Faculty & Team

Jay Lambert is starting his 10th year as the Vice President for Student Affairs at the University of Houston-Victoria (UHV). Prior to this appointment, he served as the Assistant Vice President for Student Engagement at Lamar University. He has held a variety of other Student Affairs positions at Christopher Newport University, Mount Saint Mary’s College, the University of Evansville, Louisiana State University and Southeastern Louisiana University. Jay has taught graduate courses in the Educational Leadership Ed.D program at Lamar University and first year seminar courses at both Lamar University and the University of Houston Victoria. 

A first-generation college graduate, Jay holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from Southeastern Louisiana University, a Master’s degree in College Student Personnel from the University of Southern Mississippi, and a Doctoral degree from Lamar University in Higher Education Leadership. His dissertation focused on how the skills/competencies and knowledge areas necessary for success as an entry-level student affairs professional are learned. He is currently working on his MBA at the University of Houston-Victoria.   

He has served SACSA, NASPA and NASPA Region III in a variety of roles and has been recognized by Region III as the 2018 recipient of the Region III John Jones Award for Outstanding Performance as a Senior Student Affairs Officer, and the 2019 recipient of the John Koldus Award for Distinguished Service to NASPA Region III. He has presented at multiple student affairs conferences on a variety of topics, including mentoring, preparing to be an AVP and VP, and politics in higher education. Jay spends much of his free time as a high school referee for basketball, volleyball and softball. He and his wife Courtney are the proud parents of two boys, Mason who is an Aerospace Engineering student at UT Austin, and Tyler who will be heading off to college in a year.  

Associate Vice President for Student Life and Involvement Student Affairs | James Madison University

I try to be a spirit-led spouse and parent to four children. I love my family with all my heart. At one time in my life, I was a military dependent who moved around a bit. Suddenly I've become someone who wants coffee in the morning, even though I don't need it. I appreciate a good laugh and a deep cry. I have amazing friends. My interests range from sports, romantic comedies, 90's hip-hop, beach trips, and homemade pizza making. This summer, I plan on learning the four-string electric bass guitar. 

As a professional, I am an Associate Vice President for Student Life and Involvement at James Madison University. I provide leadership and support for the following departments: Residence Life, Student Accountability and Restorative Practices, and Student Life. I've earned a bachelor’s degree from JMU, completed a master’s degree from Mississippi State University, and a Doctor of Education from Virginia Commonwealth University. 

I have served in different roles at several universities. My professional career began as a campus recreation facility manager at Temple University. I spent nearly 11 years at Towson University, where I started in campus rec as an Assistant Director of Facilities and eventually transitioned to Director of Student Activities.  In 2016, I arrived at the University of Virginia, serving as an Assistant Dean of Students and Director of Student Engagement. I started my current job at JMU in August of 2021. My career interests are primarily leadership development, crisis management, hazing prevention, and change management.  I am looking forward to spending time with everyone in Wilmington, NC.

Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Division of Student Affairs | University of North Carolina at Greensboro

Dr. Adrienne Michele Craig is the Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs. In this role, she provides leadership for the following departments: Campus Activities and Programs (activities, fraternities and sororities, student government, organizations), Career and Professional Development, Elliott University Center, Office of Intercultural Engagement, and the Office of Leadership and Civic Engagement. Previously, she served as the Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs at Columbus State University (GA), The Assistant Dean for Student Life at Widener University (PA), The Director of Student Activities at Johnson & Wales (FL), and the Director of Student Leadership and Engagement at Guilford College (NC).

Dr. Craig has 19 years of experience working in various facets of Student Affairs, including Fraternity/Sorority life, Campus Programming, Community Service Programming, Residence Life, Campus Crisis Management, and Leadership Programming.  Dr. Craig is passionate about developing student leaders and Student Affairs Professionals. She has created leadership programs at multiple universities and she teaches in the Student Affairs and Higher Education Master’s program at UNCG.

Dr. Craig is a member of the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators, Association of Fraternal Leadership & Values, and Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. Dr. Craig earned a bachelor’s degree in biology from Old Dominion University, and a master’s degree from Virginia Tech. Her doctorate in Leadership & Innovation was obtained from Wilmington University.

