Academic Advising Team
Academic advisors
Flex MBA Academic Advisors
Rayon Fulton, Academic Advisor
Flex MBA & AAP/ MBA Dual Degree Program
Rayon has worked in higher education for over 12 years with experience in recruitment, admissions, and academic advising. After earning his Master of Educational Administration degree (MEd) from Xavier University (OH), he worked at the Art Institute of Atlanta as an Assistant Director of Admissions and later transitioned into academic advising. Prior to joining Carey, he worked at American University’s Kogod School of Business as Assistant Director of Recruitment & Advising for undergraduate students. He also holds a bachelor's degree in Liberal Arts with concentrations in Education and African American Literature from West Chester University. A Philadelphia native, Rayon is a huge sports fan, avid runner, and loves spending quality time with family and friends.
Ranetta Hardin, Academic Advisor
Flex MBA & Nursing Dual Degree Program
Before joining the Flex MBA Advising team, Ranetta served at Carey as Assistant Director of Academic Enrichment, working on the planning and implementation of the residency programs. Before she came to Carey Business School, Ranetta served as an Academic Coach at Montgomery College, a Research Scientist at Activate Research, Inc., and worked in various advising and program management roles at the University of Maryland.
Jackie Haring, Sr. Academic Advisor
Flex MBA & AAP/ MBA Dual Degree Program
Jackie enjoys supporting student success in graduate studies through academic advising. She brings more than 15 years of experience in international student advising, international admissions, and study abroad advising to her current position. Her work has taken her to 16 countries in Europe, Asia, and North America. Jackie has a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and a Master of Science in Counseling/College Student Personnel from the Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania as well as a post-baccalaureate diploma in Business Management from Elizabethtown College in Pennsylvania. Outside of work, Jackie enjoys traveling, and spending time with friends and family, as well as her cats.
John Niemi, Assistant Director of Advising
Flex MBA & Nursing Dual Degree Program
As a professional academic advisor, John enjoys advising, coaching, and mentoring graduate students. He holds a Master of Arts degree with a concentration in public policy analysis and community organizing from the University of Chicago School of Social Service Administration and a second Master of Arts degree in dance education, performance, and History from American University in Washington, DC. John completed post-graduate studies at Texas Woman’s University in Denton, Texas in online learning in dance education. His work explored interdisciplinary, multidisciplinary, kinesthetic, and somatic learning for online learners. He created and taught online, hybrid, and onsite graduate and undergraduate-level courses. Outside of work, John enjoys performing, singing in choirs, and taking dance classes when time allows.
Judson Riggins, Assistant Director of Advising
Flex MBA & Graduate Certificates
Prior to joining Carey Business School, Jud worked for Bowie State University and Chesapeake College. He was an academic and career advisor, TRIO program coordinator, adjunct English faculty, and transfer advisor to four- year schools. Jud holds a Master of Science in Psychology with concentrations in Educational and Sports Psychology from Capella University. Outside of the advising office, he enjoys spending time with family and friends, catching up on anime, gaming, and relaxing outside on the weekends.
Adaria Sogbor, Academic Advisor
Flex MBA & MA/MBA (MICA) Dual Degree Program
Adaria has worked in higher education for over a decade. Prior to joining Carey, she worked in advising capacities at several colleges in Maryland. She has earned a Doctor of Education in Urban Educational Leadership from Morgan State University. Her doctoral dissertation available on ProQuest is entitled “Matter or Marginality: A case study of African American students’ experiences that participated in a proactive intervention at a predominantly white community college.” She also has a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Communications. Adaria is a native of Baltimore and graduated from Mercy High School. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her family, traveling and shopping online.
