Coastal Carolina University welcomes new employees
Coastal Carolina University recently hired 22 new staff members in several departments. Learn more about the new members of Teal Nation in the New Employee Spotlight:
Jory Beel
Residency Coordinator for the Office of Admissions and Merit Awards
Hometown: South Windsor, Conn.
Favorite food: Doughnuts
Alexa Cecil
Academic Coaching Specialist for the Coastal Student Success Center
Hometown: Bridgeport, W.Va.
Favorite food: Tacos
Hobbies: Reading, watching shows with her husband and exploring new areas.
Interesting facts: Cecil has been to seven countries. She is pursuing a doctorate in higher education. She and her husband met at Marshall University, but are from the same hometown.
Why did you choose CCU? “I loved the size, mission and location of CCU.”
Karen Diegelmann, Ph.D.
Assistant Director for the LIFE Program
Hometown: Pittsburgh, Pa.
Favorite food: “Fun food” (pizza, wings)
Hobbies: Walking on the beach, needlepoint, writing
Interesting facts: Diegelmann is a mother of six adult children and three grandchildren. She earned a doctorate in special education from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. She enjoys reading personal development books and is working on writing one for young people with disabilities.
Why did you choose CCU? “I am excited about working with the LIFE Program.”
Brittany Donatelli
Coordinator of Student Activities for the Office of Student Life
Hometown: Harmony, Pa.
Favorite food: Italian food
Hobbies: Running and attending concerts
Interesting facts: She enjoys traveling, especially trying local foods and sightseeing. She loves cooking, specifically trying new recipes to share with her family and friends. She loves everything about the city of Pittsburgh – the sports, the people, the bridges and the food.
Ryan Failing
Academic Adviser for Edwards College of Humanities and Fine Arts
Hometown: Bath, Mich.
Favorite food: Popcorn chicken
Hobbies: Longboarding, disc golf, hammocking and cooking
Interesting facts: Failing was a phlebotomist before he attended graduate school.
Why did you choose CCU? Failing chose CCU because of its intelligence and national security studies program.
Susan Failing
Community Coordinator for University Housing
Hometown: Portage, Ind.
Favorite food: Grilled cheese
Hobbies: Reading, playing with her cat and playing Nintendo games.
Interesting facts: Failing was a cheerleader in college at Purdue University Calumet, and was the CEO for a student-led public relations firm during her undergraduate studies. She has been in “The Nutcracker” ballet more times than she can count.
Why did you choose CCU? “When I came for my interview on campus, it felt like coming home.”
Jessica Fokken, Ph.D.
Academic Coaching Specialist for Coastal Student Success Center
Hometown: The upper Midwest
Favorite food: Ice cream
Hobbies: Reading, playing board games and going to the beach with her family.
Interesting facts: Fokken has never lived outside the Midwest prior to coming to CCU. She participated in the world’s largest bunny hop for the Guinness Book of World Records, and she rereads the “Harry Potter” series yearly.
Why did you choose CCU? “It’s a liberal arts school in an awesome location.”
Kimberly Foster
Information Literacy Librarian for Kimbel Library
Hometown: Loveland, Ohio
Favorite food: Grilled brie with apple
Chelsea Fried
Community Coordinator for University Housing
Hometown: Concord, N.C.
Favorite food: Sushi
Hobbies: Reading and sleeping
Interesting facts: Fried has a twin brother, loves to watch “The Office” and is a “Harry Potter” aficionado.
Why did you choose CCU? “The people.”
Ashley Gaddy
Director of Intercultural and Inclusion Student Services
Hometown: Raleigh, N.C.
Favorite food: Macaroni and cheese
Hobbies: Shopping and listening to live music
Why did you choose CCU? “To get back to the coast and to make a change on campus.”
Christopher Hazelton
Community Coordinator for University Housing
Hometown: Bristol, Conn.
Favorite food: Pizza
Hobbies: Snowboarding
Interesting facts: Hazelton studied elementary education as an undergraduate and was an NCAA athlete.
Why did you choose CCU? Hazelton believes CCU is “trending in a positive direction.”
