College of Charleston Welcomes New Employees

The College of Charleston is excited to welcome this group of new employees! These new Cougars bring a lot of experience, talent and enthusiasm to the community, and they’re excited to contribute their diverse skills and expertise to the success of the College!

Find out a little about these new colleagues below – and be sure to extend a warm welcome to them all!

Brian Brady
Assistant Director for Career Development and Experiential Learning, Career Center

Background: Before joining the College of Charleston Career Center, I spent nearly a decade at the University of South Carolina Upstate George Dean Johnson, Jr. College of Business and Economics, where I served as director of the Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation and as senior instructor of entrepreneurship. During this time, I taught entrepreneurship and management courses, served as faculty of record for credit internships, led a study-abroad trip, advised student entrepreneurs and acted as faculty advisor to the university’s Collegiate Entrepreneurs Organization. Earlier in my career, I held dual appointments at the University of Connecticut School of Business as the founding director of the Stamford Learning Accelerator, and was also an instructor-in-residence in the Management and Marketing departments. I also taught in UConn’s Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans with Disabilities and served as a mentor and guest lecturer in the Innovation Quest Program. Before entering academia, I co-founded a marketing services firm and held management roles at ADP, Omnicom/BBDO and Pitney Bowes. I earned a B.A. from Georgetown University, an M.A. from Fairfield University and a Certificate in Negotiation Mastery from Harvard Business School.

Interests: I enjoy traveling, spending time outdoors, becoming fluent in Spanish and learning the guitar.

Looking Forward: I’m excited to work with students to help them in their career exploration and development as part of the College of Charleston’s Career Center team. I’m also looking forward to exploring and experiencing the College of Charleston’s vibrant, beautiful campus.

Christopher Carbon ’25 (M.S.)
Adjunct Instructor, Department of Biology

Background: I grew up primarily in Rhode Island and Connecticut, and I knew from a very young age that I loved learning about the natural world. Some of my favorite childhood memories are playing in the backyard with my brothers and dog, and in between games of hide-and-seek and tag, we would explore our backyard looking for cool animals and plants. This love of nature led me to major in biological sciences at the University of Rhode Island, where I earned my bachelor of science degree in 2021. In the fall of my senior year, I took a class in intertidal ecology and was introduced to the wonderful world of phycology, the study of algae! This new fascination led me to pursue my master of science degree in the College of Charleston Graduate Program in Marine Biology, from which I graduated in August 2025.

Expertise: While working on my master’s degree in the College of Charleston’s Graduate Program in Marine Biology, I specialized in phycology, specifically macroalgal ecology and using native macroalgae as water quality bioindicators in Charleston Harbor. During my thesis research, I was able to collect data establishing a seasonal baseline of long-term water quality in Charleston Harbor, via macroalgal stable isotope and tissue nutrient analysis, coupled with other analyses and assays for bacteria, dissolved nutrients, abiotic site conditions and photosynthetic physiological measurements. In addition to my thesis research, I also was able to gain experience working with land-based macroalgal aquaculture, field identification and collection of algae in Charleston and Hawaii, and assisting in marine science outreach events.

Outside Interests: Aside from my academic work, I was a competitive swimmer for 16 years and have worked as a swim coach for several local teams in Mount Pleasant over the past five years. When I’m not in the lab or in the pool, I love spending time with friends and family – and, more recently, creating artworks that incorporate plants and algae.

Looking Forward: This spring, I will be teaching the course BIOL435: Marine Botany. This class introduces students to the biology, ecology, evolution and taxonomy of major lineages of algae, and allows students to go out into the field to collect and identify algae from various locations in Charleston Harbor and elsewhere in South Carolina. Previously, the class has discovered new species and species not previously known to reside in South Carolina, so I am excited to see the students grow as phycologists and see what they’re able to discover in lab this year!

Elena Carroll
Visiting Instructor, Department of Management and Marketing

Background: Before starting to teach at the College a year ago, I spent my career working broadly in the fintech industry, and for the past 15 years in data analytics and AI. I held leadership roles across functions, including marketing, product development, strategy and operations management for large global companies, including Mastercard. Most recently, I served as an advisor, consultant and interim executive at early- and mid-stage startup companies. I have always been interested in teaching at the higher education level, and I am excited to give back by sharing my expertise with students as the rising leaders of the future.

Expertise: My business experience in data analytics has provided me with a strong foundation to effectively apply AI to solve customer and business challenges. Since I have expertise across business functions, I am able to connect the dots to execute strategy flawlessly and bring together interdisciplinary perspectives.

Outside Interests: I have recently relocated from the Northeast to the Lowcountry, so I enjoy hiking and biking in the coastal areas.

Looking Forward: I am excited to share my expertise and insights with students to prepare them for the rapidly changing technological advances in the industry, and I am looking forward to evolving my courses as needed and contributing to the strength of the overall curriculum.

