Meet the Staff
Christina Carrubba-Whetstine
Director, Academic Support and Retention
Dr. Christina Carrubba-Whetstine is the Director of the Rinella Learning Center, Miami University’s primary academic support unit. Christina joined Miami University in 2000 and has provided academic support and various levels of leadership to the Rinella Learning Center since 2002. She earned her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in history from the University of Indianapolis in 1998 and a Doctorate of Philosophy in Educational Leadership in 2015. Dr. Carrubba-Whetstine is committed to providing services to students so that they may transform their learning processes, develop the capacity to reflect on their educational experience, integrate new perspectives into their worldview, and develop an internal voice that will guide them in their life-long learning journey. Christina also teaches a graduate seminar as adjunct assistant professor in the Student Affairs in Higher Education program on Critical Thinking in Writing.
Email: whetstc@MiamiOH.edu
Gary Ritz
Associate Director
Gary Ritz oversees the Rinella Learning Center’s Collaborative Learning Initiatives (CLI), which includes Tutoring and Supplemental Instruction (SI) services and the Undergraduate Associates (UA) Program. Gary also coordinates many of the assessment processes of Rinella; supervises summer orientation programs and does academic advising for SEP students; teaches EDT 110, Rinella’s study strategies course; and provides academic counseling to students. Gary earned his degrees from Ball State University with his Bachelor’s Degree in Secondary Mathematics Education and Master’s Degree in Student Affairs Administration in Higher Education. Gary has earned the Level IV (Lifetime) NCLCA (National College Learning Center Association) Learning Center Leadership Certification and currently sits on the Learning Assistance Review (TLAR) Editorial Board. Before joining Rinella in 2015, Gary was the Director of Ball State University’s Learning Center. In his career, Gary also taught high school and college mathematics and coached various sports.
Email: ritzga@MiamiOH.edu
Golden Fanning
Assistant Director
Dr. Golden Fanning is the Assistant Director of the Rinella Learning Center. She joined the RLC staff in 2013 as a Learning Specialist. Golden earned her Bachelor’s degree from Miami University in 2007 with a major in Psychology and minor in Family Studies. She went on to earn her Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling in 2009 and Doctorate of Philosophy in Counselor Education and Supervision in 2016, both from Ohio University. Golden oversees the hiring and supervision of the Rinella Learning Center’s team of graduate student staff members and coordinates the Academic Coaching program. Her responsibilities also include providing academic counseling assistance to students and teaching EDT 110.
Email: fanningg@MiamiOH.edu
Kevin Carr
Learning Specialist Coordinator
Kevin Carr is a Learning Specialist Coordinator in the Rinella Learning Center. He coordinates the Supplemental Instruction (SI) Program at Miami, as well as oversees the RLC’s social media presence. He teaches EDT 110 - Learning Strategies for College Success, as well as provides academic counseling that focuses on learning, time management, and organizational skills. Kevin earned a Bachelor’s Degree and Master of Education from Earlham College in 2005 and 2013 respectively. Prior to joining Rinella in the winter of 2020, Kevin worked as a consultant with high school and college athletic departments and was a director for a nonprofit focused on health, education, and strengthening community. He continues to give back to his community by volunteering with local organizations.
Email: carrk@MiamiOH.edu
Ghada Mahdi
Learning Specialist Coordinator
Dr. Ghada Mahdi is a Learning Specialist/Coordinator at the Rinella Learning Center. Ghada coordinates and teaches EDT 110--Learning Strategies for College Success. Ghada also provides academic counseling/coaching that focus on strategies in acquiring and developing learning, time management and organization skills; additionally, she serves on the Miami University Academic Support and Advising Association (MUASAA), assists with the Miami Bound Program, and provides other services that deal with student academic interventions. Ghada earned her Ed. D degree in Educational Administration/Adult and Higher Education Concertation from the University of South Dakota and her Master’s degree in English Language and Linguistics from the University of Baghdad. Ghada brings 20+ years of experience in higher education. Before joining Miami University’s Academic Support Center, The Rinella Learning Center, in spring 2021, she taught for eight years at Ferris State University. Ghada enjoys traveling, cooking different kinds of recipes, and meeting people from various walks of life.
Email: mahdig@MiamiOH.edu
Jacqlyn Schott
Learning Specialist Coordinator
Jacqlyn Schott is a Learning Specialist/Coordinator in the Rinella Learning Center. After earning her Master's degree in Student Affairs in Higher Education from Miami University, Jacqlyn went from working as a graduate assistant for two years in the RLC to joining the staff full-time in 2021. She earned her Bachelor's degrees in English (Literature Studies & Creative Writing) and Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies in 2013 from Otterbein University. Jacqlyn's undergraduate studies and passion for theatre have given her a unique lens to bring in the creative arts to her responsibilities of advocating for equity, diversity, and inclusion; teaching transitional courses and undergraduate research; and providing academic counseling for students. She also brings this lens and love of creating connections to her coordination of both the Miami Access Fellows Program and the Scholastic Enhancement Program.
Email: schottj@MiamiOH.edu
Jacinta Spinola
Learning Specialist Coordinator
Jacinta started at Miami as a student in 2009 and graduated with her Bachelor of Science in Education in 2013. She went on to teach middle school and high school English Language Arts both domestically and internationally. After joining the Army Reserves in 2018, she obtained her Master of Science in Student Affairs in Higher Education with a concentration in Diversity, Equity, and Culture. Jacinta joined the Rinella team in July of 2022. She enjoys reading and art in her free time.
Email: spinolja@MiamiOH.edu
Natalie Study
Administrative Assistant
Natalie has been with the Rinella Learning Center since December 2016. She started out as the Testing Center Coordinator and is now the Administrative Assistant for the office. Natalie grew up in and around Oxford, Ohio. She attended the Talawanda school district and graduated from Miami University in May 2016 with a Bachelor’s degree in Integrative Studies, including concentrations in Organizational Leadership and Administration. She has also received her Associate in Arts with concentrations in Communications and Anthropology.
Email: mallalnl@MiamiOH.edu
Leslie Wood
Testing Center Coordinator
Leslie Wood graduated from Miami University in 2016 with a Bachelor of Arts in Linguistics. She returned to Miami as the Testing Center Coordinator for the Rinella Learning Center in September 2021. Leslie loves traveling, hiking, and making amigurumi crochet. She has a feline furbaby, Lily.
Email: brownla5@MiamiOH.edu