Dr. Keryn Vickers joined the Watson College of Education (WCE) Office of Student Advising in 2021 as the Inaugural Director. He began his academic career over 20 years ago at DePauw University, advising, coaching, and mentoring students and leading a community non-profit organization. Dr. Vickers has served students at UNCW since 2006, as Assistant Director of Admissions, an Academic Advisor and Interim Coordinator in Center for Academic Advising, a First-Year seminar and Africana Studies instructor, and leader and champion for diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts. Dr. Vickers is a native New Yorker, but he earned a BA in Communication Arts & Sciences from DePauw University in Indiana. He also earned an MA in Recreation & Sports Management from Indiana State University and is a WCE alum after earning an Ed.D. in Education Leadership.
Dr. Vickers is passionate about education and strategically implements diverse, high impact and best practices or services that support all students' holistic development. When Dr. Vickers is not serving in WCE, he can be found spending quality time with family, expressing his faith, playing sports, and being a servant leader in his community.
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vickersk@uncw.edu
Janique “Jan” Caffie attended Seton Hall University, earning her B.A. in Psychology and Master’s in Psychological Studies. Jan has spent three decades working in higher education. Prior to coming to UNCW, Jan “retired” from the County College of Morris, where she was the Dean of Student Success. In this role, Jan spent many hours working with students to resolve many issues, but she most enjoyed the opportunity to advise students.
Retirement allowed Jan to relocate to North Carolina, a move she had been dreaming of for quite some time. She retired for all of five days when she realized that higher education was not done with her yet. She accepted a position within the UNCW Graduate School as a Graduate Admissions Specialist. After a year, she joined the Watson College of Education in September of 2024 as an academic advisor.
Jan has a son who plays soccer for his college and two fur babies. When she isn’t cheering on her son’s college team, she can be found binge-watching Netflix or out on the town in search of a good band. She is also proud to be part of the first cohort of the Ed.D. Community College Leadership program. You can call her “Dr. Jan” in a few years if all goes well.
Jelene Grace joined the WCE in January 2023 as an Academic Advisor. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education with a concentration in Reading from Texas Woman’s University and Master’s in Student Affairs Administration in Higher Education from Texas A&M University. Most recently Jelene worked here at UNCW in the Transition Programs Office as an Assistant Director for the former Seahawk Success Center and working with second-year and transfer student programming. Jelene has served as an Academic Advisor and administrator for most of her career in higher education, also having experience in residence life, living-learning communities, peer mentoring programs, orientation, and student success.
After working with students throughout high school and through a summer bridge program, she wanted to learn more about the student experience from the time of orientation to graduation. Her inquisitive nature led her to academic advising. In her spare time she can be found spending time with family/friends, enjoying a good book, shopping, baking, and cruising to exotic locations. Jelene also has a love for anything purple.
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gracej@uncw.edu
Kimberley previously worked in the Office of Institutional Diversity & Inclusion as the Outreach Coordinator. She aided community efforts to address social determinants of health and facilitated campus initiatives designed to cultivate welcoming environments for students, faculty, and staff. One such initiative is the JUST US art and resiliency program in 2020, a collaboration with area public and independent schools, community organizations, and WCE, to support area elementary and middle school youth.
In prior roles within the Office of Scholarships & Financial Aid, she managed the Federal Work Study program and led the university’s transition from individual departmental scholarship applications to the university-wide Next Gen scholarship software. She is most proud of having designed the Seahawk Scholar program, a comprehensive, four-year scholarship program to prepare recipients for life beyond graduation, now known as the SOAR Ambassador Program.
In most of her professional experiences, Kimberley served in an administrative or program development capacity, utilizing her first graduate degree in Organizational Management. She is currently completing her second master’s degree, M.S. in Agriculture Education and Human Sciences, with a concentration in Family and Community Sciences. She is excited to embark upon this new aspect of supporting students, a complement to her current academic pursuits and professional interests.
Tonnia Rodriguez joined the WCE as an advisor in June of 2022. She received both her Bachelors' degree in Psychology and her Masters of Arts in Teaching from UNCW. Tonnia spent time in the classroom teaching middle school learners before she transitioned to a role in higher education as a Success Coach at Cape Fear Community College. There she discovered her love for supporting diverse students by cultivating meaningful relationships with them and helping them navigate college life.
Tonnia brings her talent, skills, experience, and passion for learning and helping others to this position. She is a native Wilmingtonian and is a proud product of New Hanover County's school system. In her free time, she enjoys trying new foods, binging her favorite shows, spending time with her family, and watching her baby girl grow! She is excited to be back at home at Watson to help be a guide to our students!
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rodriguezt@uncw.edu