Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Sociology, Elon University, 2005

M.Ed. in Counseling Education with an emphasis in Higher Education/Student Affairs, Clemson University, 2007

Ph.D. Student in Educational Research and Policy Analysis with an emphasis in Higher Education, North Carolina State University, 2014

Assistant Director for the Elon Academy (February 2007-Present)

Long, D., Means, D., Flinn, L., Williams, L., & Pyne, K. (2010). Elon University Summer Bridge Programs, $20,000 grant received from the North Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities to establish summer bridge programs for students with a financial need and/or no family history of college.

Means, D. (2010). Elon Academy College Admissions Workshop, $1000 grant received from the Southern Association for College Admission Counseling to provide information regarding the college admissions process to high school students with a financial need and/or no family history of college.

Means, D. (2010). Elon Academy Book Jam, $2,160 grant received from Phi Kappa Phi National Honor Society to sustain book clubs for high school students with a financial need and/or no family history of college.

Long, D., Means, D., & Pyne, K. (2009). Elon Academy Transitions to College Program, $14, 972 grant received from North Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities to establish a transition to college program for students with a financial need and/or no family history of college.

Means, D. (2009). Elon Academy Book Club, $2000 grant received from Phi Kappa Phi National Honor Society to establish book clubs for high school students with a financial need and/or no family history of college.

 Means, D.(2008). Elon Academy Business Partner Program, $10,800 federal grant received from the Workforce Innovation in Regional Economic Development Action Committee and Piedmont Triad Partnership to develop an innovative program to connect high school students with a financial need and/or no family history of college to businesses and organizations in the region through internships, field experiences, and a business mentor program.

 Means, D.(2006). Deconstructing the racial wall: Examining racial segregation in higher education, $1000 research grant received from the Southern Association for College Students Affairs.

Long, D., Means, D., & Pyne, K. (2008). College by design: A university-community partnership. Educational Leadership, 66 (2), 77-79.

 Means, D.(2006). The racial wall: An evaluation of social segregation between white and black students on a predominantly white college campus. Palmetto Practitioner, electronic journal of South Carolina College Personnel Association.

Means, D. (2011, April). The Elon Academy: A best practice for college access and success. Concurrent session presented at the Southern Association for College Admissions Counseling, Atlanta, Georgia.

Scott, M.A., Pyne, K., & Means, D. (2011, March). Transformations at the intersections: Preliminary findings in a participatory research project on educational transformation among underserved high school students in the Pre-College Academy. Concurrent session presented at the Annual Conference for the Society of Applied Anthropology, Seattle, Washington.

Long, D., Means, D., & Swartz, T. (2009, April). Collaborating to replicate a college-access program. Concurrent session presented at the Annual National Center for Summer Learning Conference, Chicago, Illinois.

Means, D. (2009, March). The call to action: A university-community partnership to address college access. Concurrent session presented at the Annual American College Personnel Association Conference, Washington, D.C.

Johnson, K., Long, D., & Means, D. (2008, March). The Elon Academy: Education, leadership, outreach, now. Concurrent session presented at the International Annual Conference of the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, New Orleans, Louisiana.

Means, D.(2007, November). Beyond rhetoric: A qualitative study on race in higher education. Concurrent session presented at American College Personnel Association’s Annual Conference on Tools for Social Justice, Kansas City, Missouri.

Means, D.(2007, November). Deconstructing the racial wall: Examining social segregation in higher education. Concurrent session presented at the Annual Conference of theSouthern Association for College Student Affairs, Dallas, Texas.

American College Personnel Association

Association for the Study of Higher Education

National College Access Network

Southern Association for College Student Affairs

Southern Association for College Admission Counseling

North Carolina College Personnel Association

Phi Kappa Phi Love of Learning Award (2010)

North Carolina Triad Business Journal “40 Leaders under 40” (2008)

Richard Riley Institute Diversity Leadership Award (2007)

Clemson University Walter T. Cox Graduate Student Achievement Award (2007)

Clemson University Edward Grandpre Outstanding Graduate Student in Student Affairs   (2007)

Clemson University School of Education Graduate Student Excellence Award (2007)