Anthony J. Plotner, Ph.D.

Tony Plotner is a Professor in Special Education in the Department of Educational and Developmental Science in the College of Education. He received his Ph.D. in Special Education from the University of Illinois. He also holds a M.S. in Rehabilitation from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. His primary research interests center around (1) Enhancing employment and personal outcomes of transition-age youth with disabilities; (2) Improving collaborative service delivery across systems; and (3) Developing and implementing rigorous college opportunities for individuals with an intellectual disability. Tony has procured over 8 million dollars in external funding as Principal Investigator and has published over 80 peer-reviewed publications and book chapters. In his spare time, Tony enjoys playing high-stakes poker, traveling with his wife, and watching re-runs of Saved by the Bell.

Charles Walters, Ph.D.

The work of Charles (Charlie) Walters builds on his diverse experiences in the administration and facilitation of publicly-funded programs and services for young adults with disabilities. These experiences have included Pre-ETS curriculum design and implementation across numerous settings since 2016, the development and facilitation of an Employment First-related pilot project to improve service coordination and school-based transition services for youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and statewide capacity building to strengthen interagency collaboration and data-based planning. After completing his Ph.D. in special education in May 2023, Charlie returned to Able South Carolina, the organization with which he worked to oversee youth transition programs from 2016 to 2019. In the role of Senior Education Researcher, he is working to build on the innovative work Able SC does to support young adults with disabilities in the state and to assist other Centers for Independent Living (CILs) around the country through technical assistance, research, and knowledge translation. Charlie's position is co-funded by the Center for Transition Research and Leadership where he proudly serves as a Research Fellow.

Rebecca Smith Hill, Ph.D.

Rebecca (Becca) Smith Hill is a social worker, former middle and high school special education teacher, and adjunct professor at University of South Carolina. She is Assistant Director of Campus and Community Engagement at CarolinaLIFE, an inclusive postsecondary education (IPSE) program at USC. She earned her Ph.D. in special education with a focus on transition from USC. Her research interests include self-determination, sense of belonging, dignity of risk, identity development, and overall wellness for transition-age young adults. She is also interested in enhancing cultural competency for pre-service teachers and others working with the disability community. Becca leverages her experience in the education and social work fields to use tenets of participatory action research as a framework for conducting research with emerging adults with disabilities.

Shayla Anderson  

Shayla serves as the South Carolina Inclusive Postsecondary Education Consortium (SCIPSEC) Program Coordinator. She received her undergraduate and graduate degrees in special education from Coastal Carolina University, where she worked as a graduate assistant at the Coastal Carolina LIFE inclusive postsecondary education program. After teaching in the K-12 setting, she realized her true passion was in the field of transition. Shayla loves that she now gets to collaborate with professionals in the IPSE field across the state and country! In her spare time, she loves chasing the sun(rise) and dedicating her time and efforts to serving some of her favorite humans through her equine-assisted program, HERD Programs, LLC.

Erica Milliron

Erica is Director of CarolinaLIFE, an inclusive postsecondary education program at USC. Erica graduated from Millersville University in Pennsylvania in 2003 with a dual B.S. in Elementary Education and Special Education and graduated from the University of Kansas in 2013 with a Masters in Special Education with an emphasis in transition. Erica taught special education for 18 years in the public school system in Pennsylvania and served as a transition coordinator for 14 of those years. She spent the last year as a regional Transition Consultant in central PA.

Megan Reynolds, OTD

Megan is excited to join USC as a Postdoctorate Fellow. Her passion for accessibility and community inclusion have led her to pursue roles in supported employment and therapeutic recreation in Charleston, SC, before going back to school for her Doctorate in occupational therapy. Megan graduated with her OTD from the Medical University of South Carolina in Spring of 2023. Her research interests include community integration and transition for adults with disabilities, specifically, approaches that facilitate positive outcomes in accessibility, employment, and quality of life.

Madeline Saunders

Madeline is a doctoral candidate in the Counselor Education and Supervision program at the University of South Carolina. She earned her BS in Educational Psychology from Mississippi State University and MEd in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Auburn University and is entering her 3rd year as a Graduate Research Assistant for CarolinaLIFE. Madeline currently serves as a Team Lead for the College Access and Preparation (CAP) program, developing and supervising peer-mentoring-based curricula for high school students with Individualized Education Plans in the state of South Carolina, conducting program evaluation, and delivering program process and impact reports for CAP’s funding agency, the South Carolina Vocational Rehabilitation Department. 

Lucas M. Perez, NCC 

Lucas is a doctoral candidate in the Counselor Education and Supervision program at the University of South Carolina. He earned a BS in Psychology, a BS in Park, Recreation, and Tourism Studies with a concentration in Therapeutic Recreation, and a MSED in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Old Dominion University. His clinical experience includes LGBT community centers, private practice, and integrated behavioral health clinics working with clients with a wide array of mental health disorders and disabilities. His research interests include impacting factors to an individual's wellness in rural and non-rural communities and improving the well-being of individuals with disabilities.