As we prepare for the 2021-2022 school year, we’d like to officially welcome the talented new faculty and staff who have joined Team NCSSM since August 2020.

Find contact info for faculty and staff in our employee directory.

Welcome to:

Seth Anthony, Instructor, Chemistry

Seth Anthony was born in Durham and grew up on the hypotenuse of the Research Triangle. He graduated from North Carolina State University with his undergraduate degree in chemistry, then completed his doctorate in chemistry at Colorado State University with research in chemistry education and physical chemistry. He spent 10 years as faculty at the Oregon Institute of Technology, where he taught general chemistry for engineering students as well as courses on nanoscience and nanotechnology and on the electrochemistry of batteries and fuel cells. At Oregon Tech, he helped to lead efforts in classroom redesign and in general education reform, and then spent a two-year stint as an administrator coordinating accreditation and faculty development efforts before returning to a faculty role when he realized he’d rather be in the classroom than almost anywhere else. He and his wife Eve have two children, Ian and Zoe. He enjoys hiking and cycling.

Chad Barrow, Director of Capital Projects and Morganton Facilities Management, NCSSM-Morganton

Chad Barrow joined the NCSSM team as Director of Capital Projects and Morganton Facilities Management in August 2021. In his previous role as project manager at Barnhill Contracting, Chad spent the last two years supervising the Morganton campus project. Through over 20 years of building experience and the rigors of earning a physics degree, Chad has an established track record of collaborating on construction and technical documents, and he enjoys taking complex projects through the design, development, and construction life-cycle. Chad’s experience in facilities management comes largely from a 10-year career as the director of construction at a small, nonprofit campus. Chad holds a bachelor’s degree in physics from North Carolina State University, where he worked as a research assistant in the Department of Nuclear Physics.

Jennifer Belyea, Instructor, Chemistry

Jennifer Belyea studied chemistry at the University of Missouri-Columbia, where she obtained her bachelor’s degree and met her husband, Curtis. She received her master’s and doctoral degrees in chemistry from North Carolina State University. She continued her studies of spectroscopy and proteins while a postdoctoral fellow at Los Alamos National Laboratory. While at Los Alamos she became enamored with fluid dynamics. This area of study continued into her free time, where she learned to whitewater kayak. She continues to enjoy kayaking in her spare time. Jennifer has spent years working in pharmaceuticals in roles in quality control, quality assurance, and special projects.

Philip Benge, Instructor, Mathematics

Philip Benge joined the NCSSM Mathematics Department in August 2021 by way of the Mississippi School of Math and Science, where he taught AP Calculus, Multivariable Calculus, Cryptography, Linear Algebra, Math Modeling, and much more. He was awarded the honor of Teacher of the Year at MSMS in 2021 where he “[strove] to make the classroom an open, honest, judgment-free area where the students are welcome to ask questions whenever they please.” Philip has been active in the Mississippi Council of Teachers of Mathematics and the National Consortium of Secondary STEM Schools, leading sessions at their conferences over the past several years. He earned his bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Louisiana State University, his master’s degree in mathematics from Georgia Institute of Technology, and his doctorate in mathematics from Washington University in St. Louis.

Jennifer Borderud, Community Coordinator, Student Services

Jen Borderud joined NCSSM in August 2020 as a community coordinator. She was born and raised in Los Angeles and graduated from Williams College in 2013 with a bachelor’s degree in psychology. While in college, she was a member of the varsity basketball and volleyball teams and also served as the “percussionist” on one of the school’s a cappella groups. Before coming to NCSSM, Jen worked in the British Virgin Islands, where she directed experiential sailing, marine science, and scuba diving summer programs for teenagers. She has also worked with high school and college students at a field station on a Panamanian Archipelago, on surf science programs in Costa Rica, and leading trail crews in Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia. Jen’s favorite pastimes are backpacking, surfing, and sailing, and she is especially passionate about introducing new folks to some of the outdoor pursuits that she enjoys.

