Faculty and Staff Spotlights
There are faculty, staff, and administrators at ECU who were transfer students during their college experience. We encourage you to use this directory to reach out and learn more about their experiences both in college and at ECU. We’ve included some of their stories below and hope they will inspire and encourage you to thrive as a transfer student in Pirate Nation.
Chelsie Hargrove
Associate Director, Women and Gender Center, Student Engagement
Chelsie serves as the Associate Director of Student Engagement for the Women and Gender Center. Chelsie has ten years of experience within the Higher Education field, starting as a federal work study student after transferring to ECU, working as a graduate research assistant during their MA program, and then moving into a full-time staff role. Coming from an early college as a first-generation student, they understand the hurdles that often come with having to navigate college on your own. They enjoy connecting with students and helping them navigate the transfer student experience, connecting and establishing a mentor network, and researching and applying to professional and graduate programs. In their free time, they enjoy reading, traveling, and playing video games with their partner and friends.
Kiya Bolds
Assistant Director of University Studies
Kiya has been a committed professional at East Carolina University for over 19 years and proudly identifies as a first-generation college student—a journey that led her to earn a Bachelor of Science in Human Services with a minor in Business Administration, followed by a master’s in education with a concentration in Higher Education Counseling, both from the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh.
Her experience in both Student and Academic Affairs fuels her heartfelt passion and commitment to promoting student success. Kiya is a proud mother to an incredible daughter, the Founder of Lead Lively LLC, a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and a strong advocate for mental health awareness. Her commitment to empowering students and cultivating a supportive educational environment is apparent throughout her professional and personal journey.
Mandy Messerli
Alumni Director, College of Allied Health Sciences
Mandy grew up in rural South Dakota and is a first-generation college student. She began her career as an agricultural education teacher and soon realized that wasn’t the path for her. Mandy her my home at DSU after transferring and absolutely loved it. She got involved in numerous activities and found her people. Mandy did go back to SDSU for her master’s degree, and that was the right fit at that time!
Mandy has been at ECU since 2007. “I started off as a residence hall coordinator, worked in student conduct and academic advising, and am now the alumni director for the College of Allied Health Sciences. I’m currently working on my Ed.D., and I’m still a lifelong learner!”
Mario Hobbs
Student Life, Student Services Specialist
Mario Hobbs, from Selma, NC, completed his associate’s degree at Johnston Community College (JCC) and transferred to ECU, where he completed his Bachelor of Science in University Studies with a minor in Economics. You can find Mario welcoming students, guests, faculty, and staff to ECU at both the Main Campus Center and the Student Health Sciences Center (HSC)!
Stephanie Bae
Associate Professor, Hospitality/ College of Business
Stephanie is an Associate Professor in the School of Hospitality Leadership in the College of Business. Before joining ECU, she taught at James Madison University. She received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and her doctorate from Texas Tech University. While she was working toward her undergraduate degree, she worked in hotels in Las Vegas. She values building relationships with students and connecting and mentoring them. She won multiple awards at ECU, all nominated by her students. She received multiple Honored Instructor Awards, and she was also the recipient of the 2025 Cupola Award.
Thompson Forbes
Associate Professor, College of Nursing
A lifelong resident of Greenville, North Carolina, Thompson lives on the same parcel of land where his great-grandmother was born. He attended Pitt Community College and received an associate degree in Nursing in 2006. He then joined the Adult Trauma/Surgical Critical Care Unit at Vidant Medical Center (VMC). The foundational aspects of patient care and leadership that he experienced in that unit were the catalyst for his professional trajectory. Thompson received his Master’s in Nursing with a concentration in Acute Health System Leadership from East Carolina University in 2012, where he then began working on his PhD in Nursing at ECU and graduated in 2017. Now an Associate Professor in the Nursing Science Department at East Carolina University and Director of Strategic Operations and Partnerships, Thompson is proud to have the opportunity to help shape the nurse leaders of the future. Thompson has since obtained a postgraduate certificate in Applied Statistics and Data Management from North Carolina State University and an MBA (’25) from East Carolina University. Living up to ECU’s motto, service has been the backbone of his professional, clinical, and volunteer involvement, where Thompson continues to contribute to transforming healthcare through opportunities beyond his current role.
