Choosing the right college is a big decision, and it’s important that you receive the support you need to make the most informed decision possible. Our Admission Counselors and staff members are here to help you every step of the way as you explore your options. 

Feel free to contact us with questions anytime. We look forward to helping you discover if UNC Asheville is the right fit for you!

Admission Counselors

Marcio Moreno
Associate Vice Chancellor

for Admission and Financial Aid

What is your favorite UNC Asheville Tradition?
“Turning of the Maples. Fall colors, cider, cookies, and music! What else do you need?”

What is your favorite spot on campus?
“The mini quad. Just as gorgeous as the Quad, but quieter.”

What is your favorite activity in Asheville? “Finding new trails to hike!”

Education

  • Master of Arts in Spanish, UNC Wilmington
  • Master of Arts in English as a Second Language, Universidad Autónoma de Chiriquí

Populations

International First-Year and Transfer Applicants

Payton Byrnes
Admission Counselor
and Communication Specialist

Email: pbyrnes@unca.edu
Phone: 828.251.6260

What is your favorite spot on campus?
“My favorite spot on campus is the mini quad. It is the perfect place to sit in the shade and read a book!”

What is a favorite book, movie, or TV show you enjoy? Why?
“I don’t have a favorite book, but fantasy is my favorite genre to read because I love magic and adventures! My favorite TV show is Dimension 20, because the stories are so creative and the cast always makes me laugh.”

What is your favorite spot or activity in Asheville?
“I really love visiting the North Carolina Arboretum, the Bonsai Exhibit is my favorite and there are a bunch of hiking trails to explore!”

Education

  • Bachelor of Arts in Journalism, Elon University

Territories

North Carolina Counties:

  • Alamance
  • Alexander
  • Caldwell
  • Catawba
  • Davidson
  • Davie
  • Forsyth
  • Guilford
  • Montogomery
  • Moore
  • Randolph
  • Rockingham
  • Stokes
  • Surry
  • Yadkin

States:

  • Indiana
  • Kentucky
  • Michigan
  • Ohio
  • Tennessee
  • West Virginia
  • Connecticut
  • Maine
  • Massachusetts
  • New Hampshire
  • Rhode Island
  • Vermont

Zach D. Friesen ’20
Admission Counselor

Email: zfriesen@unca.edu
Phone: 828.250.2365

What is your favorite spot or activity in Asheville?
“I love fly fishing along the Appalachian Mountains!”

What is a favorite book, movie, or TV show you enjoy? Why?
“The Lord of the Rings, either in book or movie form.”

What is your go-to advice for students feeling stressed during the college application process?
“Ask questions! We are here to help with any step in the process.”

Education

  • Master of Arts in Higher Education, Appalachian State University
  • Bachelor of Arts in History, UNC Asheville

Territories

North Carolina Counties:

  • Alleghany
  • Ashe
  • Avery
  • Buncombe
  • Burke
  • Cherokee
  • Clay
  • Graham
  • Haywood
  • Henderson
  • Jackson
  • Macon
  • Madison
  • McDowell
  • Mitchell
  • Polk
  • Rutherford
  • Swain
  • Transylvania
  • Watauga
  • Wilkes
  • Yancey

States:

  • Alabama
  • Arkansas
  • Louisiana
  • Mississippi
  • Oklahoma
  • Texas
  • Virginia
  • Washington D.C.

Populations

In-State Transfer Applicants,
excluding the NC Community College System

Lucas Granade ’19
Admission Counselor

Email: lgranade@unca.edu
Phone: 828.250.2329

What is a favorite book, movie, or TV show you enjoy? Why?
“Dimension 20 – a show where comedians play tabletop role-playing games – is a favorite of mine. It’s engaging, hilarious, and super binge-able.”

What is your favorite spot on campus?
“Ramsey Library – whether I’m there for a smoothie, browsing the stacks, making something in the CrAFT Studio, or seeing friends in the Writing Center, it’s always a pleasant place to be.”

What is your go-to advice for students feeling stressed during the college application process?
“Reach out! Admission and Financial Aid Counselors are here to help you feel informed, confident, and prepared to make the decisions that are best for you.”

