About Us
Professional Staff
The COMPASS Student Experience Department consists of the Pinellas Pinellas Access to Higher Education (PATHe) Program, New Student Experience, Orientation, and Campus Visitation.
Senior Director of Student Success
Carolina Nutt, Senior Director of Student Success
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Email: carolinanutt@usf.edu
Education: M.Ed., University of South Carolina
Higher Education and Student Affairs Administration
B.A.
Florida State University, Political Science and Sociology
Hometown: Orlando, FL / Bogota, Colombia
Fun Fact: I enjoy cooking and baking, as well as exploring new cities.
Pinellas Access to Higher Education (PATHe)
Tia Gomez Zeller, Assistant Director of PATHe
Pronouns: She/Her/Ella
Email: gomezzellert@usf.edu
Education: M.S. Education, Leadership & Policy, Portland State University
B.S. Psychology, Portland State University
Associate of Science Transfer Degree, Portland Community College
Hometown: Cadiz, Spain
Favorite part of being part of PATHe: As a first-generation student, new to the U.S. I didn’t understand post-secondary
education in the U.S. and how I could afford it. I love to be able to help the Pinellas
County Community to understand their options, resources, and the different paths to
achieve their goals.
Sam Fiore, PATHe Advisor for Opportunity and Access
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Email: fiores@usf.edu
Education: MPA, University of South Florida, Public Administration
B.A., University of South Florida St. Petersburg, Political Science
Hometown: Tamarac, FL
Favorite part of being part of PATHe: I love inspiring Pinellas County residents to pursue their educational and professional dreams. Anything is possible with some planning and preparing!
Vacant, PATHe Advisor for Transfer Student Support
Pronouns:
Email:
Education:
Hometown:
Favorite part of being part of PATHe:
Brenae Hillard, PATHe Advisor for Pre College
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Email: bhillard@usf.edu
Education: M.Ed., University of South Florida, Curriculum & Instruction – College Student Affairs
B.A., Psychology, University of South Florida
Hometown: Tampa, FL
Favorite part of PATHe: My favorite part of PATHe is helping students navigate their options-from learning about their interests to finding a path that aligns with their goals! There’s an abundance of information available and I really enjoy helping them make sense of it all.
New Student Experience
Cristian Tello, Assistant Director - New Student Experience/ Parent & Family Engagement
Pronouns: He/Him/His
Email: tello@usf.edu
Education: M.S. Florida State University, International Affairs
B.A Florida Atlantic University, Political Science
Hometown: Coral Springs, FL
Fun Fact: I have the exact same name as a famous soccer player!
Macy Thurler, First & Second Year Programs Coordinator
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Email: macyt@usf.edu
Education: M.S. Minnesota State University Mankato, Communication Studies
B.A., University of Wisconsin Oshkosh & Texas State University, Communication Studies
Hometown: Milwaukee, WI
Fun Fact: I love playing UNO! My friends and I have an UNO leaderboard and have played 115 games so far!
Kevin Jimenez, Transfer Programs Coordinator
Pronouns: He/Him/His
Email: kjimenez2@usf.edu
Education: M.A., George Mason University, Higher Education and Student Development
B.S., University of South Florida St. Pete, Biology
Hometown: Coral Springs, FL
Fun Fact: I love music! I like everything from pop, rock, country, house, disco and more!
New Student Orientation
Lindsey Owen, Assistant Director of Orientation
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Email: lowen2@usf.edu
Education: Graduate Certificate, University of South Florida, Higher Education Administration
M.Ed., University of West Florida, Educational Leadership
B.S. St. Petersburg College, Elementary Education
Hometown: Dunedin, FL
Fun Fact: I love paddle boarding, biking, reading, traveling and spending time with friends, family and my two doodles!
Morgan Berg, Coordinator for Orientation
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Email: morganberg@usf.edu
Education: M.Ed., in College Student Affairs, University of South Florida
B.S. in Psychology, University of South Florida St. Petersburg
Hometown: Pelican Rapids, MN
Fun Fact: My birthday is December 31, and I was the lasat baby born in 1999 at the Ferguson Falls Hospital
Belle Jones, Graduate Assistant for Orientation and Campus Visitation
Pronouns:
Education:
Hometown:
Fun Fact:
Campus Visitation
Theresa Frost, Campus Tours & Events Manager
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Email: theresamfrost@usf.edu
Education: B.S., University of Mississippi, Criminal Justice
A.A., Itawamba Community College
Hometown: Laredo, TX
Fun Fact: I love listening to podcasts. I listen to them more than listening to music. Some of my favorites include: D&D podcast, Reddit Stories, True Crime, and lecture-based lessons.