NEOA  Leadership  Institute  

2010-­‐2011  

   

Building  leadership  skills  in  those  who  build  the  future.  

     

Introduction    Purpose  and  Goals:    The  Leadership  Institute  was  founded  by  the  New  England  Educational  Opportunity  Association  (NEOA)  in  response  to  what  the  organization  regarded  as  the  most  serious  need  of  our  members.    While  TRiO  personnel  benefit  from  professional  trainings  offered  by  the  U.S.  Department  of  Education  and  the  annual  conferences  sponsored  by  COE  and  NEOA,  there  are  few  opportunities  for  them  to  enroll  in  intensive  professional  development  institutes  designed  specifically  for  those  working  with  low-­‐income,  first-­‐generation  college  students.    This  type  of  training  is  especially  needed  for  young  professionals  who  are  ready  to  make  a  long-­‐term  commitment  to  TRiO  programs  and  who  have  potential  to  become  leaders  in  the  Educational  Opportunity  cause,  but  who  need  specific  training  in  leadership  skills.    As  you  know,  many  corporations  have  recently  realized  the  benefit  of  such  training  for  their  rising  executives  and  spend  large  sums  to  offer  such  opportunities  to  their  employees.    By  having  NEOA  sponsor  such  training,  and  by  making  use  of  our  contacts  (both  at  our  host  institutions  and  through  former  NEOA  leaders  and  our  larger  network  who  share  our  cause  and  values),  we  are  able  to  offer  an  exceptionally  rich  experience  to  those  who  enroll  in  the  Institute.        Our  main  objective  in  each  year-­‐long  institute  is  to  help  each  individual  to  fulfill  their  full  potential  as  a  TRiO  professional.    For  some  this  has  meant  taking  on  a  larger  role  within  their  host  institution.    Others  have  branched  out  as  leaders  in  their  community.    Still  others  have  become  involved  in  NEOA  and  made  a  national  mark  by  advocating  for  TRiO  in  regional  and  national  forums.    The  topics  that  are  covered  include  understanding  one’s  own  leadership  style,  public  speaking,  running  effective  meetings,  working  with  diversity,  personal  leadership,  leadership  in  action,  effective  feedback,  and  organizational  development.        This  Year:    Serving  as  Director  of  the  Leadership  Institute  was  a  bit  daunting  and  exciting  in  having  to  fill  the  shoes  of  those  who’d  served  before  and  wanting  the  experience  to  merit  the  feedback  from  previous  graduates.    It  has  been  a  very  satisfying  experience  to  say  the  least.    This  group  was  a  lively,  dedicated,  spirited  and  motivated  group.    We  had  15  participants  start  and  14  complete.    They  came  from  Vermont,  Massachusetts,  and  Maine  and  represented  ETS,  SSS,  Upward  Bound,  and  GEAR  UP.      Evaluations  showed  that  objectives  were  met  and  everyone,  including  myself,  found  it  to  be  a  most  rewarding  experience!    We  met  three  times  and  each  session  was  planned  to  run  from  noon  on  Wednesday  through  noon  on  Friday.    We  met  during  the  second  week  in  November  at  the  Hilton  Garden  Inn  in  Auburn,  Maine.    Topics  included  the  DISC  Behavioral  Inventory,  Organizational  Development  and  Team  Building,  and  an  evening  of  TRiO  trivia.    Our  presenters  were  Dr.  Douglas  Johnson  of  the  University  of  Maine  at  Orono  (who  has  almost  achieved  tenure  with  the  LI!)  who  worked  with  the  group  and  the  DISC  inventory,  and  Paul  Mentag  of  the  Maine  Institute  for  Civic  Leadership.    Paul  presented  on  Organizational  Development  theories  and  did  some  experiential  exercises  and  team  building  with  the  group.            

