Dr. Tina Tao

Tina earned her B.S. in chemistry from Gettysburg College in 2005, M.A. in inorganic chemistry from the University of Delaware in 2008, and Ed.D. in Higher Ed Administration from Northeastern University in 2021. She was the organic chemistry lab coordinator at York College of Pennsylvania before arriving at St. Lawrence in 2012, first teaching general chemistry labs and eventually teaching in the First Year Program. Her FYP courses include Sherlock Holmes and the Art and Science of Reasoning (co-taught with Jeff Maynes) and Spice, Sex, and Science: History through the Eyes of a Chemist.

As the Executive Director for Advising, Retention, and Student Success, she develops strategies and programs to help students feel connected and committed to St. Lawrence. She coordinates efforts on supporting first-generation college students and introducing high-achieving first-year students to future opportunities on campus and beyond. She also provides one-on-one advising to students seeking help with course selection, plan their major/minor (including multi-field majors), provide guidance on navigating academic procedures and processes, and connect students with academic and co-curricular mentors and activities.

She also works with the Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP) and the First Year Program (FYP). 

Her research looks at understanding the experience of underrepresented racially minoritized and first-generation college students taking introductory STEM courses in their first year and how belonging and persistence plays a part in retaining these students in the STEM fields. 

A Lancaster (pronounced: LANG-kiss-ter), PA native, she enjoys family time with her husband, Jeff, and their mini goldendoodle, Chompsky (her retention "pawfficer"). Tina is a board-game enthusiast, sings alto with The Any Music Singers (TAMS), a novice drummer, and hopes to one day meet a majestic moose in the Adirondacks.