Office of Student Retention Staff
828.227.7171
kdaiber@wcu.edu
Kristin Daiber
Director of Student Retention
Hometown: Hershey, PA
Joined WCU: July 2021
Undergraduate Institution: Quinnipiac Univeristy - B.S. in Marketing
Graduate Institutions: Bowling Green State University - M.A. in College Student Personnel | Western
Governors University - MBA | 蘑菇短视频 - (in progress!) Ed.D. in
Educational Leadership
Favorite Quote: "I have discovered the secret that after climbing a great hill, one only finds that
there are many more hills to climb. I have taken a moment to rest, to steal a view
of the glorious vistas that surrounds me, to look back on the distance I have come." Nelson
Mandela, A Long Walk to Freedom
828.227.3764
acpuerto@wcu.edu
Anita Puerto
Associate Director, MAPS Coordinator
Hometown: Richmond, VA
Joined WCU: 2015
Undergraduate Institution: Radford University
Graduate Institution: Virginia Commonwealth University
Favorite Quote: 鈥淎 life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives.鈥� Jackie Robinson
828.227.7171
pmavity@wcu.edu
Mosisah Mavity
Associate Director
Hometown: Thomasville, GA
Joined WCU: July 2023
Undergraduate Institution: Brevard College - B.A. in English
Graduate Institution: Miami University - M.A. in Literature
Favorite Quote: "Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful"
- William Morris
828.227.2924
dmacias@wcu.edu
Diandra Macias
Associate Director
Hometown: Ronkonkoma, NY
Joined WCU: 2023
Undergraduate Institution: Monmouth University
Graduate Institution: New York Institute of Technology
Doctoral Institution: East Carolina University (2027)
Favorite Quote: Be fearless in the pursuit of what sets your soul on fire.
828.227.2469
tnewkirk@wcu.edu
Thomas W. Newkirk
Assistant Director, Finish in Four
Hometown: Charlotte, NC
Joined WCU: August 2020 as a Graduate Student
Undergraduate Institution: University of North Carolina at Greensboro - B.A. in Dance Studies
Graduate Institution: California Institute of Integral Studies - M.F.A in Creative Inquiry, Interdisciplinary
Arts. 蘑菇短视频 - M.Ed. in Higher Education Student Affairs
Favorite Quote: "We must be willing to let go of the life we have planned, so as to have the life
that is waiting for us." - Joseph Campbell
828.227.7123
williamscarson@wcu.edu
Carson Williams
Senior Advisor, Summer Bridge Programs Coordinator
Hometown: Hickory, NC
Joined WCU: 2009 as an undergraduate student
Undergraduate Degree: 蘑菇短视频 - B.S.Ed. in Music Education and B.M. in Instrumental
Music
Graduate Degree: 蘑菇短视频- M.Ed. in Higher Education Student Affairs
Favorite Quote: "Laughter is timeless, imagination has no age, and dreams are forever." - Walt Disney
828 227 2786
kkimenker@wcu.edu
Karin Kimenker
Academic Success and Events Coordinator
Hometown: Dillsboro, NC
Joined WCU: March 2018
Undergraduate Institution: University of South Florida, B.S. in Clinical Psychology
Graduate Institution: 蘑菇短视频, M.Ed. Higher Education Student Affairs
Favorite Quote: 鈥淪tay away from those people who try to disparage your ambitions. Small minds will
always do that, but great minds will give you a feeling that you can become great
too.鈥� - Mark Twain
828.227.2217
mgilroy@wcu.edu
Maddy Gilroy
MAPS Academic Coach
Hometown: York, PA or Mount Holly, NC
Joined WCU: August 2024 as a Graduate Assistant
Undergraduate Institution: University of North Carolina Asheville - B.A. in Psychology
Graduate Institution: 蘑菇短视频 - Masters in Higher Education Student Affairs
Favorite Quote: "Nothing is impossible, the word itself says 'I'm possible'" - Audrey Hepburn
828.227.3895
swu@wcu.edu
Elinda Forster
Administrative Support Specialist
Hometown: GA and Hong Kong
Joined WCU: July 2020
Undergraduate Institution: 蘑菇短视频
Favorite quote: "You will face many defeats in life, but never let yourself be defeated." - Maya Angelou
828.227.2616
llarson@wcu.edu
Lyric Larson
Graduate Assistant
Hometowns: Collettsville & Hickory, NC
Joined WCU: 2022 as a student, 2025 as a staff member
Undergraduate Institution: 蘑菇短视频
Graduate Institution: 蘑菇短视频
Favorite Quote: "For the master鈥檚 tools will never dismantle the master鈥檚 house. They may allow us
to temporarily beat him at his own game, but they will never enable us to bring about
genuine change.鈥� - Audre Lorde
828.227.2970
rantwi@wcu.edu
Richard Antwi
MAPS Graduate Assistant
Hometown: Kumasi, Ghana
Joined WCU: 2024
Undergraduate Institution: University of Cape Coast, Ghana
Graduate Institution: 蘑菇短视频
Favorite Quote: If you think you'll fail, you have failed. If you think you can't, you won't, and
if you think you shouldn't, you won't dare! For it all begins with the mindset!
Senior Assistant Director, STEM Success Program
Coming soon!
for this position.
For questions, contact Anita Puerto at acpuerto@wcu.edu.
Assistant Director, STEM Success Program
Coming soon!
for this position.
For questions, contact Thomas Newkirk at tnewkirk@wcu.edu.
Educational Initiatives Specialist
Coming soon!
for this position.
For questions, contact Mosisah Mavity at pmavity@wcu.edu.
Student Services Specialist
Coming soon!
Application is closed at this time.
For questions, contact Carson Williams at williamscarson@wcu.edu.
