Thrasher, Keith

Mr. Thrasher serves Carolina University in a multifaceted academic and instructional capacity, combining extensive professional experience in criminal justice with a strong background in higher education administration and student support. He currently serves as Academic Administrative Assistant to the Provost, Academic Advisor, Faculty Athletic Representative, and Adjunct Instructor in the School of Social & Behavioral Sciences within the Criminal Justice program.

In his administrative role, Mr. Thrasher works closely with academic leadership to support faculty and institutional operations. He maintains the university’s faculty credentialing system and serves as a primary liaison for faculty communication and academic initiatives, all while upholding strict confidentiality and FERPA compliance.

As an Academic Advisor, Mr. Thrasher provides individualized guidance to graduate students, assisting with degree planning, course selection, and academic policy navigation. In his role as Faculty Athletic Representative, he serves as a liaison between Academics and Athletics, advocating for student-athlete success and ensuring academic eligibility, balance, and integrity.

Mr. Thrasher also teaches as an adjunct instructor in the Criminal Justice program, where he brings a practitioner’s perspective into the classroom. His instruction is informed by more than 23 years of service with the Illinois Department of Corrections in a maximum-security institution, as well as his participation on Carolina University’s Homicide Cold Case Review Team. These experiences allow him to engage students with real-world insights into corrections, institutional operations, crisis intervention, and ethical decision-making.

A native of Illinois, Mr. Thrasher and Tina, his wife of 20 years, who also worked in the field of criminal justice, relocated to North Carolina for him to complete both his undergraduate and graduate studies at Carolina University. He served in the U.S. Army during the 1990s as a flight engineer aboard a CH-47 Chinook helicopter. Outside of his academic and professional roles, he serves as a worship leader at his church and enjoys building custom guitars.

As an Alum, he is committed to fostering structured, Christ-centered supportive learning environments that prepare students for professional excellence and meaningful service.