College of Charleston Welcomes New Employees

The College of Charleston is excited to welcome its newest employees to the Cougar family! Whether they’re stepping on campus for the first time or coming home to the College after some time away, these new faculty and staff members bring a lot of experience, talent, expertise and enthusiasm to the community.

Please welcome these new colleagues to the College of Charleston family!

Michael Bluing
Upward Bound Academic Coordinator

Background: I’m originally from California, but I recently moved to Charleston by way of St. John, USVI, where I led a youth initiative combining marine education with PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors) scuba training. Prior to island life, I spent years in the education equity space as the student life director for College Track San Francisco, supporting first-generation, low-income students on their journeys to college.

Interests: Between diaper changes and feedings, I’m adjusting to life as a new dad. In the rare moments I manage to escape on my own, I stay grounded through scuba diving, jiu-jitsu and chess – three very different ways to challenge the body, mind and spirit.

Looking Forward: What I look forward to most at the College of Charleston is applying my background in student leadership and experiential education to a community that champions student-centered growth. Having spent years guiding first-generation, college-bound scholars, I’ve seen how transformative intentional, holistic mentorship is. At CofC, I’m eager to help students build community, overcome challenges, and navigate their paths forward with confidence.

Meagan McMahon ’20
Civility Initiative Program Manager

Background: Originally from Sumter, South Carolina, I graduated from the College of Charleston in 2020 with degrees in arts management and theatre. Following graduation, I worked with PURE Theatre as their patron experiences and marketing manager.

Interests: In my free time I enjoy reading, cooking and spending time with my partner and cat. My favorite thing to do in Charleston is enjoy all of the amazing restaurants the city has to offer!

Looking Forward: I’m looking forward to learning by doing: expanding my perspectives through the work of the Civility Initiative and the many opportunities the College offers to engage, collaborate and grow.

Christian Miles
Residence Hall Director, Department of Residence life

Background: I am originally from South Carolina; I graduated from the University of South Carolina with my bachelor’s degree in English Creative Writing and a minor in Education. I also earned my master’s degree from the University of South Carolina in Higher Education Student Affairs. As a graduate assistant at USC, I worked as an assistant residence life coordinator for two years and, after graduating with my master’s, I moved to upstate New York and worked at Cornell University for a year, serving as a residence hall director. After my time at Cornell, I landed back in South Carolina with the College of Charleston!

Interests: In my spare time, I enjoy playing video games, taking part in Dungeons & Dragons campaigns and spending time with animals! I have a background as a wildlife rehabilitator, working with animals like raccoons, opossums and squirrels, just to name a few! I also have a cat named Lucille and she is trained to walk on a harness and leash, so you may see me walking her around campus!

Looking Forward: I am looking forward to investing myself within the CofC community! I am always excited to move to a new place, learn about the vibrant histories and establish a new sense of community for myself. I am excited for the unique opportunities and perspectives that the College of Charleston has to offer, and I am looking forward to meeting and working with the university’s students, faculty and staff alike!

Darien O’Neal
Costume Shop Manager, Department of Theatre and Dance

Background: I’m originally from San Domingo, Maryland. My last job was as the costume shop supervisor at PennWest University in California, Pennsylvania.

Interests: In my spare time I enjoy cosplaying and going to comic conventions. I also love watching any kind of cartoons.

Looking Forward: I’m looking forward to getting to know all of the students and helping them put on amazing productions.

Bibby Raines ’25
Access and Instruction Specialist, CofC Libraries

Background: I am from Richmond, Virginia, and graduated from CofC in 2025 with a religious studies degree.

Interests: In my spare time I enjoy taking care of my houseplants, reading and spending time outdoors.

Looking Forward: I am looking forwards to advancing my career goals within the library and being able to enjoy the beautiful campus!

Andrew Segrue
Academic Advisor, Academic Advising and Planning Center

Background: I am from Binghamton, New York. I graduated from West Virginia University in 2024 with a B.A. in Social Studies/Secondary Education. Before coming to the College of Charleston, I was a middle school business teacher and coached seventh and eighth grade football and lacrosse!

