Our team.

Malisa S. Shuler, PsyD, received her BA in Psychology from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, a MA in Forensic Psychology from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology-DC, and a PsyD in Behavioral Health Leadership from Walden University.

Prior to joining the team at New Hope, Dr. Shuler has almost a decade of experience working with children and families in behavioral and mental health services in the non-profit sector. She has served in roles that include Behavioral Health Counselor, Lead Behavioral Health Counselor, Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facility Supervisor, and Quality Improvement Specialist. By working in these various roles, Dr. Shuler’s passion for ensuring all youth have the space and opportunity to experience a happy, healthy, and safe place to thrive was ignited. Dr. Shuler has dedicated her career to serving at-risk youth and their families and ensuring they have access to quality programs and services to overcome their unique challenges.

Krystal Long is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, Licensed Clinical Addiction Specialist, Certified Clinical Supervisor, and a National Certified Counselor. Krystal is a Charlotte native, however, is not foreign to traveling across the world. She has utilized the time in her career to explore various avenues of Mental Health, Substance Use, and Criminal Justice to pursue her passion in helping individuals achieve independence, security, and recovery. 

Prior to joining New Hope Treatment Center in June 2023, Krystal served roles as a Clinical Program Manager in community-based programming to develop and revise program operations, provide clinical supervision to staff, setting expectations and assuring adherence to policies and confidentiality, as well as supporting individuals with Mental Health and/or Substance Use disorders in residential, school, workplace, and community settings to coordinate and monitor the array of services identified through assessment recommendations. She has also been paramount in shaping and forming recovery programs, inclusive of residential, outpatient, and criminal justice re-entry. By trade, Krystal has been an instrument to providing individual therapy, group therapy, and family therapy for over 10 years. Krystal continues to lead with a person-centered approach, putting the individuals/families we serve first and empowering them to reach their goals. Krystal is devoted to being an effective leader and maintaining a strong, cohesive team. 

Curtis Barnes attended Thiel College in Greenville, Pennsylvania, where he received his BA. He began his career working with youth at Keystone Adolescent Center in Greenville, PA, where he held a counselor position for three years. He later relocated to Uniontown, PA, and took a program lead role at Adelphoi Village in Latrobe, PA. In 2005, he moved to Charlotte and began his work at New Hope Carolinas. Throughout Curtis’ 17+ years at New Hope, he has held multiple positions, consistently moving up in leadership. Devoted to his impact on the facility’s youth, he is a true backbone of the New Hope community.

Curtis has been married for 26 years and has four children. He is an animal lover and a diehard Pittsburgh Steelers fan—every year is Super Bowl or bust. He also loves being outside, be it hiking, camping, or fishing. He’s proud of his 28 years working with kids and families and remains enthusiastic about the futures of each young person he comes in contact with.

Nancy Cody is the Lead Resident Advocate for New Hope Carolinas. Her primary responsibility is making sure residents’ rights are protected and their voices are heard while they are in the facility’s care. Nancy graduated from Winthrop University with her M.Ed. in Counseling and Development and also holds a BA in Psychology.

Nancy began her post-graduate career working for the SC Alcohol and Drug Commission, later becoming the Addiction Specialist for Catawba Mental Health in Rock Hill, SC. In the 2000s, she worked to support homeless and mentally ill adults in Charlotte, NC, before going on to pioneer the Jail Diversion Program at the Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Department. She has worked in almost every corner of the human services space, and with nearly every population. She has two cats and she enjoys movies, music, and yoga in her free time.

Joanna Fielder is a licensed special education teacher with over 25 years of experience working with children with disabilities. A Virginia native, she attended the University of North Carolina Charlotte, where she earned a BS in Psychology and a master’s degree in Education. Joanna spent her early career as an ABA therapist and consultant, working primarily with children on the Autism spectrum. She has worked for New Hope Carolinas for 14 years, serving as the Director of Education for the last 9. Outside of work, Joanna enjoys cooking, reading, art, and traveling.

Heather has worked in the mental and behavioral health field for 18 years, coming to see this work as not only her passion but her life’s calling. Throughout the years, Heather has been privileged to experience many facets of this profession. She has served the community as a Qualified Professional in settings including a sheltered workshop, a working farm, greenhouse, and restaurant, a group home, and a community-based inclusion project for children with severe and profound challenges. She has also counseled former felons, drug addicts, and abuse victims. 

Heather’s career began after she graduated with her BA in Elementary Education, and was asked to cover a Special Education classroom at the last minute. Little did she know, what she viewed as a “setback” at that time would lead her to exactly the right place. Looking back, one of her proudest achievements in this space has been watching her 21-year-old daughter follow in her footsteps. She is currently attending UNCC, seeking her degree in psychology with plans to earn her Master’s in Social Work and become a licensed therapist. When Heather is not at work, she enjoys hiking with her dog, Willow, cooking, singing, reading, and spending time with her girls.