Maggie Bozovich, Community Coordinator, Student Services

Margaret Bozovich joined NCSSM in 2021 as a Community Coordinator. She earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in communication studies from UNC-Greensboro, where she taught for several years. She has worked for several nonprofits as a public relations intern, a production director, and most recently as Dance Director for Hope Academy in Greensboro. Maggie enjoys watching British panel shows and taking long walks, and dabbles in many creative and artistic endeavors. Her research explores the different ways people communicate, and how they interact with each other and the media.

Helana Brigman, NCSSM-Morganton Department Chair, Humanities

Helana E. Brigman joined the NCSSM community in August 2021 as Department Chair in Humanities at NCSSM-Morganton. She hails from northern Maine, where she was the former English and Fine Arts Department Chair at the Maine School of Science and Mathematics and taught a number of courses on experiential approaches to Victorian Studies. Before MSSM, Brigman taught at Louisiana State University, where she received her doctorate in English and Women’s and Gender Studies in 2015. Brigman is passionate about all things cooking, but is especially interested in nineteenth-century women’s recipe writings, Victorian literature and culture, and the writings of Queen Victoria. Her book, The Fresh Table: Cooking in Louisiana All Year Round, was published by LSU Press in 2013, and Brigman continues to publish on recipe writing in the Victorian age. Her most recent publication, “Cooking the Victorian Recipe: An Experiential Approach to Cookbooks in Victorian Studies,” provides educators with the materials, critical theory questions, and program used in her 2019 January-Term course (part literary studies seminar, part cooking class) and will appear in Victorian Culture and Experiential Learning: Historical Encounters in the Classroom by Palgrave later this year. When she is not at work, Brigman is an avid reader and enjoys running, fair isle knitting, and spending time with her partner Josh and their daughter Olivia, their retired greyhound, and their beautifully rubenesque cat, Selma.

Jamie Butler-Chidozie, Associate Vice Chancellor for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, and CDO, Chancellor’s Office

Jamie Butler-Chidozie joined NCSSM in July 2021 as the school’s first Associate Vice Chancellor for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, and CDO. Jamie has more than 15 years of experience in the field of education with 11 of those years being in higher education. She started in education as a fourth-grade teacher in the public school system (Pike Township) in Indianapolis, where she built her in-class curriculum on diversity education. Along the way, Jamie has written and implemented organizational policy, envisioned departmental mission statements, rebranded units, chaired committees, and supported and advocated for the minoritized through what she calls, “stepping up her ‘a’ game” by being an ally, advocate, and activist. Jamie has been requested as a speaker, has served on panels, and has led workshops and trainings nationwide. As Associate Vice Chancellor and Chief Diversity Officer at NCSSM, it is her mission to manifest equity, diversity, and inclusion throughout the core fabric of NCSSM. In her free time Jamie enjoys spending time with her four boys; Jamison, Jackson, and twins JaCory and JaCoby. She earned her bachelor’s in elementary education and teaching and her master’s in higher education student affairs from Indiana University-Bloomington.

Michael Cargill, Instructor, Biology

Michael Cargill is a biology instructor at NCSSM with an expertise in biomedical science. He studied biology and performed research as an undergraduate at Pacific Lutheran University in his home state of Washington. While an undergraduate, Michael also worked as a peer tutor for three years and studied comparative education abroad in Hungary. He pursued his passion for biomedical science and teaching at the University of Washington as a graduate student. Over these five years, Michael mentored student research projects and taught biology courses while performing his dissertation research at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. He also served as a community leader to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion at the research center. He is passionate about sparking a fascination for biology in young people, especially biomedical science. He aims to incite curiosity in his classroom and labs that can lead to genuine academic discoveries or policy insights. Michael is also a voracious reader, avid gamer, and an amateur bird watcher. He earned his bachelor’s degree in biology at Pacific Lutheran University and his doctorate in pathology from the University of Washington.