Interests: I like spending time with my friends and family, including my dachshund-Labrador mix, Frankie. I also like traveling, going to concerts and spending as much time outdoors as possible, whether that is camping, fishing, golfing or exploring new places. I’m an avid sports fan and was thrilled to see my New York Knicks win the 2026 NBA Championship! When I’m not outside, I enjoy reading a good book or listening to a podcast, especially those focused on sports and American history. I’m always looking for opportunities to try and even learn something new!

Looking Forward: What I’m looking forward to most about working at the College of Charleston is the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on student’s experience at CofC while encouraging students to take advantage of the incredible opportunities, resources and experiences that the College of Charleston has to offer!

Duane Stroman
General Maintenance Technician, Facilities Management

Background: I’m from Charleston. Before I came to the College of Charleston, I was doing maintenance of vacation homes on Kiawah Island.

Interests: Family is important to me.

Looking Forward: I look forward to helping people.

Zach Taylor
Assistant Professor, Department of Teacher Education

Background: I grew up in the Midwest, went to graduate school at Indiana University and the University of Texas at Austin, and was most recently a tenure-track professor at the University of Southern Mississippi.

Expertise: Higher education, financial aid, technology and mentoring

Outside Interests: I play guitar and basketball, and I love landscaping. #greenthumb

Looking Forward: I love teaching statistics. I had a bad math experience in high school, and I love helping students (re)kindle their love of math through practical statistics for educational practitioners. Math can be fun!

Erin Thomason ’23
Office Manager, Career Center

Background: I am from Greenwood, South Carolina, and was a student at the College of Charleston before beginning my career here at the College. I worked as a peer facilitator team leader while completing a B.A. in Religious Studies and a B.A. in History. After graduating, I worked for the iCharleston program for a few years, leading first-year students abroad to Rome, Italy, and later to Dublin, Ireland. I have also held research assistantships at both the Zucker/Goldberg Center for Holocaust Studies and the Pearlstine/Lipov Center for Southern Jewish Culture.

Interests: In my spare time, I enjoy traveling, creating art, thrifting and gardening! The perfect day for me consists of an iced coffee, a trip to the thrift store, a trip to the local plant nursery and an evening of crafting. I am also an avid Formula One racing fan and am always happy to talk about all things F1!

Looking Forward: I am most excited to work with the students at CofC! Having been a student at the College myself, I find it so refreshing and rewarding to help current students find their paths here at CofC!

Emily Totty
HR Services Coordinator, Office of Human Resources

Background: I am originally from Memphis, Tennessee, but completed both my undergraduate and graduate degrees at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. I earned my bachelor’s degree in Psychology with minors in Sociology and Child and Family Studies, followed by my Master of Science in Management and Human Resources.

Interests: In my spare time, I love spending time with my family and friends, and I just recently got engaged, so I have been enjoying wedding planning with my fiancé! I also enjoy working out, trying new restaurants and coffee shops and exploring Charleston since I am still new to the area. I love traveling and finding new places to visit, and I am always up for trying something new!

Looking Forward: I am most looking forward to becoming a part of the community at the College of Charleston! I am excited to build relationships with people across the College and within the HR team and continue to develop as an HR professional. I am also looking forward to getting involved in the CofC community and getting to work on such a beautiful campus every day!

Jacob Wilson
Assistant Professor, Department of Geology and Environmental Geosciences; Curator, Mace Brown Museum of Natural History

Background: I am from Colorado. Before coming to the College of Charleston I was a postdoctoral researcher at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science.

Expertise: I am a paleontologist with a background studying diversity dynamics of freshwater fish during the time when the dinosaurs went extinct.

Outside Interests: I sail, rock climb and generally like to spend my time outdoors.

Looking Forward: Geology was my favorite course to take during my undergrad, so I am excited to teach it here. Later in the year I will teach paleobiology, which is my field of study and includes a bunch of fascinating subtopics I will get to dive into with students.