Carrie Zelna

Bio

Dr. Carrie Zelna earned her bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and a master’s degree in Counseling and Human Development from Radford University and a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis from NC State University.  During her 29-year career in higher education, she has worked in University Housing, Student Conduct, and Assessment. She co-founded the national Student Affairs Assessment Leader (SAAL) organization and co-led the NASPA Assessment Knowledge Community for two years.  She has presented extensively on academic and student affairs assessment. She has also published articles and authored a book on assessing student affairs. In her role as Director of Assessment in DASA from 2011 to 2019, she was responsible for students affairs assessment, the assessment of 110 undergraduate academic programs, SACS QEP assessment and the assessment of general education.In 2014 she added the role of associate vice chancellor for academic success at NC State.

Dr. Zelna is currently the Senior Associate Vice Chancellor  in DASA and a member of the graduate faculty at NC State University. She often teaches in the Higher Education program on Assessment, Program Evaluation, and Strategic Planning as well as participates in student doctoral committees. Dr. Zelna works with 12 pathways and collegiate success programs in DASA as well as DASA Assessment. In addition to her current portfolio, she has been responsible for the Disability Resource Office and the Academic Success Center. The pathways programs include Educational Talent Search, Upward Bound, Juntos, and the College Advising Corps.  These programs provide thousands of middle and high school students opportunities for supplemental education and guidance to better prepare them for the process of applying for and transitioning to college. The collegiate success program areas offer assistance in building the foundation needed to be successful in the first year and beyond. Through first-year transition support from the New Student Orientation and Summer Start programs, and ongoing first-year and second-year support from New Student Programs, Student Support Services, 1887 Scholars, and Student Support Services-STEM, students are afforded access and opportunities to thrive academically as well as personally as they pursue their degree.