2020 Cohort - SAFP
Student Affairs Fellows Program - 2020 Cohort
Carrie Berta
Staff Psychologist
Counseling and Psychological Services
Dr. Carrie Berta is a licensed clinical psychologist with ºÚÁÏÍø’s Counseling and Psychological Services and has 14 years of experience in college mental health settings. She received her bachelor's degree from Boston University and her doctorate in clinical psychology from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. Prior to joining Counseling and Psychological Services at ºÚÁÏÍø, Dr. Berta completed a doctoral internship and postdoctoral fellowship at Northwestern University's Counseling and Psychological Services, as well as two predoctoral training rotations at Northeastern Illinois University’s Counseling Center.
Dr. Berta spearheaded ºÚÁÏÍø’s Step Up & Speak Out program, a mental health awareness and suicide prevention initiative designed to educate the university community about appropriate responses to distressed and disruptive individuals and designed to provide information about campus and community mental health resources. In addition to her role with Step Up & Speak Out, she has served for the past decade as a full-time psychologist attending to the mental health needs of students, where her specialties include mood and anxiety disorders, OCD, gender and sexual diversity, relationship concerns, and identity development.
Outside of work, Dr. Berta enjoys spending time with family and friends, especially the many little ones she is privileged to have in her life; creating, from refinishing furniture to baking to making cards; reading, making people laugh, and watching college and professional hockey.
Scott Crawford
Program Coordinator
Center for Adult and Veteran Services
Scott Crawford creates programs for adult learners, veterans, and parenting students as part of the Center for Adult and Veteran Services, where he also handles federal compliance for the GI Bill. He has had additional roles supporting student success at both the Kent Student Center and The University of Akron. Prior to launching his career in higher education with a master’s in Higher Education Administration, he held a variety of production scheduling, inventory control, and purchasing positions in the manufacturing and banking industries.
Michael Daniels
Director
Student Multicultural Center
Michael Daniels currently serves as the Director for the Student Multicultural Center at ºÚÁÏÍø. Michael began his career at ºÚÁÏÍø as the Program Coordinator in August 2015. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from John Carroll University in 2012 and his Master of Arts degree in Student Affairs Administration from Michigan State University in 2015. Michael is currently enrolled as a 4th year PhD student in the Higher Education Administration program at ºÚÁÏÍø.
Michael’s passion to promote the success of men of color allowed for him to secure a $10,000 grant from the Steve and Marjorie Harvey Foundation in the spring of 2019. This grant was awarded for the life-changing work Michael is doing with the Male Empowerment Network at ºÚÁÏÍø. This program has received national recognition while under Michael’s supervision where it was featured on the Steve Harvey Show as a vehicle to support 8 young men who received full scholarships to attend ºÚÁÏÍø in the Fall of 2019. Additionally, Michael lead a campaign to raise an additional $10,000 for this initiative.
Beyond his experience in higher education, Michael proudly serves his community as a committee member for the Cuyahoga Falls Downtown Partnership. He also enjoys serving a volunteer for mentoring and youth development programs such as Youth for Christ, Inspiring Minds and the Upward Bound Program. Michael’s passion is connecting with young people and assisting them in realizing their dreams while supporting them to become their best selves.
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Kristan Dolan
Assistant Director of Marketing
Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs
Kristan Dolan serves as the Assistant Director for Marketing for the Division of Student Affairs. In this role, Kristan is charged with development and implementation of a strategic marketing plan to support the mission and priorities of the Division of Student Affairs. She is the point of contact for all division level marketing and communication efforts and works closely with University Communications and Marketing, along with other marketing units at the university, to advance division level objectives. Kristan leads a team of graphic designers and a staff writer who provides support to all 21 departments, offices and centers within the Division of Student Affairs.
Kristan has been at ºÚÁÏÍø since 2011 when she joined the Athletics department to oversee their marketing and promotions efforts. For the last 7 years, Kristan served as the Assistant Director, Marketing for the Center for Student Involvement. Prior to joining the ºÚÁÏÍø family, she spent 12 years in various marketing and management roles with the Cleveland Indians and independent minor league baseball teams.
Born and raised in Chardon, OH, Kristan currently lives in Northfield Center. She is an eternally optimistic, die-hard Cleveland sports fan and mom of two boys, Rocco and Dominic. She completed her undergraduate degree in Sports Management from Campbell University in North Carolina.
