Conference Committee

B. Seth Buchanan

Seth is Director of Academic Success & Aviso Administrator at Central Carolina Community College. As part of his duties at CCCC, Seth services as the ACA Department Chair and Instructor. He enjoys working with First Year students and helping them choose their path in college.

Seth holds an Associate in Arts from Sandhills Community College, a Bachelor of Arts in Management Information Technology from Saint Andrews Presbyterian College, and a Master of Science in Instructional Technology from East Carolina University. In addition, he also received a Graduate Certificate in Distance Instruction from East Carolina University.

Seth is a self-proclaimed geek and Whovian, who enjoys writing fictional stories, and spends his free time with his wife and two dogs.

Kerry F. Cantwell

Kerry F. Cantwell is Assistant Dean for Student Support Services at Durham Technical Community College. In this position, she oversees academic advising, new student orientations, human resource development, and career services. Before taking on this role in January 2019, she was chair for the First-Year Experience at Durham Tech for four years. She has been teaching ACA 122: College Success since 2010.

Cantwell earned both her BA and her MA in English at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia. She taught college reading, writing, argument, and literature at community colleges and universities for ten years before transitioning to the First-Year Experience.

Cantwell’s professional focus is student services, the front-door experience, and increasing retention and completion for underserved populations. She is currently researching how early recognition of credit completion affects student success through her coordination of semesterly Milestone Recognition Banquets celebrating students who earn 12 or more credits in their first semester. She looks forward to learning more about statistical research and data interpretation in her doctoral program in Adult and Community College Education at NC State University.

In her free time, Cantwell plays music, enjoys live music, watches Doctor Who, and hangs out with her husband and her two cats. She enjoys road trips, cruises, and making complex spreadsheets.

Tonya Greene

Tonya Greene is the First Year Academy Department Head at Wake Technical Community College. She has over 20 years of experience in education and student success . Mrs. Greene’s leadership role within the Academic Success and Resources Division is to design and facilitate workshops for Wake Tech faculty and staff using On Course principles to create a college culture that encourages students to become more engaged, self-aware, and ultimately successful learners. To support this mission, Mrs. Greene has organized and is responsible for a leadership team that co-facilitates professional development sessions for Wake Tech staff and faculty across all disciplines with the goal of exploring ways to posture students as responsible, motivated learners.

Mrs. Greene earned a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education and a Master’s of Education in Reading from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

Donna Housman

Donna is the Discipline Chair for ACA 122 College Transfer Success at Central Piedmont Community College. She has 29 years of experience in education and corporate training and development, working with students and adults of all ages. Her focus is on ensuring her students are prepared for transfer, improving readiness for online learning and incorporating global learning into her classroom. She has also co-authored a textbook (College Transfer Success: Making a Smooth Transition) that has been used by several community colleges in NC. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Secondary Education from Wake Forest University and a Master of Science in Adult and Continuing Education from Virginia Tech. Donna also holds a Certificate in Organization Development from UNCC and a Certificate in Diversity and Intercultural Competence from Wake Forest. In her free time she loves to travel and spend time with her husband and son at concerts and sporting events. She and her family are also involved in animal rescue and are currently fur parents to Coco, Jesse and Harley.

Courtnea Rainey

Courtnea Rainey is a First Year Experience Instructor at Durham Technical Community College. She has over ten years experience promoting equal access to education for underrepresented groups.

Dr. Rainey has experience teaching adults, traditional-aged college students, and high school students. She also has experience in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education through her work at UNCF and the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.

Dr. Rainey graduated Phi Beta Kappa with a B.S. in Biochemistry from Spelman College before completing her M.A. and Ph.D. in Psychology at Duke University. She also holds Certificates in College Teaching and Cognitive Neuroscience from Duke University.

In her spare time, Dr. Rainey enjoys volunteering with organizations aiming to increase access to educational opportunity. She has previously volunteered with Big Brothers, Big Sisters, the Washington English Center, East Durham Children's Initiative, and StepUp.

Chris Ziemba-Tolbert

Chris Ziemba-Tolbert is an ACA Instructor at Gaston College. She earned her B.S. in Special Education, a M.A. in College Student Development (Student Affairs emphasis), and a Professional School Counseling Licensure from Appalachian State University. She is currently completing an Ed.D. at North Carolina State University.

Chris has over 20 years’ work experience in all varieties of the education spectrum from Kindergarten to Four-Year institutions working in both academic and student affairs divisions.

She is currently a full-time instructor teaching ACA 122, College Transfer Success course, and is a strong advocate for community college transfer students. She currently serves on the North Carolina Community College Advising Board, North Carolina State University’s Transfer Advisory Board, North Carolina College Transfer Program Association Board, Gaston College’s Advising Committee, and is a member of several first-year and transfer student focused organizations. In her spare time she enjoys spending time with her family, being able to travel, explore new places, and enjoy new cuisines.