Student Engagement Staff

Steve Gallagher

As Director of Student Engagement, Steve oversees and supports: new student orientation, student transportation services, student activities, advising and developing student leadership initiatives (SGA, Welcome Squad, College Peer Mentoring, etc.), and collaborates with a variety of UNCSA staff and faculty on student development and engagement initiatives.

Steve has worked in Human Resource Consulting and in various higher ed capacities including Enrollment Management, Student Leadership Development, and Peer Mentoring.

Steve's wife is an elementary school teacher in Winston-Salem, and together they have a daughter, who can be found shadowing our UNCSA Fighting Pickle mascot at campus functions. Steve has an undergraduate in Communications and a Masters of Science in Organizational Change.

Steve can be reached at gallaghers@uncsa.edu.

Lauren Iley-Spear

Lauren first joined UNCSA as the Assistant Director of High School Activities where she coordinated events for our high school community. With her move to the role of Associate Director of Student Engagement, Lauren oversees campus activities for the at-large student population, summer events, and serves as an advisor in UNCSA’s Peer Mentor program.

Prior to working at UNCSA, Lauren taught and directed in Minneapolis with several theatre for youth companies, including Children’s Theatre Company and Stages, and taught theatre at a K-12 fine arts interdisciplinary resource school for five years.

Lauren grew up in Asheville where she received her B.A. in Theatre Education at UNC Asheville, and then moved to Arizona where she received her M.F.A. in Theatre For Youth at Arizona State University.

Lauren can be reached at ileyspearl@uncsa.edu.

Aaron Ross

Aaron coordinates logistics for New Student Orientations (High School & College); serves as the primary advisor to college student organizations, and serves as an advisor to UNCSA Peer Mentor programs.

Prior to joining the Student Engagement team, Aaron served for eight years at a local church in the Winston-Salem community as a mentor to students then as a Live/Post Video Coordinator and Director of I.T.

Aaron has been married to Amanda Ross for seven years and they have three children: Ben, Jane, and Nora. He has two bachelor’s degrees and is a University of North Carolina School of the Arts School of Filmmaking (B.F.A '13). Aaron is currently pursuing his M.F.A. in Creative Writing from Queens University in Charlotte.

Aaron can be reached at rossa@uncsa.edu.

Susan Mecum

The Student Engagement team’s lead Administrator, Susan Mecum, coordinates departmental budgets, scheduling, and special projects. Susan also assists with the School of Design & Production Job Fair, Convocation, and UNCSA Commencements.

Prior to joining the UNCSA community in 2006, she was employed with Piedmont Airlines/US Airways for 25 years as a Credit Analyst.

Susan is a lifelong resident of Winston-Salem where she and her husband David raised their two daughters, Emily and Katie. Susan enjoys collaborating with UNCSA departments and student leaders on special campus projects. The Student Engagement team is proud to have Susan as part of our team.

She can be reached at mecums@uncsa.edu.