EOC Staff

Travis Kinsey, Ed.D, Director, TRIO Programs

Dr. Travis Kinsey serves as the Director of TRIO Programs at PCC. His primary responsibility is to provide leadership to the Student Support Services and the Educational Opportunity Center departments. Dr. Kinsey has an Ed.D and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in Management from East Carolina University. Additionally, he holds a Masters in Adult Education with an Emphasis in Training and Development from Central Michigan University. Prior to transitioning into higher education, he worked in the banking industry for over three years. Furthermore, Mr. Kinsey has taught Organizational Leadership, Strategic Leadership, and Human Resource Management at the collegiate level. He is passionate about helping students make decisions that could change their lives.

“I’m not telling you it’s going to be easy – I’m telling you it’s going to be worth it” by Art Williams is his favorite quote.

MBTI – ENTJ
True Color – Green
Holland Code – Persuader

Email: tlkinsey532@my.pittcc.edu
Phone: 252-493-7762

Sandra Saunders-Smith, Program Coordinator, TRIO: Educational Opportunity Centers (EOC)

Sandra Saunders-Smith currently serves as the Program Coordinator of TRIO: Educational Opportunity Centers (EOC) at Pitt Community College. Ms. Smith joined the EOC staff in January 2012 as an Outreach Specialist. Sandra has a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and a Master of Science in Human Resource Management with a concentration in Health Administration, which she obtained while serving in the United States Army as a Logistics Office. Ms. Smith is no stranger to TRIO; she brings five years of experience with her from the EOC program at Halifax Community College – three years as an Outreach Specialist and two years as the Director of the program. Sandra is MBTI and Mental Health First Aid certified. She believes that education is the key to success and life; if you develop a passion for learning, you will never stop growing.

MBTI – ISTP
True Color – Gold
Holland Code – Organizing

Email: sdsaunders-smith216@my.pittcc.edu
Phone: 252-977-3306 ext. 228

Brett Ashlie Lilley, Outreach Specialist, TRIO: Educational Opportunity Centers (EOC) – Pitt County

Brett Lilley joined the TRIO: Educational Opportunity Center staff in February 2018 as an Outreach Specialist for Martin County, and now in 2022 as the Outreach Specialist for Pitt County. Mrs. Lilley has previous experience in Child Protective Services in Martin and Washington Counties. She has experience with the community college system working as a college counselor. Her primary work responsibilities are recruiting and assisting low-income, first-generation students with beginning and continuing in higher education. She is a True Colors Certified Facilitator, and completed an Equity, Diversity and Inclusion certificate from the University of South Florida. Ashlie has a passion for higher education and her goals are to help students achieve their dreams.

MBTI – ENTJ
True Color – Orange
Holland Code – Persuader

Email: balilley616@my.pittcc.edu
Phone: 252-493-7644

Teresa Adams, Outreach Specialist, TRIO: Educational Opportunity Centers (EOC) – Edgecombe County

Miss Teresa Adams, is a member of the Education Opportunity Center (EOC) team and serves as an Outreach Specialist at Edgecombe Community College. Teresa is a 25-year veteran working in the human services field as a champion for positive change with an unwavering commitment to those in need of help. Miss Adams has a Master of Science in Psychology from the University of Phoenix, and a Substance Abuse Certificate from Guilford Technical Community College. She has served as a Human Relations Council member in Rowan County and provides community service and volunteerism as a member if of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc with a mission for service above self. Teresa’s efforts have been to assist individuals with navigation of mental health systems and resources and to develop resolutions to end social injustice and to create healthy communities for all people.

Teresa’s work experience is vast, and she has been a licensed foster parent for ten years with Community Specialized Services, employed with the North Carolina Department of Public Safety-Corrections for three years, and served various populations within the Mental Health, Substance Abuse, and Individual Developmentally Disability programs including both children and adults. Teresa has partnered with education systems, Departments of Social Services, Vocational programs, mental health, substance abuse, and medical providers, as well as legal systems for probation and parole as a liaison advocating for improvement in the quality of lives. Teresa has developed quality-driven programs, decreasing barriers and partnering to compose sustainable supportive resources. At her core beliefs, Miss Adams embraces knowledge as power, education as key, and activism as the village’s responsibility to create the changes needed with acceptance of diversity is via partnerships.

Dream: “All of your dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them.”- Walt Disney

MBTI – ENFJ-A
True Color – Green
Holland Code – Social

Email: tradams305@my.pittcc.edu
Phone: 252-493-7303

Kysha Gary, Outreach Specialist, TRIO: Educational Opportunity Centers (EOC) – Martin County

Kysha Charlene Gary joined the TRIO: Educational Opportunity Centers Staff in November 2022 as an Outreach Specialist for Martin County.  Miss Gary has ten years of experience working with TRIO: EOC Program as an Outreach Specialist and was promoted to Lead Outreach Specialist while employed at Halifax Community College.  Her primary responsibilities are recruiting and assisting low-income, first-generation students with beginning and continuing in higher education.  Kysha is passionate about TRIO: EOC Program and her desire is to help others obtain their educational aspirations.

MBTI – ENFP
True Color – Orange
Holland Code – Social

Email. kcgary771@my.pittcc.edu
Phone 252-714-7894

Dajon Williams, Administrative Assistant/Data Specialist

Dajon Tyree Williams joined the TRIO: Educational Opportunity Centers Staff in January 2023 as the Administrative Assistant/ Data Specialist.  He believes in spreading the word and reaching out to students on and off campus about his own experiences with TRIO and how the program has made an impact on his life.  Dajon thrives on helping students who never had the opportunity to explore college access resources. His primary responsibilities include administrative and data entry practices and assisting with recruiting low-income, first–generation students with College Applications and FAFSA. Dajon is big on personal growth and pushes everyone around him to grow. He will not stop until he can positively impact everyone within reach.  

Growth: “It’s not what you achieve in life, but whom you become as a person due to those achievements.” – Curtis Martin