Skip to main content

Who You'll Work With in Student Life

Each member of the Office of Student Life staff is most interested in one thing - the well-being of Point Park students. Whether you live in one of the University residence halls or are a commuter student, the Student Life staff is a resource for you.

Professional Staff
Michael Gieseke, Dean of Student Life

Michael Gieseke
Assistant Vice President of Student Affairs
Dean of Student Life

Office: 703 Student Center
Phone: 412-392-8027
Fax: 412-392-3855
Email: mgieseke@pointpark.edu

Michael Gieseke manages the day-to-day operations of the Office of Student Life, which includes campus housing, residence life, student activities and health and counseling services. He is highly involved with students, including advising the Student Government Association (SGA), and serves in the University's emergency on-call system.
D-McCoy-002.jpg

Desmond McCoy
Director of Student Services

Office: 711 Student Center
Phone: 412-392-8028
Fax: 412-392-3855
Email: dmccoy@pointpark.edu 

Desmond McCoy works with various offices and the University community to create a positive learning environment for all students and directly oversees the areas of Commuter Resources, the U-Pass Program, the Study Abroad Program, and Veteran Services.

Director of Residence Life

Office: 714 Student Center
Phone: 412-392-8026
Fax: 412-392-3855
Email: studentlife@pointpark.edu 

The Director of Residence Life is responsible for overseeing all of the functions of the residence halls and the residence hall staff.


Director of Student Activities, Involvement and Leadership (SAIL)

Office: 102 Student Center
Phone: 412-392-4793
Fax: 412-392-3855
Email: SAIL@pointpark.edu 

The Director of SAIL oversees all student programming and activities on campus. The director advises the Campus Activities Board (CAB), helping students plan activities on and off campus. They also work with all student organizations and clubs at Point Park as well as serves in the emergency on-call rotation.
Maria Ochoa, Resident Director

Maria Ochoa
Resident Director

Office: 713 Student Center
Phone: 412-392-8033
Fax: 412-392-3855
Email: mochoa@pointpark.edu

Maria Ochoa oversees both the sophomore and junior/senior residential education programs. She works to help upper-level residents transition and grow as they advance within the University. Likewise, she supervises an Assistant Resident Director and manages the Resident Educators (REs) who live in the upper-level student areas. She acts as an administrator-on-duty, serving in a rotation that provides 24/7 coverage of the residence halls.
Photo of Cindy Pietrakowski

Cindy Pietrakowski
Resident Director

Office: 712 Student Center
Phone: 412-392-3828
Fax: 412-392-3855
Email: cpietrakowski@pointpark.edu

Cindy Pietrakowski oversees the freshmen education program. She works to help freshmen residents transition and grow as they advance within the University. Likewise, she supervises an Assistant Resident Director and manages the Resident Educators (REs) who live in freshmen student areas. She acts as an administrator-on-duty, serving in a rotation that provides 24/7 coverage of the residence halls.