-­‐continued-­‐  

The  second  session  was  held  during  a  furious  New  England  snow  storm  at  the  Hulburt  Outdoor  Center  in  Fairlee,  Vermont  the  third  week  of  2011.    Presenters  included  Steve  Jonas  (former  ETS  counselor  from  VSAC  now  head  of  Concentus  Consulting)  and  Tim  Lybarger  (independent  consultant  from  northern  Vermont).    Topics  included  Leadership  in  Action  and  Creating  Your  Own  Personal  Mission  Statement  (Tim)  and  Running  Effective  Meetings  and  Requesting,  Giving,  and  Receiving  Feedback  (Steve).        This  session  ended  early  as  a  result  of  weather  and  driving  conditions  so  Friday  morning  activities  were  cancelled.        Our  third  and  final  session  was  held  at  the  Essex  Conference  Center  in  Essex  ,  Massachusetts  and  was  held  during  the  first  week  of  March.    Topics  for  this  session  included  Working  with  Diversity  and  Leadership  and  Public  Speaking.      Presenters  were  Lisa  Slade  (a  former  ETS  counselor  with  CONNTAC  and  now  in  private  practice  and  teaching  as  an  adjunct  at  three  different  colleges!)  and  former  president  of  NEOA  and  now  director  of  the  JFK  Presidential  Library,  Tom  Putnam.    We  also  had  dinner  and  an  evening  chat  with  Dr.  Charles  Desmond,  who  spoke  with  us  about  Educational  Opportunity  and  Social  Justice  and  the  role  of  Leadership.    Charlie  shared  his  own  story  and  much  history  of  NEOA.    Additionally  all  participants  did  presentations  for  their  LI  colleagues  on  books  that  they  had  read  over  the  last  three  months  pertaining  to  leadership.      Homework  also  included  all  participants  completing  their  own  personal  mission  statements.      They  will  also  benefit  from  a  workshop  session  with  Dr  Arnold  Mitchem  at  the  NEOA  conference  in  April  in  Portland.    To  see  this  group  come  together,  to  share  a  common  experience,  take  emotional  risks,  bond  and  become  so  close  and  supportive  was  a  pleasure  that  one  rarely  gets  to  experience  or  take  part  in.      We  had  skilled,  wonderful  presenters  but  the  energy  put  forth  by  the  participants  is  what  made  this  year  long  experience  full,  rich,  and  deeply  satisfying.        

 Thank  you,  class  of  2010-­‐2011.  

Sigh  Searles,  Director  

 

     

I  signed  up  for  the  Leadership  Institute  because  I  was  looking  for  an  opportunity  to  learn  more  about,  well,  leadership.  Duh.  I  currently  work  with  students  in  middle  and  high  schools  as  a  Talent  Search  counselor  for  the  Vermont  Student  Assistance  Corporation  (VSAC).  I  have  held  formal  management  and  leadership  roles  in  the  past,  however,  and  the  Leadership  Institute  seemed  a  good  way  to  reflect  on  what  I  have  learned  in  the  past,  what  I  can  do  better  in  my  current  role,  and  how  I  can  help  my  organization  excel  at  assisting  students  and  their  families.      My  career  path  has  been,  like  many  of  us  in  the  21st  century,  more  zig-­‐zag  than  straight  path.  I  worked  in  outdoor  and  experiential  education  for  many  years  and  assisted  groups  of  all  kinds,  from  elementary  school  students  to  college  students,  from  non-­‐profit  staff  groups  to  corporate  teams,  examine  how  they  work  together  and  how  leadership  affects  them  as  individuals  and  as  groups.  I  directed  an  outdoor  education  center  before  moving  into  the  world  of  higher  education.  At  Goddard  College  I  directed  the  Work  Program—assisting  students,  faculty  and  staff  with  the  campus  wide  jobs  program—and  coordinated  service  learning  and  career  services.  After  that  I  came  to  VSAC,  first  advising  people  in  the  walk-­‐in  Resource  Center  regarding  education  planning  and  financing,  and  then  as  manager  of  that  center.  When  I  had  the  chance  to  work  with  the  Outreach  program  counseling  students  in  schools,  I  jumped  at  the  chance.        The  Leadership  Institute  has  been  a  great  opportunity  to  meet  a  diverse  and  amazing  group  of  people.  I  learned  a  lot  from  our  presenters,  sure;  they  offered  instruction  and  guidance  on  all  kinds  of  topics  that  I  found  useful  and  engaging.  My  fellow  participants,  however,  inspired  me  the  most.    Getting  their  perspectives  and  hearing  their  stories  helped  me  to  expand  my  own  thinking  and,  in  the  end,  become  a  better  counselor  and  a  better  leader.  Being  around  such  a  great  group  of  people,  who  all  wanted  to  learn  something  new,  was  invaluable.  I  came  away  from  the  Leadership  Institute  refreshed  and  ready  to  tackle  the  challenges  of  my  work  anew.  Plus,  it  was  a  lot  of  fun.  Great  people,  interesting  and  relevant  topics,  and  a  fun  learning  environment—now  that’s  what  I’m  talking  about.  

