Our Advisors

Director

Nancy Bucknall (She/her)

Phone: 336.334.4361
Office: 103E Foust Building
Email: n_buckna@uncg.edu
Education: B.A. in English & Philosophy from the University of Central Arkansas; M.A. in English from the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill

I’ve been teaching at UNCG for over 20 years, and have been Director of CASA for 16 of those years. The best part about working in CASA is getting to work with first-year students who have such ambition, talent, and curiosity driving them to learn more about the world. My hobbies include reading (especially North Carolina writers), hiking (especially in the North Carolina mountains), martial arts, and spoiling my cats.

Associate Director

Caitlin Saraphis (she/her)

Phone: 336.334.4361
Office: 103C Foust Building
Email: cmsaraph@uncg.edu
Education: B.A. in History and English, UNC Greensboro ’07; M.A. in European History, UNC Greensboro ’09

Caitlin has worked with CASA as a full-time advisor since 2010.  She advises primarily Archaeology, Biology, Biochemistry, Chemistry, Classical Studies, and History majors, as well as pre-professional students with any CAS major.  She teaches courses on medieval, early British, and disease history.  Her primary administrative responsibilities include coordinating the College’s advising programming at SOAR and directing retention and persistence outreach for the College.  She also serves on the College’s Curriculum and Teaching committee and the University Advising Council. When not advising, Caitlin enjoys playing video games, reading, and hanging out with her partner and their three cats. 

Assistant Director

Eleanor Cowen (she/her)

Phone: 336.334.4361
Office: 103D Foust Building
Email: elcowen@uncg.edu
Education: B.A., University of Georgia; M.A. in Communication, Georgia State University

Eleanor has worked with CASA as a full-time academic advisor since 2010. She advises primarily Media Studies, Psychology and Interior Architecture majors. She teaches courses in Media Studies and in the Freshman Seminar program. Her primary administrative responsibilities include leading Convocation Day activities for incoming students in the College of Arts & Sciences and she serves on the Freshman Seminar Advisory Committee.

Media credits include working for National Geographic Television and Discovery Communications as an Assistant Editor/Sound Editor, and a variety of roles in narrative, commercial, and industrial productions. Eleanor is an animation enthusiast and recently published a book entitled Animation Behind the Iron Curtain.

Assistant Director

Ashley Tuck (she/her)

Phone: 336.334.4361
Office: 103K Foust Building
Email: actuck@uncg.edu
Education: B.A. Psychology from North Carolina Central University. M.S. Adult Education from North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University.

Ashley has worked with CASA since 2023, but has been working within the UNCG community since 2012. She primarily advises Anthropology, Biology, Communication Studies, and Psychology majors. It is Ashley’s passion to support students in achieving their full potential while attending UNCG and beyond graduation. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, traveling, and volunteering in her local community.  

Assistant Director

Ryan Ridpath (he/him)

Phone: 336.334.4361
Office: 103L Foust Building
Email: raridpat@uncg.edu
Education: B.A., History and Psychology, UNC Greensboro; M.A., Viking and Anglo-Saxon Studies, University of Nottingham; Ph.D., English, UNC Greensboro (in progress)

Ryan began working with CASA as the Program Manager in February 2022, providing administrative support to advisors and front-line advising to students. In March 2025, he transitioned into the Assistant Director for Student Success role, developing initiatives to support students experiencing academic difficulty and encourage student belonging. He has experience as a secondary social studies teacher and has taught religious studies courses in higher educational contexts. When not in the office, he likes going to the gym, playing video games, reading sci-fi/fantasy, and hanging out around the fire with his friends and fiancé.

Program manager

Jessi Lessenberry (she/her)

Phone: 336.334.4625
Office: 103M Foust Building
Email: jmlessenber@uncg.edu
Education: B.A. in Sociology and Political Science, Winthrop University; M.L.A. in Political and Civic Engagement, Winthrop University

Jessi began working with CASA as the Program Manager in May 2025, providing administrative support to advisors and front-line advising to students. She has experience working in nonprofits revolving around childcare. When not in the office, she enjoys thrifting, live music, and exploring new cultures through their cuisines.