Our Staff

Amber Ali, a strategic leader with over 25 years of experience in management, business, and finance, joined UNC-Chapel Hill in 2019. She holds a bachelor of science in accounting and an MBA with a concentration in business analytics. With a background spanning higher education, federal government, and corporate sectors, she specializes in strategic planning, budget management, financial analysis, and stakeholder engagement. Passionate about student and staff success, Amber leads Student Affairs finance with a focus on process improvements, operational efficiencies, and fostering strong campus partnerships.

James Barricelli is the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Career Development & Executive Director of the UNC Career Center at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he leads student-centered career initiatives campus-wide. He joined UNC in late 2023, after serving as Executive Director of the Georgia Tech Career Center. At Georgia Tech, he led major transformations—restructuring the office, launching a strategic three-year plan, implementing a career education model, and introducing programs like a First‑Generation Shadow Program and the Career Alliance.

At UNC, Barricelli has already spearheaded a rebranding of University Career Services into the UNC Career Center and has overseen substantial growth in services and engagement. Under his leadership, the team launched initiatives like the Career Hub, a faculty-staff Career Champions Program, and greatly expanded student coaching and employer outreach programs.

With over 16 years of experience in higher education and career services, James has directed recruitment and employer relations teams at Wake Forest University, UNC Chapel Hill, George Washington University, and George Mason University. He also held leadership roles in professional organizations such as ACPA and the Virginia Association of College and Employers.

He earned a B.A. in History from Utica College of Syracuse University and an M.A. in Higher Education from Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

Darrius is a native of Eastern North Carolina with over 10 years of experience in Higher Education.  His background includes extensive experience in working with large-scale programming, student organizations, student involvement, student government, and various student engagement initiatives.  Prior to this role at UNC-CH, Darrius spent time at both East Carolina University and North Carolina State University.  He is a graduate of UNC-CH, and takes great pride in working to foster the next generation of Tar Heels.

Dean has worked in Student Affairs at Carolina for over 20 years, and has worked in the field of health education/health promotion and primary prevention work for almost 30 years. He enjoys working with students, staff, faculty, alum, parents, and community partners to create an atmosphere that promotes students’ healthy decision making regarding their health and safety. Dean is interested in the intersections of identity, culture, education, politics, and economics as they impact the health outcomes, disparities, and access to wellness for all students. He believes that breaking down barriers, developing coalitions, and advocating for equitable access is primary to ensuring every student has the necessary resources to be both healthy and whole, as well as personally and academically successful at Carolina and beyond. He enjoys doing this work through individual conversations with students; teaching; outreach to larger groups; collaborating with colleagues across campus and the community; broad based committee involvement; research/policy development; and state and national involvement and leadership in the field.

Dean received his formal education in social work and psychology through an undergraduate degree from Elon University and later a graduate degree from Duke University, but considers himself a student of life, and enjoys reading on public health and just about every other topic. When not having a great time with his Wellness colleagues and students on campus, he enjoys outdoor activities, public service, traveling to new places, time with family and friends, and hanging out with his two amazing Labrador mix rescues, Sampson and Sebastian.

Allan is the Executive Director of Carolina Housing. In that role, Allan serves as the senior housing officer for a comprehensive campus housing operation for 10,000 residents with dual reports in Student Affairs and Finance & Operations. He is an accomplished leader in the field of higher education and student housing, with a proven track record of over three decades at a variety of diverse institutions. Dedicated to advancing the field, Allan is actively engaged in professional associations, participation in external reviews, consulting for campuses nationwide, and serving on faculty for numerous institutes and conferences. An esteemed presenter and author, Allan shares his expertise through keynote addresses, panel discussions, and publications on a wide variety of topics.

Avery Cook serves as the director of Counseling and Psychological Services. Originally from North Carolina, they received their Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) from Davidson College and their Master of Social Work (M.S.W.) with a Concentration in Mental Health from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. They have practiced as a clinical social worker for nearly 20 years, with areas of focus on crisis assessment and intervention, anxiety disorders, depression, adjustment disorders as well as issues related to identity development.  Outside of CAPS, Avery enjoys being outside, reading, and spending time with their dog Maya, who also works as a therapy dog at CAPS.

ason Halsey serves as the Director of Campus Recreation.  In this role, he provides strategic leadership and leads efforts to design and deliver innovative and inclusive recreational experiences that stimulate well-being, create community, and inspire student learning across campus.  He previously served as the Associate Director of Programs and the Assistant Director of Sport Clubs, and he has been with the UNC since 2007.  Halsey began his career in higher education at the University of Northern Colorado, where he served as the Assistant Director of Intramurals and Sport Clubs from 2003 – 2007.  Halsey earned his B.A. in English from the University of North Carolina in 1996, and his M.A. in Sports Management from Appalachian State University in 2002.  In his free time, he enjoys reading, skiing, seeing live music, and attending UNC sporting events.  He lives in Chapel Hill with his wife, Trish, and son, Jackson.

