Ashleigh Moroni

Hometown: Smithfield, RI

Track: Student Affairs Administration

Current Employment: Assistant Residence Life Coordinator for University Housing

Leadership Roles: 2026 Co-Director of Programming for the Student Personnel Association

Bio: I attended Keene State College for four years studying Elementary Education and Graphic Design. In that time, I was heavily involved in every campus extracurricular, employment, leadership, and service opportunity I could get involved with. These opportunities, and my background as a classroom teacher put me on a path towards pursuing a career in student affairs in order to support the growth and success of students at a pivotal developmental standpoint, this time, just from outside of the classroom. 

Keene State is a very small school, in a very small town that is nowhere near the University of South Carolina. The transition from that environment to our campus in Columbia was certainly eye opening, but I was able to rely on my undergraduate experiences as a student leader and love for the organizations that built me into the leader I am today to know that it was time to spread my wings and explore somewhere new (from Owl to Gamecock...the bird analogy was inevitable!).

The HESA program here at USC has proven to be exactly the opportunity and challenge I needed, and the people I have met – both within my cohort and University Housing have truly made me fall in love with this community and city and remind me every day that USC was the right choice for me! 

Meghan Nance

Hometown: West Columbia, SC 

Track: Student Affairs Administration 

Current Employment: Graduate Assistant for TRIO Opportunity Scholars Program 

Leadership Role(s): Lead Advisor for TRIO Ladies Take the Lead Organization

Bio: Before transferring from the University of South Carolina, Upstate, I held several leadership roles, on campus, for an undergraduate organization called IMPACT. IMPACT is a student-led association that provides service-learning opportunities for students in the local Spartanburg community. Originally, I served as a general member, who had interest in volunteering and giving back to the community, and later I was granted the chance to serve as Vice President of external affiliations. Eventually, I was promoted to the role of President. My passion and interest grew for student affairs through my experience with IMPACT. I was able to build a strong connection with my advisor, the students, and other faculty and staff on campus. What I initially felt was a small role in the student experience became a vital part of my personal development. 

When I transferred to the University of South Carolina-Columbia (USC), during my senior year, my personal student experience was influenced based on the connections I built with the staff and faculty in the Trio McNair Scholar program. The staff were patient with everyone, including me. They were enthusiastic about working with me and several other students. Students who come to the Trio programs for support, not just for academics, but everything related to their persistence in college. This inspired me to want to work in a leadership role where I can support students. Currently I am working with the TRIO Opportunity Scholars Program as their graduate assistant. I am grateful to have the opportunity to mentor and foster strong connections with our scholars at University of South Carolina-Columbia. I am extremely thankful for the community that the HESA program has provided. I am excited to see how the experiences and opportunities from the Higher Education & Student Affairs (HESA) program will help me grow professionally and academically. 

Aidan Townsend

Hometown: Johnson City, TN

Track: Student Affairs Administration

Current Employment: Graduate Assistant for Student Programs and Recruitment in the Office of Undergraduate Admissions

Leadership Role(s): Student Personnel Association Treasurer

Bio: My name is Aidan Townsend, and I am a graduate student in the Higher Education and Student Affairs program. I graduated from East Tennessee State University with a Bachelor's Degree in Marketing Management and a minor in Leadership Studies. I served in many student leader roles at my undergraduate institution that ultimately guided me towards the program at USC. My first experience of the campus and Columbia came during the GARP weekend where I knew that I had to become a Gamecock. 

I have had plenty of opportunities in my short time here in Columbia through support of my office staff and my master's level professors. I am also very excited to see what other professional opportunities are to come throughout the rest of my time at USC.

Kristin Yanaros

Hometown: Conway, SC

Track: Higher Education Leadership

Current Employment: Student Data Analyst at Horry-Georgetown Technical College (Conway, SC)

Leadership Roles: Staff Mentor/Trainer and Departmental Liaison—I mentor and train new staff within the Student Affairs department and I am an active member of our Advising Committee and the Banner Workflow Management team to improve processes college wide.

Bio: I recently earned my Bachelor’s of Arts in Psychology from the University of South Carolina Beaufort Palmetto College before pursuing a Master’s in Higher Education Leadership. My leadership philosophy is grounded by my passion for advocacy, inclusivity, and personal growth. I strive to uplift those around me by encouraging self-belief, maintaining a positive mindset, and fostering environments where everyone feels welcome. With experience on both the student and administrative sides of higher education, I bring perspective, organization, and a commitment to excellence to every opportunity I pursue. Outside of my studies, I am an active volunteer with the Civil Air Patrol and I love spending time in nature with my pets. I believe in people — their ability to grow, to persevere, and to find confidence in themselves.

Eric Grabski

Graduating Year: 2023

Current Position: Captain for Community Services, University of South Carolina Police Department

HESA was the answer for my desire and passion to better serve students and more deeply understand higher education administration. My experience in the program not only provided invaluable knowledge and skills, allowing me to grow in my current position, but also gave me the opportunity to become a more skilled critical thinker and grow personally. I was so positively impacted by the HESA program that I decided to continue my education and am currently a PhD student in the Education Administration program, at the University of South Carolina.

Sara Furr, Ph.D.

Graduating year: 2004

Current Position: Dean of Students, Diversity, & Inclusion, School of Social Service Administration at the University of Chicago

The HESA program gave me a strong foundation of putting theory to practice that has informed my entire professional career.  Additionally, I’m thankful for the personal and professional relationships I made that created a strong network in the field.  It is not uncommon to meet Carolina HESA alum at every institution I visit. 

Patricia A. Whitely, Ph.D.

Graduating year: 1982

Current Position: Vice President for Student Affairs at the University of Miami

I received a terrific background at USC/HESA. The academic work and the assistantships built a solid foundation for my Student Affairs career.  I could not have asked for a better experience.

Caleb E. Morris

Graduating year: 2019

Current position: Exploratory Advisor and Instructor (UNIV 101 and UNIV 401) at the University of South Carolina

The University of South Carolina is committed to providing a holistic, engaging, and purposeful experience for students, both within and beyond the classroom. In addition to #1 ranked academic programs such as International Business and University 101, USC is a frontrunner in experiential learning, through innovative programs such as Graduation with Leadership Distinction (GLD) and My USC Experience. In HESA, I was able to get first-hand experience with many of these nationally recognized initiatives through internships and practica, which greatly enhanced my employability, and gave me many stories to share in interviews. USC is a fine institution, and HESA is a fantastic program, and I am so thankful to count myself among the expansive network of Gamecock alumni. Go Cocks!