Faculty & Staff
Meet our staff!
Michele Johnson
Director
Michele joined the Transitions team in August 2022. Michele has a B.A. in English and an M. Ed. in Student Personnel in Higher Education from the University of Florida. She is currently working on her Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration from the University of Toledo.
Michele is responsible for the leadership of the Transition Programs office and oversees new student orientation.
Arie Edwards
Associate Director
Arie joined the Transition Programs team in October 2021 as the Associate Director of Transition Programs. She has worked in the field of orientation, transition and retention since 2014 and has been back at UNCW since 2018.
She holds a master’s in Student Personnel in Higher Education Administration from the University of Florida and graduated from UNCW in 2012 with her Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies.
She oversees New Student Convocation and Commencement.
Latisha Corpening
Assistant Director
Latisha joined the Transitions Programs team in February 2023 as the Assistant Director of First Generation programs and spearheaded the Seahawks First program.
She holds a master's degree in Counseling and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. She has been with the University since November 2020, serving as a Student Success Advisor in the College of Health and Human Services.
Previously, she worked as a Counselor and New Student Orientation Coordinator at Cape Fear Community College.
Kenyetta Corley
Assistant Director
Kenyetta joined the Transition Programs team in July 2019. She holds a Master of Arts from the University of North Carolina Wilmington and two Bachelor of Arts degrees from the University of South Carolina.
In her role, she supervises and oversees the Orientation Leader team and the department's digital and print marketing initiatives. She also serves as the department's social media manager and oversees a team of marketing assistants.
Amy McManus
Assistant Director
Amy joined the Transition Programs team in August 2023.
Amy received her Bachelor of Science from UNCW in 2015 and her Master of Arts from Appalachian State University. She is currently pursuing her Doctor of Education at UNCW.
Amy oversees Parent and Family Engagement.
Allyson Whitman
Coordinator for Transfer Engagement
Allyson joined the Transition Programs team in March 2022.
She holds a Bachelor of Applied Science in Human Services and a Master of Arts in Counseling from Wayland Baptist University in Kapolei, Hawaii.
Ally is responsible for all transfer programming and engagement initiatives.
Maddie Vargas
Coordinator for First Year Programs
Maddie joined the Transition Programs team in October 2025. She holds a Master of Arts in Student Affairs Administration and a Bachelor of Science in Political Science from Appalachian State University.
In her role, she supervises and oversees the Seahawk Links peer mentor program and programming focused on engaging first-year students and informing the first-year student experience throughout the academic year.
vargasm@uncw.edu