Vice President for Student Affairs | University of New Orleans

Dr. Carolyn Golz serves as the Vice President for Student Affairs at the University of New Orleans (UNO). At UNO, Golz leads the student affairs areas in increasing student engagement, partnering with faculty to create a seamless co-curricular experience, and developing a vibrant student life. Prior to her role at UNO, Golz has held positions of increasing responsibility including serving as the College Administrative Officer at UC Santa Cruz and as the Senior Associate Dean of Students and Director of Residence Life at Lake Forest College. She has presented at regional and national conferences on topics related to student engagement and alumni giving and using ACUHO-I and NASPA/ACPA competencies to drive professional development. 

Dr. Golz earned her Ph.D. in Organizational Leadership from the Chicago School of Professional Psychology where her dissertation focused on the relationship between student engagement and alumni giving. Golz also earned a Master of Science in experiential education from Minnesota State University, Mankato, and a Master of Science in criminal justice administration from Ferris State University. Golz graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in psychology from University of Alaska Fairbanks.

Assistant Vice President and Dean of Students Dean of Students Office | Coastal Carolina University

Iliana B. Melendez, ella/she/her/hers pronouns, serves as the Assistant Vice President and Dean of Students at Coastal Carolina University. Prior to Coastal she has worked at the University of Houston-Clear Lake, Texas State University, and the University of Texas at Austin. Iliana is a proud St. Edward’s University alumnus, and is a doctoral student in the Adult, Professional and Community Engagement program at Texas State University where she also received her Master of Education with a specialization in Student Affairs. Her research interest includes queer identity formation, queer people of color, the lived experiences of queer administrators, as well as the development of social justice curriculum. In her spare time, she values engaging students as an advisor and mentor, spending quality time with family and friends, especially her daughter and wife, and writing.

Michael Walker, Ed.D. is Associate Vice Chancellor and Dean of Students and Interim Director of Title IX at UNCW. He has been working in higher education for 30 years, including 18 years at UNCW. Dr. Walker oversees the Office of the Dean of Students, Campus Recreation, Campus Life, and co-chairs the High Impact Practices Council and Co-Advises the Chancellor’s Council on Safety and the Healthy Hawks 2.0 Committee.

Mike has served as adjunct professor in higher education leadership programs at The George Washington University, Drexel University, and UNCW.  Prior to arriving at UNCW in 2006, Dr. Walker was associate dean of students at GW. He received his Doctor of Education Degree from GW in 2001, a M.S. in College Student Personnel and B.A. in English from Western Illinois University.  Mike and his wife Barbra have two daughters, Cassidy and Kendall. Both daughters graduated from universities in the UNC system, and Barbra is an elementary education teacher in New Hanover County.

Stephanie Henderson is the Executive Assistant to the Associate Vice Chancellor and Dean of Students at UNCW. She assists in the daily operations in the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs.  Most recently she served as Logistics Coordinator for the Installation Ceremony of Chancellor Aswani Volety, Ph.D.

Stephanie has a B.S. in English and Secondary English Education.  Prior to her time at UNCW, she taught English for four years in the UNC Public School Systems.  She is currently pursuing her Master’s in Business Administration at UNCW.

A native of Dallas, Lowell Davis, Ph.D. currently serves as associate vice chancellor for student success at Western Carolina University. In this role he oversees the institution’s student support units including the Office of the Registrar; the Advising Center; the Office of Mentoring and Persistence to Success; the Office of Student Transitions; the Office of Accessibility Resources; the Office of Student Retention; the Writing and Learning Commons; the Math Tutoring Center; Summer Sessions; and is responsible for commencement and convocation.

Prior to his tenure at UNCW, he held posts at Western Carolina University, the University of Alabama, Indiana University and Hampton University. Throughout his career, Davis has shown incredible skill in student affairs administration, collegiate leadership and effectiveness in building and strengthening college cultures and community relationships.

Davis holds a Ph.D. from Indiana University in higher education administration and student affairs, a master’s in counseling and a bachelor’s in English arts-secondary education from Hampton University. He serves as the polemarch/president of the Asheville alumni chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc. and on the board of advisors for the Baptist Children’s Home of North Carolina. From 2018-19, he completed an American Council on Education Fellowship at University of California, Davis. In 2018, he was honored with a Spirit of the Dreamer award from the “I Have A Dream” Foundation.