Gerri Cole, Associate Director of STEM Outreach, Equity, and Engagement, Distance Education and Extended Programs

Gerri Cole joined NCSSM in August 2021 as the Associate Director of STEM Outreach, Equity, and Engagement. In this role, she works with programs that serve diverse and underrepresented K-12 students across North Carolina. Having a passion for STEM education, Gerri began her career as a chemistry and physical science teacher in Cabarrus County. She has also worked extensively in Athens-Clarke County, Georgia, in Los Angeles County, California, and in Baltimore, Maryland, helping to create pipelines to engage and to prepare diverse and underrepresented students to pursue STEM majors and careers. Gerri has a heart for people, and she loves to encourage others to use their gifts and talents to pursue their dreams and aspirations. In her spare time, she likes to read, to travel, and to watch sports (especially her beloved Carolina Panthers and Georgia Bulldogs). She earned her bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, her master’s degree in secondary education from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, and her doctorate in science education from the University of Georgia.

Joshua Fuchs, Instructor, Mentorship and Research

Josh Fuchs joined NCSSM as an instructor of Mentorship and Research in August 2021. Prior to NCSSM, he was an Assistant Professor of Physics at Texas Lutheran University. He earned his bachelor’s in physics from Rhodes College and his master’s and doctoral degrees in physics from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Josh is passionate about creating active classrooms to engage all students. He has served on the board of the Texas Section of the American Association of Physics Teachers and as a Faculty Coordinator for the Partnership for the Integration of Computation into Undergraduate Physics. Outside work, Josh enjoys traveling and exploring new places, playing the piano, and pondering the intersection of science and religion.

Alexa Garvoille, Instructor, American Studies and Humanities

Alexa Garvoille joined the NCSSM Humanities Department in August 2021. She earned her bachelor’s degree in literature at Yale, where she studied the connection between literature and photography, then went on to study teaching at Duke. She served on the faculty of Durham School of the Arts, where she directed the Creative Writing program and helped nearly 100 young writers design and self-publish books and chapbooks. After 10 years in the high school classroom, Alexa went on to pursue an MFA degree in creative writing at Virginia Tech. While at Tech, she taught College Composition and Creative Writing, researched creative writing pedagogy, and hiked the Appalachian Mountains. Alexa’s poetry explores the queer histories hidden in pop culture and art, and her academic research interests center on secondary ELA creative writing pedagogies and anti-racist workshop practices. In addition to teaching and writing, Alexa edits poetry for NCTE’s English Journal and serves on the board of the Creative Writing Studies Organization. Though she now considers Durham her hometown, Alexa is originally from Wisconsin: thus, she enjoys eating fine cheeses, doting on farm animals, and going on long walks with her hound dog, Byron Lord Beagle.

Dennis Gilfillan, NCSSM-Morganton Business Intelligence and Data Analyst, Institutional Effectiveness

Dennis Gilfillan enjoys using data to tell stories, providing insights for the betterment of the environment, education, and society, and offering information that is easily accessible and of high quality. With his diverse background in both education and environmental research, he is a unique asset as the Business Intelligence and Data Analyst to assist NCSSM achieve its strategic missions and generate effective policies. Dennis is a former STEM educator, having taught Advanced Placement physics and mathematics at Mitchell High School in North Carolina, and has managed one of the most used datasets of CO2 emissions in the world. As an avid cyclist, kayaker, and general outdoorsman, Dennis is right at home at the Morganton campus because of its proximity to the forest. He earned his bachelor’s in physics secondary education at Appalachian State University, his master’s of environmental assessment at North Carolina State University, and his doctorate in environmental health sciences at East Tennessee State University.

Nathan Harmer, NCSSM-Morganton System Administrator, Information Technology Services

Nathan Harmer joined NCSSM in August 2021 as System Administrator for the Morganton campus. Originally from South Dakota, he earned a bachelor’s degree in network and security administration and a master’s degree in cyber defense from Dakota State University in 2019 and 2021 respectively. This is the third IT group named ITS he has worked for, the first being a security installation company, and the second his college’s IT department. He is responsible for wired and wireless network operations and security, datacenter operations, systems programming, and database management for the Morganton campus. In his free time, he experiments with computers, walks his dogs, reads, and plays video games.

