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 Darris Means - Elon Academy Associate Director
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 John Pickett - Elon Academy Assistant Director of Scholar SupportAlamance 216 2108 Campus Box Elon, NC 27244 O: (336) 278-6110
C: (336) 279-0980
John Pickett hails from the farming community of Silk Hope, NC. He graduated in 2003 from Elon University with a bachelor's degree in Elementary Education and a bachelor's degree in Special Education (K-12). John joined the Elon Academy in 2011. His primary responsibility within the program is to provide comprehensive and cohesive support for scholars and their families during the academic year and during the summer residential program. His passion is for working with students in an effort to help them meet their personal goals and realize their full potential as human beings. From 2003 until joining the Elon Academy staff, John worked in Alamance and Orange county public schools as both a teacher and co-director of an award-winning after-school tutoring program. In 2007 he was one of Alamance County's top finalists for county teacher of the year. |
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Katie LaPlante is a graduate of Elon University, with a degree in Psychology. She earned a master’s degree in Clinical Psychology from Loyola University in Maryland. Additionally, she is a Licensed Psychologist in the state of North Carolina at the Licensed Psychological Associate (LPA) level. Upon completion of her master’s degree, Katie has worked primarily in community mental health settings with youth and families. As a first-generation college student herself, Katie is excited to be back at her alma mater working in the Elon Academy program. |
Catherine Parsons is a graduate of Elon University, with a degree in Psychology. Though she grew up in Kansas and Asia, she moved to North Carolina her ninth grade year and graduated from Western Alamance High School. In her free time she works with the Alamance County Youth Advisory Council to promote a healthy lifestyle, reads, spends time with family and friends, and plays "keep the toy away from the human" with her mischievous dog. |
 Buffie Longmire-Avital - Team Project Leader for Navigating College Relationships and Assistant Professor of Psychology at Elon University
Long 208H 2337 Campus Box
Dr. Longmire-Avital received her doctorate in Psychological Development from the Steinhardt School of Culture, Education and Human Development at New York University. She is a blend of developmental psychology, community psychology and public health. Dr. Longmire-Avital’s research focuses on how the developing experiences of racial identity, sexuality, and social class influence decisions about the concurrent patterns of drug (ab) use and sexual risk-taking among diverse American adolescents and emerging adults. Dr. Longmire-Avital was a dual postdoctoral fellow in the Behavioral Science Training in Drug Abuse Research program at the National Development and Research Institutes (Funded by the National Institutes for Health) and at the Center for HIV Educational Studies and Trainings (CHEST) prior to joining the Elon faculty as an assistant professor in the psychology department. |
.jpg) Mindy Stinner - Team Project Lead for Lions, Tigers, and Activists, Oh My!: Conservation Issues and Captive Management of Wild Carnivores and Director of the Conservators' Center
Mebane, NC
Mindy Stinner is the Executive Director of the Conservators’ Center, which she co-founded with partner Douglas Evans in 1999. Mindy graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill with a BA in English Education, then taught high school in Raleigh. At the same time, she began pursuing another passion, working with wild animals at several facilities, including as a keeper and a manager. Several years later, Mindy decided to create a unique facility to fill a critical niche in wildlife education, heavily influenced by her educational experiences. Mindy now has more than 15 years’ experience working with wild carnivores, which is the Conservators’ Center’s primary focus. She has served on the board of the Feline Conservation Federation (FCF), an international organization dedicated to supporting responsible captive feline husbandry and related conservation efforts worldwide. Mindy is a certified instructor for the FCF’s Wild Feline Husbandry Course, which she helped develop, and currently serves on the FCF’s conservation committee. She also is a licensed NC Wildlife Rehabilitator. In addition to its local education programming, the Conservators’ Center supports small scale conservation projects in South America and South East Asia through providing education and support for wildlife professionals. |
