Advancing Leaders in Higher Education |
Ashley B. Allen, state chair
| Masonne Sawyer, Chair-Elect
|
Dr. Ashley Batts Allen is Associate Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at UNC Pembroke and Professor of Psychology. Her research is in self-compassion as it relates to trauma. She earned a B.A. in Psychology from Wake Forest University and an M.A. and Ph.D. in Social Psychology from Duke University. As Associate Dean, she assists faculty evaluation, professional development, research engagement, and external funding. She is passionate in her support of undergraduate research and serves as PI for the REACH program which supports students in their pursuit of careers in the professoriate.
Masonne Sawyer is the Vice President of Student Success & Holistic Support at Forsyth Technical Community College. She has a BS degree in Social Sciences from Gardner-Webb University as well as a MS Degree in Psychology from Capella University. Ms. Sawyer is an accomplished holistic student support services professional with extensive Community College experience having served in numerous roles at Forsyth Tech since 2004. She serves on the Board of Directors for The Trinity Center and LEAD Girls of NC. She is the recipient of several awards including Staff Person of the Year, the President’s Award and was recently inducted into the Phi Theta Kappa Alumni Hall of Honor and a League for Innovation 2024-2025 League Excellence Award recipient.Yvette Huet, past State Chair and programming chair
Dr. Yvette Huet is the Dean of the College of Health and Human Services at UNC Charlotte. Huet joined the university in 1991 and during her tenure has served a variety of leadership roles, including executive director of the Center for ADVANCing Faculty Success, interim co-vice chancellor for the Office of Research and Economic Development, director of the Health Services Research Doctoral Program, and interim chair of the Applied Physiology, Health and Clinical Sciences Department. She holds a Ph.D. in physiology from the University of Kansas Medical Center and undergraduate degrees in microbiology and human biology from the University of Kansas. Her research focuses on understanding the role of gonadal steroids (primarily estrogen) in normal physiology and adult diseases and the effects of neonatal exposure to environmental toxicants on development and adult disease. Huet provides consultation to academic institutions and societies on transformative leadership, mentoring, cultural competency, communications, negotiations, and programming. She is a member of the Charlotte Executive Leadership Council Healthy Communities working team.
Crystal Chambers, Mentorship chair
| Connie Gores, Presidental sponsorship initiative chair
|
Dr. Crystal Renée Chambers, J.D., Ph.D. chambersc@ecu.edu is a Professor of Educational Leadership at East Carolina University where she examines matters of race and gender equity in higher education, particularly the areas of college choice and faculty advancement. Dr. Chambers is the author/ co-author of over 50 peer reviewed articles, book chapters, and monographs as well as the editor of nine book and journal volumes, including the forthcoming Colleague to Colleague: Just in Time and Timeless Advice for Department Leaders (SUNY Press, 2026). Dr. Chambers is a 2018 Carnegie Fellow and is a co-PI on THRIVE@ECU, an NSF ADVANCE Adaptation grant and has served as a Coach and faculty expert with the National Center for Faculty Development and Diversity. She is a 2016 ECU Graduate Faculty Mentor and East Carolina University Women of Distinction Award recipient, and a fellow of the BRIDGES Leadership for Women (2020) and UNC System Executive Leadership Institute (2021-2022).
Dr. Connie J. Gores is Partner in the Success Associates, where she provides executive coaching, leadership training, and consulting for individuals and organizations. She served as President of Southwest Minnesota State University for six years. Connie has a deep and enduring commitment to women’s leadership, including serving as Chair of the national ACE Women’s Network Executive Council, Chair of the Virginia ACE Network Board, and Chair of the Senior Leadership Seminar in Virginia. She earned her B.A. from North Dakota State University, her M.Ed. from Colorado State University, and her Ph.D. from the University of Washington. She is delighted to live near her two adult daughters and three wonderful grandchildren in North Carolina.shauna harris, Communications & Marketing Chair and secretary
| Erica jastrow, Treasurer and finance committee chair
|
Dr. Shauna Harris has over 15 years of experience working in higher education and student affairs. Her professional experiences have included housing and residence life, women’s leadership initiatives, student leadership and engagement, advising, and student recruitment and retention. Her scholarly work has centered on identity development in biracial women, mid-management supervision, and student engagement on campus. She has been committed to creating inclusive environments that foster a sense of belonging as well as working with various stakeholders to create systems, programs, and services centered on equity, efficiency, and engagement. She graduated from Clemson with a B.A. in History. She received her M.Ed. in Higher Education and Student Affairs from the University of South Carolina and her Ph.D. in Counseling and Student Personnel Services from the University of Georgia.
