Staff & Site Directors

Meet the iCharleston Staff

Bruce Fleming

iCharleston is led by Dr. Bruce Fleming, Director, First Year International and Experiential Programs. He received his Doctorate in Education from Washington State University in 2001, and began at the College of Charleston in 2002.

His research focus is on the first year student experience and the effects of campus ecology on academic and social transitions. At the College, he has developed pre-matriculation programs for first year students, implemented living/learning communities in various residence halls, created and taught spring travel abroad programs (with accompanying academic classwork) and designed international internship programs in England, Spain and Scotland. He developed iCharleston with the support of the College's Office of Admissions.

Carly Pruitt

iCharleston is supported by Carly Pruitt, Associate Director of Orientation and New Student Programs. Carly earned her Masters in Education from the University of South Carolina, and began at the College of Charleston in 2018.

As Associate Director, Carly assists with organization and implementation of orientation sessions for all incoming students, supports professional training for the iCharleston Site Director team, monitors student engagement at iCharleston locations, and assists with administrative needs of the program.

College of Charleston staff will accompany iCharleston students in the fall to their locations where they will be met by their Site Director.

2024 Site Directors

We select our site directors based on their expertise in personal study abroad experiences through the College of Charleston, their knowledge of the College and the resources available to first-year students, and their prior experience working with first-year students.

Eliza Dinh - London
Meet Eliza
Hometown: Rock Hill, S.C.
Graduated: Spring 2023
Major/Minor: English concentrating in Creative Writing

Things I enjoy doing…
- Dancing to live music
- Reading & writing poetry
- Going to dinner with my friends
Why did I want to be a Site Director?
During my College of Charleston experience, I studied abroad a couple of times and I realized the positive impact I gained from being outside my comfort zone and immersed in different cultures. As a Site Director, I look forward to working with students navigating the transition from high school to college.
Things I did in college to prepare myself for the Site Director position:
- Charleston 40 tour guide.
- Orientation Intern for three years.
- Students 4 Support member.
- Bonner Leader Program volunteering over 300 hours.
- Site leader for the Alternative Break Program focusing on global sustainability.
Specific study abroad experiences I have had:
Zakynthos, Greece (Alternative Break – 2022 & 2023)
What I am most excited about regarding iCharleston 2023:
I am most excited to be part of such a significant transition period in my student’s lives. In a way, it almost feels like I have the opportunity to tell my younger self all the things I wish I knew or needed to hear. It’s incredible how much growth and change can happen in a short period of time, and I’m excited to be along for it all!
Favorite memory as a College of Charleston student:
I was apart of the SPECTRA program as an incoming student, and we spent many of our nights playing Manhunt in the Cistern. Still to this day, when my friends and I are bored, we meet on-campus to play Manhunt. I have too many favorite memories, but this one stands out because of the pure joy and laughs we shared; no phone or television in sight, just good people and our beautiful campus.
Ava Gonglewski - Dublin

Meet Ava
Hometown: Lutherville, Maryland
Graduated: 2023
Major/Minor: Communications/Sociology
Things I enjoy doing…
I love walking my dog (Lia) around Charleston and Hampton Park, going to the beach, going out to eat with my friends, and traveling!
Why did I want to be a Site Director?
I wanted to be a Site Director as soon as I got to campus as a freshman after returning from London. I felt I learned and grew so much while abroad and wanted to go back!
Things I did in college to prepare myself for the Site Director position:
I was a student in the 2019 iCharleston London program, was a Peer Academic Coach (PAC), and graduated from the College of Charleston May 2023.
Specific study abroad experiences I have had:
iCharleston London cohort in 2019.
What I am most excited about regarding iCharleston 2023:
I am most excited to explore Ireland with iCharleston 2023 and be there to see all the growth within the cohort – both abroad and when we return to the College of Charleston campus.
Favorite memory as a College of Charleston student:
I loved studying abroad and all four years of College of Charleston so much. Graduation is a fond memory as I was able to reflect on my time at the College with my friends and family.
Lizzie Kuesel - London
Meet Lizzie
Hometown: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Year graduated: Spring 2024
Major/Minor: Major in Communications Minor in Marketing
Things I enjoy doing…
- Traveling
- Being outside:) (walks, hikes, going to the beach, anything! )
- Going to concerts
- Playing guitar
- Quality time with friends and family
Why did I want to be a Site Director?
- I was fortunate to study abroad in the Spring semester of my junior year and absolutely fell in love with travel and the idea of exploring the world. I also wanted to be a Site Director because I enjoy working with students and helping them accomplish their goals. I cannot wait to step into this leadership role and guide these students as they explore and dive into the adventure of a lifetime!
Things I did in college to prepare myself for the Site Director position:
- Studied abroad Spring semester of Junior year
- Peer Academic Coach (PAC) School year of 2023
- Orientation Intern Summer of 2023
Specific study abroad experiences I have had:
- Getting to see the northern lights in Iceland.
- Camping in the Sahara Dessert.
- Getting to live in Valencia, Spain for 5 months
What I am most excited about regarding iCharleston 2024:
- I am most excited to explore London along with the students of iCharleston 2024! I am excited to see how these students will grow and flourish throughtout our time together.
Favorite memory as a College of Charleston student:
- My favorite memory has got to be graduation weekend. It was a beautiful weekend filled with family, friends and celebration. The perfect wrap up to the past 4 years at this incredible school.
Madeline Ritger - Rome

Meet Madeline
Hometown: Clover, S.C.