Stephanie Evans
Special Assistant
Office for Student Conduct
Stephanie Evans has been an employee of ºÚÁÏÍø since November 2010. In her current role in the Office of Student of Conduct, she helps students get back on the right track. She also serves as a co-chair of the division’s Cultural Competency Committee and on the board of the Women of Color Collective. She is also actively involved with students by being a mentor with the Women’s Center Revolution class. Stephanie earned both her BS and MS from the school down the road, but has learned so much more in the professional and personal relationships she has developed by being a Golden Flash. She is also involved in the Kent community serving as a board member of Coleman Professional Services and the president of the Women’s Social Club of Kent. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family, traveling and making crafts.
Meghan Factor-Page
Associate Director
Center for Student Involvement
Meghan Factor-Page oversees the following functional areas at the university: Undergraduate Student Government, Leadership Development & Programming and Fraternity & Sorority Life. She also helps to lead departmental assessment efforts. Meghan joined the Center for Student Involvement in August of 2018.
Prior to working in the Center for Student Involvement, Meghan worked in the Office of Student Success Programs at ºÚÁÏÍø where she managed the First Year Experience Course, coordinated a robust peer leadership training program and lead other high impact practices for first year students and students in transition. She completed her Master’s degree at ºÚÁÏÍø in Higher Education Administration and Student Personnel and her Bachelor’s degree in School Health Education from ºÚÁÏÍø.
Meghan has lived in Northeast Ohio her whole life. She is a self-proclaimed board game geek, plays golf and enjoys spending time with her husband, who is a fellow Golden Flash alum.
Katie Goldring
Associate Director
Center for Student Involvement
Katie Goldring is an Associate Director in the Center for Student Involvement and has oversight of the following functional areas: Student Organizations, Involvement Experts, FLASHperks, the Flash Activities Board and UCommute. She works directly with student organizations through the funding and contracting process in an effort to bring major speakers and programs to campus. In addition, she develops workshops and retreats for student organization officers and advisors as well as the general student population. She has helped to spearhead the development and implementation of KSU Engage, a platform for tracking student involvement on campus. Katie joined the Center for Student Involvement in May of 2011 bringing the FLASHperks program to CSI. Prior to ºÚÁÏÍø, she worked as a high school English teacher at Massillon Washington High School. Katie completed her Master’s degree at ºÚÁÏÍø in Sport and Recreation Management and her undergraduate degree in English from the University of Mount Union. Raised in various Midwest states, Katie has finally found a home in northeast Ohio as a Golden Flash!
Chelsea Knarr
Residence Hall Director
Residence Services
Chelsea Knarr started her Student Affairs journey as a Resident Assistant at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. As a first-generation college student, she was inspired by the Hall Directors-turned-mentors at IUP. Chelsea pursued her Master of Education in Higher Education Administration at ºÚÁÏÍø. Chelsea has been working in college student housing ever since, and currently serves as a Residence Hall Director here at ºÚÁÏÍø. Outside of her work in the residence halls, Chelsea has been an active professional within the Great Lakes Association of College and University Housing Officers (GLACUHO) holding committee positions related to Emergency Preparedness and Planning. In February, she was selected to attend the 2020 GLACUHO Professional Development Institute at Indiana State University. Mostly proudly, Chelsea has also presented at the GLACUHO regional conference on the topics of campus demonstrations and student activism in 2019 and women’s empowerment and leadership in 2020. When she is not at work, Chelsea loves to exercise, cook or bake, and spend time with her friends, her husband, and dog Maggie. Chelsea hopes to be a Director of a residence life program one day!
Sharon Jackson
Assistant Director
Residence Services
Though originally from the East Coast, Sharon Jackson (she/her/hers) received both her degrees (BA in Theatre Arts and MA in Higher Education Administration) from The University of Akron. Before starting her graduate work she worked for a non-profit in Cincinnati, OH. After receiving her masters, she started her student affairs career in housing and fraternity sorority life at Ashland University. She then assumed the role of Director of Student Activities and Orientation at Ripon College where she oversaw nine function area. Wanting to expand her professional experience beyond small private liberal arts institutions, Sharon joined the ºÚÁÏÍø Residence Services team during the Spring 2018 semester where she has served as an Assistant Director, Residential Communities. Sharon has a passion for student engagement, staff professional development, and social justice. Throughout her career she has been involved with the professional organization NASPA through presenting at regional and national conferences, writing for blogs and iBooks, and serving on a knowledge community leadership team.
