Kim Sousa Peoples, PH.D.
Senior Director of First Year Student Engagement and Experience
ksp@uncg.edu
Education:
Ph.D, Curriculum and Instruction, UNCG
M.Ed., Higher Education Administration, University of South Carolina
BA, Journalism and Mass Communications, University of South Carolina
Primary Responsibilities: NAV1GATE, Division of Student Success communications, departmental strategy and budget.
Get To Know: Kim spends much of her free time as a volunteer at the Guilford County Animal Shelter. She is also certified fitness instructor, serves on the Board of Directors for the Volunteer Center of the Triad, a coach for Future Fund 10 of Greensboro, and has 2 daughters both working and studying outside of the Greensboro area.
Emily Wiersma
Director of First Year Experience
e_wiersm@uncg.edu
Education:
M.Ed. in College Student Personnel, Ohio University
B.S. in Psychology with a focus in Education and English, University of Mount Union
Primary Responsibilities: Oversees the FYE 101: Succeed at the G course and strategic planning for the program including curriculum, assessment, FYE Instructor supervision, campus partnership development, and more.
Get To Know: Emily also enjoys visiting family at the beach and spending time with her partner, dogs, and cats!
Katie Tucker
Associate Director of New Student Transitions
kaseagre@uncg.edu
Education:
M.Ed. in Student Affairs Administration in Higher Education, UNC Greensboro
B.A in Communication Studies, Bloomsburg University
Primary Responsibilities: Oversees new student transition programs and events including SOAR programming, partnerships, and events; Your First Year programs, social media, and communications; Spartan Orientation Staff, and the New Student Transitions Team.
Get To Know: Katie enjoys spending time with family and friends, coffee shops, and traveling!
Ana Castillo-Alaniz
Coordinator, First Year Experience
amcastilloa@uncg.edu
Education:
M.Ed. College of Student Affairs Administration, University of Georgia
B.A. Philosophy & Sociology minor, Texas State University
Primary Responsibilities: Oversees and supervises the Peer Academic Leader (PAL) program, instructs FYE 201: Lead the G course, and advises the Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society.
Get To Know:
Outside of work, Ana enjoys reading books, film photography, watching college sports, traveling to visit friends and family, and meeting new people.
Lauren Kennon
Coordinator, New Student Transitions
lekennon@uncg.edu
Education:
M.Ed. in Student Affairs in Higher Education, Iowa State University
B.S. in Neuroscience, Drake University
Primary Responsibilities: Supports transition programs such as SOAR, Spartan Orientation Staff, Rawkin’ Welcome Weeks, and Storm the Streets.
Get To Know: Lauren enjoys exploring new places, trying new restaurants and coffee shops, reading, and dance.
Maggie Nichols
Coordinator, Your First Year
manichols@uncg.edu
Education:
M.S.W, Appalachian State University
B.S.W, Appalachian State University
Primary Responsibilities: Supports Your First Year (YFY) transition programs including the YFY Success Series, Spartan SPEARS, and Second Year Launch, and services such as YFY social media, First Year Connect Newsletter, and YFY Success Planner.
Get To Know: When she’s not at work, Maggie loves watching movies, relaxing outdoors, and spending time with her friends and family.
Ashanté Price
FYE Specialist
ajprice@uncg.edu
Education:
M.Ed. in Higher Education and Student Affairs, Kent State University
B.A. in History, Kent State University
B.A. in Pan African Studies, Kent State University
Primary Responsibilities: Teaches FYE 101 courses, advises Alpha Lamba Delta
Get To Know: Outside of work, Ashante likes to read, travel, coffee, and spend time with family.
Joanne Black
FYE Specialist
jmblack5@uncg.edu
Education:
J.D. Gonzaga University School of Law
M.S. University of New Haven
B.A. University of Wisconsin – Madison
Primary Responsibilities: Teaches multiple sections of FYE 101: Succeed at the G
Get To Know: Joanne enjoys spending time with her family and working with the non-profit organization she founded to increase the number of underrepresented people in the legal profession. She is passionate about the law and helping students become who they desire to be.
Mackenzie Kegley
FYE Specialist
mskegley@uncg.edu
Education:
M.S. Ed. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, St. Bonaventure University
M.Ed. in Student Personnel Administration in Higher Education, UNCG
B.A. in Psychology, Christopher Newport University
Primary Responsibilities: Instructs multiple sections of FYE 101: Succeed at the G.
Get To Know: Mackenzie loves musical theater, reading fantasy novels, and all things creative and crafty!
Marcus Perkins
FYE Specialist
maperki3@uncg.edu
Education:
M.Ed. in Student Affairs Administration in Higher Education, UNCG
B.S. in Psychology, UNCG
Primary Responsibilities: Instructs multiple sections of FYE 101: Succeed at the G with an interest in exploratory students and oversees primary assessment for FYE 101.
Get To Know: During his free time, Marcus likes to watch reality tv shows, meet up and hang with his friends and listen to R&B music.
Courtney Pigg
Business Manager
crholder@uncg.edu
Education:
B.A. in English with a concentration in Professional Writing, Western Carolina University
A.A. in General Studies, GTCC
Primary Responsibilities: Manages funds and transactions; collects timesheets and enters time; and processes HR paperwork for the department.
Get To Know: In her free time, she enjoys reading, writing, watching tv shows and movies, and spending time with her husband and chihuahua.
Shauna Kaplan
Graduate Assistant – New Student Transitions
slkaplan@uncg.edu
Education:
B.A. in Communication & Digital Studies, UMW
Currently pursuing an M.Ed. in Student Affairs Administration and Higher Education, UNCG
Primary Responsibilities: Supports New Student Transitions programs such as the Spartan Orientation Staff (SOS) and Spartan Orientation, Advising & Registration (SOAR).