Full-Time MBA Academic Advisor
Michael Tyler, Assistant Director of Programs and Advising
Full-Time MBA, MPH/MBA Dual-Degree, MD/MBA Dual-Degree, JD/MBA Dual-Degree, MAIR/MBA Dual-Degree, Undergraduate Business Minor
Michael has worked as a professional academic advisor for business students for over 14 years. In his tenure as an advisor, he has worked with students at each stage of business education, including undergraduate students at Towson University’s College of Business and Economics, MS and MBA students at JHU’s Carey Business School, and PhD in Management and Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) students at Walden University. In addition to his work as an advisor, Michael has also taught writing/composition and business communications classes. He holds a BA and an MA in English from Salisbury University and remains an avid reader. In his spare time, Michael likes travelling and enjoying good food & wine.
MS Program Academic Advisors
LaToya Fendrick, Associate Director of Advising, MS Programs
MS Real Estate and Infrastructure & MS Marketing
Originally from New Jersey where she attended Rutgers University and acquired a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a Master of Education in Counseling Psychology, LaToya has worked in higher education for 15 years. After moving to Northern Virginia in 2016, LaToya expanded her experience by working for education focused non-profit organizations in the DC metro area prior to joining Carey Business School as an academic advisor in 2019. LaToya is very passionate about helping others find their path. In her spare time, she enjoys a good cup of coffee, a quality TV show, and promoting mental health and DEIB initiatives.
Evan Frejo, Academic Advisor
MS Finance
Before joining Carey Business School, Evan worked at George Mason University in the Department of Computer Science and Carthage College as a First Year Advisor. He has worked in academic advising, international education, orientation, mentoring and coaching for the past 6 years. Evan holds a BS in Economics as well as a MS in Counseling Education from Oklahoma State University. Outside of work, Evan enjoys playing sports, cooking, film, and all things public radio.
Samella Koroma, Academic Advisor
MS Health Care Management (Full-Time), MS Business Analytics & Risk Management (Full-Time and Part Time)
Before coming to Carey, Samella was an Academic Advisor for the Department of Athletics at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County and served as a Learning Specialist for student athletes, as well as the Coordinator for the Athletics Tutoring Center. She established the first-ever Black Student Athlete Alliance at UMBC which focused on diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging for black student athletes. Before that, she was the Assistant Director (Academic Advisor, Transfer Credits/AP/IB Credits) at Stevens Institute of Technology. Here, she improved the transfer credit process for incoming and current undergraduate students and advised a subset of at-risk students while serving as the Athletics' Academic Advisor. Before that role, she also served as an Assistant Track and Field coach at Stevens Institute of Technology. While at Virginia State University, she was an Assistant Track and Field team for both the Men’s and Women’s Cross Country and Track and Field teams. Samella holds a BA in Rhetoric and Communication Studies (minor in Studio Art) from the University of Richmond and an MA in Higher Education/Student Personnel from the University of Mississippi. In her spare time, Samella enjoys spending time with her dog, Sir Preston, her cat, Sir Leone, and her many plants.
Valeria Smith, Academic Advisor
MS Finance (Full-Time)
Valeria has worked in higher education for over 15 years. Prior to joining Carey Business School, she worked at Towson University, Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing, and Notre Dame of Maryland University. She has served as an Academic Advisor, International Student Advisor/Immigration Specialist, and Student Success Coordinator throughout her career. She was also an Immigration Service Officer with the Department of Homeland Security for several years. Valeria attended Notre Dame of Maryland University and earned a BA in Human Services and an MA in Management. Outside of the office, she loves spending time with family and friends, singing, and enjoying weekend outings.
Yassi Hakami, Academic Advisor
MS Information Systems (full-time), MS Health Care Management (part-time), MS Business Analytics & Risk Management (part-time)
Prior to joining Carey Business School, Yassi worked as an Academic Advisor with graduate and post-graduate students, their universities and scholarship programs at the Cultural Mission of the Embassy of the State of Kuwait in Washington, D.C. She takes pride in offering holistic academic advising to her students and her goal is to see them succeed in their academic journey. She earned her LLB from Shahid Beheshti University of Tehran and an LLM in immigration law and administrative policy from American University Washington College of Law. Outside work and together with her family they are committed to community service and love reading, learning and making every moment count with their loved ones.