 

Beagle  Bourgault  

 

Georgiana  S.  Chevry  is  a  Haitian-­‐American  first-­‐generation  innovative  multilingual  higher  education  administrator  with  expertise  in  the  areas  of  college  admissions,  financial  aid,  life  coaching,  and  career  services.  She  holds  a  bachelors  degree  in  Sociology  from  Trinity  College  and  Masters  in  Higher  Education  Administration  from  Suffolk  University.  She  specializes  in  helping  students  and  families  enter  into  and  complete  college  or  find  meaningful  and  gainful  employment  opportunities.  She  is  well  versed  in  FERPA,  ADA,  OSHA,  OEO,  and  Title  III  issues.  Georgiana  knows  from  personal  experiences  how  hard  it  is  for  a  first-­‐generation  student  to  navigate  the  college  preparation,  application  and  completion  process,  on  the  undergraduate  and  graduate  levels.  She  is  also  very  aware  and  sensitive  to  the  needs  of  the  parents  and  extended  family  that  also  become  involved  in  a  first-­‐generation  student’s  college  preparation  and  completion  process.  She  also  brings  to  her  administration,  counseling  and  coaching  techniques  researched  based  learning  strategies  from  her  experience  as  a  Lactation  Consultant  and  Birth  Doula.    

Her  career  as  a  higher  education  administrator  began  over  ten  years  ago  as  a  Resident  Assistant  at  Trinity  College.  Over  the  course  of  three  years,  she  learned  about  student  development  theory  as  it  relates  to  First-­‐,  Second-­‐  and  Senior-­‐Year  Experiences;  academic  persistence  in  college;  social  issues  facing  college  students,  in  particular  international  and  students  of  color.  In  her  student  leadership  role,  she  also  was  exposed  to  faculty-­‐in-­‐residence  programs  with  the  dawn  of  service-­‐based  learning  classrooms  on  the  college  level.  In  the  past  seven  years,  she  has  worked  at  various  administrator  roles  at  liberal  arts  colleges  and  universities  such  as  Harvard  University,  Tufts  University  and  Mount  Holyoke  College.  

Currently,  Georgiana  serves  as  the  Program  Director  for  Passport,  SAT  and  Keys2College  programs  at  Boston  Higher  Education  Resource  Center.  All  college  programs  are  faith-­‐based  and  predominantly  serve  low-­‐income  and  first-­‐generation  students  in  the  greater  Boston  area,  including  Boston  Public  High  Schools  (BPS).  In  this  role,  she  enjoys  developing  curriculum,  engaging  students  and  parents  in  the  college  preparation  and  completion  process.  She  is  most  proud  of  her  entrepreneurial  spirit  that  has  forged  powerful  partnership  with  local  Boston  high  schools,  colleges  and  universities  to  provide  resources  and  connections  for  the  students  in  Boston  HERC’s  college  programs.  

As  a  participant  of  NEOA  Leadership  Institute  (LI)  2010-­‐2011,  Georgiana  has  been  exposed  to  the  diverse  systems  of  delivery  for  college  access  programs,  had  the  opportunity  to  engage  in  stimulating  conversation  and  presentations  with  colleagues  doing  similar  work,  and  learn  about  the  social  justice  mission  of  college  access  on  the  state  and  federal  levels.  While  the  commitment  to  NEOA  LI  is  significant,  the  residual  reward  is  more  that  she  could  have  anticipated.  Her  colleagues  have  now  become  friends,  allies,  and  sounding  boards  for  her  professional  growth  and  development.  As  a  direct  outgrowth  of  her  participating  in  NEOA  LI,  Georgiana  looks  forward  to  increasing  her  involvement  in  the  policies  that  impact  institutions  of  higher  learning  and  K-­‐12  education.    

Georgiana  Chevry

   