Get To Know: Outside of work, Shauna enjoys reading, playing board games, watching movies and TV shows, and being with friends.
Paul Nava
Graduate Assistant – Special Programming & Communications
pbnava@uncg.edu
Education:
B.A. in International Global Studies & Spanish at UNCG
Currently pursuing a Masters in Higher Education Administration at UNCG
Primary Responsibilities: General Assistant for New Student Transitions & First Year Experience; assists in interdivisional communications and outreach to the campus community, as well as special projects in Student Success.
Get To Know: Outside of work, Paul likes playing video games, watching movies and TV shows, traveling, and going to concerts.
Sarah Pirozzi
Graduate Assistant – YFY Programming
sepirozz@uncg.edu
Education:
B.A. in Communication Studies, UNCG
Currently pursuing M.Ed. in Student Affairs Administration and Higher Education, UNCG
Primary Responsibilities: Assisting with the implementation of the YFY Success Series, first year programming, and coordinating giveaways for individuals who complete the YFY Success Series program.
Get to Know: Outside of work, Sarah enjoys to cook and hang out with her friends.
Rebecca Yakel
Graduate Assistant – First Year Experience
rjyakel@uncg.edu
Education:
B.A. in Psychology, UNCG
Currently pursuing a M.S. in Counseling with a concentration in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, UNCG
Primary Responsibilities: Supports the First Year Experience programs such as the Peer Academic Leader (PAL) program and FYE 101: Succeed at the G.
Get To Know: Outside of work, Rebecca enjoys playing video games, reading, watching movies and TV shows, and being with friends.
Maya Hare
PAL Captain
mghare@uncg.edu
Education:
Currently a Senior at UNCG majoring in Human Development and Family Studies, and double minoring in Entrepreneurship and Psychology
Primary Responsibilities: Supports Peer Academic Leader Program and other first year experience initiatives.
Get To Know: Outside of school and work Maya enjoys all things creative, taking care of her house plants, and traveling as much as she can! After college, Maya is hoping to open and own her own business.
Melissa Lozada
Your First Year – First Year Assistant
milozada@uncg.edu
Education:
Currently a senior seeking a B.A. in Psychology with a minor in Musical Theatre, UNCG
Primary Responsibilities: Supports the Your First Year Team with the texting line and all other team initiatives.
Get To Know: In the future, Melissa hopes to become a professional actress and marriage and family counselor, geared towards helping BIPOC communities, especially Latinos/Hispanics. In her free time, Melissa enjoys reading, singing, dancing, and spending time with family.
Sarahi Martinez-Galvan
First Year Experience – First Year Assistant
s_martinezg@uncg.edu
Education:
Currently a Junior at UNCG majoring in Accounting
Primary Responsibilities: Supports the FYE 101: Succeed at the G Program and other first-year experience initiatives.
Get To Know: I am a first-generation student with a passion to help first-year students transition into college. Outside of work and school, I love to be around friends and make many memories together. I also enjoy reading and finding cute books shops that I can either relax or study in.
Mannie Mendez-Aquino
New Student Transitions – First Year Assistant
e_mendezaqu@uncg.edu
Education:
Political & Philosophy Major, UNCG
Primary Responsibilities: Creating programs and activities to help prepare the next Spartan Orientation Staff in preparation for the SOAR programs!
Get To Know: Along with Lead staff, Mannie is also an RA, so he helps others transition to college. He is the first person to go to college in his Mexican household! A fun fact about him is that he lives on a farm and has a strong love for animals!
Alex Rodriguez
Your First Year – First Year Assistant
airodriguez@uncg.edu
Education:
Senior majoring in Communication Studies with a minor in Business, UNCG
Primary Responsibilities: Supports Your First Year events and programs, communications like the YFY texting line, and social media.
Get To Know: Outside of work and school, I love spending time with my family and friends, road-tripping, taking pictures, and eating ice cream! After college, I hope to continue helping students in their transition to college back in my hometown and showing them that it is possible! I also want to travel to the 30 states I haven’t been to yet!
Karis Sustar
First Year Experience – First Year Assistant
kosustar@uncg.edu
Education:
Major in Hospitality & Tourism Management
1st year in the Accelerated Masters in Business Administration Program
Primary Responsibilities: Supports the FYE 101: Succeed at the G Program and other first-year experience initiatives.
Get To Know: I am passionate about helping first year students have a smooth transition to college, as I had to navigate the transition to college as well as to life in America. I love spending time with friends and trying new coffee shops. I also love hiking, spending time outdoors and exploring new places.
Pooja Tadepalli
Canva Content Creator
p_tadepalli@uncg.edu
Education:
Senior in Business Administration with a concentration in Management and a minor in Psychology, UNCG
Primary Responsibilities: Creates graphics, flyers, and other design content for NST & FYE including YFY social media, the YFY Success Series, SOAR, and FYE 101.
Get To Know: I’m an extrovert who loves to spend time with friends and family, in my free time you can find me watching a weird documentary. I also love to cook and bake!
Ivan Tarpley
New Student Transitions – First Year Assistant
ijtarpley@uncg.edu
Education:
Currently a Junior double majoring in Political Science and Communications Studies with a double minor in Women’s, Gender, & Sexuality Studies and History, UNCG
Primary Responsibilities: Supports the Spartan Orientation Staff (SOS) and the SOAR program.
Get To Know: In the future, Ivan hopes to continue working in the world of Student Affairs and Higher Education in order to continue assisting transitioning students and families. After work Ivan loves to relax with a good show or spend time with friends!