About Us
Professional Staff
The COMPASS Student Experience Department consists of Success Advocates, the Pinellas Pinellas Access to Higher Education (PATHe) Program, New Student Experience, Orientation, and Campus Visitation
Director
Carolina Nutt, Director COMPASS Student Experience
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.
Success Advocates and Pinellas Access to Higher Education (PATHe)
Vacant, Associate Director of Success Advocates and PATHe
Email:
Education:
Hometown:
Fun Fact:
Amanda Vasquez, 1st & 2nd Year Student Success Advocate
Email: vasquez4@usf.edu
Education: M.Ed., University of South Florida, College Student Affairs
B.S., University of South Florida St. Pete, Interdisciplinary Social Sciences
Hometown: Tampa, Florida
Fun Fact: I recently started playing video games! I play mostly open-world RPGs including all of the Elder Scrolls games.
Antonia Robinson, 3rd & 4th Year Student Success Advocate
Email: ajrobinson1@usf.edu
Education: M.Ed., University of North Florida, Educational Leadership: Higher Education Administration
B.S., University of Florida, Journalism
Hometown: Jacksonville, Florida
Fun Fact: I have a tortoiseshell, polydactyl (aka Hemmingway) cat. Her name is Wicket because she looks like the Ewok from Star Wars.
Nicole Alfaro, Graduate Assistant for Success Advocacy
Email: nicolealfaro@usf.edu
Education: B.A., University of South Florida, Psychology
Hometown: Miami, Fl
Fun Fact: I recently started painting as a hobby. I also enjoy reading and listening to music!
Tia Gomez Zeller, PATHe Advisor for Transfer Student Support
Brenae Hillard, PATHe Advisor for Pre College
New Student Experience
Joyner Atiles-Lopez, Assistant Director of New Student Experience
Email: jatileslopez@usf.edu
Education: M.Ed., University of South Florida, Curriculum & Insruction – College Student Affairs
B.S., University of Florida, Recreation, Parks, & Tourism – Event & Recreation Management
Hometown: Leesburg, FL/Hatillo, Puerto Rico
Fun Fact: I have a passion for the arts and perform in the local community!
Macy Thurler, First & Second Year Programs Coordinator
Email: macyt@usf.edu
Education: Master of Science, 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!
Vacant, Transfer Programs Coordinator
Orientation and Campus Visitation
Brandon Cheatham, Assistant Director of Orientation & Campus Visitation
Pronouns: he/him/him
Email: bcheatham@usf.edu
Phone: (727) 873-4436
Education: B.S., Health Sciences, Stockton University; M.Ed., Curriculum and Instruction, University of South Florida
Hometown: Sweetwater, New Jersey
Favorite part of Orientation and Campus Visitation: Helping new students and their families find their new home at the USF St. Petersburg campus. Going to college is an exciting and scary time, but it is special to be a part of helping students and families during that transition.
Danielle Shiflett, Coordinator for Orientation
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Email: vilma@usf.edu
Phone: (727) 873-4849
Education: Bachelors in General Studies, University of South Florida; M.Ed., Higher Education Leadership, Florida Atlantic University
Hometown: Tampa, Florida
Favorite part of Orientation: To see the happy faces of new students and their families during an Orientation; after all the preparation that is put in, that makes it all worth it!
Freddie O'Brion, Coordinator for Campus Visitation
Pronouns: they/them/theirs
Email: gobrion@usf.edu
Phone: (727) 873-4449
Education: B.A., Art and Gender Studies, New College of Florida
Hometown: St. Petersburg, Florida
Favorite part of Orientation and Campus Visitation: Sharing everything I love about college with incoming students and helping students feel connected to the campus community.
Vacant, Graduate Assistant for Orientation and Campus Visitation