As  I  define  success,  I  often  envision  a  common  goal  shared  between  the  development  of  abilities  and  the  achievement  of  possibilities.  As  I  looked  back  at  the  beginning  of  this  Leadership  Institute,  my  goal  was  simply  to  mentally  capture  a  feeling  of  success.  You  see,  I  did  not  only  hope  to  feel,  I  hoped  for  something  so  stimulating,  that  would  allow  me  to  mentally  and  tangibly    set  this  Leadership  Institute  apart  from  other  effective  professional  development  opportunities.    My  success  within  this  Leadership  Institute  was  solely  measured  on  my  ability  to  develop  and  enhance  a  leadership  style  so  dynamic  that  it  would  create  a  pathway  into  a  new  role,  position,  or  professional  advancement.    My  journey  to  LI  2010-­‐2011  started  when  I  was  just  a  young  boy,  growing  up  in  the  historic  community  of  Roxbury,  Mass.  It  was  then  I  had  realized  that  in  order  for  me  to  reach  any  level  of  success  I  had  to  step  outside  of  my  everyday  inner  circle  and  do  more  than  what  was  evident  and  visible  around  me.  That  realization  led  me  to  and  through  college  at  Fitchburg  State  University  and  into  the  career  field  of  education.  This  was  a  bit  different  for  me  because  in  school  my  studies  focused  around  Business  Administration  and  Management,  so  the  education  field  was  not  in  alignment  with  my  academic  background,  but  it  was  certainly  in  alignment  with  my  personal  background.  I  became  passionately  aware  of  the  impact  I  could  have  doing  this  line  of  work.  I  substitute  taught  for  a  while  before  I  landed  a  position  with  a  federally  funded  college  access  program  called  GEAR  UP.  This  was  amazing,  that    I,  as  a  low-­‐income  first  generation  minority,  was  put  into  a  position  to  assist  and  lead  other  low-­‐income  and  first  generation  students  in  the  same  community/neighborhoods  I  grew  up  in,  this  was  not  only  faith,  this  was  God’s  plan/path  for  me.      The  GEAR  UP  program  opened  up  many  avenues  of  growth  and  development  for  me.  I  became  heavily  involved  in  the  mission  and  vision  of  what  GEAR  UP  stood  for,  and  began  to  become  more  than  just  an  employee  helping  students  achieve,  I  became  a  believer  in  the  idea  that  all  students  can  and  will  have  high  expectations,  study  hard,  and  take  the  right  courses  and  plan  of  action  to  go  to  college.  In  fact  I  came  to  a  point  where  I  believed  that  I  and  the  program  I  worked  for  could  be  doing  more  for  kids  that  did  not  receive  our  services  in  the  community.    I  envisioned  that    every  youth  should  be  a  part  of  the  GEAR  UP  program,  and  if  not  GEAR  UP  then  Talent  Search,  Upward  Bound,  or  some  sort  of  other  TRIO  or  college  bound  program,  but  that  was  just  not  a  reality.  The  more  great  work  I  saw  done  within  the  respected  TRIO  and  GEAR  UP  programs  in  which  I  worked  and  collaborated  with  the  more  I  realized  that  this  was  a  missing  opportunity  for  others.      When  this  Leadership  Institute  opportunity  surfaced  in  my  email,  I  thought  this  would  be  a  great  way  to  become  more  involved  within  these  college  access  programs  on  a  larger  scale,  to  observe  others  across  

Rashad  O.  Cope  

different  programs  and  states  and  see  if  there  was  an  opportunity  to  do  more.  So  I  filled  out  the  application  with  the  intent  to  take  a  deeper  look  inside  of  my  own  facilitative  leadership  style  and  to  learn  where  I  am  being  effective  and  what  areas  I  need  to  improve  or  develop  to  grow  in  order  to  help  other  youth  within  the  community  I  live  on  a  larger  scale.      My  overall  experience  within  this  institute  was  ultimately  successful.  I  was  given  the  opportunity  to  make  some  connections  with  some  great  individuals  whose  passion  from  all  different  ranges  have  ignited  and  resonated  with  me.  With  his  quiet  leadership  style,  Sigh  Searles,  the  Director  of  the  Institute,  had  done  a  fantastic  job  with  the  selection  of  topics  and  the  selection  of  professionals  to  carry  out  and  magnify  a  meaning  of  those  topics.  I  was  overly  impressed  with  the  level  of  acceptance  that  was  shared  throughout  the  institute,  this  made  for  a  very  rich  and  dynamic  experience.      In  closing,  I  would  certainly  say  that  my  success  as  mentioned  earlier  was  positively  achieved  as  I  have  recently  parted  ways  with  the  TRIO/GEAR  UP  community  to  become  the  Director  of  the  Mattahunt  Community  Center  with  Wheelock  College.    Although  I  will  not  continue  to  work  for  TRIO/GEAR  UP  I  will  now  be  in  a  position  to  look  at  ways  to  lead  and  leverage  the  resources  and  work  that  TRIO/GEAR  UP  does  on  a  larger  scale  that  could  potentially  touch  the  lives  of  more  youth  in  the  community  I  work.      

