We are a group of women with diverse backgrounds and interests who came together to learn while studying abroad in Belize.
Lauren Brittenham, NCC, LPCA
School Counselor, Innovation Early College High School (Greenville, NC)
I graduated from East Carolina University’s Masters in Counseling Education program in May 2019 with a certificate in Military and Trauma Counseling. I was a classroom and virtual high school educator from 2013-2019, but am currently a School Counselor. Outside of education, I have interests in incorporating mindfulness and yoga into counseling services and will graduate from a 200-hour Registered Yoga Teacher training in August 2019. As a former first responder, I am also interested in disaster mental health care including critical incident stress management with first responders (fire/rescue, police), hospital employees, and military and veteran populations. I hope to find part-time volunteer and paid work with an agency working directly with clients and as a consultant. I am a mother to a three-year-old boy, Asher and wife to my husband, Josh, who is in his last year of ECU’s Nurse Anesthesia Graduate program. We have two dogs and love spending time in the sun and sand of the Outer Banks!
Email me: brittenhaml06@students.ecu.edu
Brittany Chess
Registered behavior technician
I am a student at The University of North Carolina Pembroke. I am working towards getting my Masters degree in Professional School Counseling.
Eat.Pray.Love
Email me: chessb19@students.ecu.edu
Alexia Flythe
Graduate Research Assistant to Dr. Janeé R. Avent Harris, School Counseling Intern (Greenville, NC)
Originally born and raised in Raleigh, NC, I am a second year in the Counselor Education Program at East Carolina University, where I am studying to become a School Counselor and Licensed Professional Counselor. I currently serve as a counseling Intern at A. G. Cox Middle in Greenville, NC, where I provide individual and group counseling to 6th-8th graders. In the near future, I plan on starting a nonprofit organization where I can educate and provide counseling services to African Americans and communities of color who normally would not be able to receive services. I also plan on obtaining my Doctoral Degree focusing on African Americans in counseling. I plan on continuing to educate individuals about multiculturalism through advocating and contributing to counseling research. In my free time, I enjoy activities with my friends and family such as fishing and traveling, taking photos with my camera, and being in tune with nature. My newest hobby is blogging. Stay tuned.
Email me: flythea18@students.ecu.edu
Jasmine Garland McKinney
CARE Coach, Pines Elementary School (Plymouth, NC)
I am a second-year student in the Counselor Education Program at East Carolina University where I am also pursuing a certificate in Substance Abuse Counseling. I currently work at Pines Elementary School in Plymouth, NC, where I work closely with second grade students who have been impacted by adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). In addition, I am passionate about decreasing mental health stigma and health disparities in African American communities and have conducted research surrounding religious coping and preferences for treatment through my recent graduate research assistantship. As a 2019 National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC) Fellow, I’ve planned outreach efforts that seek to counter disparities that African American women face pertaining to maternal mental and physical health. I am a native of Rocky Mount, NC and I enjoy cooking and spending time with my husband, Quincy, and our two-year-old daughter, Blake.
Email me: garlandmckinneyj18@students.ecu.edu
Curtese Harrell
Assistant Director for Child and Adolescent Day Treatment
I am currently a second year student at East Carolina University, pursuing a Masters in the Counselor Education Program. I am originally from Robersonville, NC and I received my bachelor’s degree in Sociology from Fayetteville State University in 2008. I currently work as the assistant day treatment director for Nova’s New Beginnings Child and Adolescent Day Treatment center out of Kinston, NC in which my goal is to meet the mental health needs of children between the ages of 6 and 17 who are exhibiting problematic behaviors. My aspirations include becoming a Licensed Professional Counselor working at a mental health facility with children and their families to help treat mental, behavioral, and emotional problems/disorders. A few of my favorite hobbies include listening to music, coloring with my kids (at work), and just living in the moment!