Zack is a leader in the field of Student Affairs Development with close to a decade of experience. Zack was named the Director of the Student Affairs Development Office in 2017 and works with alumni, parents, friends, foundations, and corporations to enhance engagement and cultivate support for students and programs across Student Affairs.

Justin Inscoe is the Director of New Student & Family Programs at UNC, where he leads efforts to support new undergraduate students in their transition to Carolina and foster meaningful partnerships with their families and supporters. His portfolio includes New Student & Family Orientation, Family Programming, Student Leadership, and Communications.

A proud North Carolinian, Justin holds a B.S. in Business Administration from UNC Wilmington and an M.Ed. in Higher Education Administration from NC State. Since 2009, he has worked across various areas in higher education, including residence life, health promotion, violence prevention, development, and student engagement.

Justin lives in Durham with his wife and son. Outside of work, he enjoys live music, college sports, and a good cup of coffee.

Barbara Lesane serves as the Senior Director of Human Resources for Student Affairs. Barbara started at UNC in 2012, working as an Employment Consultant at Central OHR. Barbara is a UNC alumnus receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree in Speech Communications in 1994 and a Master of Science Degree in Human Resource Development from Villanova University in 2016. Barbara has a long work history in the field of human resources and has been PHR certified since 2008.

Holly serves as the Director of Violence Prevention and Advocacy Services. In this role, she provides strategic leadership and operational oversight for the department, which offers University-wide prevention and education initiatives, as well as confidential support services for students and employees. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Lynchburg, a master’s degree in Higher Education and Student Affairs from the University of South Carolina, and a master’s degree in Criminal Justice from East Carolina University. Holly has over a decade of experience in campus violence prevention and victim services, including behavioral threat assessment and management. Outside of work, Holly enjoys reading, listening to podcasts, going to the beach, and her favorite snack combo – M&Ms and Dr. Pepper.

Alexandra Marchesano has served as Executive Director of the Carolina Union since September of 2019, overseeing six offices that carry out the Union’s mission to create safe, inclusive and educational experiences that enable students to maximize their time at Carolina. Marchesano brings a wealth of experience to her role with more than two decades of higher education and student affairs leadership, including director level management at three universities. 

Before coming to Carolina, Marchesano served for eight years as Director of Campus Activities and Programs at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, where she provided management and strategic direction for co-curricular programming and student engagement. She has extensive experience in planning and implementing major campus events, including leadership development programs; oversight for fraternity and sorority life and student organization management; student government and graduate student life advisement; support of student union operations; leadership for budget management and student fee allocations, along with strategic planning and assessment. 

Some of her major accomplishments at UNCG included increasing weekend programming on campus, implementing a risk-management assessment plan for student events; establishing a Greek Life Task Force; and implementing a Triad Music Fest with area colleges in Greensboro.

Danny Nguyen, a collaborative IT leader with over 20 years of experience in higher education technology, currently serves as Director of Student Affairs Information Technology (SAIT) at UNC-Chapel Hill. He holds a Master of Business Administration and a Master of Science in Computer Information Systems with a concentration in security. A UNC-Chapel Hill alumnus, Danny has served the University in various staff, faculty, and leadership roles.

With a strong background in IT operations, strategic planning, and cross-departmental collaboration, Danny specializes in infrastructure modernization, application development, and digital service delivery. He has led numerous high-impact initiatives, including mobile app redesigns, federal compliance implementations, and large-scale system upgrades. Known for his servant leadership style,

Danny builds trusted relationships across Student Affairs, Finance and Operations, central IT, the UNC System Office, and local municipalities.