Larry Hodges, NCSSM-Morganton Department Chair, Engineering and Computer Science

Larry Hodges joined NCSSM in early 2021 as the chair of Engineering and Computer Science for the Morganton campus. During his career he has served as the C. Tycho Howle Endowed Chair and Director of the Clemson School of Computing and chair of the Computer Science Department at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, and was a founding faculty member of both the College of Computing and the GVU Center at Georgia Tech. He completed his master’s and doctoral degrees in computer science at North Carolina State University, a master’s in religion at Lancaster Theological Seminary, and a bachelor’s with a double major in mathematics and physics at Elon University. His research and leadership have been recognized with numerous awards, including the IEEE Virtual Reality Career Award in 2006. In 2017 he was inducted into the NCSU Computer Science Alumni Hall of Fame. In 2018 Elon University honored him with a College of Arts and Sciences Distinguished Alumni Award.

Eric Hunsley, NCSSM-Morganton Assistant Director, Human Resources

Eric Hunsley joined NCSSM in March 2021 as HR Assistant Director for the Morganton campus. He brings with him eight years of human resources experience with the UNC System, having worked for both UNC-Chapel Hill and the UNC System Office. He earned his bachelor’s degree in politics at Wake Forest University, and his resume covers a diverse array of careers including print journalism, public relations, healthcare marketing, the performing arts, and filmmaking. Having spent his childhood in Greensboro before moving to Birmingham, Alabama; Cincinnati, Ohio; New York, N.Y.; and Washington, D.C.; Eric is happy to again call the Tar Heel State “home.” In his spare time he enjoys exploring the foothills and mountains around Morganton. Of course, being a big fan of travel, dining, and theatre, the Big Apple is also a frequent destination!

Leon Kennon, Coordinator, Physical Activity and Wellness

Leon Kennon joined the Physical Activity and Wellness (PAW) Department in July 2021 as a Coordinator of PAW. In this position he supports varsity sports, the Physical Education Center (PEC), and intramurals. He also assists with administrative and programming needs as well as working with other departments on campus. His most recent experience was as an assistant community center manager with the City of Miami Gardens in Florida. He has also been a youth programmer with the City of Lauderhill, Florida, and a recreation coordinator with Broward County, Florida. Leon is a native of eastern North Carolina as well as a graduate of Elizabeth City State University, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in sport management with a concentration in management and administration. He is a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. His hobbies include listening to music and performing standup comedy. 

Tonya Little, NCSSM-Morganton Associate Vice Chancellor, Academic Programs

Tonya Little is the Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Programs at NCSSM-Morganton. Since 1992, she has enjoyed teaching, mentoring, school-level and district-level administration, grant writing, developing STEM networks, and coaching STEM competition teams. She believes that STEM education coupled with humanities education raises social awareness and sparks innovation. She is a member of the third graduating class of NCSSM (’84). A third-generation ECSU Viking, she followed in the footsteps of her mother, father, and grandmother, who were all educators. After earning her bachelor’s degree in biology at Elizabeth City State University, she earned her master’s degree in school administration as a member of the NCSU Northeast Leadership Academy Cohort II, which focused on preparing leaders and increasing student achievement in high-poverty, hard-to-staff, and historically low-performing areas. She earned her doctorate in educational leadership from East Carolina University. She enjoys spending time with her family, is an avid gardener, and loves to cook, especially if the food comes from her garden. She strives for five attributes in her life: seek wonder, embrace compassion and empathy, accept a challenge and persevere, glow in resilience, and be humble as a servant leader.

