STAFF DIRECTORY
706-542-8479 | sco@uga.edu
Biographical Info
Carrie Smith serves as the Director of Student Care & Outreach, providing individualized support and assistance to students experiencing hardship circumstances. She oversees general case management within Student Care & Outreach. Additionally, Carrie provides trainings and informational sessions to campus and community partners about working with students of concern and the role of Student Care & Outreach. Carrie also serves as a member of the university’s Behavioral Assessment and Response Council (BARC).
Carrie received a B.B.A. in Marketing from Mississippi State University, an M.Ed. in Counselor Education from the University of Mississippi, and she holds a Ph.D. in College and Student Personnel Services from UGA. She worked in corporate public relations at Fleishman-Hillard before returning to the field of education to serve as the Assistant Director of Admissions at The Browning School. Prior to coming to UGA, Carrie worked with graduate admissions, scholarship programming, and athletics at the University of Mississippi. She served as the Student Affairs Case Manager before this position.
Biographical Info
Samantha Adair joined SCO’s staff as a case manager in 2021 and currently serves as the Assistant Director and Patient Navigator. She works within SCO and the University Health Center, and coordinates support for students who are navigating complex circumstances, assisting with connecting them to campus and community resources. Sam also manages the emergency support fund process to help provide direct financial assistance to students, along with collaborating with various offices on campus to assess and refine the management and distribution of support funds.
Sam holds a Master of Arts degree in Educational Psychology from the University of Georgia, as well as a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology and a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from the University of Georgia.
Biographical Info
Julia Buwick serves as a Community of Care Coordinator in Student Care and Outreach. She earned her Undergraduate Degree in Psychology with a Minor in Business from Appalachian State University in 2015 and a Master of Education in Professional School Counseling from the University of Georgia in 2018. Within her role as a Community of Care Coordinator, Julia works to promote well-being initiatives and programs on campus, such as Body Talks, Support Dawgs, and general presentations about mental health and well-being. Additionally, Julia works to coordinate basic needs resources on campus. Julia works with the Greek Life Office to promote well-being initiatives. Julia works alongside other staff members in Student Care and Outreach to connect students to Embark@UGA.
Biographical Info
Megan Edwards Laconico joined Student Care and Outreach as a case manager in 2020. She became an assistant director in 2021 and now serves as the Associate Director. In this role, Megan oversees the general case management functions of the office and assists with immediate response to critical events and crises. She also serves as the co-chair of Student Support Team, the behavioral intervention team, and the primary case manager for the university’s Behavioral Assessment and Response Council (BARC), a group of administrators that assesses and determines the appropriate response to students who exhibit threatening behavior to self and/or others.
Megan holds a Master of Science degree in College Student Personnel from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, as well as a Bachelor of Arts from Sonoma State University.
Biographical Info
Abigail McLain joined the Student Care and Outreach team as an administrative manager in 2023. She began her role as a case manager in 2024 and currently works directly with students to provide resources and comprehensive support services. Abigail also assists with the coordination of Embark@UGA, a campus-based initiative that supports students who have experienced foster care and/or homelessness. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Public Relations and English from the University of Georgia. Outside of SCO, Abigail enjoys working with the UGA Redcoat Marching Band as support staff.
Biographical Info
Micah Miranda works as a case manager at SCO, providing support and care to students. He also provides support to the Community of Care Coordinators in the facilitation of community programming and outreach efforts on campus and to community partners. Micah handles business operations for the office, including procurement of program supplies and the management of budget processes. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Community Health from GCSU. Micah held a previous position with UGA at the University Health Center.
Biographical Info
Bobby Pelts is a case manager at Student Care and Outreach where he provides care and support for students and coordinates Degree Completion Teams as part of the university’s Connect and Complete Persistence Framework. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and Spanish from the University of Mississippi as well as a Master of Arts from the University of Mississippi. Before joining SCO in 2021, Bobby served as an Academic Advisor with Franklin College of Arts and Sciences and taught a variety of literature and writing courses at other universities.
Biographical Info
Sam Roundtree is a case manager within the office of Student Care and Outreach. She works directly with students and oversees the Student Worker staff for SCO. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from the University of Georgia as well as a Master of Arts degree in Intercultural Study from Asbury Theological Seminary. Sam also has a background in family planning and has worked directly with parents in Athens as a DONA trained Doula. Prior to her time at SCO, Sam interned with the University of Georgia Wesley Foundation where she met one on one with students for three years.
Biographical Info
Karla Sanchez Tavera is a case manager at Student Care and Outreach, where she provides support and care to students. A 2022 graduate of the University of Georgia with a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice, Karla focuses on general case management and oversees the logistics of expanding well-being initiatives, particularly the Support Dawgs trainings. Prior to her role at SCO, she mentored college students for three years at the UGA Wesley Foundation, focusing on creating inclusive spaces for students of color in predominantly white environments. She is passionate about mental health and looks forward to helping students receive the support they need.
