BGS Team

Faculty and Staff Leaders

Dr. Brooke Falk Permenter
Faculty Fellow and Director of Student Engagement
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Welcome to the College of Charleston Honors College!  As an alumna, I can assure you of one thing: you made the right choice.  I received my B.A. in Art History from the College of Charleston Honors College in 2006, and then I completed my PhD at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey. My research focuses primarily on late medieval religious conflict as it is represented in fifteenth-century manuscripts and printed books, but my true passion is using art history to teach students how to understand the world and its history through vision. I teach Beyond George Street with Dr. Cavalli; Foundation, Colloquia, and Advanced Studies courses in the Honors College, and I also advise students and organize lots of events for our living-learning community in Berry Hall and beyond. The Honors College has been a hugely rewarding part of my life, and I think it is the perfect place to spend my days – working, learning, and growing with all of you!

 

 

Dr. Jennifer Cavalli
Faculty Fellow and Associate Director of Student Engagement
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Welcome to Charleston! As Faculty Fellow and Associate Director of Student Engagement at College of Charleston Honors College, I teach in the Honors First-Year Experience course and direct the year-long service commitment Honors Engaged. I hold a PhD in History from Indiana University and specialize in renaissance and gender history. I have published on women’s friendship, convent culture, renaissance consorts, and humanist learning. In addition to my role as Associate Director of Student Engagement, I teach interdisciplinary seminars and advanced studies courses in Honors and Women’s and Gender Studies and serve as an academic advisor and mentor. I spend my free time on the beach, gardening, and hanging out with my pets.

 

 

 

Dr. Elizabeth Meyer-Bernstein
Dean of the Honors College and Associate Professor of Biology
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Meyer-B Bio PicI am the Dean of the Honors College, an Associate Professor in Biology, and a faculty member in the Neuroscience Program. I have been at the College of Charleston for 19 years as a faculty member in the Department of Biology and previously served as the Associate Dean of Honors and the Director of the Office of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities for six years. I am also a CofC parent as my daughter is a senior here at the College.  I enjoy outdoor pursuits such as boating, gardening and relaxing with my family.

 

 

 

 

 

Dr. Bryan Ganaway
Associate Dean of the Honors College, Director of Academic Advising for the Honors College, and Director of the International Scholars Program
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I received my Ph.D. in Modern European History from the University of Illinois in 2003.  I publish on Modern Germany and the world wars. I teach several colloquia in the Honors College and upper-level classes for History and International Studies. My two daughters (Mila 17, Lydia 14) keep me young and hopeful, but they seem to have the unfortunate side effect of making me go bald at an exponentially increasing rate.

 

 

 

 

 

Dr. Jesslyn Collins-Frohlich
Director of Nationally Competitive Awards and Instructor in English

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I received my PhD in English from the University of Kentucky. My literary research focuses on race, gender and rights movements as depicted in nineteenth-century literature by women and Native Americans. I also dedicate a significant amount of time to researching and publishing on service learning and how to create courses that help students become effective writers and engaged citizens. At the College of Charleston, I put these research interests to work as an Honors Faculty Fellow and Senior Instructor in the English department as well as the Director of the Office of Nationally Competitive Awards. I teach Honors Academic Writing as well as a number of literature courses. I spend my free time training and riding my horse Olivia or enjoying the sun and sand at Folly Beach.

 

 

 

 

Professor Lancie Affonso

Director of the Honors Entrepreneurship Living Learning Community and Senior Instructor in the Department of Management and Marketing and Computer Science

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Welcome to CofC!
I am passionate about mentoring and providing or promoting high impact experiential learning opportunities for students in my courses and in the Honors ELLC-STEAM Living Learning Community.  I have been teaching business and computer science at the College of Charleston since 2001. I am from Tanzania and completed my undergraduate and graduate studies at the CofC and now serve on our Alumni Association board to connect our students to internship opportunities with our graduates. For fun, I try to keep up with the activities of our two teenage daughters who will tell you that my hobbies include taking a siesta after cycling, hiking, camping, or trying to stay afloat in the ocean.

