduate student entrance, exit, and alumni surveys; and leads the Graduate Center and the Thesis and Dissertation Office. 

Most importantly, Dr. Perrone collaborates across the campus and throughout the CSU system to elevate, highlight, and advocate for our CSULB graduate programs, our graduate advisors, and our graduate students. 

Ammisha Opoku-Boamah, MSHCA
Coordinator, The Graduate Center

Email: Ammisha.Opoku-Boamah@csulb.edu
Phone: (562) 985-8320
Office: Library (LIB) 211

Ammisha joined the Graduate Center in January 2024. Prior to joining the Graduate Center, Ammisha served as a Program Coordinator for a clinical, experiential learning program at health care consulting firm and Coordinator for the Office of Undergraduate Research Services at CSU, Long Beach.

Her educational background includes a Bachelor of Science in Health Science with a concentration in Healthcare Management with a summa cum laude recognition from CSU, Dominguez Hills and a Master of Science in Health Care Administration with honors recognition from CSU, Long Beach. Ammisha has supported first-generation students, like herself, navigate college campus through facilitating various workshops, mentorship, and partnerships with departments on campus. Her expertise involves supporting students who navigate higher education with the immigration status of being undocumented.

In addition to her joy supporting students navigating college, Ammisha enjoys spending time with family, eating fries, watching Korean and Chinese dramas, and dancing. If you see her on campus, ask her about her favorite type of fries! 

If you are a prospective CSULB student who would like to meet with Ammisha regarding graduate school opportunities at CSULB, you can request an appointment here. 

Jackie Morales, Ed.M 
Coordinator, The Graduate Center

Email: Jackie.Morales@csulb.edu
Phone: 562-985-5210
Office: LIB 214B

Jackie began her role at the Graduate Center in January 2024. Before coming to CSULB, she worked at UCSC for five years, directing academic tutoring and mentoring programs for all undergraduates at the university.  

Jackie’s work has focused on higher education student affairs, how to make learning accessible and equitable, college retention, and equity-oriented practices for first-generation, low-income, and underrepresented students. As a proud Latina first-generation college student, Jackie is dedicated to supporting students to thrive in their educational journey. In her current role, she oversees: programming for all current graduate students, CSULB graduate student advising, recruitment of prospective CSULB graduate students, the GradMentor program, the Graduate Travel Fellowship, and much more. Jackie received her undergraduate degree in Spanish & Legal studies from UC Santa Cruz and her master's degree in Higher Education Leadership from Harvard University. In her free time, Jackie enjoys outdoor runs, exploring coffee shops, and family time.

If you are a current CSULB student who would like to meet with Jackie, you can schedule a virtual or in person appointment through Beach Connect (for instructions on how to do so, click here).

Omar Hussein, MA
Graduate Writing Specialist, The Graduate Center 

Email: Omar.Hussein@csulb.edu
Tel: (562) 985-8946
Office: LIB 214A

Omar has worked as the graduate writing specialist at the Graduate Center since March 2017. In that role, he helps CSULB graduate students from all disciplines improve their writing skills and meet the expectations of various genres of academic writing, including abstracts, literature reviews, funding proposals, seminar papers, theses, and dissertations. Omar is particularly passionate about helping students overcome writing anxiety and other mental blocks that prevent them from being their most productive academic selves. 

In addition to supporting graduate writing, Omar supports the Graduate Center in various administrative duties, including assisting with website maintenance, scheduling workshops, and planning and hosting events. He also serves as the CSULB campus coordinator for the Sally Casanova Pre-Doctoral program. 

Prior to joining the Graduate Center, Omar worked as a graduate assistant (GA) in the Department of Comparative World Literature and Classics at CSULB, and before that he taught physics and chemistry in LA public schools. He earned a bachelor's in English literature and a master’s in teaching (MAT) from USC, along with a master’s in English literature and a certificate in technical and professional communication (or “professional writing”) from CSULB. In addition to his full-time role as the graduate “writing guy,” Omar is currently a part-time student in the MA in philosophy program at CSULB.

If you are a CSULB graduate student who would like to meet with Omar for writing support, you may request an appointment here.