 My  name  is  Shawn  Graham  and  I  work  at  the  University  of  Maine  at  Fort  Kent.    My  entire  professional  experience  has  been  in  the  helping  profession.    I  worked  in  non-­‐profit  social  work  for  approximately  12  years  before  joining  the  Student  Support  Services  team  at  the  University  of  Maine  at  Fort  Kent  a  number  of  years  ago.    Currently,  I  am  nearing  completion  of  my  graduate  degree  in  Rehabilitation  Counseling  with  a  focus  on  disability  studies.    Once  my  degree  is  completed,  I  will  be  licensed  as  a  Licensed  Clinical  Professional  Counselor.    I  have  always  had  a  strong  desire  to  support  others  while  they  pursue  their  goals.    As  a  result  of  my  own  personal  and  professional  experiences,  I  have  developed  a  strong  commitment  to  inclusion  and  Universal  Design.      Participating  in  the  NEOA  Leadership  Institute  has  been  a  positive  learning  experience  that  has  strengthened  my  resolve  to  support  others  and  my  ability  to  advocate  for  those  we  serve.    Not  only  has  it  rejuvenated  my  focus  and  passion,  but  it  has  also  facilitated  my  personal  growth  which  will  allow  me  to  become  more  effective  in  my  work.    While  I  have  been  supporting  others  for  a  number  of  years,  it  wasn’t  until  I  joined  the  TRiO  community  that  I  found  true  meaning  in  my  work.    I  am  thankful  to  be  a  part  of  such  a  strong  and  committed  community.    I  would  like  to  thank  Sigh,  the  Maine  Educational  Opportunity  Association  and  my  program  for  supporting  me  in  this  excellent  opportunity.    I  would  also  like  to  extend  my  appreciation  to  everyone  who  participated  in  the  LI  for,  without  them,  it  would  not  have  been  so  inspiring.    I  encourage  anyone  who  has  an  interest  in  personal  growth  and  furthering  the  educational  opportunities  of  the  students  we  work  with  to  participate  in  the  Leadership  Institute.    Thank  you!    

 

Shawn  Graham  

 

Although  I  was  not  a  first-­‐generation  college  student,  my  mother  was  not  born  in  this  country  and  I  have  witnessed  some  of  the  same  struggles  that  first-­‐generation  and  low-­‐income  students  face.    When  coming  to  this  country,  my  family  worked  in  factories  and  sweat-­‐shops  to  survive,  even  though  my  grandmother  held  a  college  degree.    My  grandmother  spoke  broken  English,  which  precluded  her  from  using  her  degree  in  1950s  America.    English  was  a  second  language  in  our  family  and  we  identified  ourselves  as  foreigners.    We  learned  Ukrainian  at  home,  even  attending  “Ukrainian  school”  on  weekends,  while  learning  English  in  school.    When  I  was  younger,  I  felt  that  this  difference  set  me  apart  from  my  peers  and  rarely  brought  friends  home.    I  knew  we  were  different.    Now,  I  realize  how  lucky  I  was  to  grow  up  in  this  environment.    It  has  enriched  my  life  and  taught  me  the  value  of  education.    I  graduated  from  Castleton  State  College  with  a  Bachelor’s  in  History  and  within  six  months  of  graduation,  found  myself  in  a  classroom  teaching  high  school  history  and  theology  at  a  small,  Catholic  high  school  in  Vermont.    During  my  eighteen  months  at  the  school,  we  had  three  principals,  which  created  a  lot  of  tension  and  unrest.    As  soon  as  I  read  of  an  opening  at  Castleton  in  a  program  called  Upward  Bound,  I  leapt  at  the  chance  to  apply.    I  knew  little  of  UB  or  TRiO,  but  I  knew  I  wanted  to  help  kids  realize  their  dreams  of  a  college  education,”  the  great  equalizer.”    I  understood  the  power  of  education  to  transform  lives  from  poor  immigrants  to  successful  middle-­‐class  Americans,  and  wanted  to  share  this  with  others.    That  was  2004,  when  I  was  hired  as  Assistant  Director  of  a  brand-­‐new  Upward  Bound  grant.    Within  two  years,  my  Director  Khara  O’Connell  moved  on  and  I  was  fortunate  to  be  hired  as  Director.    I  leaned  so  much  from  Khara  and  am  very  grateful  for  our  work  together.    She  laid  the  foundation  of  our  culture  and  principles,  and  so  much  of  her  influence  is  still  present  in  our  program.    Now  it  is  2011  and  unbelievably,  I  am  getting  ready  to  start  my  eighth  summer  with  Upward  Bound  at  Castleton.    I  am  fortunate  enough  to  have  worked  with  every  student  that  was  ever  in  our  program  and  have  witnessed  so  many  transformations.    We  finally  had  college  graduates  in  2010  and  one  even  returned  last  year  to  work  on  our  summer  staff,  bringing  things  full-­‐circle  for  me.      As  I  sit  back  now  and  reflect  on  the  Leadership  Institute,  I  feel  personally  transformed.    I  am  grateful  for  Sigh’s  steady  leadership  and  for  the  opportunity  to  learn  from  my  colleagues.    There  was  so  much  wisdom  and  passion  in  our  group  that  sometimes  it  was  almost  uncontainable,  ready  to  burst  out  (Brian!).    I  believe  that  we  were  all  recharged  in  our  missions  with  TRiO  and  Gear  Up,  and  am  hopeful  that  each  and  every  one  of  us  brings  that  back  with  us  to  our  work  and  to  NEOA.  Thank  you  again  to  my  amazing  colleagues  and  our  supportive  leader  for  a  wonderful  experience!  