Education

  • Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, UNC Asheville

Territories

North Carolina Counties:

  • Caswell
  • Chatham
  • Durham
  • Franklin
  • Granville
  • Johnston
  • Orange
  • Person
  • Vance
  • Wake
  • Warren

States:

  • Arizona
  • California
  • Colorado
  • Hawaii
  • Nevada
  • New Mexico
  • Utah
Lucas Granade

Torey Green
Admission Counselor

Email: vgreen2@unca.edu
Phone: 828.250.2307

What is your favorite spot on campus?
“My favorite spot on campus is the botanical gardens. I love to stroll along the paths and enjoy all of the beautiful plants and wildlife.”

If you could give one piece of advice to incoming students, what would it be?
“Give yourself grace. Transitioning to college life isn’t always easy, and it’s okay to ask for help. Practice self-care, take breathers, drink water, and lean on your support systems!”

What is your favorite spot or activity in Asheville?
“Asheville has an incredible range of public parks and nature trails that my family and I visit often. Some of our favorites include French Broad River Park, the North Carolina Arboretum, and Carrier Park.”

Education

  • Bachelor of Arts in English, Costal Carolina University

Territories

North Carolina Counties:

  • Anson
  • Cabarrus
  • Cleveland
  • Gaston
  • Iredell
  • Lincoln
  • Mecklenburg
  • Rowan
  • Stanly
  • Union

States:

  • South Carolina

Sarah Mohr
Associate Director of Admission

Email: smohr@unca.edu
Phone: 828.250.2320

What is your favorite UNC Asheville tradition?
“Turning of the Maples”

What is your favorite spot on campus?
“The view of Mount Pisgah from the top of the library steps and the observatory.”

What is your favorite spot or activity in Asheville?
“I love going to concerts at the Grey Eagle!”

Education

  • Master of Public Administration, UNC Wilmington
  • Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies, Furman University

Territories

States:

  • Georgia
  • Florida

Populations

Transfer Applicants – North Carolina Community College System

Kari Myrtle-Posey
Director of Admission for Recruitment & Outreach

Email: kmyrtlep@unca.edu
Phone: 828.255.7056

If you could give one piece of advice to incoming students, what would it be?
“As a first-generation college student, I wish I had someone to demystify the higher education process when I first started applying to college. My biggest piece of advice to incoming students is to reach out to schools you are interested in exploring. We are all here to help! You don’t have to be an admitted student to connect with staff!”

If you were to describe UNC Asheville in three words, what would they be?
“Welcoming, picturesque, and innovative.”

What is your favorite spot or activity in Asheville?
“I love riding bikes along the French Broad River on the Greenway!”

Education

  • Master of Arts in Liberal Studies, UNC Wilmington
  • Bachelor of Arts in English, UNC Wilmington

Populations

  • Post-Baccalaureate Applicants
  • Teacher Licensure Applicants

Lindsey Prather ’10
Assistant Director of Admission

Email: laprathe@unca.edu 

What is your favorite spot on campus?
“The Botanical Gardens! A wonderful place to relax and get ‘away’ from it all – right there on campus! Plus, there’s a moon tree.”

What is your favorite UNC Asheville memory?
“A bunch of us gathered in The Grotto in Highsmith Student Union to watch the election night results in 2008. We had a big map on the wall and colored in each state as the results were announced. It was incredible to experience that with fellow students.”

If you could give one piece of advice to incoming students, what would it be?
“Try all the things. Going to one club meeting doesn’t commit you for the whole year – just give it a shot and see what fits.”

Education

  • Master of Public Affairs, Western Carolina University
  • Bachelor of Arts in Sociology, UNC Asheville

Populations

Out-of-state Transfer Applicants

Lindsey Prather

Lainie Sopa ’22
Admission Counselor

Email: asopa@unca.edu

What was your favorite class while you were attending UNC Asheville?
“My Freshman Seminar, ‘Failing Forward’. Though it was an early morning, I left feeling so motivated and ready to tackle the day.”

What is your favorite UNC Asheville tradition?
“The Music Department’s Faculty Recital!”

What is your favorite spot on campus?
“Roasted In Highsmith Student Union. They have the best hot cocoa.”

