The First-Year Academic Advising Center
Meet the Advising Staff
Dr. Nelljean M. Rice
Director, University Academic Center
Prince 213F
843-349-2473
Ph.D., University of South Carolina
M.F.A., University of Arkansas
M.A., Eastern Washington State
B.A., Beloit College
Nelljean M. Rice Ph.D. is the Director of the University Academic
Center consisting of a three-part academic unit comprised of First-Year
Academic Advising, the First-Year Experience, and the Learning
Assistance Centers. She is also an Associate Professor in the
Department of English, Journalism, and Communication. She has taught
at Coastal since 1987. Her areas of specialty include Children's and
Young Adult literature, British and American poetry, Creative Non-
Fiction, Asian Literature in Translation, and First Year Writing classes.
Additionally, Dr. Rice helped establish the minor in Women's and
Gender Studies, of which she was the program director until 2005. Dr.
Rice's monograph, A New Matrix for Modernism: A Study of the
Lives and Poetry of Charlotte Mew and Anna Wickham was
published by Routledge in 2003. Her poetry has been published in The
Beloit Poetry Journal, Calyx, Negative Capability, the medieval
discussion blog "In the Middle," and Cold Mountain Review. Dr. Rice
lives in the historic district of Conway, SC where she enjoys gardening,
walking and reading.
Fun Facts about Your Advisor
Dr. Rice’s favorite restaurant is Crady’s in Downtown Conway.
She is an avid reader and cannot pick just one favorite book,
but she loves reading.
The best advice she received about college is talk to your
professors.
The one piece of advice that Dr. Rice would like advisees to
know is to learn how to manage your time.
The two things that set Coastal Carolina University apart from
other places are the beautiful places and smiling faces that she
says she stole from the South Carolina state tourism ad.
Her favorite music is anything by her son, Jesse Rice.
Marcella Greene
First-Year Academic Advisor
Prince 213B
843-349-6534
M.Ed., University of South Carolina
B.S., USC-Coastal Carolina College
Mrs. Greene became a member of the Coastal Carolina University
community one year after graduating from Coastal Carolina College in
1985. She has worked in the Office of Human Resources, the College
of Education, and the Office of Admissions where she served as the
Senior Assistant Director of Transfer Students. Since joining the
University Academic Center, Mrs. Greene is very enthusiastic about
working with her first-year students. Her other enjoyments and
excitements are spending time wither her family and friends, pets,
playing the keyboard, and taking long walks in and around her
community.
Fun Facts about Your Advisor
Mrs. Greene’s favorite team is the Coastal Carolina
Chanticleers!
Her favorite restaurant to eat at is Bouvlasky’s.
She likes to read autobiographies.
She would like all of her advisees to understand that your
successes or failures in college depend totally on your actions.
Mrs. Greene believes the best advice she ever received about
college was to know your purpose for being in college and to be
educated in an area that will bring you happiness and
contentment for a lifetime!
She says that Coastal is unique to other universities because it is
relatively young and open to change and growth which increases
the opportunities for today’s youth.
Also, Mrs. Greene says that Coastal Carolina’s location is
convenient and enticing for in-state and out-of-state students.
Her favorite song is “Lean on Me.”
Heather Huffman
First-Year Academic Advisor
Prince 213K
843-349-2941
M.A., Bowling Green State University
B.A., Ball State Unversity
Ms. Huffman joined the CoastalCarolinaUniversity’s advising staff in
September 2009. Originally from Indiana,
she completed her Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education at BallStateUniversity. She continued her education at
Bowling Green
StateUniversity
where she completed her Master’s degree in College Student Personnel. While there,
she worked as a graduate assistant in the Office of Disability Services and spent time working
with Honors Program advising. Ms. Huffman enjoys reading, doing crafty projects, and traveling.
Fun Facts about Your Advisor
Her favorite books are the Harry Potter series and Pride and Prejudice.
The best piece of advice Ms. Huffman received about college was to take advantage of all the various opportunities and explore. College is the perfect time to participate in a large variety of groups and events, take a class just because it interests you, or try out different jobs.
She would like all her students to know that professors are people too. Don’t be afraid to talk to them and ask questions. If you missed class or need to miss class, let them know what’s going on. Visit them during office hours to discuss assignments and how you are doing in their course.
