Tyris Gillis, assistant director for Identity, Equity and Engagement, oversees the Student Advising for Freshmen Excellence (SAFE) program.
A peer mentoring program, SAFE was created to support the transition of first-year students to college through personal development programming to foster academic achievement, positive self-efficacy and increase personal growth. It is open to all first-year students, although it has a unique focus on underrepresented student populations (students of color, first-generation students and low socioeconomic status).
Originally from Soperton, Georgia, Gillis completed a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Mass Media from Valdosta State University and a Master of Education in Higher Education Administration from North Carolina State University. He joined UNC Charlotte in 2018.
While earning a master’s degree, Gillis worked as a graduate residence director within University Housing at N.C. State. During this time, he developed the Black Male Initiative within the Avent Ferry Residence Halls to support students as they transitioned into higher education.
“I realized I wanted to support underrepresented populations,” Gillis explained. “My goal is to help students work toward meeting their definition of success.”
Upon graduation, Gillis worked as a community director in Carolina Housing at UNC Chapel Hill. During those four years, he worked with the Carolina Mxle Scholars program, an overarching and all-inclusive university initiative for undergraduate men. Gillis coordinated and organized monthly gatherings and served on various committees focused on developing and promoting multicultural competencies across the campus.
In his current role at UNC Charlotte, Gillis supervises a graduate student, four student coordinators and 34 student mentors as they assist about 100 first-year students to transition into the University through the SAFE program.
“My focus is to help students navigate through barriers in order to achieve their dreams,” Gillis said. “SAFE is a bridging program that will help students become successful in the new semester by providing support and identifying resources to minimize academic and social challenges.”