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.

Gabe Conley joined New Hope in February of 2024. He graduated from Ohio Christian University in Circleville, Ohio. There he received a bachelor’s degree in psychology.

Conley started his career at The Children’s Center of Ohio, a residential facility in the southern part of Ohio, where he was a direct care worker before being promoted to group leader for three years. Gabe continued his career working with children as a foster care case manager with ResCare. After a few years of doing this work, Gabe became a Safe at Home supervisor with ResCare where he specialized in family preservation work for four years. Prior to coming on with New Hope, Conley worked with the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals, in the Division of Children Services. There, he oversaw a program within that division called New View. The program assisted Judges and MDT’s in finding options for youth that have been on a judge’s docket for a long period of time, achieve permanency in a timelier manner.

Faith and family are key in Gabe’s life. He and his wife have been married for 14 years and they have three children. Outside of spending time with his family and work, Gabe enjoys spending time outdoors, bike riding, hiking and exercising.

Kimtricia Hudson, or Ms. Kim as known at the facility in Rock Hill, S.C., was named as the building’s third Residential Director in January, 2024, tasked with overseeing the Learning Enriched Autism Program (LEAP). After just four years at New Hope serving in various roles, her tenacity, persistence, attention to detail and dedication to excellence allowed her to advance in her career.

Ms. Kim is considered a force of positivity and creativity. Her compassion and understanding of the residents are unquestionable and well known throughout all at New Hope. Ms. Kim embodies being kind, yet firm. She has an unquenchable thirst for knowledge and is constantly wanting to improve her craft. She is admired and beloved by the staff and the residents at New Hope. She is a powerful example of what people should strive to be.

Joining New Hope in January, 2020, the South Carolina native served as a Team Lead, Clinical Counselor and a Supervisor on the LEAP program. Hudson brought her talents NHTC after years of experience working in customer service roles and as a lead employee trainer for Belk Fulfillment Center, program coordinator and Parks and Recreation Director for the City of Chester.

“As part of our LEAP program expansion, we have added this new layer of leadership just to oversee the growing LEAP community so that this unique population gets the oversight and support it needs to truly become the best residential autism program in the country,” said Chief Operating Officer, Matt Simon, MA, LMFT. “When I first came to New Hope, Kim was one of the first people who stuck out to me due to her passion, energy, intelligence, trauma-informed perspective on the kids and her buy-in to the New Hope culture and mission. I could not be happier for Kim as she takes this step forward in her career. She’s truly earned it.”

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. 

Shannon Bragg joined New Hope in February of 2024. She continues to fulfill a lifelong passion for helping. From the time that she was a Peer Helper in High School, she knew this was her calling in life. She believes that patience, connection, and compassion are key components in positively impacting the lives of children and families.

Bragg began her career at Genesis Youth Crisis Center, Inc. where she took on many roles from direct care to administration in emergency children shelters.  She’s a certified trainer in Therapeutic Crisis Intervention and successfully mentored hundreds of staff and young people over the years. Shannon also spent time as the Executive Director of Alliance for Children, where she worked to collaborate with programs throughout WV providing advocacy for West Virginia’s most vulnerable youth.

Bringing more than 27 years of experience working with at risk youth, Shannon continues her career as the West Virginia State Director for New Hope Treatment Centers. She is thrilled to embark on this new chapter, where she and her team will develop programs to enhance the lives of West Virginia children.

Shannon holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Fairmont State University in Fairmont, WV.  She currently resides in Mount Clare, WV where she spends her leisure time with her family and friends.  She enjoys spending time outdoors hiking, kayaking, and exploring her beautiful state.

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.

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.

Joey Funderburk was named the Director of Performance and Quality Improvement department in May of 2024. He served as the Performance Improvement and Quality Initiatives Supervisor (PQI) for New Hope Treatment Centers prior. 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.