GEAR
UP-Office
Stanford House
447 College Drive
Sylva, NC 28779
828.631.2537
Fax: 586-3129 |
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Del
L. Ruff
-
Director
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Carol
Andrew - Administrative
Assistant
Ms. Andrew has been
the Administrative Assistant
to the GEAR UP Director
since June 2007. She
was a legal secretary
for almost 20 years
before moving to North
Carolina. In addition
to working full-time
for GEAR UP, she is
working on her A.S.
degree in Accounting
and plans to graduate
in May 2010. |
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| Cherokee
Central Schools - 828.553.5026 |
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Susan
Lanier - District Coordinator
Mrs. Lanier is a native of
Jackson County. She graduated
from Western Carolina University
and earned a Masters Degree
in Art Education from Western
Carolina University as well.
For the past eight years,
Mrs. Lanier has worked as
the Gear Up Coordinator for
Southwestern Community College.
In November of 2006, she was
asked to exhibit her paintings
in a one woman showing at
the WNC Visitor’s Center
in Waynesville. Some of her
works can be viewed at the
Harrah’s Casino Hotel.
Mrs. Lanier enjoys painting,
pottery, gardening, tennis,
music, reading, cooking, sewing,
jewelry making, traveling
and snorkeling. |
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Liddell
Shannon - GEAR UP College
Readiness Coach
Originally from Alabama, Ms.
Shannon has made her home
in the mountains of Western
North Carolina for the past
eight years. She earned her
BS in Natural Resources from
the University of the South
in Sewanee, TN. She is currently
working towards her Masters
for Middle School Science
at Western Carolina University.
Her interests include international
travel and outdoor sports
such as backpacking, biking,
running, and disc golf. Ms.
Shannon just returned from
leading a summer Adventure
Treks trip for teenagers in
Alaska. |
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| Jackson
County - 828.586.2177 ext.
276 |
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Robin
Hall
-
District Coordinator
Mrs. Hall is a graduate of
Western Carolina University
with a Bachelors degree in
Business Administration in
Computer Information Systems.
She has a Masters degree from
Western Carolina University
in Two Year Community College
Teaching and Administration
with an interdisciplinary
focus in Technology. Mrs.
Hall has a wide range of experience
in the private and public
school sector in middle school,
high school, community college
and university levels.
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Jennie
Ashlock – GEAR
UP College Readiness
Coach, Jackson
Ms. Ashlock is a graduate
of Texas A&M University.
She has obtained two Masters
degrees, one from the College
of William and Mary and the
other from Bangor Theological
Seminary. Ms. Ashlock has
been with the GEAR UP program
since January 2006. |
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JennieV.
Dowdle -
GEAR UP College
Readiness Coach, Jackson
Ms. Dowdle received her Bachelor
of Arts from The Honors College
at Western Carolina University
in Spanish and Philosophy.
She is currently working on
a Masters of Education in
College Student Personnel
at Western Carolina University.
She enjoys contradancing,
rock climbing, and international
travel.
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Cindy
Thompson
-
GEAR Up College Readiness
Coach, Jackson
 Mrs.
Thompson received a Bachelor
of Arts Degree in Spanish
from Wake Forest University.
Ms. Thompson gained a business
background while working for
Rod’s Auto Parts and
Scott Rodes Buick Pontiac
GMC. In addition she has eight
years of combined work experience
from Smoky Mountan High School
and Southwestern Community
which provided her a mix of
secondary and post-secondary
education knowledge, thereby
making her well-suited for
the GEAR UP position. |
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| Macon
County 828.524.3766 ext. 308 |
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Sherry
Tilson
-
District Coordinator,
Macon
Mrs. Tilson received her Bachelor
of Arts in Psychology in 1971
from New Mexico State University.
She was employed by Sears
for fourteen years until 1987
when she received her Bachelor
of Arts in Elementary Education
at University of North Florida.