 

 

Isabelle Morris
Graduate Assistant for the Honors First Year Experience and MA Candidate in English

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I am from Atlanta, Georgia, and I’m a graduate from Georgia College & State University. I am in my second year of the joint English master’s program at the College of Charleston and the Citadel. My literature interests include southern lit and adaptation, along with research topics on race, women and gender, and narrative form. In my free time, I love to read, watch movies, spend time at the beach, and explore Charleston!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Peer Leaders

Peer Facilitators

Tuesdays at 9:25

Sam Andritsch 

Hey Everyone! My name is Sam Andritsch, and I am a Senior in the Honors College from Oconomowoc, WI. I am majoring in Public Health and minoring in Geoinformatics, and I plan to pursue a career in epidemiology in the future. On campus I am involved in Women in STEM, the Public Health Society, and have been a recent recipient of a SURF and NASA research grants. In my free time, I love to go to the beach, read, and explore Charleston. I can’t wait to meet the class of 2026!

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Mackenzie Pelletier 

Hey! My name is Mackenzie Pelletier and I’m a junior at the college, double majoring in secondary education and biology. My goal is to teach biology for a few years and then eventually become a principal. Some fun facts about me: I’m from Rhode Island, I’m obsessed with orange cats, and I love swimming and going on long walks!

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Tuesdays at 10:50

Andrea Kimpson 

Hello everyone! My name is Andrea Kimpson and I am a Senior here in the Honors College from Columbia, South Carolina. I am double-majoring in Economics and International Studies, as well as working toward a concentration in Latin America and the Caribbean. I am also minoring in Political Science and Spanish. On campus, I am involved in the Public Choice Associates program in the Center for Public Choice and Market Process and I serve as a tutor for Economics in the Center for Student Learning. In my free time, you can find me reading, trying new restaurants in the city, and spending way too much time on TikTok. I am excited for a great semester and cannot wait to meet you all! Welcome to BGS!

 

 

 

Rhi Wilkinson

Hi my name is Rhiannon! I’m a sophomore and double major here at the College in German and International Studies. I grew up a military brat, so I don’t really have a hometown, but this summer my family and I moved from Columbia, SC to Yorktown, VA which is where they’re currently stationed. This semester in addition to being a PF, I’m in the Global Ambassadors program, involved with the Cougar Refugee Alliance, and German Club. Please reach out and let’s be friends!

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Tuesdays at 12:15

Emma Langan 

Hi everyone! My name is Emma Langan and I am from Fort Mill, South Carolina. I am a junior at the College majoring in public health with a minor in medical humanities! My goal is to become a certified nuclear medicine technologist after graduation. Aside from being a peer facilitator, I am also a preschool teacher and a summer camp counselor at my local YMCA! When I’m not in class, I love to go to the beach, work out with my friends, and read a good book! I’m looking forward to having a great time with y’all!

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Tuesdays at 1:40

Grace Kern 

Hello hello! My name is Grace Kern, and I am a senior from Fort Mill, SC majoring in Political Science and International Studies with a concentration in the Middle East and North Africa. I am super pumped to be returning as a Peer Facilitator this year after spending the past two semesters studying in Washington, D.C. and Cairo, Egypt. In my free time, you can find me picnicking on Pitt Street Bridge, registering folks to vote, or hot girl walking around Charleston to Taylor Swift. I am so excited to get to know the class of 2026, and I know we are going to have an amazing year!

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Sadie Wright

Hi everyone! I’m a senior majoring in marketing with a minor in leadership for sustainability. I’m from Alabama, and spent the summer traveling around Europe. In addition to being a peer facilitator, I serve on the executive board of my sorority and work for a wedding planning company here in Charleston. Some things that make me happy include: coffee shops, walks, sunsets, tacos, and Taylor Swift! Charleston is my favorite place in the world and I can’t wait for it to become yall’s too!!