She believes what sets CoastalCarolinaUniversity apart is its beautiful campus including the turtles, and its dedication to growth and improvement.
Her favorite song is “What a Wonderful World” by Louis Armstrong.
Kelli Moses-Dolfi
First-Year Academic Advisor
Prince 213A
843-349-6541
M.A., Chadron State College
B.A., Chadron State College
Mrs. Moses-Dolfi joined Coastal Carolina University in July 2007. She
has worked as a therapist, Student Services Coordinator, and as a
counselor at a public high school. Mrs. Moses-Dolfi is a licensed
professional counselor. She is an avid fan of Coastal Carolina
University football and the Pittsburgh Steelers. She has also recently
fulfilled a childhood dream by attending the 2009 Super Bowl. Mrs.
Moses-Dolfi has a passion for reading and is the Chair of the Big Read
Committee at Coastal Carolina University.
Fun Facts about Your Advisor
Mrs. Moses-Dolfi’s favorite team is the Pittsburg Steelers.
Her favorite restaurant in the area is Grecian Delight.
Her favorite book is All but my Life by Gerda Weissmann
Klein.
The best advice that Mrs. Moses-Dolfi received about college
was to take some classes outside of your comfort zone to help
you explore new ideas. Learn about other people and be open
to better ways of doing things.
She would like all of her advisees to know that all their behavior
has consequences.
Mrs. Moses-Dolfi LOVES Coastal and thinks it is set apart
from other colleges and universities because it is so beautiful.
The campus has several wooded areas tucked away where
students can sit and read or just relax. It is a friendly campus
with a lot of positive energy.
Agatha started at Coastal Carolina University in
1989 as adjunct faculty in the Wall School of Business teaching
Introduction to Business, Human Resource Management, Organizational
Behavior and Fundamentals of Management. She was also the Director
of the Marine Science for Junior Scholars Program from 1990 to 1992.
Prior to turning her career to academics, she had nine years of
managerial experience in a fortune five hundred company where she
started as an executive trainee and worked her way up the corporate
ladder in numerous executive positions.
Fun Facts about Your Advisor
Mrs. O’Brien’s favorite team is the New England Patriots.
Her two favorite restaurants are The Gulf Stream Café and
Miyabi’s.
Her favorite book is Growing Up by Russel Baker.
Mrs. O’Brien believes that the best advice that she received
about college was “a place cannot make you happy” because
you are responsible for your own happiness.
She also believes that Coastal Carolina University’s students set
it apart from other institutions. The number of opportunities for
student involvement in leadership programs and the student
body’s ability to initiate change.
Mrs. O’Brien’s favorite group of all time is Queen. However,
her taste in music runs from classical to contemporary depending
on her mood and what she is doing.
Melissa Paschuck
First-Year Academic Advisor
Prince 213H
843-349-6528
M.Ed., Kent State University
B.A., Edinboro Univ. of Pennsylvania
Melissa moved to the First-Year Advising staff in
February of 2008 from the CCU Bookstore, where she served as Textbook
Manager. She has worked on a college campus since she was a sophomore
in college when she was a Resident Assistant. After receiving a
Bachelor of Arts degree at Edinboro University of Pennsylvania in
2001, she attended graduate school at Kent State University in Ohio.
During her tenure at Kent, she served as an Assistant Residence
Hall Director in both upper-class and first-year residence hall
areas. Upon completion of her Master’s degree in Higher Education
Administration and Student Personnel, she worked at Vanderbilt University
as an Assistant Director of Residence Life. Just prior to coming
to CCU, she worked at Brevard College in North Carolina as Director
of First Year Programs.
Fun Facts about Your Advisor
Ms. Paschuck’s favorite team is the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Two of her favorite restaurants are Max & Erma’s and King Kong Sushi.
Her favorite books to read are the Twilight Series.
Ms. Paschuck believes that the best advice that she received about college was to stay open to new ideas and different opinions.
One piece of advice that she wishes that all of her advisees would understand is do not stop going to class until you have seen your advisor to officially drop that class.
She also believes that Coastal Carolina University sets itself apart from other institutions because of the sections of FYE that work to build ROVs to donate them to area schools and the business program is accredited by the AACSB, which is a premier accreditation body for business schools.
