Dr. Cathy Akens is the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs at UNC Greensboro, a role she has held since January 2018. In this role, she leads a team who oversee a wide array of programs and services that focus on impacting student success and learning through the co-curricular experience. Her work in Student Affairs focuses on the areas of student well-being, student engagement, and campus climate and inclusion. Dr. Akens has regularly taught graduate courses in the areas of student development, campus crisis management and contemporary issues in higher education. She has been engaged in professional service and scholarship throughout her career. She has authored several book chapters and co-edited the book College Students and Their Environments, which explores how universities create culturally inclusive and engaging communities.

Before joining UNCG, Dr. Akens held positions as Associate Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students, Assistant Vice President, and Director of Residential Life at Florida International University. She held other positions in residential life at both FIU and Bowling Green State University.
Dr. Akens earned a bachelor’s degree in communication from the University of Toledo and a master’s degree in college and university administration from Michigan State University. Her doctorate in higher education is from Florida International University. Throughout her career in Higher Education and Student Affairs Dr. Akens has established herself as a dedicated advocate for students, and a proven leader and mentor.

336.334.5099 | caakens@uncg.edu

Dr. Brett Carter is the Associate Vice Chancellor and Dean of Students at UNC Greensboro. He has been involved in higher education for over 30 years. He is responsible for a wide range of Student Affairs functions including the Dean of Students Office, Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities, Offices of Accessibility Resources and Services, Military-Affiliated Services, Counseling Center, Campus Recreation and Wellness, and Student Health Services. He has a long history of diverse work experiences with student housing, judicial and academic integrity programs, student support services, first-year experience programs, and crisis management. Dr. Carter also oversees student policy development and co-chairs the Behavioral Assessment Team (BAT). His hobbies include golfing, camping, and hiking.

336.334.5514 | bacarte2@uncg.edu

Dr. Adrienne Craig is the Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs. In this role, she provides leadership for Campus Activities & Programs, Career & Professional Development, Elliott University Center, the Office of Intercultural Engagement, and the Office of Leadership & Civic Engagement. Previously, she served as the Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs at Columbus State University (Ga.) She has over 16 years of experience working in various facets of Student Affairs and is passionate about developing student leaders, having created campus-wide leadership programs at multiple universities. Dr. Craig is a member of the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators, the Association of Fraternal Leadership & Values, and Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. Dr. Craig earned a bachelor’s degree in biology from Old Dominion University and a master’s degree from Virginia Tech. She earned her doctorate in Leadership & Innovation from Wilmington University. 

336.334.5099 | amcraig2@uncg.edu

Dr. Helen Mulhern Halasz is the Director of Student Affairs Research and Strategic Initiatives. Her previous roles in student affairs assessment were at East Carolina University and University of South Carolina Columbia. Dr. Halasz focuses on fostering a culture of evidence and building assessment confidence and capacity among Student Affairs Educators related to professional competency areas. She has served in academic and student support roles in academic advising, dean of students, fraternity/sorority life, residence life, student conduct, study abroad, and as acting VP of student affairs. Dr. Halasz earned university and national research awards for her dissertation research on advising students in academic transition leaving selective academic programs. She is an alum of Davidson College and earned a master’s degree and PhD degree at the University of South Carolina Columbia.

336.334.3038 | hmhalasz@uncg.edu

Nicole Merritt is the Associate Director of Student & Family Engagement. In this role, Nicole oversees UNCG’s student engagement platform, parent/family communications and initiatives, and UNCG’s co-curriculum program, the Spartan Experience. Nicole has worked in higher education in admissions at Greensboro College and UNCG previously, and is excited to work more with current Spartans. Nicole is pursuing her Ph.D. in Educational Studies with a concentration in Higher Education and has a bachelor’s and master’s degree in English from UNCG. Nicole is a member of American College Personal Association and Sigma Sigma Sigma Sorority. Nicole also serves as a faculty advisor for two student groups: the Graduate Student Association and Tri Sigma. Outside of work Nicole enjoys reading and playing with her pet dog and gerbils.

336.334.3470 | njmerrit@uncg.edu

Ashley Baynes joined UNCG in 2019 in the Office of Intercultural Engagement before joining the Division office in March 2021. As the Business Officer, Ashley is responsible for the overall management of business operations in the Division office. Before joining UNCG, Ashley worked in the telecommunications industry in management and HR roles for over 14 years, and she is passionate about connecting people with the information they need to succeed. In her free time, Ashley enjoys cooking, baking, painting, reading, and spending time with her partner Eric and their children Harper and Auggie.

336.334.5883 | adbaynes@uncg.edu

Katelyn Smith joined UNCG in April 2019 as the Administrative Support Associate for the Department of Mathematics and Statistics before joining the Division of Student Affairs in January 2022. As the Business Services Coordinator, she provides personnel support to the Division among other related tasks. Prior to UNCG, Katelyn trained horses professionally in the sport of Dressage for seven years. She graduated from Appalachian State University with degrees in Marketing and Business Management. Outside of work, Katelyn enjoys growing flowers, riding horses, and spending time with her family, friends, and
four dogs.

336.256.0460 | kryoung3@uncg.edu

As the Division’s graphic designer, Gretchen Pugh creates print and digital promotional materials for major events, initiatives, and services for departments within Student Affairs, including the Division office. Gretchen earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts with a concentration in Graphic Design at Longwood College in Virginia. A standout golf student-athlete for the Lancers, Gretchen is an NCAA All-American and a Longwood Hall-of-Fame inductee. 

336.256.1433 | gspugh@uncg.edu

My primary responsibility in this role is to provide administrative support to the Vice Chancellor and Associate Vice Chancellors within the Division of Student Affairs. Additionally, this role will provide support for the staff in the Office of the Vice Chancellor and manage the front office and day-to-day duties associated with assisting, greeting guests, and planning various divisional activities. 

As an accomplished executive assistant with a MS degree from Nova Southeastern University, I thrive in fast-paced environments, providing seamless support to C-suite executives. With a keen eye for detail and a proactive approach, I ensure executives can stay focused on strategic decision-making. I am committed to enhancing productivity, streamlining processes, and contributing to the success of the Division of Student Affairs. Let’s connect and explore how I can support your team!

I am new to the Greensboro area, relocating from Miami, where I stayed for 15 years. I look forward to checking off my list of trails here in North Carolina.

336.334.5099 | tlcunningha@uncg.edu