Brenton McNulty
Assistant Director
Office of Student Conduct
Brenton McNulty currently serves as the Assistant Director in the Office of Student Conduct, and co-chairs the Professional Staff Development Committee in the Division of Student Affairs. He received his BS and MA from Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania in 2011 and 2013, respectively. Brenton was a graduate intern at ºÚÁÏÍø during the 2012-2013 Academic Year and begin working at ºÚÁÏÍø in the summer of 2018. His favorite part about working at ºÚÁÏÍø is the intentional student-first mindset, and his amazing colleagues. In his spare time, Brenton enjoys spending time with his wife and 2 kids, working on home improvement projects, and playing board or video games.
Billie Radcliffe
Residence Hall Director
Residence Services
Billie Radcliffe (she, her, hers) serves as a Residence Hall Director with the Department of Residence Services in Lake and Olson Halls. She earned her undergraduate degree in Public Relations from the University of Akron in 2017 and this past May, she graduated with her master’s degree in Higher Education Administration and Student Affairs from ºÚÁÏÍø. On a more personal note, she loves hiking the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, cooking with her partner, and exploring local coffee shops and breweries. She's a proud first-generation college student and am extremely excited to be serving the KSU community as a new, full-time professional!
Valerie Samuel
Associate Director for Assessment
Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs
Valerie serves as Associate Director of Assessment and Accreditation for Student Affairs at ºÚÁÏÍø. Her undergraduate major was Elementary Education and she taught second and fourth grade for a few years after graduation. But her college experience left such an impression on her that she wanted to go back. She loved the higher education experience and wanted a career in that field. She left public schools and pursued a master’s degree in Organization Development while working as an academic advisor. Upon completing her program, she was hired as a trainer for leadership and professional development. A few years after that, she was offered an opportunity to help start a new unit that would focus on the intersection between data, policy and decision-making, so she left Human Resources to work in Institutional Research.
She is passionate about all things Higher Education. From her perspective, Higher Education is a microcosm of society centered around the exchange of knowledge for both scholarship and application. She's always on the lookout for new strategies for problem solving, creative ways to partner with students to better understand their experiences and to advocate for those who cannot advocate for themselves.
Her goal is to teach in a higher education program/organizational leadership program, to write about transformative assessment practices and to consult with higher education leaders on making data-informed decisions that lead to transformative and restorative practices and systems.
On a more personal note, she shares a home with her two children and their dog Rockey. Outside of work she enjoys teaching yoga and meditation, camping, cooking, crafting, and puns...lots and lots of puns!
Barb Spencer
Senior Business Manager
Kent Student Center and Involvement
Barb Spencer is a Senior Business Manager with over 15 years’ experience in the corporate sector and 10 years’ experience at ºÚÁÏÍø. She took an entry level position with University College in 2010 and over time has worked her way up to her current position in Division of Student Affairs Finance. Barb is currently pursuing an MBA at ºÚÁÏÍø and holds a degree in Organizational Communication-minor Business Management as well as an Associate Degree of Applied Business. Along with her education, Barb has had the ability to work in both administrative and managerial roles for the past 25 years giving her a wealth of diverse experience. She has built a reputation for streamlining processes, organizing work environments and enhancing communication initiatives. Barb is motivated by her mentoring relationships with students and encourages their success through hard work and dedication. Barb has four children - all who graduated or are currently attending ºÚÁÏÍø. In her free time, Barb volunteers in the community and enjoys hiking, photography and sewing.
Kendra Wilson
Assistant to an Executive Officer
Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs
Kendra Wilson joined ºÚÁÏÍø in 2013 as Special Assistant in the Office of General Counsel managing public records request, contracts, and immigration matters. Kendra started her career in higher education at The University of Akron in 2009 as a Legal Assistant in the Office of General Counsel facilitating 1219 hearings, managing the public record process, and contract administration. Prior to her higher education career, Kendra worked for Buckingham, Doolittle & Burroughs, LLC and Nicholas T. George & Associates in the areas of estate planning, real estate, and general business.
Kendra manages the day-to-day operations for the Vice President for Student Affairs, identifies systemic issues, proposes viable recommendations for resolution, and serves as the liaison to the Office of the President and Executive Offices. She provides leadership in the areas of professional development and marketing and communications. An inclusive student engagement leader, Kendra is an advocate for students serving as a mentor in various capacities. She is an active member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. serving as Second Vice President and Scholarship Chair for the Akron Alumnae Chapter. Ms. Wilson also serves as the campus and secondary advisor for the Epsilon Mu Chapter of the sorority at ºÚÁÏÍø.
Kendra received her Master of Public Administration degree with an emphasis in Governmental Management from The University of Akron and her Bachelor of Arts in English and Spanish from Mount Union College. A lifelong learner, Kendra is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in Cultural Foundations at ºÚÁÏÍø.