Jill Masten-Byers, NCSSM-Morganton Associate Registrar, Enrollment Services

Jill Masten-Byers joined the NCSSM-Morganton team in April 2021 as Associate Registrar. Prior to joining NCSSM she served as a high school counselor specializing in college and career advising, enrichment opportunities for advanced students, and teaching AP Seminar. Her additional previous experiences in education include serving as an adjunct instructor at Appalachian State University and Catawba Valley Community College as well as decades of teaching and swimming and leading summer adventure programs for Camp Broadstone and the Boy Scouts. Jill earned her bachelor’s degree from Manchester University in peace studies and conflict resolution and master’s degrees in school counseling and educational leadership, as well as a post-master’s certificate in expressive arts counseling, from Appalachian State University. In her spare time, Jill lends her technical skills to her church, Habitat for Humanity, and the Robin’s Run Foundation scholarship program. She especially enjoys spending time in the outdoors with friends hiking, biking, and kayaking.

Tatiana McInnis, Instructor, American Studies and Humanities

Tatiana McInnis joined NCSSM in August 2021 as an instructor of American Studies and Humanities. Originally from South Florida, she has lived and taught in Nashville, Tennessee, and Williamstown, Massachusetts, and is thrilled to be in the Raleigh-Durham area. She earned her doctorate in English from Vanderbilt University in 2017, teaching there as an instructor in English and Cultural Studies classes where she designed and led courses including “Rethinking the U.S. South,” “Caribbean Diasporas in the U.S.,” and “Behind Bars: The U.S. Prison-Industrial Complex.” She conducted research on representations and mechanisms of anti-Blackness in contemporary American literature, U.S.-Caribbean immigration politics, and, as she puts it, “how race takes place,” or the spatial manifestations of racial hierarchies in the 20th and 21st centuries. After finishing doctoral work, she joined Vanderbilt University’s American Studies program as a lecturer before serving as the Associate Director at the Davis Intercultural Center at Williams College, where she collaborated with students, faculty, and staff to integrate equitable practices across campus, consulted on curricula, and taught. Most recently, she served as a Visiting Professor in the Critical Race and Ethnic Studies Department at Texas Christian University. She also holds a master’s degree in English, also from Vanderbilt, and a bachelor’s in English from Florida International University. When she’s not with her students, you’ll find her snuggling her dog, Hurston (as in Zora Neale), “hiking” extremely moderate trails, reading, or tending to her mini garden.

Evan Miles, Evening Librarian, Library

Evan Miles joined NCSSM in September 2020 as Evening Librarian. He has worked in academic and public libraries, including several libraries at UNC-Chapel Hill and Chapel Hill Public Library. Evan is an alumnus of NCSSM, where he graduated in 2014. He has a master’s degree in library science with a specialization in academic libraries and bachelor’s degrees in English and history with a concentration in modern European history from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Russell Moore, NCSSM-Morganton Admissions Counselor, Admissions

Russell Moore joined NCSSM in 2021 as an admissions counselor for the NCSSM-Morganton campus. Before returning to North Carolina, he was a regional admissions recruiter along the southeastern coast for the University of Alabama. He has also served in admissions and academic advising roles at the University of Central Florida and Kennesaw State University in Georgia. Russell is from Melbourne, Florida, but his family is from Gaston and Henderson counties in North Carolina. In his free time, he is enrolled in graduate school and enjoys a variety of outdoor activities, including hiking and tennis. He earned his bachelor’s degree in journalism and mass communication from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Lisa Outlaw, Internal Auditor, Chancellor’s Office

Lisa Outlaw joined NCSSM as an internal auditor manager in July 2021, providing assurance and consulting services. She has over 27 years of audit and information security experience, including time as the Director of Internal Audit for the Department of Commerce, Division of Employment Security, and the Director of Internal Audit for the North Carolina Pandemic Recovery Office. She also served as a financial auditor and an information systems audit supervisor for the Office of State Auditor, and an information security specialist for the Department of Information Technology. Lisa attended LaSalle University at the age of 16, majored in accounting, and graduated at the age of 20 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration. Lisa is a Certified Internal Auditor (CIA), Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA), Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP), Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE), Certified Data Privacy Solutions Engineer (CDPSE), and is Certified in Risk Management Assurance (CRMA). Lisa possesses an unusual combination of skills: internal audit, visual and data analytics, IT audits, fraud investigations, cybersecurity, a vast knowledge of accounting, technology, computer forensics, and incident response.

