Our Staff
Professional Staff
Augusto “Gus” Peña (he/him/his)
Director
aepenaes@uncg.edu
Augusto is a passionate advocate for all students and joined the staff at UNCG in 2015. He has over twenty-one years of experience in the areas of college access, student organization advising, academic support, domestic and international undergraduate recruitment, student mentoring, retention initiatives, undergraduate teaching, student conduct processes, free speech policy, program assessment, multicultural leadership development, cultural programming, staff training, policy development, staff supervision and budget management.
Augusto has taught courses on multicultural leadership and international service learning. His public service includes past membership on the State Superintendent’s Graduation Taskforce of North Carolina’s Department of Public Instruction. He served as chair of the Education Committee of Governor Bev Perdue’s Advisory Council on Hispanic/Latino Affairs. He is a co-author of Appalachian State University’s Quality Enhancement Plan titled “Global Learning: A World of Opportunity for Appalachian Students”.
He earned a Bachelor of Science in Political Science with a concentration in International Relations and Comparative Politics, and a Master of Arts in Higher Education Administration both from Appalachian State University.
Sarah Yarbrough (she/her/hers)
Assistant Director
SMYARBROUGH@uncg.edu
Sarah joined the OIE team in July 2024. In her role as Assistant Director, she oversees initiatives that promote understanding and support the well-being of LGBTQIA+ and Pan-Asian students and individuals. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Communication Studies from East Carolina University and a Master of Arts in Communication Studies from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Passionate about access to education, Sarah is dedicated to providing learning experiences in areas such as sexuality and gender studies, intercultural competency, and fostering spaces for constructive dialogue. Prior to joining OIE, Sarah served as an instructor in UNCG’s Communication Studies department, where she valued the opportunity to educate and support students as they transitioned to the next step of their academic journey.
Sarah has developed a deep appreciation for UNCG and the city of Greensboro, becoming an outspoken advocate for Greensboro’s populations who are disproportionately affected by insecure housing, transportation needs and lack of grief support. In her free time, Sarah enjoys cozy hobbies such as video games, reading, and expanding her Lego set collection. She spends most of her time with her cat, Fig, and binging reality TV.
Tobias Postell (he/him/his)
Assistant Director
“I’m a first-generation student. I received my bachelors in Sports Management from Troy University and my Masters in Educational Leadership with a concentration in Higher Education from Columbus State University. Prior to my current role as Assistant Director I was an Academic Advisor and Retention Specialist. I dealt mostly with at-risk students and helped create plans for them to get back into good academic standing. I’ve long been an advocate of students but also teaching them to effectively advocate for themselves when the moment calls for it. I’m new to the Greensboro area but looking forward to immersing myself in everything that’s offered. In my free time I enjoy listening to music, playing video games, being active, and spending time with family.”
Michaela Coleman (she/her/hers)
Administrative Support Associate
mrcoleman@uncg.edu
Michaela joined Intercultural Engagement in August 2021 as the Administrative Support Associate. Michaela has worked in higher education for over 8 years, including providing administrative support for the UNCG faculty senate, and working at her alma mater Guilford College as the Office Manager for Campus Life and Assistant to the Dean of Students. Michaela loves outdoor exploring, reading, yoga, and swimming. Michaela is pursuing her Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. She is thrilled to help with the powerful and essential work of OIE.
Graduate Assistants
Freddy Ortiz Olivares (he/him/el)
Graduate Assistant for Connection and Inclusion Programming – Spartans in Dialogue
Hello all! I completed my undergraduate studies here at UNCG in May 2025 where I majored in Business Administration with a concentration in Management. I have now returned to the Bryan School of Business and Economics to continue my studies and am now pursing a Master’s in Business Administration. Prior to joining the OIE team I served as the Vice President for 1st G, the first-generation student organization, and I love all things music, cars, and video games!
Emanuel Hawthorne-Roman (he/him/his)
Graduate Assistant for Connection and Inclusion Programming – The Black Collective
ejhawthorne@uncg.edu
After earning his Bachelor of Science in Strategic Marketing from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Emanuel is now returning to pursue a Master of Business Administration Degree with a concentration in Marketing. Before joining the OIE Office, Emanuel served as a Resident Advisor for two years and worked as an Athletics Marketing Intern for the UNCG Basketball teams. In his free time, Emanuel enjoys watching old movies, bingeing TV shows, and following everything basketball.
Kayce Meuse (she/her/hers)
Graduate Assistant for Connection and Inclusion Programming – Intercultural Leadership Council
kameuse@uncg.edu
“Hey y’all! My name is Kayce Meuse, and I am the Intercultural Leadership Council Graduate Assistant for OIE. I recently graduated from UNCG and am returning to pursue my master’s in business administration. For three years of my undergrad career, I was a resident advisor working with communities, including first-generation, transfer, graduate, and upperclassmen students. In my free time, I spend time with friends, binge-watch TV series, and bake treats!”
Lynn Vassar (they/them/theirs)
Graduate Assistant for Connection and Inclusion Programming – LGBTQ+ Programming
lpvassar@uncg.edu
As an undergraduate, Lynn attended James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia. At JMU, they gained experience in orientation, academic advising, and diversity education. They earned their Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a minor in Honors Interdisciplinary Studies. At UNCG, Lynn is now pursuing a Master of Education, Student Affairs in Higher Education. In their free time, Lynn enjoys catching up with friends, sewing, and seeing the newest movies at the cinema.
Nayelin Fernandez (she/her/hers)
Graduate Assistant for Connection and Inclusion Programming – CHANCE
N_FERNAN@uncg.edu
Nayelin earned her Bachelors in Elementary Education with a minor in Sociology here at UNCG in May 2024. Now, she is pursuing her Master of Arts in Sociology. In her undergrad, Nayelin was a Resident Advisor and Peer Academic Leader. She has a passion for student-facing roles where she can support and mentor students as they navigate college through creative/fun programming initiatives. In her free time, she enjoys crocheting, cooking, and playing video games!
Bertha Guadalupe Figueroa Mejia (she/her/hers)
Graduate Assistant for Connection and Inclusion Programming – Herencia
BGFIGUEROAM@uncg.edu
Bertha earned her Bachelor of Science in Speech Language Pathology and Audiology here at UNCG in May 2024. Now, she is a second-year graduate student pursuing her Master of Arts in Speech Language Pathology.
Before joining the OIE team, she was deeply involved in campus life. She served as an ambassador for the Herencia Student Collective, community service chair for ALPFA, an ambassador for the Communication Sciences & Disorders DEFINE Task Force, and coach for Silver Leadership Challenge participants.
In her free time, Bertha enjoys dancing, running, arts & crafts, and musical theatre. Bertha is passionate about creating spaces where students feel seen and celebrated. She is excited to collaborate and grow alongside the campus community.