Meet The CGC Staff

Bob McNamara, Associate Provost and Dean of The Citadel Graduate College, earned an undergraduate degree in justice and law administration from Western Connecticut State University and a master's in sociology and criminal justice from Southern Connecticut State University. He earned two master's degrees as well as a doctorate in sociology from Yale University. He is the author of more than 25 books on topics ranging from policing and crime to homelessness and urban sociology and social gerontology. He joined The Citadel in 2005, and he previously served as the Associate Dean of Evening Undergraduate Studies and as Director of the 2 + 2 program in Criminal Justice for three years.

Marcia Bonica is the Director of Student Assessment and Retention for The Citadel Graduate College. She received her Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Massachusetts and her Master of Education from The Citadel. She has over twenty years of experience in higher education administration from four different universities.

Donna Parrish, Director of Education Programs and Summer School for The Citadel Graduate College, received her Bachelor of Arts in French from the College of Charleston. She was the Coordinator of Professional Development courses for 13 years and has served in her current position since 2008. She has served on Staff Council multiple terms, a subcommittee of the Computer Services Strategic Planning Committee, and currently serves on the Residency Appeals Committee. For the past 15 years, she has coordinated the Teacher Cadet Program in conjunction with the School of Education. She is a member of the North American Association of Summer Sessions.

Katie Gibson, Director of CGC Operations and Marketing and Recruiting, earned a Master of Arts in Social Science and a Graduate Certificate in Leadership from The Citadel as well as a Master's Certificate in Project Management from George Washington University. She joined The Citadel Graduate College in 2006 with ten years of prior marketing experience. She serves on many campus-wide committees.

Kari Tippens, Assistant Director of The Citadel Graduate College, earned her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Nebraska Lincoln. Her higher education career began in 2009, where she worked with medical students and faculty at the Medical University of South Carolina. She joined The Citadel Graduate College in 2011.

Ally Martin is an Admissions & Records Specialist for The Citadel Graduate College. She received her Bachelor of Science degree from Barton College and her Master of Education from the University of South Carolina. Prior to joining The Citadel she worked in higher education areas including Academic Advising, Career Services, University 101, Greek Life and Residence Life.

Karen Salem, Admissions and Records Specialist, earned a Master of Arts in Higher Education Administration from the University of Alabama. She spent several years in corporate human resources and then made a career change to college administration. She worked at The University of Alabama, Manderson Graduate School of Business and Wilson College before joining The Citadel Graduate College in 2013.

Kelsey Rassa, Assistant Recruiting Coordinator for The Citadel Graduate College, earned her Bachelor of Science from Towson University. She relocated to Charleston to work for the South Carolina Aquarium before beginning her career at The Citadel in 2013.

Sean T. Arledge, Assistant to Dr. McNamara, is a graduate of Clemson University. He began working for The Citadel in the Evening Undergraduate Studies department. Before coming to work for The Citadel, he spent 10 years working in the landscape irrigation industry.   

Yiraliz Beltran is the administrative assistant to the Associate Dean of Evening Undergraduate Studies Program. She received her Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice with a minor in Sociology from University of Maryland University College and her Master of Arts in Criminal Justice from the American Military University. She has over 6 years of experience in higher education from two other universities. She joined The Citadel family in 2013.