Lisa Palmisano, Administrative Assistant, Engineering and Computer Science

Lisa Palmisano joined the Department of Engineering and Computer Science as administrative assistant in March 2021. Lisa began working at NCSSM in the summer of 2017, providing administrative support first with Distance Education and Extended Programs, and later with Development and the NCSSM Foundation. Lisa has worked in an administrative role in a variety of fields over the years, including the oriental carpet wholesale industry and the beverage distribution industry. She was born in Fayetteville, N.C., and grew up in a military family, traveling around the country throughout her childhood. She now calls Durham home. When she is not working, Lisa enjoys reading and sewing.

Savannah Purdy, Intern, Counseling

Savannah Purdy is coming to UNC’s School Counseling Program and NCSSM after spending several years working in undergraduate admissions. She studied sociology and political science at UNC Asheville, and began her career in education as an admissions counselor for her alma mater. Working with students and families as they navigated the college search and application process, as well as doing college access work with programs like GEAR UP and AVID, cultivated her passion for working with young people to achieve their academic and personal goals. Savannah was drawn to UNC’s School of Education because of the emphasis on strengths-based school counseling and social justice. UNC-Chapel Hill is a pioneer in excellent and accessible public education, and this is something Savannah also recognizes and appreciates about NCSSM. In her free time, Savannah enjoys reading, being outdoors, and telling dogs she loves them.

Blake Reed, Associate Manager for Summer and Extended Programs, Distance Education and Extended Programs

Blake Reed came to NCSSM as the Associate Manager for Summer and Extended Programs in October 2020. His main responsibilities in this role are to help manage the daily logistics of NCSSM’s summer programs. Most recently Blake served as a Youth Director at the YMCA of the Triangle where he managed school programs. He is passionate about connecting students with opportunities to explore their full potential and believes that successful students create thriving communities. Blake is a North Carolina native and earned his bachelor’s degree in recreation management and business at East Carolina University. He enjoys golfing, traveling, and spending time with his family and friends.

Angie Ross, Administrative Associate, NCSSM-Morganton

Angie Ross joined the NCSSM-Morganton team in March 2021 as administrative associate, bringing with her a vast array of knowledge in the business field. She previously worked with the Department of Health and Human Services and with Burke County Senior Services. She holds a bachelor’s in business administration from Lenoir-Rhyne College as well as a bachelor’s in education from Lees-McRae College and a master’s in education from Gardner-Webb University. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with family and reading. She also serves as the local coordinator for Burke County Special Olympics.

Lynne Sanders, Internal Auditor, Chancellor’s Office

Lynne Sanders began serving as internal auditor for NCSSM in April 2021. She has over 30 years of professional success working in higher education, governmental operations, and the nonprofit sector. Her primary experience consists of internal and external auditing, enterprise risk management, business process improvement, strategic planning, financial accounting and reporting, working with governing boards, planning, executing, and facilitating conferences and training sessions, and building strategic business relationships. Lynne joined the UNC System Office in 2010. She has worked on finance-related matters for the University such as tuition and fee setting, responding to legislative requests, and responding to financial requests from the Board of Governors. As the Vice President for Compliance and Audit Services, Lynne manages the UNC System Office internal audit function, oversees the Business Process Compliance Program for the University, and manages enterprise risk management efforts and other compliance level projects. In addition, she serves as the primary liaison with state-level partners such as the Office of the State Auditor, Office of the State Controller, NC Office of Internal Audit, and other agencies to ensure state level requirements are communicated to institutional stakeholders and UNC System leadership. She also serves as the primary liaison with University internal auditors to the Board of Governors Committee on Audit, Risk Management, and Compliance. Prior to joining the UNC System Office, Lynne worked for the Office of the State Auditor for 21 years. During her tenure, she performed, supervised, and managed audits of state agencies, nonprofits, community colleges, and universities. Lynne is a Certified Public Accountant and graduated from North Carolina State University.

