Meet the Life Design Center Staff

Portrait of Kristen McMullenKristen McMullen
Executive Director

Executive Director and certified Designing Your Life Coach from Stanford Univ., Kristen McMullen brings nearly 20 years of higher education experience advancing student wellbing, career readiness and alumni engagement at multiple institutions including Penn, Penn State and Duke. Kristen received her bachelor's degree from Penn State and a Master's of Applied Positive Psychology and Coaching Psychology from the University of East London.

Portrait of Rochelle JohnsonRochelle Johnson
Director | SPECTRA Staff

Rochelle leads the Life Design Center, where she oversees daily operations and supports students in creating meaningful college experiences and future pathways. A proud Charleston native, she holds a B.S. from South Carolina State University and a Graduate Certificate in Higher Education Leadership from The Citadel. With extensive experience in student success and engagement, Rochelle is passionate about guiding students as they explore their goals and design their futures.

Portrait of Rachel WilliamsRachel Williams
Associate Director | SPECTRA Program Director

Rachel earned her B.A. in Psychology from the College of Charleston and has been connected to SPECTRA since 2019—first as a student, and now as staff supporting students on their college journeys. She loves engaging with students through interactive activities or random chats. She also enjoys learning new crafts and indulging in a croffle and boba from Macarro!

Portrait of Tyrek FosterTyrek Foster
Life Design Coordinator | SPECTRA Light

Born and raised in Gaffney, SC, Tyrek has always been passionate about helping others learn and grow. He earned a degree in Elementary Education from the College of Charleston and now works with students on the Design Your Life team, helping them plan their college experience and shape their post-graduation futures one choice at a time.

Portrait of Tracy GarnarTracy Garner
Life Design Coordinator

Tracy mainly works with graduate students, helping them design lives and environments that honor who they are, where they've been, and where they want to go. She's navigated her own winding path—majoring in Studio Art (Art History concentration) at Baldwin Wallace University, working as a paralegal, earning a Master's in Applied Sociology at Clemson University, and completing a PhD in Sociology at the University of Arizona along the way. Ask her about career transitions!

Fun fact: She was a competitive gymnast as a child and is still a huge fan!

Portrait of Heewon SonHeewon Son
Life Design Coordinator | SPECTRA Staff

Once set on becoming a lawyer, Heewon studied P.P.E. (Political Science, Philosophy, and Economics) at Taylor University, went to law school, and then made the bold choice to walk away—a big Life Design moment! She now channels her creativity into social media, graphic design, and marketing, inspiring students to embrace challenges, adopt a growth mindset, and design lives in which they can thrive. Her background in K-12 after-school programming shapes her approach to student engagement and development.