Alison Hovatter
Assistant Women’s Golf Coach
Hometown: Huntsville, Ala.
Favorite food: Sushi
Hobbies: Cycling and yoga
Interesting facts: She played college golf at University of Mississippi.
Why did you choose CCU? “Well-respected golf program and head coach and beautiful campus.”
Michelle Huber
Director of Softball Operations
Hometown: Carmel, Ind.
Favorite food: Mexican food
Hobbies: Cycling, cooking and sports
Interesting facts: She played softball at Indiana University.
Why did you choose CCU? “Location, softball program and coaches.”
Angela Huggins, Ph.D.
Director of the Early Childhood Development and Literacy Center
Hometown: North Myrtle Beach
Favorite food: Seafood
Hobbies: Planning parties and theme events
Interesting facts: She read the entire World Book Encyclopedia when she was in third and fourth grade. Huggins is a CCU alumna, class of 1991 and 1999.
Why did you choose CCU? “CCU has been a part of who I am since I was a student here. CCU has provided so much to me. I am excited to pass on this sense of pride and community to others.”
Chad Ingram
Custodial Services staff
Hometown: Myrtle Beach
Favorite food: Comfort food
Hobbies: Music and movies
Interesting facts: Ingram is a Southern gospel singer, a preacher’s son and was adopted.
Why did you choose CCU? Ingram chose CCU because it will provide him with “greater opportunities.”
Alan Lam
Assistant Director for the Jackson Family Center for Ethics and Values
Interesting facts: Lam is a recent graduate of CCU with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a bachelor’s degree in philosophy.
Tiffany Long
Learning Specialist for Accessibility and Disability Services
Hometown: Benton, Pa.
Favorite food: Lasagna
Hobbies: Reading, painting and watching movies
Interesting facts: Long frequently has the hiccups, she is a Phillies and Yankees fan, and she is dying to go cage-diving.
Why did you choose CCU? “I learned about CCU when my older brother was looking at colleges. I fell in love with the school! When I was graduating from grad school and looking for jobs, the perfect position opened up here. I knew this was the perfect opportunity, and I ran with it.”
Tyrone McKenney Jr.
Admissions and Community Outreach Coordinator for the Office of Admissions and Merit Awards
Hometown: Florence
Favorite food: Wings
Hobbies: Coaching Amateur Athletic Union basketball
Interesting facts: McKenney was born in Spain and is a CCU alumnus.
Why did you choose CCU? “Because it’s home.”
Alexandra “Allie” Minori
Senior Athletic Training Assistant
Hometown: Raleigh, N.C.
Favorite food: Pizza
Hobbies: Going to the beach, traveling, hanging out with family and friends, fishing and listening to live music.
Interesting facts: Minori has been to 10 different countries, can do a backflip and is a big Pittsburgh Steelers fan.
Why did you choose CCU? “I grew up passing by CCU on my way into Myrtle Beach for vacation, and I’ve always said I wanted to go to school or work at CCU.”
Jackie Park
Director of Student Accounts
Hometown: Nichols
Favorite food: Seafood
Hobbies: Spending time with her family, traveling and being involved in church
Interesting facts: Park loves meeting new people, she was raised on a farm, and she was a CPA in private practice for 20 years prior to coming to CCU.
Why did you choose CCU? Park chose CCU because of the environment and because it is an “unexpected opportunity.”
Michael Steadman
Community Coordinator for University Housing
Hometown: Rutherfordton, N.C.
Favorite food: Pasta
Hobbies: Backpacking and cycling
Interesting facts: He attended North Carolina State University for his undergraduate studies and has lived in South Africa. His background is in enrollment services.
Why did you choose CCU? “Community feel”
Mark Wenrich
Maintenance Technician and Painter for University Housing
Hometown: Havelock, N.C.
Favorite food: Seafood
Hobbies: Music and collecting
Interesting facts: He is a veteran of the U.S. Army and enjoys working with live music events and outdoor activities such as fishing and hunting.
Why did you choose CCU? He chose CCU because of the work environment and the benefits.
