Lisa Pluff, Director
ljpluff@uncg.edu
Lisa has worked in the Office of Comprehensive Transition and Postsecondary Education since 2009. Her experience includes over 20 years of working with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and nonprofit and program management. Current responsibilities include: oversight and management of day-to-day operations of the program; supervision of CTPE Staff; multidisciplinary campus and community (local and state) collaborations; technical assistance through Think College; and supporting program research, evaluation and policy initiatives.
Ryan Milligan, Associate Director
rpmillig@uncg.edu
Ryan joined the office in 2010. Since then, Ryan has served in positions within student life, student supports, and housing & student affairs before coming into his current position. His professional duties include coordinating course schedules, supervising interns and service learning students, program progression for students, multidisciplinary collaborations, and supporting program research and evaluation.
Charla Jones-Hansley, Assistant Director-Career
cmjonesh@uncg.edu
Charla began working with the office in the spring of 2017 after serving as a Rehabilitation Counselor for the Intellectual and Developmentally delayed population of Vocational Rehabilitation. Charla has over 10 years of experience working with individuals with disabilities transitioning into community and workplace settings. Her professional duties include providing and coordinating career development services, awareness and planning in the program of study. Duties also include coordinating internship and volunteer service hours to meet requirements for graduation. Supervising career support staff in providing one on one support to students in the work setting. Collaborating with career services, community provides and other agencies for accommodations, employment opportunities and resources to assist students with transitioning from postsecondary education into employment. Charla currently teaches Internship and “Job Development-Getting the Job” courses.
Matthew “Matt” Fridell, Assistant Director-Transition
mkfridel@uncg.edu
Matt began working with Beyond Academics in 2015 and has held various roles within the program, most recently working in student support. Matt is a certified and licensed recreation therapist. In his present role he coordinates career services, develops resources to assist students with transitioning from postsecondary education into employment, supervises career support staff, and coordinates student internship and volunteer service hours to meet requirements for graduation. He earned his B.A. in Sociology and M.S. in Recreation and Parks Management: Therapeutic Recreation from UNCG.
Alicia Streeter, Student Resource Coordinator
a_streeter@uncg.edu
Alicia Streeter is the Student Resource Coordinator for the ICS Program of Study. She began working with the Integrative and Community Studies Program fall of 2022, after serving as a Transition Rehabilitation Counselor for the Intellectual and Developmentally delayed population of Vocational Rehabilitation. Alicia has over 10 years of experience working with youth and adults with disabilities transitioning into community and workplace settings. Her professional duties include collaborating with the Associate Director, Assistant Director of Transition, and Assistant Director of Career for program cohesion across all cohorts. Alicia focuses on the support needs of students and the resources available to help students be successful. Her responsibilities also include collaborating with other campus departments, recruitment, onboarding, training, and supervision of support staff.
Dr. Lalenja Harrington, Interdepartmental Instructor
l_harrin@uncg.edu
Lalenja has been involved in the development of the ICS program since its first cohort of students in 2007. She is currently a faculty member in the ELC department within the School of Education. She opens the courses that she teaches within ELC and the Honors college to many students in the ICS program of study, and remains a tremendous ally and advocate for the students enrolled and the overall department in general.
Tamarah Davis, Graduate Assistant
tldavis7@uncg.edu
Tamarah received her Bachelor’s Degree in Middle Grades Education from UNC Greensboro and is now a first year in the SAAHE program. As an undergraduate student, Tamarah volunteered with various student organizations, interned at multiple schools within the Greensboro community, and was awarded the bronze and silver medals of leadership through UNC Greensboro’s Leadership Challenge Program. Tamarah has also participated in research focusing on student belonging. Education has always been her passion, and supporting students as they obtain their education is something she plans to do for the rest of her life.
Fran Sandridge, Instructor
f_sandri@uncg.edu
Fran has worked with Beyond Academics since its planning years and launch in 2007. Over the years she has served in supervisory positions within the Integrative Community Studies program including Admissions, Student Life, and Student Supports. Prior to retirement from UNCG in 2018, she served as the Family Information and Education Coordinator. Fran currently contracts with UNCG to teach Self-Determination classes, providing students the opportunity to build confidence in an array of skills including effective communication, self-awareness, decision making, and problem-solving while teaching strategies to support a successful, satisfying, and self-directed future.
Shakira Cohen, Instructor
slcohen2@uncg.edu
Shakira began working with Beyond Academics in Fall 2022. She currently teaches third and fourth year courses. Shakira is a doctoral research fellow, currently in her third year as a Ph.D. student. She has earned a M.A. in Rehabilitation Counseling and a B.S. in Psychology. Shakira has several years of experience working with youth and adults with disabilities transitioning into community and workplace settings.
Rama Ibrahim, Community and Support Staff
Rama began working with Beyond Academics in the Spring of 2023. She serves as a community and support staff student employee for the ICS program. Rama started at UNC Greensboro the past Fall semester after transferring from Guilford Technical Community College (GTCC) and earning her associate in science degree. She is currently a junior dedicated to pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Nutrition & Wellness and was really happy to land an opportunity to help students with intellectual disabilities. She is currently supporting third and fourth-year students by helping ensure that they get the recognition needed for a successful college experience. Rama simply wants to make them feel that they have a safe place and support system not only on-campus but also off-campus and whenever needed.
Denise Rivera, Instructor
Denise began working with the ICS Program of Study in Fall 2021 as an intern. She returned to the program as the Team Lead for the junior and senior students. In her role, Denise provides direct support to students in the areas of academics, life planning, and career support, collaborates with staff to address the needs of the students, assists with college support plans, and provides support to interns. Denise Is a graduate of UNCG with a BSW in social work and is pursuing her masters degree in clinical social work from the joint program at NCA&T and UNCG. Denise conducts research on trauma and adverse childhood experiences as a passion and life-long learner.
Kaiba Humphries, Administrative Assistant
Kaiba works in our office as an administrative assistant working on various tasks from updating our website to filing paperwork. He is a undergraduate student in his bachelor’s program for psychology. Kaiba has career aspirations to become a clinical psychologist. One of the reasons for him choosing this career path is to have the agility to make a positive impact on people’s lives who have difficulties with severe illnesses that benefit from professional help and guidance.
