Academic Coaching Team
Dr. Jessica Fokken, Director
KRNS 106A | 843-349-6462 | jfokken@coastal.edu
When Jess taught Composition, she developed a passion for helping students see that their outside interests could be researched and written about in an academic way. Jess is from Windom, Minnesota and she earned her Bachelors of Art in English from Southwest Minnesota State University, her Masters of Art in English at Iowa State University, and her Ph.D. in English from Oklahoma State University.
Jess chose to work at CCU because she and her husband were hired in the English Department in 2016. Jess taught Composition at CCU while she finished her dissertation and she really liked the community at CCU. Because of the atmosphere in the CCU community, Jess wanted to join and work within to help the CCU students.
Dr. Alexa Cecil, Academic Coaching Specialist
KRNS 106A | 843-349-6462 | acecil@coastal.edu
Alexa has a passion for education because she enjoys supporting students, helping them be successful, and seeing the value in their college degrees and education. Alexa is from Bridgeport, West Virginia and earned her Bachelors of Arts in English and Psychology from Marshall University, her Masters of Art in Higher Education Administration from West Virginia University, and her Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration from West Virginia University.
Alexa's research interests are student success and retention, organizational culture, staff support, and burnout. Alexa has had previous experience in teaching and coaching at West Virginia University.
Alexa chose to work at CCU because she is excited to work in academic coaching and also wants to help build a department/program from the ground up.
Fun fact about Alexa has a rescue pup named Fletcher.
Angela Dembiczak, Academic Coaching Specialist/Early Alert Coordinator
KRNS 106 | 843-349-6404 | ajdembic@coastal.edu
Angela has a passion for supporting students with learning new things, whether skills or content. Angela is from Stratford, Connecticut and she received her Bachelors of Art in History at CCU, her Master of Art in History at College of Charleston/The Citadel and her Master of Art in Central and Eastern European Studies from La Salle University.
Angela returned to CCU in the Fall of 2013 as a Teaching Associate, where she taught in both the Department of History and for the Honors Program. Angela served as the Coordinator for South Carolina History Day from 2016-2018 before she joined the Academic Coaching Experience Department.
Fun fact about Angela is she has a weapon collection, ranging from a small Japanese katana, to medieval pickaxe, to African war club.
Kayla Jessop, Academic Coaching Specialist
KRNS 106 | 843-349-6942 | kmjessop@coastal.edu
Richard DeVonte Keith, Academic Coaching Specialist
KRNS 106 | 843-349-2065 | rkeith@coastal.edu
Morgan Marshall, Academic Coaching Specialist
KRNS 106 | 843-349-TBD | mmarsha1@coastal.edu
Morgan is from Pittsburgh, PA and received her Bachelor of Science in Applied Developmental Psychology from the University of Pittsburgh and her Master of Arts in Student Affairs in High Education from Slippery Rock University.
Morgan has worked in several different departments at different universities including; the Office of Student Conduct, Career Development Office, and the Office of Disability Services.
Madison Rahner, Academic Coaching Specialist
KRNS 106 | 843-349-6942 | mrrahner@coastal.edu
Zachary Weinstein, Academic Coaching Specialist
KRNS 106 | 843-349-2065 | zweinstei@coastal.edu
Zach is from Vero Beach, Florida—and arrived at Coastal after earning a Master’s in Higher Education Administration from Vanderbilt University and a Bachelor of Science in Sport Management, with a double major in English from Florida State University. Zach is currently pursuing his Ph.D. in Education here at Coastal.
Zach has a passion for teaching and lifelong learning, both inside and outside the classroom, and pivots that energy toward CCU students’ success, retention, and skill-building.
Fun fact about Zach is that he pursues an exciting assortment of activities outside of CCU—including playing and collecting multiple instruments; travelling with his partner, Alli (and their dog, Charlie); swimming two times a week; and paddleboard surfing!