| First and Last Name | ECU Email | Department | Job Title/Position | What was your Transfer Experience? | I started my degree program at: | I completed my degree program at: | Major/ Degree |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Akira Hall | Hallak19@ecu.edu | The College of Education | ECU Community School Teacher/ Kindergarten Teacher | Vertical transfer - Began at a two-year institution and moved to a 4-year institution (whether or not you earned an associate degree prior to moving to a four-year) | Central Piedmont Community College | East Carolina University | Birth to Kindergarten Education |
| Alana Freeman | freemanal23@ecu.edu | HDFS | Program Coordinator-Family & Consumer Sciences/Teaching Instructor | Swirling transfer - Attend multiple colleges, potentially at the same time. In other words, attending multiple schools and transferring vertically and/or laterally to create the cheapest and fastest path to completing their bachelor’s degree. They may also be called co-enrolled or concurrently enrolled students. | Barton College | Liberty University | Leadership and Education |
| Andrea Menichelli | menichellia22@ecu.edu | ECU Community School | Operations Manager | Lateral transfer - Transferred from one institution to another similar institution. In other words, a 4-year institution to another 4-year institution, or a 2-year institution to another 2-year institution. | Chowan College | East Carolina University | Elementary Education |
| Audresha Nevels | nevelsa24@ecu.edu | CHHP | Academic Advisor | Lateral transfer - Transferred from one institution to another similar institution. In other words, a 4-year institution to another 4-year institution, or a 2-year institution to another 2-year institution. | NCCU | UNCW | Social Work |
| Bailey Warren | Warrenba25@ecu.edu | Arts and Sciences | Academic Advisor | Vertical transfer - Began at a two-year institution and moved to a 4-year institution (whether or not you earned an associate degree prior to moving to a four-year) | Lenoir Community College | UNC Chapel Hill | Management and Society |
| Brandon Jones | jonesbra17@ecu.edu | Pre-Professional Advising | Academic Advisor | Not a transfer student, but a supporter of transfer students | North Carolina Wesleyan University, East Carolina University | English, History, Religious Studies | |
| Briana McIntosh | mcintoshb24@ecu.edu | Pharmacology/Toxicology in Brody SOM | Director of Research and Engagement, Team Cooke Bailey Lab & Center for Health Disparities | Lateral transfer - Transferred from one institution to another similar institution. In other words, a 4-year institution to another 4-year institution, or a 2-year institution to another 2-year institution. | Warren Wilson College, Asheville NC | University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA | African Studies and Global Health |
| Carla Pastor | Pastorc@ecu.edu | English | Senior Teaching Instructor | Vertical transfer - Began at a two-year institution and moved to a 4-year institution (whether or not you earned an associate degree prior to moving to a four-year) | St. John's College | University of Belize | Education |
| Chad Morris | morrisch23@ecu.edu | Anthropology | Professor and Chair, Anthropology | Not a transfer student, but a supporter of transfer students | BS Centre College, MA Memphis, PhD Kentucky | Anthropology | |
| Chelsea Buckhalter | buckhalterc15@ecu.edu | Construction Management | Teaching Instructor | Vertical transfer - Began at a two-year institution and moved to a 4-year institution (whether or not you earned an associate degree prior to moving to a four-year) | Pitt CC | East Carolina University | Construction Management |
| Chelsie Hargrove | hargrovec18@ecu.edu | Women and Gender Center, Student Engagement | Associate Director, Women and Gender Center | Vertical transfer - Began at a two-year institution and moved to a 4-year institution (whether or not you earned an associate degree prior to moving to a four-year) | Sampson Community College & Sampson Early College High School (Dual-Enrolled) | East Carolina University | Family and Community Services |
| Deanna Kolikas | kolikasd23@ecu.edu | POSO | POSO Specialist | Vertical transfer - Began at a two-year institution and moved to a 4-year institution (whether or not you earned an associate degree prior to moving to a four-year) | College of the Albemarle (Graduated with AA in 1998) | Elizabeth City State University (started January 2017) | Business Administration |
| Emily Anderson | andersonemi24@ecu.edu | Undergraduate Admissions | Freshman Admissions Counselor | Vertical transfer - Began at a two-year institution and moved to a 4-year institution (whether or not you earned an associate degree prior to moving to a four-year) | Craven Community College | East Carolina University | Psychology |
| Emily Winslow | winslowe23@ecu.edu | University Communications | Social Media Community Manager | Lateral transfer - Transferred from one institution to another similar institution. In other words, a 4-year institution to another 4-year institution, or a 2-year institution to another 2-year institution. | Mid-Atlantic Christian University | East Carolina University | BS in Communications, concentration in Public Relations |
| Karl Rodabaugh | rodabaughk@ecu.edu | History | Adjunct Professor | Lateral transfer - Transferred from one institution to another similar institution. In other words, a 4-year institution to another 4-year institution, or a 2-year institution to another 2-year institution. | Ohio Northern University | SIU-Carbondale | History |