Jennifer  Jones  

    Hello!    My  name  is  Sajeda  Khalifa  and  I  have  been  working  as  an  Advisor/Academic  Support  Facilitator  for  the  Middlesex  Community  College  TRiO  Upward  Bound  Program  at  Lowell  High  School  for  the  last  six  years.  Prior  to  joining  Middlesex,  I  worked  for  the  UMass  Boston  Upward  Bound  Program  in  numerous  positions  from  being  a  tutor,  dorm  counselor,  teacher,  to  Senior  Counselor.    It’s  hard  to  believe  that  as  I  reflect  writing  about  myself,  Upward  Bound  has  been  part  of  my  life  for  over  a  decade  and  I  continue  to  enjoy  working  with  our  diverse  student  population.     I  am  originally  from  India  and  I  immigrated  to  United  States  when  I  was  ten  years  old.    My  parents  took  an  enormous  step  leaving  behind  everything  for  me  and  my  four  siblings  to  have  a  better  life  than  they  had  experienced.    When  I  came  to  America,  I  did  not  know  one  word  of  English  and  never  met  people  who  were  very  different  in  every  way  than  my  own  kind.  Introducing  to  diversity  and  new  culture  in  America,  brought  me  many  new  insights  and  taught  me  to  appreciate  differences.    Through  the  support  of  many  wonderful  teachers,  mentors,  and  friends,  I  was  the  first  one  in  my  family  to  graduate  from  a  four-­‐year  college,  UMass  Boston,  with  major  in  Psychology/Education.       As  I  reflect  upon  my  years  at  UMass  Boston,  I  can  surely  say  that  UMass  was  my  second  home.    I  say  this  because  this  was  where  I  spent  my  undergraduate  years  studying  and  working  to  achieve  “The  American  Dream.”    Coming  from  a  low-­‐income  family,  as  I  entered  my  first  year  of  college  after  completing  the  DSP  Summer  Program,  I  was  recruited  into  the  Student  Support  Services.    Had  I  not  been  in  this  program,  I  wouldn’t  have  had  the  resources  to  get  through  college.    I  was  also  very  lucky  to  land  my  first  job  as  a  work-­‐study  student  at  Upward  Bound  on  this  campus.  Little  did  I  know  that  this  first  job  would  actually  turn  into  my  career  profession.      This  is  where  I  encountered  many  wonderful  experiences  working  with  students  who  were  also  from  low-­‐income  families  and  a  first-­‐generation  background.    Having  been  through  similar  experiences  that  many  program  participants  went  through,  it  allowed  me  to  share  the  resources  that  were  given  to  me.    Throughout  the  years  with  Upward  Bound,  I  could  really  say  that  I  had  met  my  second  family  in  everyway.    I  met  wonderful  students,  mentors,  and  co-­‐workers  who  really  became  my  friends  for  life.    I  had  to  make  tough  decision  to  leave  UMass  Upward  Bound  as  summer  residential  program  was  hard  to  commit  to  after  having  two  young  girls  and  third  one  (a  boy)  that  was  on  its  way.    Leaving  a  second  family  was  hard  to  do,  but  coincidentally,  Upward  Bound  still  remained  as  part  of  my  life’s  journey.     As  I  closed  one  door,  another  door  opened  up  for  me  and  I  landed  at  the  Middlesex  Upward  Bound  Program.  With  the  same  work  that  I  enjoyed,  a  little  more  flexibility  in  the  work  hours,  non-­‐residential  summer  programs  (except  one  week),  and  a  close  commute  to  home,  I  couldn’t  believe  I  was  at  the  right  place,  right  time!    Once  again,  with  the  support  of  my  work  colleagues,  I  have  learned  to  polish  up  my  skills  and  learn  many  tools  that  I  hadn’t  acquired  which  has  helped  me  to  provide  better  services  to  our  students.    My  Program  Director  and  Assistant  Director  continued  to  support  my  growth  by  encouraging  my  attendance  at  many  professional  development  opportunities  such  as  NEOA  and  MEOA  conferences.      It  was  through  one  of  these  workshops,  I  came  to  learn  more  about  Leadership  Institute  and  decided  to  apply.    Past  participants  