 Stu Johnston - Team Project Lead for Engineering and Teacher for Math and Physics at Guilford County Schools
Penn-Griffin School for the Arts
High Point, NC 27260 Stu currently teaches high school math and physics at Penn-Griffin School for the Arts (Guilford County Schools) in High Point, NC. He serves as math department chair and sponsors Key Club and Sports Club at PGSA. After earning a Bachelor of Science in Physics from Rhodes College (Memphis, TN), Stu began his career in education in the Baltimore City Public Schools as a Teach For America corps member, where he served for six years as a middle school science teacher (Booker T. Washington Middle School), high school math and physics teacher (New Era Academy), and high school assistant principal (New Era Academy). While in Baltimore, Stu earned a Master of Arts in Teaching Secondary Science from Johns Hopkins University and a post-graduate certificate in Administration and Supervision of Schools, also from Johns Hopkins. He and his wife, Carrie, moved to Greensboro, NC in 2009. |
 Terry Tomasek - Team Project Leader for Herpetology in the Piedmont at ElonAcademy and Assistant Professor of Education at Elon University Mooney Building 307B 2105 Campus Box Elon, North Carolina 27244
Dr. Tomasek received a Master of Science degree in Biology from Marshall University and her PhD in Science Education from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She teaches math and science methods in Elon's Teacher Education department. Dr. Tomasek also works with High School students across the Piedmont of North Carolina on several reptile and amphibian projects. Her current herpetology-related research interests are aquatic turtle population studies and how attitude toward snakes is associated with interpretations of snake-related encounters. She is an active member of the NC Herpetological Society and the NC Partners for Amphibian and Reptile Conservation (NCPARC). |
.jpg) Barbara Tyroler - Team Project Lead for Photography: The Creative Documentary Portrait and founder of Animage Photography and Videography
(Office) 919.240.5819 (Mobile) 919-360-8791 Barbara earned an MFA in digital art from The University of Maryland-Baltimore County and an M.Ed. from the University of Massachusetts, She taught courses in lens-based critical theory, wet darkroom, and digital print-making at the University of Maryland in College Park. Barbara currently teaches Advanced Seminar studies and The Creative Documentary Portrait at Duke University's Center for Documentary Studies. As founder and director of the University of Maryland Photographic Arts Outreach Program, Barbara has received over 25 visual arts and community education grants to provide multicultural, arts-in-education, community projects integrating fine art and documentary photography. She produces site-specific portraiture for corporations, universities, and health-oriented non-profits as well as abstracted figurative water portraiture for individuals and families. Her photography is shown in numerous public and private collections in the Washington, DC metropolitan area. She is represented in Chapel Hill, NC by FRANK gallery. Samples of her work may be viewed at www.btyroler.com. |
Alyssa Brown - Senior College Access Team Mentor; Elementary Education Major at Elon University (Class of 2013)
Apex, NC 
Alyssa Brown is a junior at Elon University pursuing a degree in Elementary Education. She is a North Carolina Teaching Fellow and has served as the Class Chair for the Elon Teaching Fellows
Class of 2013 for the last three years. Alyssa is the Co-Curriculum Coordinator for Parents' Night Out, a volunteer babysitting organization at Elon, and also serves as the School of Education representative on the Leadership Committee for The Elon Network, as well as the Elon representative for the North Carolina Teaching Fellows Regional and Intercollegiate Councils. She spent spring semester of her sophomore year studying abroad in London, England and had the opportunity to travel to absolutely amazing sites around Europe. Alyssa enjoys singing and theatre, eating ice cream, watching comedy movies and meeting new people. |
Kelly Coble - College Access Team Mentor & Summer Mentor; High School Math and Middle Grades Education Major at Elon University (Class of 2012)
Graham, NC  Kelly is a native of Alamance County and a former graduate of Southern Alamance High School. She is a North Carolina Teaching Fellow and plans to teach high school math upon graduation at Elon. Kelly is actively involved in the community through tutoring experiences and work at the American Red Cross. She has had the opportunity to study abroad in Costa Rica spring semester of 2011 and looks forward to continue learning Spanish when she returns. Kelly enjoys the beach, reading, singing, dancing, and spending time with family and friends. |