| Kayla Chandler | chandlerk@ecu.edu | Department of Elementary, Middle, and Secondary Education | Assistant Professor of Mathematics Education | Vertical transfer - Began at a two-year institution and moved to a 4-year institution (whether or not you earned an associate degree prior to moving to a four-year) | College of the Albemarle | East Carolina University | Secondary Mathematics Education, Mathematics Minor in Business Administration |
| Kiya Bolds | boldsk@ecu.edu | University Studies | Assistant Director of University Studies | Lateral transfer - Transferred from one institution to another similar institution. In other words, a 4-year institution to another 4-year institution, or a 2-year institution to another 2-year institution. | Jackson State University | University of Wisconsin Oshkosh | Human Services |
| Kristin Davis | daviskri23@ecu.edu | Undergraduate Admissions | Transfer Admissions Counselor | Reverse transfer - Transferred from a four-year to a two-year institution | East Carolina University | East Carolina University | Applied Sociology |
| Laura Fanning | fanningl17@ecu.edu | Budget Office | Assistant Director of University Budget | I was a transfer student | |||
| Lisa Ellison | ellisonl15@ecu.edu | Foreign Languages and Literatures | Senior Teaching Instructor | I was a transfer student | |||
| Mandy Messerli | messerlim@ecu.edu | College of Allied Health Sciences | Alumni Director | Lateral transfer - Transferred from one institution to another similar institution. In other words, a 4-year institution to another 4-year institution, or a 2-year institution to another 2-year institution. | South Dakota State University | Dakota State University | Elementary and Special Education |
| Mario Hobbs | hobbsm23@ecu.edu | Student Life | Student Services Specialist | Vertical transfer - Began at a two-year institution and moved to a 4-year institution (whether or not you earned an associate degree prior to moving to a four-year) | Intended Management | University Studies | University Studies |
| Mary Tucker-McLaughlin | tuckermclaughlinm@ecu.edu | School of Communication | Professor/ Assistant Director of the School of Communication | Lateral transfer - Transferred from one institution to another similar institution. In other words, a 4-year institution to another 4-year institution, or a 2-year institution to another 2-year institution. | SIU Carbondale | University of Illinois | Liberal Arts, German |
| Meghan Croll | crollm23@ecu.edu | Academic Library Services | Special collections cataloger | Vertical transfer - Began at a two-year institution and moved to a 4-year institution (whether or not you earned an associate degree prior to moving to a four-year) | Riverside City College | University of California- Riverside | History |
| Misti Phillips | phillipsmi18@ecu.edu | College of Nursing | Clinical Associate Professor | Not a transfer student, but a supporter of transfer students | Old Dominion University, East Carolina University | BSN and MSN | |
| Nikki Crain | pinerc23@ecu.edu | University Advancement | Assistant Director of Digital Outreach and Stewardship | Vertical transfer - Began at a two-year institution and moved to a 4-year institution (whether or not you earned an associate degree prior to moving to a four-year) | Germanna Community College | George Mason University | Integrative Studies, concentration in Elementary Education |
| Paul Harwell | harwellp24@ecu.edu | Disability Support Services | Director | Lateral transfer - Transferred from one institution to another similar institution. In other words, a 4-year institution to another 4-year institution, or a 2-year institution to another 2-year institution. | Sam Houston State University | Stephen F Austin State University | Psychology |
| Stephanie Bae | Baej17@ecu.edu | Hospitality/College of Business | Associate Professor | Swirling transfer - Attend multiple colleges, potentially at the same time. In other words, attending multiple schools and transferring vertically and/or laterally to create the cheapest and fastest path to completing their bachelor’s degree. They may also be called co-enrolled or concurrently enrolled students. | South Korea | University of Nevada, Las Vegas | Hospitality Management |
| Tarrick Cox | coxta@ecu.edu | School of Dental Medicine | Director of Admissions | Vertical transfer - Began at a two-year institution and moved to a 4-year institution (whether or not you earned an associate degree prior to moving to a four-year) | Sampson Community College | East Carolina University | Elementary Education |
| Thompson Forbes | forbest17@ecu.edu | College of Nursing | Associate Professor | Vertical transfer - Began at a two-year institution and moved to a 4-year institution (whether or not you earned an associate degree prior to moving to a four-year) | Pitt Community College | East Carolina University | Nursing |
Are you a faculty or staff member that transferred colleges/universities during your college experience and willing to serve as a mentor to current transfer students? Click here to join the list of contacts on this page and be connected with our transfer student population at ECU! Saying “yes” to serving as a mentor may include opportunities to: be invited as a guest speaker to an event, speak on a student/staff panel, be a point of contact to reach out with questions about their experience as a transfer student.