Sajeda  Khalifa  

and  some  of  my  colleagues,  who  had  gone  through  the  training,  had  wonderful  things  to  say.    I  thought  it  was  the  right  time  in  my  life  to  rejuvenate  my  inner  self.    After  a  decade  of  providing  direct  services  to  our  students,  I  wanted  to  reflect  on  my  passion,  my  mission  in  life,  and  understand  what  it  really  meant  to  me  to  be  a  true  leader.          

Being  part  of  the  2010-­‐2011  Leadership  Institute  with  other  fourteen  fellows  has  been  one  of  the  most  fascinating  experiences  I  have  experienced.    Through  the  NEOA  Leadership  Institute,  I  gained  self  confidence  by  strengthening  and  enhancing  my  personal  qualities  I  bring  to  work  everyday,  learned  strategies  to  communicate  effectively,  and  know  how  to  work  better  with  different  personality  styles  and  how  to  work  cohesively  as  a  team.    In  addition,  the  training  sessions  gave  me  the  time  to  reflect  on  my  everyday  skills  and  made  me  realize  my  own  leadership  potential.  I  learned  that  I  may  not  be  a  leader  who  makes  all  the  changes  in  the  world,  but  I  am  a  leader  who  does  little  things  by  setting  a  good  example  in  my  role  at  my  work,  in  my  home,  or  in  my  community.    I  can  say  that  I  am  a  team-­‐player  and  by  me  lending  a  hand  to  someone,  I  may  influence  that  person  to  lend  theirs  to  someone  else.    Lastly,  the  Leadership  Institute  has  inspired  me  to  stand  up  for  what  I  believe  in,  speak  up  for  things  that  I  see  are  unfair,  and  fight  for  equal  opportunities  for  all,  no  matter  who  they  are,  where  they  come  from,  or  what  they  look  like.            

 

             I  am  coming  into  my  third  year  as  Assistant  Director  of  the  Upward  Bound  Program  in  the  Office  of  Academic  Access  &  Opportunity  at  Suffolk  University  in  Boston,  Massachusetts.    Suffolk  was  awarded  its  first  of  two  TRIO  Grants,  Upward  Bound  and  McNair,  in  December  of  2007.  Since  then,  the  University  was  also  awarded  a  Veterans  Upward  Bound  grant  in  2009.    As  the  first  and  current  Assistant  Director  of  the  program  I  have  had  the  opportunity  to  experience  both  the  excitement  and  struggles  of  starting  a  new,  and  at  times,  unfamiliar  program  on  a  college  campus.    I  now  celebrate  the  struggles  I  experienced,  because  it  helped  me  to  see  how  much  I  value  working  with  students  in  their  pursuit  of  a  higher  education.    I  certainly  feel  blessed  to  say  that  I  appreciate  and  enjoy  all  aspects  of  my  position:  our  students,  my  co-­‐workers,  the  TRIO  community,  and  professional  development  opportunities.                Every  day  with  Upward  Bound  is  different.    We  cannot  always  predict  what  is  in  store  for  us  tomorrow  or  next  week,  whether  it  is  a  student  or  school  issue  or  funding.    Our  flexibility  and  willingness  to  adapt  to  change  is  driven  by  the  desire  to  see  our  students  succeed.    The  most  rewarding  part  of  my  job  is  seeing  students  realize  their  potential.    Our  Suffolk  Upward  Bound  Team,  Keren  Zuniga,  Michelle  Lynch,  Marty  Elmore  and  Ryan  Robert,  consistently  focus  on  how  we  can  improve  our  services  to  best  fit  the  needs  of  our  students,  so  that  they  can  realize  their  potential.              While  passion  will  drive  your  desire  to  work,  it  does  not  always  dictate  how  successful  one  can  be  in  their  work.    I  see  how  important  strong  leadership  skills  are  in  the  TRIO  community,  not  only  leadership  of  staff  and  students,  but  also  personal  leadership  and  the  ability  to  use  leadership  skills  to  advocate  for  programming.    I  saw  the  Leadership  Institute  as  a  way  to  develop  and  sharpen  my  skills  as  a  new  leader.    What  I  appreciated  most  about  the  institute  was  the  relevancy  of  the  workshops  to  the  work  we  all  do  each  day.    Topics  such  as  decision  making,  running  effective  meetings,  giving  and  receiving  feedback  and  the  DISC  inventory  helped  me  to  identify  areas  that  I  could  improve  upon.                Being  in  the  Leadership  Institute,  with  Sigh  Searles  as  our  leader  and  friend,  was  undoubtedly  the  best  professional  development  I  have  ever  participated  in.    Throughout  the  Leadership  Institute  I  thought  often  of  my  students  and  how  I  could  model  the  same  learning  environment,  group  spirit,  and  personal  relationships  in  our  summer  program.    From  the  Institute,  I  take  away  not  only  ideas  for  personal  improvement,  but  also  ways  to  share  my  experience  with  my  students.                Thank  you  to  Sigh  and  all  the  members  of  the  2011  Leadership  Institute  for  a  memorable  and  rewarding  experience!  