Mrs. Tilson has served on
the Macon County Habitat for
Humanity Board of Directors.
She has been employed by SCC
Gear Up in 2001-2002, 2003-2004,
and most recently beginning
in 2006. |
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Charles
Yonce
–
GEAR UP College Readiness
Coach, Macon
Mr. Yonce graduated from East
Carolina University graduate
in Biology. Mr. Yonce entered
into the US Navy to serve
his country. After the Navy
he began his career in Macon
County Public School. Earning
a Masters and Educational
Specialist degree from Western
Carolina University and retired
in 2003. He is a gardener
specializing in Shitake mushrooms. |
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Mary
Bennett – GEAR
UP College Readiness
Coach, Macon
Mrs. Bennett is a graduate
of the University of Maryland,
College Park with a Bachelors
degree in Horticulture. She
also holds a Masters degree
from Virginia Polytechnic
Institute, VA in Horticulture/Horticulture
Therapy. Mrs. Bennett has
been employed by SCC since
1992, taught in Continuing
Education (HRD, GED, ABE,
ESL, Compensatory Education),
Curriculum & Instruction
(Algebra I, Basic Math, Biology,
Botany). She is a traveler,
gardener, and loves ethnic
foods. |
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Camille
Tuttrup – GEAR
UP College Readiness
Coach, Macon
Ms. Tuttrup is a graduate
of Western Carolina University
with Bachelors of Science
in Art Education. She is a
talented artist and had her
works featured in August in
the Balsam Lobby at Southwestern
Community College. She is
a member and exhibiting artist
of the Macon County Artist
Association (Uptown Gallery),
Highland Art League, and Bascom
Gallery, Highlands NC. Ms.
Tuttrup has lived many states
throughout the USA, the United
Arab Emirates, and Thailand.
Her hobbies include painting,
walking, and going to movies. |
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| Swain
County 828.488.5747 |
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Ann
Rickman - District Coordinator,
Swain
Ms. Rickman is a native of
Swain County and a graduate
of Swain High School. She
is a graduate of Western Carolina
University with a Bachelors
in Social Work. She has worked
with Workforce Development
at Western Carolina University
in the Office for Rural Education
and the Southwestern Commission.
Mrs. Rickman has served as
the GEAR UP at SCC Coordinator
for Swain County since the
year 2000. She enjoys hiking
reading, and archaeology.
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Erin
McCully – GEAR
UP College Readiness
Coach, Swain
Mrs. McCully received her
Bachelors of Music Education
and her Masters of Music Education
from Ithaca College. She has
five years of teaching experience,
mostly at the high school
level. Previous experience
includes working on Advisory
Curricula, serving on the
School for the Fine Arts committee,
and attending workshops and
conferences for school improvement,
literacy, and administration.
She is very interested in
lifelong learning, interdisciplinary
teaching, and literacy across
the curriculum. She is excited
to be a part of the GEAR UP
program in Swain County. |
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Angie
Noland – GEAR UP College
Readiness Coach, Swain
Mrs. Noland is a native
of Jackson County and
graduated from Sylva
Webster High School.
She is a graduate of
Western Carolina University
(Magna Cum Laude) with
a degree in Criminal
Justice. She began her
career with Jackson
County Department of
Social Services in Child
Protective Services
and later worked in
Jackson County Public
Schools in an alternative
learning program. She
is an athlete, gardener,
cattle-raiser, and a
hunter. |
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Julia
Richards
–
part-time GEAR UP College
Readiness Coach, Swain
Mrs. Richards was born
and raised in Ottawa,
Canada. She is a graduate
of Springfield College
in Massachusetts with
a Bachelor degree in
Outdoor Recreation Management.
Mrs. Richards has worked
in outdoor recreation
at Nantahala Outdoor
Center and was a professional
triathlete for several
years prior to working
at GEAR UP. Mrs. Richards
is a dedicated fitness
buff. |
