about us > our staff

Carly Stamey|Vanessa Braun|Gary Manka|Carolyn Seals|JS Bragg|Liz Householder |Lawrence Hilton| Bernard Little | Matt Lewis

Gary Manka is the Director in the Office of Student Activities and Leadership. He earned his A.A. in Liberal Arts from Miami-Dade Community College, Miami, Florida; his B.A. in English-Creative Writing from the University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida; and his M.S. in College Student Personnel from Miami University, Oxford, Ohio. He has varied experience in advising, leadership development, programming, student employment, desktop publishing, graphic arts, and college union operations. Gary has been employed at Miami University since August 1985. He is also a part-time instructor for the EDL 306 Group Leadership course, the WCP 300 leadership and popular film course, and a Lead Facilitator and Program Coordinator for the LeaderShape Insitute.

JS Bragg earned a BA in History with minors in English & Theatre and an MA in Counseling-Student Affairs from Marshall University in Huntington, WV. He worked as Advisor for the Student Activities Program Board while at Marshall. He has atteneded a number of regional and national NACA conferences where he has presented educational sessions five times. He is happily married and has a philosophy of enjoying life and sees the obstacles life throws in your way as exciting challenges rather than a cause for stress.

As Assistant Director of Student Activities/PB Advisor JS has the distinct pleasure of working with the students in the Program Board at Miami, who also produce the widely used Miami Memos. He also advises the largest group on cmapus, Sigma Alpha Pi, which is an honor society based on leadership. He also serves as supervisor for the advisor of AfterDark, another terrific group at Miami. He works closely with several groups on campus, including the University Lecture Series, SL,CCL, and coordinates the Perlmutter Leadership Conference. JS is a self proclaimed "Geek" having large collections of comics, action figures, cards, board games, and more. One of JS's biggest loves and passions (other than his wife, of course) are the Cincinnati Reds. He loves playing video games, raquetball, softball, and occasionally football. He has been blessed in life with great friends and a great family that he loves to spend his time with, along with his wife and cat Azrael. For more infomation on JS (including his days in pro wrestling) visit his website. (click here). back to top

Carly Stamey is the Graduate Assistant in the Office of Student Activities and Leadership, and advisor to the AfterDark programming board. Carly grew up in Hershey , Pennsylvania before attending James Madison University in Harrisonburg , VA. In 2005 she received her Bachelor's degree in Psychology, with minors in Biology and Family Studies. After graduation Carly stayed at JMU to work as an Admissions Counselor for the university. She is currently enrolled in Miami 's College Student Personnel Master's degree program. back to top

Carolyn Seals has been employed at Miami University for 27 years. Working in different departments across campus has given Carolyn the opportunity to see Miami in many different perspectives. She has found that she really loves the connections she has made with the student members from the various student organizations on campus. back to top

Lawrence Hilton is a graduate assistant in the Student Activities and Leadership office. Lawrence grew up in Fayetteville, Georgia, and attended Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina where he received a Bachelors degree in Music. Although he is small in stature, he is big on working out and staying in shape. His discipline here came from his career as a collegiate athlete. Friends would describe Lawrence as “the life of the party.” His wit and personality are unmatched. No matter the situation, he can always make you smile or laugh. He is loyal, lovable, and law-abiding. He is hardworking, honest, and humorous. He is just plain different.  He is extremely excited to be at Miami, and is also an assistant coach with the Miami Mock Trial team.  He is currently enrolled in Miami's College Student Personnel master's degree program.

Vanessa Braun Vanessa joined  the Student Activities and Leadership Office in January, 2007. She comes to Miami from Pittsburgh PA, where she was working in HR.  Prior to that, she grew up an hour and a half north of Pittsburgh, and attended Allegheny College, where she was a double major in Psychology and Communication Arts.  Vanessa obtained her Masters in Higher Education from the University of Pittsburgh in 2005 and is really enjoying her new position and especially her role as adviser to the Campus Activities Council (CAC).

Vanessa is also a huge fan of the Pittsburgh Steelers and is interested to see what football season in enemy territory will be like this fall.  She is an avid movie watcher and loves the old Audrey Hepburn, Cary Grant, Grace Kelly days.  Additionally, she has a decent collection of contemporary romantic comedies and Will Smith Films.  She loves to spend time outside when the weather is nice and enjoys swimming, hiking, horse back riding, and playing with her yellow lab, Randall. 

Besides spending time running with bones and chasing his tail Randall is also a guide dog and has been with Vanessa since the summer of 2005.  He comes from a school called Guiding Eyes For the Blind, www.guidingeyes.org. Vanessa has been visually impaired since birth and Randall is her second dog from Guiding Eyes. 

Liz Householder is a second-year graduate student in Miami's College Student Personnel program, and holds the Student Leadership Graduate Assistantship for the office, where she helps support many leadership initiatives and programs on campus. She is currently serving on the Miami Leadership Steering Committee, creating the curriculum for the upcoming ENGAGE leadership certificate program, supporting the planning LeaderShape Miami, co-chairing Miami's Multi-Institutional Study of Leadership Committee, and revising the curriculum for EDL 306, an undergraduate introductory leadership course. Liz is originally from Kendallville, Indiana and is a 2004 graduate of Hanover College with a bachelor's of arts degree in Sociology. Before her arrival to Miami University she worked for a United States Senator on Capitol Hill and was the associate editor of Greater Fort Wayne Family magazine. She loves going to Miami's group fitness classes, traveling, and following politics and world affairs! back to top

Bernard Little is a Graduate Practicum Student with the office advising the Charter Day Ball planning committee. The committee handles all the planning and preparations for the Ball that will happen on February 21, 2009 and is known to be the largest student planned event at Miami University. Bernard is a current first year student studying for his Masters in College Student Personnel. Bernard is originally from Cleveland, Ohio and went the amazing Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green, OH where he received his Bachelors of Arts in Communication degree and found the love of his life Krystal Pernell there as well. Bernard misses BGSU so much and though he will forever be a Falcon, he is really enjoying his Red Hawk days.

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Matt Lewis is a Graduate Student co-advising the Miami Memos.

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