Joey Funderburk is the Performance Improvement and Quality Initiatives Supervisor (PQI) for New Hope Treatment Centers. Joey received both his Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree in Social Work from Winthrop University, as well as his Associates of Science in Health Information Management from Herzin. Joey is a Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) in the State of South Carolina, as well as a Registered Health Information Technician ( RHIT). Joey has been with New Hope Treatment Center since April of 2015, joining the team as a residential counselor before working his way to an administrative assistant role in the Health Information Office. Later, he also served as Admissions Coordinator and Health Information Manager. 

In his spare time, Joey likes to cook, try new restaurants, visit farmers and flower markets, and spend time with his family and friends.

Dalin serves as the Director of Residential Operations at New Hope Carolinas. He received his Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from Brigham Young University, followed by his Master’s in Healthcare Administration from Bellevue University. He has worked in youth residential treatment for over ten years and spent several years as a program director in Utah. His background in both psychology and healthcare administration has helped offer him a unique perspective in the residential field. Through his work, he seeks to understand what others are going through while focusing on leadership and success through teamwork. 

Family is the most important element of Dalin’s personal life. He has been married to his amazing wife Olivia for 11 years, and together they have six beautiful children! They love to visit lakes or the ocean and generally spend time outdoors. Dalin grew up in Idaho and has lived all over the West Coast, but his wife hails from New Hampshire, so they were destined to return to the East Coast. Here they are now, loving it!

Frank is passionate about providing a safe and comfortable environment for the youth and staff at New Hope and has spent the last 10 years doing just that. As a longtime resident of York County, Frank grew up with a “fix it – don’t throw it away” mentality. He has always enjoyed the challenge of figuring out how things work and repairing them. As a young man, he spent 4 years in the Navy as a jet engine mechanic working on F14 Tom Cats. Frank has spent his professional career in a variety of maintenance leadership positions including Lead Foreman of large multi-story buildings. A father and grandfather, he likes to spend his free time with family and friends, playing golf and fishing.

Jarrod Severeide has served as the full-time lead Nurse Practitioner for New Hope Carolinas since 2017. Jarrod received his Master’s from the University of Cincinnati, and prior to his time at New Hope worked in a variety of settings, including the critical care and emergency services at Novant Health. Jarrod has been nominated three times for North Carolina’s “100 Great Nurses” list, and received an award for “excellence” at Novant. He has two children and loves his dogs, camping, and airsoft.

Rebecca Spanberg serves as the Director of Therapy Services for New Hope Carolinas. She attended Louisiana State University for both her undergraduate degree in Psychology and Masters of Social Work (Geaux Tigers!). She began her professional career with the Willie M. program in North Carolina, and found her passion working with adolescents to improve their mental health. 

Rebecca has been with New Hope since 1999, when she came on as a therapist (she has since held various other positions). Rebecca is proud of her work teaching and supervising therapists, staying abreast of the latest developments in providing effective interventions for the youth. Outside of work, she is a true soccer mom and spends most of her free time shuffling between her kids’ soccer games. She also enjoys reading, cooking, and traveling.

Over the last decade, Tashina has held various roles in the mental health space—and has spent the last seven at New Hope Carolinas. Tashina started her career at New Hope as a therapist serving both male and female residents. Her exceptional work led to her promotion to Clinical Director, leading New Hope’s team of therapists. Tashina recently transitioned into another new role: Director of Care Management. 

Tashina obtained her undergraduate degree in Social Work from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, and her graduate degree in Social Work from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical University. Tashina’s motto has always been, “Be the change you wish to see in the world,” a sentiment she applies to both her work and personal life. Outside New Hope, Tashina loves spending time with family, attending church and sporting events, and raising her daughter.

Dolly Williams has worked at New Hope as the Director of Recreation Therapy for 22 years. She holds both her CTRS and LRT. Ms. Williams is a proud graduate of Winston-Salem State University’s Therapeutic Recreation program and holds a Master’s in Counseling from Webster University, and a post-education degree in school counseling from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. In addition, she has spent the last five years helping shape future recreation majors as an adjunct professor at her beloved alma mater (WSSU).

Ms. Williams has always felt a strong commitment to serving others by giving back and staying connected to her community. This is what led her to WSSU, where the motto is “Enter to Learn and Depart to Serve.” While enrolled, she was drawn to the sisterhood and service of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc. and joined the Finer Women in the spring of 1993. She is currently an active and financial member of Charlotte’s dynamic Delta Zeta chapter. To spread her message of “Healing Thru Fun”, Ms. Williams has presented at several national conferences, speaking on the clinical benefits of recreation in helping youth overcome mental health obstacles. She believes in the value of leisure interventions in helping youth heal, meditate, and rehabilitate to their highest level of functioning.