Kendall Crouther - Student Worker; English Major with Literature and Teacher Licensure Concentrations at Elon University (Class of 2014)
Oak Hill, VA .JPG)
Kendall is a sophomore at Elon, studying English Secondary Education. She grew up in
Plano, Texas before moving to the ‘burbs of DC and is passionate about art, languages & cultures, exploring, reading, feasting on great food, and “waka-waka”-ing. In addition
to working at Elon Academy, Kendall is the RA of Story “Cloud 9,” working on a project at Cummings High School and loves Gospel Choir and Intervarsity Christian Fellowship. |
Stacey Crutchfield - College Success Team Mentor & Summer Mentor; Political Science Major at  Elon University (Class of 2014) Stacey graduated from Williams High School and is a sophomore at Elon University. At Elon, she is an Odyssey Scholar and active in Greek Life. She enjoys volunteering when she has free time and graduated in the first cohort of the Elon Academy. |
Britt Johnson - College Access Team Mentor; Secondary History Major at Elon University (Class .jpg) of 2013)
Greenville, SC
Britt is a junior at Elon University and hopes to teach HS History or Civics. He is a North Carolina Teaching Fellow. He recently came back from a semester abroad in London and enjoyed it. Britt also enjoys classic movies and music. Britt is indifferent to birds. |
Kyle Keith - Summer Mentor; Middle Grades Education Major with a focus in English at Elon University (Class of 2014) .jpg)
Hendersonville, NC Kyle is a sophomore at Elon University and hopes to teach Middle School Language Arts or possibly French depending on if he can get certified. Kyle enjoys theater, watching old movies, the food network, attempting to read great literature, and hiking in the outdoors. Kyle has worked for Elon's Admissions office as a records clerk and learned a lot about the college admissions process. Kyle will be studying abroad next semester in Montpellier, France teaching English to French students. Kyle doesn't like birds. |
Patrick Lynn - Student Worker & Summer Mentor; Public Administration Major at Elon University (Class of 2013) 
Raynham, MA plynn@elon.edu
Patrick is a junior at Elon University. He began working with Elon Academy this past summer as the Student Summer Coordinator. He is going to be an orientation leader in the fall and is currently Fellowship Vice President of Alpha Phi Omega. Patrick's interests include playing |
Zana Milak - Lead Summer Mentor; Pscyhology Major at Elon University (Class of 2012) .jpg)
Burlington, NC
Zana Milak is a senior at Elon University. She is currently studying Psychology and Business. Zana is originally from Bosnia and moved to Burlington 10 years ago. She loves to shop, listen to music, spend time with people and learn about new cultures. Zana is also involved in the Odyssey Program, the Isabella Cannon Leadership Program and is an Elon 101 TA. |
Jaime Morin - College Access Team Mentor; Undeclared Major at Elon University (Class of 2015) .jpg)
Chapel Hill, NC
Jaime is currently studying Special Education and Secondary Math Education. Following graduation, she hopes to teach high school math. While born in Canada, she lived in the United Arab Emirates before moving to Chapel Hill, NC in the fifth grade. Jaime is actively involved in Alpha Phi Omega and devotes as much time as possible to community service. For the most part, she is indifferent to birds. |
Molly O'Brien - College Access Team Mentor & Summer Mentor; Anthrology and English Major with a concentration in Creative Molly O'Brien is a Sullivan scholar at Elon University. She is currently a junior and has worked with the Elon Academy on their book project. She is excited that the book project just recently self-published their own book. Molly enjoys reading and writing in her free time, spending time with the Elon Academy scholars and listening to 90s pop music. Molly is planning on going to graduate school for anthropology after graduating. |
Dominique Preudhomme - Student Worker; Early Childhood Education Major at Elon University (Class of 2015)
Burlington, NC 
Dominique is a freshman Teaching Fellow at Elon University. Dominique favorite ice cream flavor is mint oreo and she's tried them all while at her second job at Smitty's
Homemade Ice Cream. Dominique enjoys doing intermural sports, including flag football and soccer. During her spare time, she enjoys reading, being with her family, and disc golfing. Dominique asks that if you buy her a gift, it is not purple. |