Education

  • Bachelor of Science in Music Technology, UNC Asheville

Territories

North Carolina Counties:

  • Beaufort
  • Bertie
  • Bladen
  • Brunswick
  • Camden
  • Carteret
  • Chowan
  • Columbus
  • Craven
  • Cumberland
  • Currituck
  • Dare
  • Duplin
  • Edgecombe
  • Gates
  • Greene
  • Halifax
  • Harnett
  • Hertford
  • Hoke
  • Hyde
  • Jones
  • Lee
  • Lenoir
  • Martin
  • Nash
  • New Hanover
  • Northampton
  • Onslow
  • Pamlico
  • Pasquotank
  • Pender
  • Perquimans
  • Pitt
  • Richmond
  • Robeson
  • Sampson
  • Scotland
  • Tyrrell
  • Washington
  • Wayne
  • Wilson

States:

  • Alaska
  • Idaho
  • Illinois
  • Iowa
  • Kansas
  • Minnesota
  • Missouri
  • Montana
  • Nebraska
  • North Dakota
  • Oregon
  • South Dakota
  • Washington
  • Wisconsin
  • Wyoming

Admission Staff

Nate Corbitt
Campus Visit Manager

Email: ncorbitt@unca.edu
Phone: 828.350.4553

If you could give one piece of advice to incoming students, what would it be?
“Visit campus! You’re never going to get a true representation of a college through a website. Visit as many universities as possible to get a feel for the campus and the students. That’s the best way to decide if you will be happy there for the next 4 years.”

What is a favorite book, movie, or TV show you enjoy? Why?
“I have literally been watching WWE Monday Night RAW since it debuted in 1993. I have continued to watch it, because it is one constant in my life that can take me back to my childhood when I didn’t have to worry about ‘adulting’.”

What is your favorite spot or activity in Asheville?
“Two words….Luella’s BBQ!”

Education

  • Education Policy Fellowship Program, 2021-2022 North Carolina Cohort Fellow
  • Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice, Appalachian State University

June Cross
Information Processor

Email: jcross@unca.edu
Phone: 828.251.6493

I am an Information Processor in the Office of Financial Aid and Admissions-Data Services.  I have been employed with UNC Asheville since 2010.  I enjoy helping my colleagues with their data needs.  I graduated from North Buncombe High School in Weaverville N.C. and attended Asheville-Buncombe Technical College.  I enjoy spending most of my time off with my grown children and two granddaughters. I also loves road tripping, little hikes, and life group with my friends.

Lisa House
Operations Manager

Email: lhouse@unca.edu
Phone: 828.250.2331

What is your favorite spot on campus?
“The rocking chairs between Willow Hall and Beech Hall. ”

What is your favorite spot or activity in Asheville?
“Riding bikes or walking at the Biltmore Estate.”

What is a favorite book, movie, or TV show you enjoy? Why?
“My favorite movie is The Greatest Game Ever Played; I love the story of how 2 “regular” novices made a name for themselves in an arena that was only for the elite. It’s an awesome story of triumph when you are doing something you love!”

Jason Mogen
Director of Admission & Financial Aid Communication

Email: jmogen@unca.edu
Phone: 828.250.2355

What is your favorite spot on campus?
“Lookout Observatory: there are great views of the city and mountains, and free stargazing nights!”

If you were to describe UNC Asheville in three words, what would they be?
“Innovative, caring, and engaged.”

What is your go-to advice for students feeling stressed during the college application process?
“Admission Counselors and Financial Aid Counselors are super friendly, so don’t be afraid to ask questions. We’re here to help with anything!”

Education

  • Master of Arts in Higher and Postsecondary Education, Teachers College, Columbia University
  • Bachelor of Arts in Religion, Columbia University

Ryan Walsh
Director of Admission & Financial Aid Systems & Analytics

Email: rwalsh@unca.edu
Phone: 828.251.6494

What is your favorite spot on campus?
“Most people don’t realize that UNC Asheville has a campus trail system, which includes connection to the Asheville Botanical Garden which is right on the edge of campus!”

What is your go-to advice for students feeling stressed during the college application process?
“A trusted colleague once said about the college application process: ‘It’s like taking a test in school. Keep your eyes on your own paper.’ Essentially, don’t worry about what your peers and friends are doing. Stay focused on yourself let that will guide you to the schools which are the right fit for YOU!”

Education

  • Master or Arts in Educational Leadership, University of Colorado – Colorado Springs
  • Bachelor of Arts in History, St. Lawrence University

Have Questions? Contact the Admission Team! 

Ask questions and get advice from the University of North Carolina Asheville if you need assistance with submitting your application.