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Tuesdays at 3:05

Abby Ryan

Hi! My name is Abby Ryan, and I am a sophomore in the Honors College from Chantilly, Virginia. I am on the pre-med track with majors in biochemistry and Spanish. On campus, I am a member of the Charleston Fellows, CHAARG, and Alpha Chi Sigma. In my free time, I love running, baking, and going to the beach. I’m looking forward to a great semester and am excited to meet you all.

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Maggie Harkins 

Hi! My name is Maggie and I am a sophomore majoring in public health. I’m from Salisbury, MD and along with being a peer facilitator, I am also involved with Charleston Miracle, Friends of MSF, and Alpha Chi Sigma. In my free time, I love going to the beach, reading, and drinking coffee. I can’t wait to meet all of you!

 

 

 

 

 

Thursdays at 9:25

Tita Curtin

 

Howdy! My name is Tita Curtin and I’m from Houston, Texas. I’m a junior Public Health major and Biology minor, and I’m also on the equestrian team here at the college. When I have down time, I can almost always be found at Folly Beach or trying to find Charleston’s best coffee shop. I can wait to meet all of you! Go Cougs!!

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Ava Gansrow

Hello! My name is Ava Gansrow and I’m a sophomore here at the College of Charleston. I’m majoring in Business Administration with a concentration in Finance. I’m from Eastport, a small town in eastern Long Island, New York. In addition to being a Peer Facilitator,  I’m a member of Phi Chi Theta, the business fraternity, a peer academic coach, and I’m going to be a peer mentor for an entrepreneurship class. I love leadership and am really passionate about hopefully being an executive in the business world some day, but aside from my career plans, I enjoy playing the guitar, painting, running, and going to the beach. I can’t wait to meet you all this upcoming semester!

 

 

Thursdays at 10:50

Beck Smith 

Hey guys! My name is Beck Smith, and I am a junior at the Honors College, from Charleston, SC. I’ve recently declared my major as religious studies! Besides being a peer facilitator I volunteer with Trident Literary Association doing GED tutoring, and I love sculpting. I spend almost all of my free time surfing at Folly or Isle of Palms, so if you need me you know where to look! I can’t wait to get to know you all and have a great fall semester!

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Adeline Ríos

I’m from: Bluffton, SC
Majoring in: Political Science (concentration in Philosophy and Law), Spanish, and International Studies (concentration in Latin American and Caribbean Studies)
Interests: I play for the club soccer team here at the College of Charleston, am dedicated to the resettlement of Afghan refugees here in Charleston through the Circle of Welcome and the Cougar Refugee Alliance, and have long term goals of working in the Peace Corps and Foreign Service.
ETC: I am so excited to start my career as a peer facilitator this year as a member of the BGS team!

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Thursdays at 12:15

Emma Langan 

Hi everyone! My name is Emma Langan and I am from Fort Mill, South Carolina. I am a junior at the College majoring in public health with a minor in medical humanities! My goal is to become a certified nuclear medicine technologist after graduation. Aside from being a peer facilitator, I am also a preschool teacher and a summer camp counselor at my local YMCA! When I’m not in class, I love to go to the beach, work out with my friends, and read a good book! I’m looking forward to having a great time with y’all!

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Emma Saunders 

Hey y’all! My name is Emma Saunders and I’m from Spartanburg, SC. I’m majoring in Biological Sciences and minoring in Neuroscience with the goal to become a neonatal surgeon. In my free time, I love going to the beach, weight lifting, and finding the best acai bowls and coffee shops in Charleston. I’m thrilled to begin this semester and I cannot wait to meet you!

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Thursdays at 1:40

Rylie Talmadge 

Welcome! My name is Rylie Talmadge, and I am a senior from Knoxville, TN. I am a Marine Biology major with minors in Psychology and Environmental and Sustainability Studies. My passion for all-things outdoors has led to my more adventurous activities outside of Peer Facilitating including, scuba diving, sailing, backpacking the AT, and triathlons. If I am not somewhere in the water or on the trail, you can find me around campus as a Social Mentor and Tutor for REACH, in the Center for International Education, or researching Atlantic Stingray at Grice Marine Laboratory. I can’t wait for another fantastic year and look forward to meeting you all this fall!

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