Andrew Stevenson - College Access Team Mentor; Philosophy Major at Elon  University (Class of 2013)
Greensboro, NC Andrew is a junior at Elon University and is an Odyssey Scholar pursing a major in philosophy with a minor in political science. Andrew is actively involved in the Elon Mock Trial where he is currently serving as the elected president of the organization. He enjoys playing sports, meeting new people, reading, and making people laugh. Andrew plans to attend law school after graduating from Elon. |
Lindsay Swenson - Academic Coaching Coordinator & Summer Mentor; Psychology Major at Elon University (Class of 2013) Lindsay is an Elon College Fellow pursuing a psychology major and statistics minor. She is involved with the Service Learning Community, and in addition to community service, her interests include cooking, reading, watching movies, and going on adventures to new places. She enjoyed her first trip abroad for January term as she traveled throughout Eastern and Western Europe. After Elon, she plans to go to graduate school for optometry. Lindsay works with Elon Academy through Book Jams and academic coaching. |
Nate Thomas - Lead Summer Mentor; Music Education Major at Elon University (Class of 2012) 
Myrtle Beach, SC
Nathan is an active musician at Elon who has performed in many ensembles on campus, including the Fire of the Carolinas Marching Band. He also toured Europe with the Elon Jazz Ensemble thispast summer, nourishing his love of music and travel in the same opportunity. As an active leader in the music department, Nathan participates in leadership roles in Elon organizations like CMENC, Kappa Kappa Psi, and Mu Phi Epsilon. He enjoys playing intramural sports, performing with the Alamance Community Jazz band, and spending time with friends and family. |
Julie Tonnesen - College Access Team Mentor; Middle Grades Education Major with  concentrations in Language Arts and Social Studies at Elon University (Class of 2014)
Salisbury, NC
Julie Tonnesen is a sophomore Teaching Fellow here at Elon. Julie would eventually like to pursue a degree in ESL education, as well. In addition to her involvement with Elon Academy as an Academic Coach and CAT Mentor, Julie is the co-editor of the Teaching Fellow's Newsletter, Teacher Talk. Julie loves spending time with her family and friends, traveling, spending time outdoors, and playing with her puppy. |
Lindsey Yasso - Student Worker; History Major with a concentration in African Studies at  Elon University (Class of 2012)
The Woodlands, TX
Lindsey is involved with Phi Alpha Theta, Phi Alpha Delta and is the Vice Preisdent of Alpha Omicron Pi. She is also on the Panhellenic judical board. Lindsey is looking forward to going to law school after graduation. Lindsey enjoys running, reading, being with her friends, and playing golf. She also really wants a penguin. |
Sandra Burns, Assistant Principal Hugh H. Cummings High School 2200 N. Mebane Street Burlington, NC 27217 336.570.6100 SandraF_Burns@abss.k12.nc.us | Cindy Preuss, Assistant Principal Southern Alamance High School 631 Southern High School Road Graham, NC 27253 336.570.6400 cynthia_preuss@abss.k12.nc.us |
Michelle Ammann, Assistant Principal Eastern Alamance High School 4040 Mebane Rogers Road Mebane, NC 27302 919.563.5991 (Epsilon Class) Michelle_Ammann@abss.k12.nc.us | Wendy Nelms, Assistant Principal Eastern Alamance High School 4040 Mebane Rogers Road Mebane, NC 27302 919.563.5991 (Delta Class) Wendy_Nelms@abss.k12.nc.us |
Karen Gobel, School Counselor River Mill Academy 1242 S. Main St Graham, NC 27253 336.229.0909 kgobel@rivermill-academy.org | Dave Nebrig, Assistant Principal Western Alamance High School 1731 North Hwy 87 Elon, North Carolina 27244 336.438.4634 David_nebrig@abss.k12.nc.us |
Stacey Frazier, School Counselor Graham High School 903 Trollinger Road Graham, NC 27253
336.438.4535 | Carole Workman Walter Williams High School 1307 S Church Street Burlington, NC 27215 336.570.6161 Carole_Workman@abss.k12.nc.us |
Robyn Hadley, Executive Director What's After High School Initiative 1712 Vaughn R.d Burlington, NC 27217 336.570.6644 Ext. 683 Robyn_Hadley@abss.k12.nc.us | Vernetta Bridges, Lead Counselor Alamance-Burlington School System 1712 Vaughn Rd. Burlington, NC 27217 336.570.6060 Vernetta_bridges@abss.k12.nc.us |
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Deborah T. Long - Elon Academy Director and Professor of Education
Kim Pyne - Assistant Director of Academic Programs at Elon Academy and Assistant Professor of English and Education at Elon University
Katie LaPlante - Counselor at Elon Academy
Catherine Parsons - Program Assistant at Elon Academy
Writing at Elon University (Class of 2013).JPG)
Doylestown, PA