Staff

Deborah Miles, Executive Director

Deborah is responsible for overall organizational management, staff supervision, programming direction and fundraising efforts as well as specific initiatives for UNC Asheville. Deborah received her BA from Hendrix College in Conway, Arkansas in 1975. In 1995, she founded the Center for Diversity Education at the Asheville Jewish Community Center. In 2005, Deborah received the nationally recognized Nancy Susan Reynolds Award for race relations from the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation.Read the Citizen Times Article

Deborah's office is in the UNC Asheville Intercultural Center, 114-A Highsmtih Student Union. To contact phone 828-232-5024 or email [email protected]

Sarah Jane Casciato, Road Show Coordinator

Sarah Jane Casciato is the 2011/2012 Road Show Coordinator who is responsible for organizing Seasons of Gratitude, Festivals of Light, and Good Fortune. Sarah Jane came to Asheville after extensive travel around much of the world having graduated from the University of California, Santa Barbara where she earned degrees in French and Global Studies.  She is working towards her Masters of International Education at the SIT Graduate Institute in Vermont.  In Asheville, Sarah Jane has taught French and English as a second language and is active in the community’s efforts towards a more sustainable future.

Sarah Jane can be reached at [email protected]
 

Amarra Ghani, Safe Schools for All Intern

Amarra coordinates the activities of the Safe Schools for All Collaboration. One major goal this year is launching an ad campaign to educate about the issues of bystanders, targets, bullies, and advocates. She is double majoring in Mass Communications with a concentration in Journalism and Education K-6. Amarra is also the president of The Muslim Student Association at UNC Asheville. She enjoys reading and is a fan of documentaries. Amarra also loves learning about traditions and different cultures around the world.

Maria Pedro Vicente, Volunteer Coordinator Intern

Maria recruits volunteers for various projects at the Center as well as help plan for leadership training for the interns. She is a senior at UNC Asheville majoring in Health & Wellness Promotion and Spanish. Maria has an interest in learning about various cultures, as well as traveling. She also enjoys hiking and volunteering during her spare time.

Sarah Trento, WNC in the World Intern

Sarah Trento is a senior studying Psychology. She is interested in bringing communities together through education and the arts. She loves to travel so that she can widen her experience and knowledge of other cultures. She is excited to be part of The WNC goes global team this coming semester. After graduation, she plans to do service work with Americorps or a non-profit organization.

Cassandra Wells, ASCORE Intern

Cassandra coordinates the activities of the commemoration of the work of the Asheville Student Committee on Racial Equality (1961-2011 50th Anniversary Commemoration) and the summer youth leadership program for students at Asheville Middle School. Cassandra is married with four children and two grandchildren. In her spare time, she likes to relax and laugh with her family. Cassandra is currently seeking a psychology degree as well as a teacher licenture for K-6th grade

Chialia Yang, Social Media Networking Intern

Chialia coordinates the web site and other potential digital interfaces for the Center including online fundraising. She decided to pursue her Bachelor of Art in New Media at UNC Asheville after earning her A.A.S in Digital Effects and Animation at Western Piedmont Community College. Chialia is always seeking potential opportunities to enhance and expand her knowledge in multimedia. On her spare time, she likes to attend cultural events and enjoys photography.

Lindsey Sprague, Exhibit Manager Intern

Lindsey is a senior at UNC Asheville, pursuing a major in Literature and a minor in Spanish. She has studied in Costa Rica and Chile, and believes that meaningful connections emerge from a spirit of openness to learn and share all that we can with one another. Other interests include thrift stores, reading, and rock and roll.
 

Tiffany Xiong, Fundraising Intern

Tiffany coordinates and executes the Year End Fundraising Campaign. She researches and writes grants to foundations and corporations, and she conducts online fundraising campaigns.

Sarah Lewis, Holocaust and Genocide Education Intern

Sarah Lewis coordinates the lending of holocaust and genocide related educational resources to area schools, as well as visits by survivors. After working for a number of years in the non-profit arts sector, Sarah is currently pursuing her undergraduate degree in History with a middle and high school teaching licensure. When she is not studying, Sarah enjoys reading and spending time with her seven month old daughter.

Shuli Arieh Archer, Special Projects Intern

Shuli supports the UNCA interns in on-going project development, troubleshooting, and leadership development. In addition, she is working on an intergroup dialogue initiative for the Center. Shuli earned her BA from Bard College, her Masters in Social Justice Education from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, and is a doctoral candidate in Education Policy and Leadership in Higher Education, also at UMass Amherst. She is proud to call Asheville her new home and especially loves spending time with her 9-month old son Milo.

Sarah Boeshart, Equity and Inclusion Programs in Business Intern

Sarah maintains program records and reports including operating and manipulating the Center’s database system. She formats, produces, and monitors contracts with clients.

Board of Directors

Carol Rovello
Chair

James Lee
Vice Chair

Namurah Blakely
Secretary

Jed Welmaker
Treasurer

Keith Bramlett
Sandra Byrd
Carol Duin
Jane Fernandes
Heather Goldstein
Pat Griffin
Dolly Mullen
Geneva Neeriemer
Alphie Rodriguiz
Bryan Schaffer
Susan Van Tassel

Deborah Miles
Executive Director