About Us

Professional Staff

The COMPASS Student Experience Department consists of the Pinellas Pinellas Access to Higher Education (PATHe) Program, New Student Experience, Orientation, and Campus Visitation.


Senior Director of Student Success 

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Carolina Nutt, Senior Director of Student Success

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

Email: carolinanutt@usf.edu 

Education: M.Ed., University of South Carolina

Higher Education and Student Affairs Administration
B.A.

Florida State University, Political Science and Sociology


Hometown: Orlando, FL / Bogota, Colombia


Fun Fact: I enjoy cooking and baking, as well as exploring new cities.


Pinellas Access to Higher Education (PATHe)

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Tia Gomez Zeller, Assistant Director of PATHe

Pronouns: She/Her/Ella 


Email: gomezzellert@usf.edu


Education: M.S. Education, Leadership & Policy, Portland State University 

B.S. Psychology, Portland State University 

Associate of Science Transfer Degree, Portland Community College 

Hometown: Cadiz, Spain 


Favorite part of being part of PATHe: As a first-generation student, new to the U.S. I didn’t understand post-secondary education in the U.S. and how I could afford it. I love to be able to help the Pinellas County Community to understand their options, resources, and the different paths to achieve their goals.  

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Sam Fiore, PATHe Advisor for Opportunity and Access 

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers 

Email: fiores@usf.edu 

Education: MPA, University of South Florida, Public Administration 

B.A., University of South Florida St. Petersburg, Political Science 

Hometown: Tamarac, FL 

Favorite part of being part of PATHe: I love inspiring Pinellas County residents to pursue their educational and professional dreams. Anything is possible with some planning and preparing!  

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Vacant, PATHe Advisor for Transfer Student Support 

Pronouns: 

Email:

Education:  

Hometown: 

Favorite part of being part of PATHe:

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Brenae Hillard, PATHe Advisor for Pre College 

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers 

Email: bhillard@usf.edu 

Education: M.Ed., University of South Florida, Curriculum & Instruction – College Student Affairs 

B.A., Psychology, University of South Florida 

Hometown: Tampa, FL 

Favorite part of PATHe: My favorite part of PATHe is helping students navigate their options-from learning about their interests to finding a path that aligns with their goals! There’s an abundance of information available and I really enjoy helping them make sense of it all. 


New Student Experience

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Cristian Tello,  Assistant Director - New Student Experience/ Parent & Family Engagement

Pronouns: He/Him/His

Email: tello@usf.edu

Education: M.S. Florida State University, International Affairs

B.A Florida Atlantic University, Political Science

Hometown: Coral Springs, FL

Fun Fact: I have the exact same name as a famous soccer player!

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Vacant, First & Second Year Programs Coordinator

 

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Kevin Jimenez, Transfer Programs Coordinator

Pronouns: He/Him/His

Email: kjimenez2@usf.edu  

Education: M.A., George Mason University, Higher Education and Student Development

B.S., University of South Florida St. Pete, Biology

Hometown: Coral Springs, FL

Fun Fact: I love music! I like everything from pop, rock, country, house, disco and more!


New Student Orientation 

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Lindsey Owen, Assistant Director of Orientation 

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

Email: lowen2@usf.edu

Education: Graduate Certificate, University of South Florida, Higher Education Administration

M.Ed., University of West Florida, Educational Leadership

B.S. St. Petersburg College, Elementary Education

Hometown: Dunedin, FL

Fun Fact: I love paddle boarding, biking, reading, traveling and spending time with friends, family and my two doodles!

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Morgan Berg, Coordinator for Orientation

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

Email: morganberg@usf.edu

Education: M.Ed., in College Student Affairs, University of South Florida 

B.S. in Psychology, University of South Florida St. Petersburg

Hometown: Pelican Rapids, MN

Fun Fact: My birthday is December 31, and I was the lasat baby born in 1999 at the Ferguson Falls Hospital

 

 

Campus Visitation 

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Theresa Frost, Campus Tours & Events Manager 

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers

Email: theresamfrost@usf.edu

Education: B.S., University of Mississippi, Criminal Justice

A.A., Itawamba Community College

Hometown: Laredo, TX

Fun Fact: I love listening to podcasts. I listen to them more than listening to music. Some of my favorites include: D&D podcast, Reddit Stories, True Crime, and lecture-based lessons.