Kristian Page-DeWitt’s (they/them/their) journey to the role of Student and Administrative Support Specialist in the Department of Applied Physical Sciences (APS) at UNC-Chapel Hill has been as eclectic as the students Kristian now supports. It has been shaped by a passion for empowering others, a commitment to accessibility and a deep love for fostering growth—whether in the great outdoors, at summer camps or in the classroom.

“I started at APS in late September, and everyone’s just been really welcoming,” said Kristian. “The department itself is very tight-knit in a really cool way, so it’s been really easy to settle in.”

Kristian’s work centers on ensuring students—graduate and undergraduate—are on track to meet their milestones and graduate successfully. Behind the scenes, Kristian prepares courses, supports the undergraduate program as it grows and ensures the administrative pieces fall into place seamlessly.

“I love being close to the ‘why’ of what I’m doing every day,” said Kristian.

Kristian’s professional roots are in Georgia, where they grew up and studied outdoor education and psychology at Georgia College & State University. It was there that Kristian’s interest in working with individuals on the autism spectrum began to take shape. As part of the degree, Kristian sought an internship that aligned with the dual majors. That search led Kristian to Camp Royall, the nation’s oldest and largest camp for individuals on the autism spectrum, located in Moncure, N.C.

“Camp Royall satisfied both internship requirements,” said Kristian. “It’s a camp for autistic individuals, and I was interested in the autism field. I started as a counselor and ended up being the assistant director for six years.”

Kristian’s tenure at Camp Royall was transformative, especially for the hundreds of campers and staff who Kristian mentored. Kristian hired and supervised college students, many from UNC, and ran accessible programs for individuals with varying levels of support needs.

“Camp Royall is one of the few places where individuals with higher support needs can experience outdoor adventures just like their neurotypical peers,” said Kristian. “It’s a special place where people build skills, foster social practices and make lifelong friends.”

Kristian’s impact at Camp Royall extended beyond the campers. As assistant director of Autism Society of North Carolina, which runs the camp, Kristian tripled the adult retreat client base over three years, spearheaded programmatic changes and developed comprehensive training modules to ensure staff and campers alike had meaningful experiences. After nearly a decade in the autism field, Kristian felt it was time for a new challenge. Kristian’s love of working with college students, cultivated during the years at Camp Royall, inspired Kristian to transition to a university setting.

“I hired a lot of college students at the camp and loved supporting them through their first employment experiences,” said Kristian. “Watching them grow and go on to do bigger things was one of my favorite parts of the job.”

This passion led Kristian to roles like executive assistant at the North Carolina Education Corps, where they honed their administrative skills, and eventually to APS where Kristian combines their operational expertise with their desire to support students directly. Beyond work at UNC, Kristian is the founder of Page-DeWitt Coaching, providing personalized coaching for individuals with ADHD and other forms of neurodiversity. Kristian’s strengths-based approach empowers clients to embrace their unique abilities and thrive in personal and professional settings.

“I’m passionate about helping people see neurodiversity as a strength,” said Kristian. “It’s about creating tools and strategies that work for them, not against them.”

Kristian also serves as a coach for Spectrum Transition Coaching LLC, guiding autistic young adults as they navigate college, careers and life. Colleagues describe Kristian as empathetic, dependable and deeply committed to making every team better. Their experience in autism education and advocacy has given Kristian a unique ability to understand and design for accessibility, a skill Kristian brings to every role undertaken.

“Accessibility and inclusion have always been central to my work,” said Kristian. “Whether it’s creating outdoor opportunities for campers or supporting students at UNC, I want to ensure everyone has a chance to succeed.”