Our 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 affected by insecure housing, transportation needs or 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 cats, Fig and Kiwi, and binging reality TV.

Tobias Postell (he/him/his)
Assistant Director

tspostell@uncg.edu

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.

Nestor Rodriguez-Garcial (he/him/el)
Assistant Director

narodrigue2@uncg.edu

Nestor Rodriguez-Garcia is a first-generation Latino professional who completed his bachelor’s in political science and public relations at NC State University. Prior to joining OIE, he served as the Program Assistant at the Carolina Latinx Center at UNC Chapel Hill. He is excited to continue to support students of all backgrounds. He is new to the Greensboro area but is excited to be immersed in the culture!

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 10 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.