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Cornerstone Team
Cornerstone Staff
Brad KnightAssistant Dean of Undergraduate Education
Brad G. Knight serves as the Assistant Dean of Undergraduate Education at American University. He provides leadership, direction, and oversight for a wide spectrum of initiatives related to undergraduate education, including the university-wide general education program, AU Core, and residential living-learning programs, University College, AU Cornerstone, and Sophomore Living-Learning Communities. In this role, he focuses on curriculum design, student experience, institutional assessment and continuous improvement, and faculty development programs and events. Brad has also taught as an Adjunct Instructor at The George Washington University.
Courtney PollackAssociate Director, AU Centers Abroad
Courtney began her international adventure on a summer study abroad program while she was in high school in Annecy, France. After that experience, she decided to pursue her love of French language and history in her undergraduate and graduate studies and went on to spend a semester in Paris, France. After finishing her M.A. in French Studies from New York University, she worked as an advisor at an international secondary school before joining American University as the Program Advisor for World Languages and Cultures in August of 2012. In December 2015, she happily combined her passions of advising students and promoting international education and exchange by joining the AU Abroad team. As Associate Director of the AU Abroad Centers, Courtney manages the overall operations of AU Madrid, AU Nairobi, and AU Brussels. She also serves as the AU Abroad liaison for the AU Cornerstone Abroad program.
Laurentiis GainesCoordinator, AU Cornerstone
Laurentiis is a proud graduate of American University, where he earned a Master of Public Administration and Policy, and Albany State University, where he received a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science with a minor in Spanish. While at ASU, he served as Student Government Association President and was initiated into both Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. and Alpha Psi Omega National Theatre Honor Society. Most recently, Laurentiis served as Senior Director of Program and District Partnerships at Urban Alliance, a youth and professional development nonprofit. In this role, he led transformative career readiness efforts for high school students across the DMV (D.C., Maryland, and Northern Virginia) region—particularly those from underrepresented backgrounds—ensuring they had access to paid internships and critical life skills training. Outside of his professional accomplishments, Laurentiis has served in ministry for over a decade. He remains deeply committed to nurturing, mentoring, and uplifting others through both faith-based leadership and hands-on community engagement. He continues to give back through volunteer work with organizations like the Ronald McDonald House and by pouring into the next generation of leaders. In August 2024, Laurentiis married his best friend and partner in purpose, Alexis Gaines. Together, they are devoted to a life centered on faith, impact, and intentional service. At the core of Laurentiis’ work is his “WHY”—a deeply personal commitment to being the representation, resource, and servant-leader he once needed.