Mary Green
Director of Governmental Affairs, President’s Office

Background: I was born and raised in Tampa, Florida, and graduated from the University of Notre Dame. I spent close to the last decade as a local TV news reporter, working in Georgia, Iowa and here in South Carolina, my favorite stop of all. For the last nearly five years, I worked in Columbia, covering the State House, state government and politics for seven local TV stations across South Carolina, North Carolina and Georgia (including Live 5 in Charleston).

Interests: I love to read (proud English major), take new workout classes and spend time with family, friends and my dog, Chris Bosh. I’ve also spent the better part of the last five years engrossed in South Carolina politics, so I’m always happy to chat about that.

Looking Forward: I’m excited to advocate for CofC at the State House to help ensure students receive the best education possible, that faculty and staff are supported and that the College has the tools it needs to thrive and build upon its legacy.

Mary Mace
Adjunct Faculty, School of Business

Background: I have over 30 years professional experience as an active duty U.S. Army officer, educator and defense contractor. I graduated from USMA with a B.S. in Management and Systems Engineering, I have two master’s degrees (MBA and M.S. in Project Management) and I am a Ph.D. candidate in Business Administration with Leadership cognate.

Interests: Exercise and exploring downtown Charleston.

Looking Forward: Interacting with the students.

Sarah Owen
Adjunct Instructor, Department of Teacher Education

Background: I have my B.S. in Elementary Education, M.A. in Curriculum and Instruction with an emphasis in Leadership and Supervision, and doctorate degree in curriculum and instruction. I hold additional certifications in English as a Second Language and in Gifted and Talented Education. I come to CofC with over 30 years of experience in education. I have served in various capacities, including teacher; coach; district ESOL, World Languages and Gifted and Talented coordinator; assistant principal; and principal. I have experience coordinating student travel to other countries and enjoy doing that in my free time. More recently, I have taught the state ESOL certification classes to educators interested in learning more to help the multilingual learners in their classrooms. 

Interests: Spending quality time with family and friends is very important to me. In my free time I like to excercise, read and most of all travel!

Looking Forward: I love the spirit of CofC, where it is obvious that the staff wants all of their students to be successful and follow their dreams.

Barry Patterson
Academic and Workforce Success Advisor for Continuing and Professional Education, School of Business

Background: I hold a degree in Interdisciplinary environmental studies with a minor in marine biology from the University of Alabama. A multi-hyphenate professional, my career path is as diverse as the students I mentor. My youthful sense of wanderlust led me to explore different careers in my 20s. I worked as a marine biologist, leading the underwater work for the University of Hawaii’s humpback whale project; started a nonprofit environmental education organization that collaborated with the Alabama Department of Education; designed earth and environmental science exhibits for the McWane Science Center; and trained MDs and clinic staff in stress and emotional management at UAB Medical School. This range of experience ultimately opened the door to management consulting, where I built my business career leading innovation, strategy and growth across the technology, health care and sustainability sectors. 

After close to a decade in consulting – running my own strategy consultancy and helping build and grow the innovation firm Biomimicry 3.8 – I pivoted into the software world. I coached organizations and teams in Agile and Scrum, and, as a senior product manager, I enjoyed leading innovation teams that turned big ideas into market-leading products for companies like Blackbaud and Questis.

While mentoring in the College of Charleston MBA program, I discovered a passion for working with students. My diverse professional background offered valuable insights to students seeking to chart their own career paths. This inspired my transition into full-time academic and career advising, and I’m excited to join the Continuing and Professional Education team within the School of Business.

Interests: Outside the office, I love spending time with my two daughters and my dog Bono, and I enjoy stand-up paddleboarding, live music and giving innovative keynotes to a wide range of audiences.

Looking Forward: At CofC I most look forward to working 1:1 with students to help them identify and navigate the career paths that are right for them, as well as finding ways our team and department can innovate.

Jessica Stone ’03
Operations Manager of Continuing and Professional Studies, School of Business

Background: I’m from Pawleys Island and came to CofC for undergrad (Class of ’03). After spending most of my 20s adventuring in Montana, I returned home and earned a master’s degree from The Citadel (M.Ed, College Counseling and Student Affairs). I’m a returning CofC employee, having served in the Center for International Education, where I worked for the same professor with whom I studied abroad in CofC’s Trujillo, Spain, summer study-abroad program. Now I am back with Michelle Futrell, the first person to hire me out of grad school in the former Undergraduate Academic Services office.

Interests: As a Lowcountry local, this part of the world is extremely important to me. I love the beauty and culture, which I attribute mainly to our natural surroundings and the influence of the Gullah Geechee community. Both are reliant on our dedicated stewardship to protect, uphold and recognize as the contributors that give us our unique charm. I love spending time outdoors with my friends and family, laughing and dreaming up new adventures. My husband and I have two sons, and we live on James Island with our little rescue mix, Dolly Parton. We spend a lot of time on the boat and golf cart. Our loftiest dreams realized.

Looking Forward: I love the campus community here – as a former student and returning employee, I bleed maroon. Go Cougars!