Graduate School

Staff Spotlight: Michael Anzalone, Assistant Director of Admissions and PhD Funding

In his first few months at Brown, Michael Anzalone, alongside the Graduate School admissions team, developed and deployed a brand new admissions processing platform, Slate. In his role, Anzalone is primarily responsible for developing, maintaining, and supporting the admissions and funding systems within the Graduate School. He started at Brown last May.

Michael Anzalone headshot in a dark jacket in front of a cabinet of books“It’s been a collaborative effort to create something that not only meets our needs but is built for growth,” says Anzalone about the new platform.

Beyond Slate, Anzalone plays a crucial role in leading the Graduate School admissions team and creating user-friendly documentation to guide stakeholders across campus. He also works closely with Graduate School colleagues to optimize other business processes through advanced technologies.

In thinking about his new position, Anzalone shared, “my number one priority is to understand how admissions and funding has been handled at Brown in previous years. You can’t improve systems or practices without fully grasping how they work and why they were designed in a certain way. For instance, when building application review processes for PhD programs, I prioritized meeting with as many programs as possible to learn about their unique needs. This ensures our system supports their efforts while fostering transparency and reliable communication.”

His favorite part about working at Brown is the campus community. “I'm thrilled to work at a campus that is so beautiful and connected to Providence. I truly feel a sense of belonging here as I walk the streets of the East Side and meet colleagues across campus.”

Anzalone also shares that he’s been struck by the professionalism in all aspects of the University. “I am fortunate that I am able to interact with a wide range of roles at the University and I have found a high level of dedication and pride for quality work in every department.”

Looking ahead, Anzalone is optimistic about his future at Brown. “I feel incredibly fortunate to be part of a team that values each individual’s strengths,” he said. “I'd just like to shout out my fantastic team as they make each day exciting and unique. The work that we do relies heavily on the individual strengths of each team member and I am pleased with the way that we've all come together to get things done.”