Shaquana Suggs, Community Coordinator, Student Services

Shaquana Suggs joined NCSSM in July 2021 as a community coordinator for 3rd Beall Hall. She is a native of North Carolina and has taught English Composition at several colleges and universities in the area, including some public and private institutions. She is originally from Wilmington, N.C., but moved to Durham when she was in third grade. A fan of the arts and humanities, she attended Durham School of the Arts, and later UNC Greensboro where she double majored in English and studio art. She earned her master’s degree in English at UNC Greensboro as well. In her spare time, she enjoys writing novels, crafting, and some interior design. She also enjoys outdoor activities including hiking and camping.

Damon Toone, Intern, Counseling

Damon Toone is a graduate student from North Carolina Central University’s Department of Counseling and Higher Education. As an undergraduate student at UNC-Chapel Hill, he cared deeply about sharing his college experience and the gift of higher education with outstanding students. After time in corporate America and teaching, he was privileged to recruit outstanding students for UNC and share his vision of the transformative nature of higher education before deciding to take his own advice and return to school. Now, as a proud NCCU Eagle, he is preparing to serve as a professional school counselor and licensed clinical mental health professional. When not working or completing grad school assignments, he enjoys spending time with his partner and recent college grads and participating in his family’s book club. His favorite motto: “shoot for the moon and even if you miss, you’ll land amongst the stars!”

Annah Wells, NCSSM-Durham Admissions Counselor, Admissions

Annah Wells joined NCSSM as an Admissions Counselor in January 2021 with five years of highly selective college admissions experience, most recently at Columbia University, where she was a senior admissions officer and focused on the recruitment of students interested in STEM and promoting access for students from rural areas. Before her time at Columbia, she worked in admissions at Rice University and the University of Pennsylvania’s Graduate School of Education. Annah also served for two years with AmeriCorps: first as a sixth- and eighth-grade teaching assistant in Miami, and then at Western Carolina University focusing on food insecurity. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in English from North Carolina State University and received her master’s in higher education from the University of Pennsylvania. She is originally from Asheboro, N.C.

Tracy White, Instructor, Mathematics

Tracy White joined NCSSM in August 2021 as an instructor of mathematics. She has been an educator since 2000, and has taught mathematics at both the secondary and collegiate level, most recently at Winston-Salem State University. During her doctoral program, she presented at several conferences, including the North Carolina Council of Teachers of Mathematics Annual State Math Conference; the Annual Distinguished, Intellectual, Virtuous Academic Sistas Conference; and the Conference of the International Group for the Psychology of Mathematics Education in Vancouver, Canada. Her research is published in Teaching and Teacher Education, Teaching Children Mathematics, the Journal of Technology Studies, and Studies in Teaching 2001 Research Digest. She was a member of the UNC System Math Pathways for African American Collegiate Transformation Task Force and the UNC System Math Pathways Task Force. She seeks to build rapport with students in an environment where diversity is not only accepted, but acknowledged and discussed and to cultivate critical thinkers by utilizing discourse to engage students in their learning. She earned her bachelor’s degree in mathematics at Winston-Salem State University, her master’s in mathematics education at Wake Forest University, and her doctorate in mathematics education from North Carolina State University.

Anthony Wilson, Maintenance Mechanic, Facilities

Anthony Wilson joined NCSSM in May 2021 as a maintenance mechanic. Prior to coming to NCSSM, he worked in the facilities management department with Diamond Properties, and as a public safety and security professional at Sarah Lawrence College. Anthony was trained in carpentry through BOCES, and holds a journeyman certificate for carpentry from the Empire State Carpenters Training Center. He also earned a certificate in construction tech from Farmingdale State College-SUNY. Anthony’s role at NCSSM is ensuring operation of machinery and mechanical equipment, troubleshooting, and fabricating repairs in the machine shop. His hobbies are DJing and playing tennis.