Ms. Paschuck has an eclectic taste in music. She has favorites from all genres for when she is in different moods, but lately she has been listening to a lot of Linkin Park, Paramore, and Coldplay.
Frances Richmond
First-Year Academic Advisor
Prince 213C
843-349-6529
B.A., Coastal Carolina University
Mrs. Richmond has been working with CCU students since
1996. Her most recent position was Student Services Coordinator
within the Wall College of Business where she served for almost
five years. In addition to academic advisement for freshman and
sophomore business students, she was also a reference point for
students from the time they entered as a freshman or transfer student
until the time they signed their graduation application. She was
recipient of the university's Professional Staff Excellence Award
for 2004-05. Prior to coming to CCU, Frances gained over ten years
of experience in business that included banking, management, accounting,
and medical billing.
Fun Facts about Your Advisor
Ms. Richmond’s favorite team is the Costal Carolina
Chanticleers!
Her favorite restaurant is El Burro Loco.
Her favorite book is The Five People You Meet in Heaven.
The best advice about college that she ever received was to GO
TO CLASS!
A motivational quote “…if I
work hard enough, there will be things I can do tomorrow that I
can’t do today” ( The Last Lecture, Pausch).
She would like all of her advisees to know that hard work
and persistence are vital to your education. You will only get as
much out of your education as you put into it. (Cliched but very
true!)
One thing that Ms. Richmond believes set Coastal apart from
other colleges and universities is that it is small enough that
student input is still actively recruited when making revisions to
policies, planning campus renovations, and setting the university
mission.
Her favorite genre of music is Southern Rock!
Kerry Spitze
First-Year Academic Advisor
Prince 211
843-349-6514
M.S., University of Wisconsin - Whitewater
B.S., College of Charleston
Mrs. Spitze joined the Coastal Carolina University advising staff in
February 2009 after serving as an adjunct faculty member in the fall
where she taught University 110. Prior to moving to Myrtle Beach,
Kerry lived in Illinois where she worked as a mental health counselor
before becoming an academic advisor with Northern Illinois University.
Mrs. Spitze is also a licensed clinical professional counselor and holds
an associate certification in career coaching. She received her master’s
degree in counselor education from the University of Wisconsin –
Whitewater and her undergraduate degree in music from the College of
Charleston.
Fun Facts about Your Advisor
Mrs. Spitze’s favorite team is the Chicago Bears.
Her favorite restaurant in the area is Gulf Stream.
Her favorite books are Jane Eyre and Gone with the Wind.
Mrs. Sptize’s says that the best advice she ever received
regarding college was that graduating with a bachelor’s degree
makes you marketable regardless of your specific major.
She would also like all of her advisees to understand that the
college experience happens just once, and therefore you should
take full advantage of the opportunities and resources available
to you. Complete an internship, volunteer, get involved on
campus, go talk with career services, etc.
Mrs. Spitze believes that Coastal Carolina is unique compared
to other universities because it fosters a sense of connection
between faculty/staff and the student body.
Also, she says that the services offered are first-rate and student
centered!
Mrs. Spitze’s favorite song is “Get Together” by Madonna.
M.S., Binghamton University
B.S., Long Island University - Southampton
Ms. Varga joined the Coastal Carolina University community as our
Bridge Program/Transition Coordinator. Although employed by
Coastal Carolina University, her office at Horry-Georgetown Technical
College is where she helps students bridge the gap between high school
and Coastal Carolina University. She previously worked at Broome
Community College in Binghamton, NY as an Academic Advisor. She
has her Master’s Degree in Social Science and a Bachelor’s Degree in
Psychobiology. She is passionate about helping students achieve their
dreams, animals, quilting, and beading.
Fun Facts about Your Advisor
Ms. Varga’s favorite restaurant to go to in the area is the
Melting Pot.
Her favorite book of all time is In Cold Blood by Truman
Capote
The best advice that she ever received relating to college was to
keep all of her old papers, as she may be able to use them in the
future.
Ms. Varga wishes students would go to their advisor to get their
academic information.
She believes that two of the things that separate Coastal
Carolina University from the pack is the amount and quality of
academic assistance that is available to them and the
determination of the UAC help new students succeed.