Dr. Erica Jastrow is a registered nurse with over 20 years of experience in nursing and higher education. She was the director of several prelicensure nursing programs at a North Carolina Community College before transitioning to the role of Assistant Professor and RN to BSN program director at William Peace University (Raleigh, NC) in December 2020. She was the recipient of the university's McCormick Distinguished Teaching Award in 2024, which recognizes a full-time faculty member with the characteristics of a master teacher and scholar, a concern for the development of students, and a commitment to education.Torry Reynolds, Conference Co-Chair
| tracie Salinas, membership chair
|
Dr. Torry L. Reynolds serves as Associate Vice President of Student Services for the North Carolina Community College System, where she leads initiatives to strengthen the student experience. With nearly two decades of experience in higher education, she has held leadership roles focused on student success and academic services, including overseeing programs that support persistence, completion, and equitable outcomes. She is known for her collaborative, student-centered approach to advancing economic mobility and workforce readiness statewide.
Dr. Tracie McLemore Salinas is the Chair of and Professor in the Department of Mathematical Sciences at Appalachian State University. While completing her PhD in mathematics education at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville, Tracie developed an interest in the interactions of culture and place, specifically in mathematics and STEM education and later in academia more broadly. She has served on the Advisory Board of the Chancellor's Academic Leadership Development Program and as a Principal Investigator on multiple projects supporting first-generation, rural, and other underrepresented groups in STEM fields. Currently, she is a co-principal investigator on the ADVANCE Appalachian project, funded by the National Science Foundation, and supports interactions with the Aspire Alliance iChange Network.April Tallant, Institutional representative chair
| Nichole Lewis, board member
Nichole R. Lewis is the Assistant Vice Chancellor and Dean of Students in the Division of Student Affairs and University Advancement for Elizabeth City State University. There, she is responsible for professional development for the division and serves as the executive champion for the institution’s Quality Enhancement Plan. She is an alumna of the University of North Carolina’s Executive Leadership Institute, NASPA’s Assistant Vice President Institute, and the Higher Education Leadership Foundation’s executive leadership program. Prior to coming to ECSU, Lewis served as director of the Women’s Center at NCCU where she is credited for rebranding the Center, to expand offerings aimed at building cultural capital, leadership development skills, and developing an active bystander intervention peer educator program. She also served as Executive Director of Professional and Leadership Development at a private HBCU in North Carolina. |
Dr. April Tallant is Director of the Coulter Faculty Commons at Western Carolina University (WCU). She previously served as Senior Educational Developer, Associate Dean of Brinson Honors College, and tenured associate professor of Nutrition & Dietetics at WCU. Dr. Tallant champions faculty and student success by prioritizing pedagogical wellness and embracing an asset-based approach to educational and professional development. She is deeply committed to helping faculty enhance student engagement and advance the scholarship of teaching and learning. She earned her B.S. and M.H.S. at WCU, and her Ph.D. at the University of Tennessee.
Erica Still, board member
| LATONYA NIXON, CONFERENCE CO-CHAIR Dr. LaTonya M. Nixon-Stith is a visionary leader in higher education with over 25 years of experience as an educator and administrator. A first-generation, low-income college graduate, she brings a deeply personal understanding of the challenges faced by underserved students. Currently serving as Vice President of Student Services at Beaufort County Community College in North Carolina, Dr. Nixon-Stith is known for her student-centered approach, focusing on access, retention, and holistic support.
Dr. Nixon-Stith has participated in numerous esteemed leadership programs, including the Aspen Rising Presidential Fellowship, NC Community College Leadership Program, the Lakin Leadership Program, and the NCCCS Equity Coach Academy. Recognized for her service and impact, she has received several awards, including Student Services Employee of the Year and the TRIO Woman of Substance Award. She is also a sought-after speaker and facilitator for conferences and workshops. |
Dr. Erica Still joined the Department of English at Wake Forest University as an Assistant Professor in 2007. In 2018, she became Associate Dean for Faculty Recruitment, Diversity, and Inclusion in the undergraduate College, where she oversees faculty recruitment and hiring practices as well as development and execution of programs to increase diversity and support for inclusivity. She is the author of Prophetic Remembrance: Black Subjectivity in African American and South African Trauma Narratives. Her ongoing research interests include examining the intersection of leadership and gender narratives in contemporary African American Literature. She earned her B.A. at Temple University and her Ph.D. from The University of Iowa.
| The NC ACE Network thanks and acknowledges the support provided by the UNC System Office of the President. |
