Faculty and Staff
CarolinaLIFE faculty and staff are experts in the field of inclusive education who
are passionate about building intentional programmatic supports to assist students
in achieving their goals while attending college.
Erica L. Milliron, M.S.
Program Director, CarolinaLIFE
emilliron@sc.edu
Erica oversees the CarolinaLIFE program. She directly supervises all executive staff
members as well as the Exit Planning Staff, CL Instructors, Project FUSION Staff,
and the Academic Coach Coordinator. She is in her first year in this role. Erica graduated
from Millersville University (PA) in 2003 with a dual B.S. in Elementary Education
and Special Education and graduated from the University of Kansas in 2013 with a M.S.
in Special Education with a special emphasis on Transition. She taught Special Education
for 18 years in the public school system in Pennsylvania and served as transition
coordinator for 14 of those years. She spent the last year as a regional Transition
Consultant in central PA.
Hannah Jean Peak, M.S.
Assistant Director of Employment
hpeak@mailbox.sc.edu
Hannah oversees instruction and support related to employment and internship experiences
for CarolinaLIFE students. She directly supervises all employment specialists. She
started her first year with CarolinaLIFE in fall of 2021. Hannah graduated from Missouri
State University in Spring of 2019 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Special Education
and in Spring of 2021 with a Master of Science degree in Student Affairs in Higher
Education (SAHE).
Rebecca Smith Hill, Ph.D.
Assistant Director of Campus and Community Engagement
smithrb@email.sc.edu
Rebecca Smith-Hill is a Project Coordinator for CarolinaLIFE. She is a social worker
and a former middle and high school special education teacher. Her research interests
include agency and equity in transition outcomes, including access to IPSEs, for students
with disabilities from historically minoritized groups. In her current role, Becca
facilitates the formalized exit planning process, serves as a liaison for campus offices,
and oversees the residential component of CarolinaLIFE.
Maggie Baker
Program Support Coordinator
mfbaker@email.sc.edu
Maggie Baker is the Program Support Coordinator for CarolinaLIFE. She directly supervises
Social Engagement Coaches and coordinates administrative supports. Maggie graduated
from The University of South Carolina Spring of 2021 with a Bachelor of Arts in Early
Childhood Education. While in school she completed the add-on certification program
for Special Education. She taught 2nd grade in Charlotte, NC before returning to USC.
Maggie is currently working to earn her M.ED. in Special Education at the University
of South Carolina.
Ruth Bollinger
Lead Coach
ruthtb@mailbox.sc.edu
Ruth Bollinger graduated from CarolinaLIFE in May 2020. As CarolinaLIFE’s Lead Coach,
she provides support and instruction to CarolinaLIFE students in the areas of personal
and professional development. Besides her work in the classroom, Ruth serves as a
representative of CarolinaLIFE to various stakeholders both in the community and across
campus. During her time at UofSC and CarolinaLIFE, she served as a secretary in Student
Government and was the first CarolinaLIFE student to be initiated into a sorority
as a fully pledged member of Gamma Phi Beta. When Ruth isn’t at work, you can find
her at Gamecock sporting events, Soda City Market on Saturdays, is a Disney fan, and
is a big sports fan of Pittsburgh sports.
Program Coaches
Brooke Anderson
Living and Learning Lab Coach
Kali Blue
Academic Lab Coach and Living/Learning Lab Coach
Gracie Bradley
Living and Learning Lab Coach
Micah Cook
Employment and Living And Learning Coach
Averie Douglass
Research Assistant
Alex Fields
Personal Development Coach
Mike Huesmann
Employment Specialist
Jessica Kibler
Sophomore Goal Coach and Instructor
Shelby Lewis
Exit Planning Coach
Grace MacDonald
Social Engagement Coach
Emily Manning
Freshman Goal Coach and Instructor
Melanie Pierre
Teaching Healthy Relationships, internship for MSW program
Monique Rice
Social Engagement Coach
Hannah Runas
Residential Coach and Living and Learning Support Coach
Madeline Saunders
Personal Development Coach and College Access and Preparation (CAP) Instructor
Andrew Smith
Social Engagement/Academic Lab Coach
Caitlin Twitty
Employment Specialist
Kimaya Vanterpool
Resident Coach
Katie Vogel
Academic Lab Coach and FUSION Instructor
Alison Webb
Resident Coach, Academic and Living and Learning Lab
Linda (Xiaobo) Wei
Living and Learning Coach