Ion has twenty-plus years of experience in Higher Education and continues to be a strong advocate for students. He is now serving as the Director of Fraternity and Sorority Life at UNC Chapel Hill.  He was the formal Director of College and Career Readiness for Nash Community College and the formal Associate Dean of Academic Affairs and Student Services at Martin Community College. He has worked as the Assistant Dean of Students, the Director of Greek Life, and Assistant Director of Admissions at East Carolina University.  He received a BS degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing from Winston-Salem State University in December 1995 and received MA in Adult Education in December 2005 from East Carolina University.

Ken Pittman has over 25 years of experience in hospital and healthcare leadership. During his career, he has served as Chief Operating Officer of a 300-bed community hospital in eastern North Carolina, CEO/Turnaround Specialist for three operationally and financially challenged rural hospitals in the Southeast, and a healthcare management consultant. A graduate of Duke, Ken holds a master’s degree in Healthcare Administration and is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives. Ken is currently immediate past president of the Southern College Health Association.

Elizabeth is a strategic communications leader with more than 15 years of experience in creating and managing teams that create content across digital, social, and print media. She has a strong background and broad knowledge in content creation and strategic planning; issue management; news judgment and storytelling; user experience; and graphic design. Her special projects role typically encompasses University-wide initiatives.

Yalitza is a double Tar Heel, having earned from UNC-Chapel Hill a Master’s in Social Work in 2014 and a B.A. in Psychology and Spanish in 2005. Between studies, Yalitza has worked for Carolina on local, statewide, and global projects in the areas of program evaluation, early childhood education, high-quality instruction, educational access, asset development, and financial empowerment. As part of her field work and in partnership with Volunteers for Youth, Yalitza taught a service-learning course for Buckley Public Service Scholars in the SMART Mentoring program.

For over a decade she volunteered in the community with organizations such as the Orange County Literacy Council, Girls on the Run of the Triangle, former Family Violence Prevention Center, and Chapel Hill/Carrboro City Schools. Most recently, she was at Durham’s Partnership for Children working to ensure high-quality standards and compliance for funded partners, build strong partnerships within communities, and engage families and communities in leadership and advocacy. Yalitza lives in Durham with her husband and daughters.

Desirée Rieckenberg (she/her/hers) serves as the Dean of Students.  In her role as dean, Rieckenberg oversees a comprehensive portfolio of student support and success areas, including but not limited to non-clinical case management, crisis management, basic needs initiatives, financial well-being student threat assessment, military-connected services and programs, university approved absences, and other services and programs designed to enhance student experience. Rieckenberg has more than two decades of professional experience in public higher education, including leadership roles at Texas A&M University, Northeastern State University (OK), and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.  Rieckenberg completed her undergraduate education at Eastern Illinois University and graduate education from Texas A&M University. 

Jenni received a Bachelor of Arts in Criminology from the University of MN, Duluth, a Master’s of Public Administration from MN State University, Mankato and a Master’s Certificate of Higher Education: Student Leadership and Development from University of Miami. She is currently working toward an EdD in Higher Education Administration at East Carolina University.

Jenni began her student affairs career path in Residence Life serving in multiple roles from RA at UMD, Graduate Hall Director in MNSU, Mankato, and Assistant Area Director, Area Director, and Assistant Director for first-year students at University of Miami. She also served as Assistant Dean of Students/Director of the Sandler Center for Alcohol and Drug Education in the Dean of Student Office at UM. Jenni worked at Elon University as Associate Director of Residence Life for Leadership and Development before transitioning into her most recent role as Elon’s Director of Student Conduct. During her tenure, Jenni developed collaborative relationships to support the student conduct program and contributed to integrating restorative practices, conflict resolution resources, enhancing the Bias Response System, strengthening the student organization misconduct processes, supporting Title IX and sexual misconduct processes, and centering equitable processes and student wellbeing throughout the student conduct program.

In her free time, Jenni can be found spending time with her family, enjoying watching her two kids engage in sports and other activities, and playing volleyball (beach and indoor) as often as possible.

Hi, my name is Jamillae Stockett, but I’m called “J,” my pronouns are she/her, and I am serving as Director of the LGBTQ Center at UNC Chapel Hill. I am originally a “Mid-Westie” by way of Cincinnati, Ohio. I have over eight years’ experience in Public and Population Health, with undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in Public Health. I am passionate about creating intentionally inviting spaces, student success, support, and education. In my free time, I enjoy travel and culinary adventures, reading, and gaming.