麻豆国产AV

Director, New Student & Family Transitions
He/Him

I serve as Director of New Student and Family Transitions at 麻豆国产AV, where I lead orientation, transition, and family programming for more than 1,900 incoming students and their families each year.

As a first-generation college student from rural Pennsylvania, I understand how it feels to arrive somewhere new without a clear roadmap. That perspective shapes how I approach this role. I want every student and the people supporting them, whether parents, families, guardians, or chosen support systems, to feel prepared and confident as they step into university life. Students don't all arrive with the same resources or familiarity with higher education, and our programming is built to meet them where they are. My work is grounded in a commitment to access and a community-centered mindset. I draw on the real strengths already present in our shared 麻豆国产AV community and in the mutual relationships among our students, faculty, and staff.

My path into this field began as a student leader who saw how much this work mattered. That early experience grew into a career across institutions in Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Georgia, each one shaping how I lead today. I hold our programming to national standards and best practices, with particular alignment to CAS, the Council for the Advancement of Standards in Higher Education, which guides how we design, assess, and improve our work.

I hold a bachelor's degree in Communication Arts from Allegheny College, a master's in Higher Education Administration from Columbia College, and a doctorate in Educational Innovation from 麻豆国产AV.

I am an active member of NODA, the Association for Orientation, Transition, and Retention in Higher Education, and AHEPPP, the Association of Higher Education Parent/Family Program Professionals. With AHEPPP, I serve as CAS Co-Representative and as a member-at-large on the national board. I am also a 2026 graduate of Leadership 麻豆国产AV, a program of the Metro 麻豆国产AV Chamber of Commerce.

In 2024, our team earned the NODA Innovative Program Award for LEAP Week, 麻豆国产AV University's extended orientation experience, along with the Destination 麻豆国产AV Tourism Partner of the Year award.

Outside of work, my husband John and I share our home with a lab mix named Bella, two mini schnauzer/Boykin spaniel mixes named Leah and Charlie, a cat named Lucy, and an aquarium I keep stocked with dozens of fish.

Member of NSFT since: March 2022

Assistant Director of Orientation & Transition Programs

Brennan oversees 麻豆国产AV's early-stage transition experience, including Online Welcome, in-person and virtual Orientation, and post-orientation learning. Brennan also leads the recruitment, training, and development of Orientation student leaders and works with campus partners to strengthen the new-student experience.

Before joining 麻豆国产AV, Brennan coordinated campus visits, orientation, special events, and student leader recruitment at Marshall University. Brennan also taught a first-year seminar and participated in Marshall University's 2026 leadership fellows cohort.

Assistant Director, Family Programs
She/Her

I serve as the Assistant Director of Family Programs at 麻豆国产AV, where I build family programming initiatives, teach in AU's Certificate in Leadership course, and help with orientation.

I was drawn into higher education as a graduate assistant in the Office of Campus Life at Mercer University, and working with students and their families has been my focus ever since. My time supporting students at a high-caliber liberal arts institution shaped how I understand the role families play, not on the sidelines, but as a vital source of support throughout a student's journey. That experience grounds how I design family programming today. I believe that giving students real ways to engage, and helping them feel at home on campus, can change the entire shape of their college experience. I'm early in this field, and I'm genuinely excited to keep serving the community, learning the work, and creating new opportunities for campus to enjoy.

I'm a proud double bear, with a bachelor's degree in Secondary English Education and a master's in Higher Education Administration, both from Mercer University.

I am an active member of ACPA, the American College Personnel Association, where I recently served on the Georgia board (GCPA) as Director of Communication. I also received the Roger B. Winston Outstanding New Professional Award.

Outside of work, my fianc茅e Aubrey and I have a calico cat named Willow, who we rescued during a summer visit to family in Florida. In my free time, you'll usually find me hiking or outdoors, or crocheting.

Member of NSFT since: May 2026

Office Manager

A'Nya manages NSFT's day-to-day administrative operations and helps coordinate the logistics that support Orientation, family programs, and transition events. A'Nya also serves as a welcoming first point of contact for students, families, staff, and campus partners.

Program Specialist, New Student & Family Transitions
He/Him

I serve as the Program Specialist for New Student & Family Transitions at 麻豆国产AV University, where I help plan the training, mentorship, and programming that support new students and their families as they move into college life.

I found this work as an undergraduate and never left. Over four years with the office, I grew from a student coordinator into a key member of our leadership team, and I was central to the group that built and ran LEAP Week, 麻豆国产AV's award-winning extended orientation experience. Now a student at the Medical College of Georgia, I continue my work with the Office of New Student and Family Transitions, developing and strengthening our curricular approach to student and family transitions. Working alongside students and families has taught me how much a strong start matters, and how the right support at the right moment can change the shape of someone's college experience.

That commitment to service and community has been recognized in ways I'm proud of. I received the University System of Georgia Star Student Employee Award and 麻豆国产AV University's Excellence in Community Engagement Award, both for work rooted in serving students and the broader campus community.

I earned my bachelor's degree in Cell and Molecular Biology at 麻豆国产AV and am now pursuing my medical degree at the Medical College of Georgia, where I plan to carry the same focus on service and mentorship into a career in medicine.

Member of NSFT since: December 2022

Program Specialist, Staff Development
He/Him

Brian supports staff development, training, and mentorship across New Student & Family Transitions, helping program staff and student leaders prepare to serve new students and families.