Email me: harrellcu18@students.ecu.edu
Rachel Person
Graduate Assistant, ECU College of Engineering and Technology Advising Center
I am currently in my second year of the Counselor Education program at East Carolina University, pursuing a specialization in Student Affairs and College Counseling. I am from Jacksonville, NC and have lived in Greenville, NC since 2013 when I began my career in higher education. I currently work with students pursuing Engineering and Technology majors, assisting them in planning their academic plans for the future and helping them through any difficulties they may be facing. My goal is to work with special populations, such as first-generation, historically underrepresented, women, and nontraditional students like myself, and to provide needed supports unique to those populations. I was recently awarded a Career Development Grant from the American Association of University Women to assist in my educational journey. In my free time, I enjoy volunteering with and serving as volunteer coordinator for Dance-Ability at East Carolina University, a dance program inclusive of children with disabilities. I also enjoy spending time with my family, including my husband Brooks and my fur babies, Link, Sushi, and Gretchen Wieners.
Email me: ramirezra14@students.ecu.edu
Shadawn Simmons
Administrative Assistant, ECU-led Study Abroad Programs at East Carolina University, Greenville, NC
I am a current master’s student in the Adult Education program at East Carolina University. I also work full-time at ECU as an administrative assistant in the Office of Global Affairs (International House). This is the place where study abroad became a reality to me! In my current job, I assist with the logistics of the beginning to end process of thirty-five (35) plus programs. I am a veteran of the U.S. Navy and hold an associate degree from Pitt Community College in Medical Office Administration and a bachelor’s degree from East Carolina University in Child Development and Family Relations. My future career plans are to one day create an adult program to help low-income households (parents) effectively advocate for their children within the school system, medical health, and perhaps higher education.
Email me: simmonss03@students.ecu.edu
Ashley-Laren Smalls
Research Assistant: Literacy Studies, English Education and History Education, East Carolina University & Office Assistant/Lead: Central Reservations Office, East Carolina University
Hi everyone! I am a second-year student in the Counselor Education Program at East Carolina University where my specialization is Clinical Mental Health Counseling. Additionally, I am also pursuing a certificate in Substance Abuse Counseling. I currently work as a research assistant for the Department of LEHE as well as on office assistant for CRO. My current areas of interest include counseling individuals with HIV/AIDS, improving the counseling experience for minority individuals as well as crisis intervention. I have current experience in crisis intervention due to me being a volunteer for the suicide hotline for three years. During this time, I gained special training in A.S.I.S.T which stands for Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training. On my free time I enjoy going to the beach, walking my dog, and watching YouTube videos.
Email me: smallsa14@students.ecu.edu
Eulanda Thorne
School Counselor, Martin Millennium Academy (Tarboro, NC)
I graduated from East Carolina University’s master’s in counseling education program in May 2019 with a dual track of School Counselor and Clinical Mental Health. Prior to becoming a school counselor, I was a public-school educator for 13 years. I am passionate about planting seeds of love and kindness. With this passion, I became a Certified Nurtured Heart Trainer in 2010 which has given me the professional platform to build inner wealth in others, specifically children. The Nurtured Heart Approach® is a relationship-focused methodology for helping children (and adults) build their Inner Wealth™ and use their intensity in successful ways. I have been a guest speaker for the annual Nurtured Heart Global Summit in Albequerque, New Mexico and my work with Nurtured Heart has been featured during trainings and presentations across the country. In addition, I have an interest in supporting children with high Adverse Childhood Experience (ACE) scores. I was recently nominated and selected as a community board member for Rural Opportunities Institute (ROI). ROI is an eastern North Carolina-based nonprofit that brings together community members across sectors to identify and implement strategies and programs to support healing from trauma and building resilience. I am a lover of love striving to be the change I wish to see in the world. I aim to promote and plant seeds of love. Each day, I believe we should find out how much God has given us and from it we should take what we need; the remainder should become our seed. My daily seed is love. I reside in Wilson, North Carolina as single mother of four beautiful children whom I love on daily when I’m not outside enjoying mother nature!
Email me: eulandathorne@gmail.com
Alex Tutts
Position or Job Title
A short bio with personal history, key achievements, or an interesting fact.
Email me: mail@example.com
Family-School-Community Partnerships Capstone Project 