Year graduated: 2024

Major/Minor: B.A. English Writing, Rhetoric, & Publication. Minors in Creative Writing, Literature & Film

Things I enjoy doing…
Reading and long walks
Why did I want to be a Site Director?
My time studying abroad taught me a lot about myself, my values, and my own capabilities. I wanted to be a site director to help future CofC students develop the same confidence in a fun environment. And, most obviously, I love travel!
Things I did in college to prepare myself for the Site Director position:
I was a Peer Facilitator my senior year of college and served as facilitator for the FYE trip to Italy where we travelled to Sienna, Spoleto, and Orvieto.
Specific study abroad experiences I have had:
I studied abroad in Spoleto, Italy my junior of college during the Maymester.
What I am most excited about regarding iCharleston 2024:
I am most excited to get to know the students and drink delicious cappuccinos!
Favorite memory as a College of Charleston student:
As a student, my most favorite memories are loading up on cinnamon toast crunch in plastic cups from the dining hall and heading to the library with my friends for late night study sessions that almost always resulted in late night gabbing sessions. I feel my best friendships developed between the bookcases!
Erin Thomason - Rome
Meet Erin
Hometown: Greenwood, S.C.
Year graduated: Spring 2023
Major/Minor: Double major in History and Religious Studies with a minor in Classics.

Things I enjoy doing…
- Crafting and creating art
- Thrifting and antiquing
- Traveling
- Gardening
Why did I want to be a Site Director?
I wanted to become a Site Director because I love working with students and traveling! I have always loved traveling and exploring new cultures, and through my position as a Peer Facilitator, I discovered how much I enjoyed working closely with students—being a Site Director is an amazing combination of both.
Things I did in college to prepare myself for the Site Director position:
- Studied abroad my freshman year in Lugano, Switzerland, through the H.S.S Fellows program in the Spring of 2020.
- Studied abroad in London, England, in 2022
- Worked as a Peer Facilitator from 2021 – 2023.
- Served as a Peer Facilitator Team Leader 2022 – 2023.
- Specific study abroad experiences I have had:
  - HSS Fellows Study Abroad at Franklin University Switzerland in Lugano, Switzerland.
  - British Studies Program at University of Westminster in London, England.
What I am most excited about regarding iCharleston 2023:
Besides getting to know the student cohort, I am most excited to travel and get better at Italian! I am beyond excited to watch the many ways the students grow from and immerse themselves in this experience!
Favorite memory as a College of Charleston student:
Many of my favorite memories as a College of Charleston student come from my experiences studying abroad!
One of my favorite memories is from a weekend trip to Denmark I took while on my London study abroad – I went to Aarhus (the second largest city in Denmark) and had the best cheesy bread I’ve ever had in my life. I explored the Old Town area of the city and explored a cathedral that had been there since the 13th century!

Site Director Duties & Responsibilities

iCharleston site directors are selected based on their previous study abroad experiences through the College of Charleston, knowledge of the College and the resources available to first-year-students, and prior experience working with first-year students.

Site Director Responsibilities
Your Site Director is available to help you navigate your iCharleston experience:
- working with the partner institution to facilitate your transition from high school to college and a new country.
- encouraging and advising participants so that they complete the requirements of the iCharleston program and are officially admitted to the College.
- scheduling one-on-one and group meetings with students to help with the transition process and suggest additional resources for specific concerns/issues (eg., writing lab, online academic resources, etc.).
- getting updates from iCharleston professors on the academic progress of participants and conducting a mid-term assessment of each participant’s academic standing.
- providing opportunities for iCharleston participants to meet students from outside their group.
- keeping participants informed about the College of Charleston, iCharleston academic partners, and study-abroad locations.
- acting as a sounding board for participants and suggests options whenever possible.
- enrolling in a required class with iCharleston participants. Site directors model classroom behavior and observe the academic performance of participants in their group.
- laying out the guidelines and requirements of the iCharleston program and being available to help participants successfully complete those requirements.
- organizing events that help participants develop a better understanding of the traditions, customs and norms of the country, city and community in which they live.
- planning scheduled visits for College of Charleston faculty and administrators who help pave the way for a smooth transition to the College.
- acting as an emergency contact for iCharleston participants.
- helping students use resources offered by iCharleston partner institutions and the College of Charleston.
- mentoring and guiding participants so that they develop the proper balance between academic, campus and personal life.
Roles Outside the Scope of the Site Director
Your Site Director is not responsible for any of the following tasks or requests:
- performing maintenance or security functions in the residence halls of iCharleston partner institutions.
- living on the same floor as iCharleston participants or act as a residential advisor. (iCharleston partner institutions have professional staff available and on call.)
- helping with homework assignments or projects.
- making administrative decisions such as grades, living situations, admission to the College, etc. (These are handled by the iCharleston administrative team and partner programs.)
- cooking or shopping for food for iCharleston participants who are in locations that don’t offer a meal plan.