The Division of Student Affairs and Academic Support has added to its leadership team with recent hires in construction and renovation and University Housing.

Aubree Adams has been named director of operations, and Dan Colascione has been selected as director of residence life, both in University Housing. Lekita Hargrave has returned to the University of South Carolina as director of construction and renovation for Student Affairs and Academic Support.

Adams has 18 years of experience in higher education, including roles in housing, leadership, student involvement and student activities at Vanderbilt University, Sullivan University, Western Kentucky University and Samford University.

Most recently, she served as the associate director for occupancy management at Louisiana State University. She has master’s and bachelor’s degrees in English from Jacksonville State University.

In her role, she will lead the assignments and conference teams within University Housing, focusing on improving processes and experiences for USC students.

Colascione has been with South Carolina for 11 years, serving in roles including residence life coordinator, assistant director of residence life and, most recently, associate director of facility operations.

Prior to joining USC, he served as hall director at Lynchburg College. He earned his Ed.D. in curriculum and Instruction from USC, his master’s in educational leadership from Lynchburg College and his bachelor’s in finance and economics from Sacred Heart University.

In his new role, he’ll lead a team of more than 30 professional staff and 300 resident assistants, oversee the daily operations of residence life and help create a caring residential environment.

“Aubree and Dan bring a wealth of knowledge and experience, as well as varying perspectives to our housing enterprise. We are fortunate to have them on our team,” says University Housing Executive Director April Barnes.

Hargrave has more than 20 years of design and construction experience, including seven years at South Carolina, where she served as a university project manager from 2007 to 2014. She also held facilities and construction management positions at Green Forest Community Development Corporation and Gilbane Building Company. 

Most recently, she served as senior project manager for Leapley Construction. She has a master’s in integrated marketing communications from USC and a bachelor’s in mechanical engineering from Howard University.

In her role, she’ll lead asset planning and the design and construction project team for Student Affairs and Academic Support.

“We anticipate Lekita making a swift and significant impact,” says Kirsten Kennedy, associate vice president for the residential experience.