Maria  Muccio  

   

Hello,  my  name  is  Brian  Post  and  I  currently  serve  as  the  Associate  Director  of  Upward  Bound  at  the  State  University  of  New  York  at  Plattsburgh.    As  someone  who  considers  himself  to  be  a  lifelong  learner,  I  chose  to  attend  the  Leadership  Institute  to  continue  on  that  path,  to  examine  some  new  approaches  to  leadership  and  maybe  do  some  self-­‐reflection  along  the  way.    I  also  am  someone  who  enjoys  interacting  with  people,  so  I  was  looking  forward  to  meeting  other  TRiO  professionals  and  forming  some  new  relationships  from  different  parts  of  the  region.        The  Leadership  Institute  lived  up  to  all  of  my  expectations  and  more!      It  forced  all  of  the  participants  to  reflect  on  their  own  personalities  and  interaction  styles,  while  at  the  same  time  giving  us  some  tools  to  take  back  to  our  workplace.    I  think  all  of  us  were  surprised  how  much  these  sessions  gave  us  insight  into  how  we  interact  with  others  and  what  we  can  do  to  improve  our  performance.  All  of  the  presenters  were  chosen  well  by  Sigh  and  each  offered  their  own  unique  approach  to  leadership  through  their  many  years  of  experience.      Educational  opportunity  for  all  has  always  been  at  the  forefront  of  my  professional  career  and  is  also  at  the  core  of  the  TRiO  community’s  mission.    Each  passing  year  we  face  new  challenges  within  our  own  states  and  regions,  as  well  as  on  the  national  level.    TRiO  has  survived  this  long  because  of  its  leaders  being  vocal  and  making  our  success  stories  known.    During  the  last  session  of  the  Leadership  Institute,  we  had  the  opportunity  to  hear  from  Charlie  Desmond,  who  told  us  loud  and  clear  that  the  next  generation  of  leaders  need  to  emerge.    He  shared  his  remarkable  personal  story  as  well  as  his  history  within  TRiO,  and  inspired  every  one  of  us  to  carry  on  this  mission.        I  feel  that  the  Leadership  Institute  is  a  very  unique  opportunity  within  NEOA  and  would  recommend  it  to  anyone  who  wants  to  challenge  themselves  personally  and  continue  to  grow  professionally.    I  would  like  to  thank  our  fearless  leader  Sigh  Searles  for  coordinating  the  Institute  and  creating  an  environment  in  which  everyone  was  comfortable  and  able  to  share  his/her  self  safely.        I  would  like  to  leave  you  with  a  quote  from  someone  very  wise:  

 “Those  who  want  to  leave  an  impression  for  one  year  should  plant  corn;  those  who  want  to  leave  an  impression  for  ten  years  should  plant  a  tree;  but  those  who  want  to  leave  an  impression  for  100  years  should  educate  a  human  being.”    Good  luck  to  all  future  Leadership  Institute  participants-­‐it  was  worth  it!  

Brian  Post  

   

Currently  I  work  for  Mount  Wachusett  Community  College  as  a  Middle  School  Coordinator  for  the  GEAR  UP  program.  I  have  been  with  the  GEAR  UP  program  at  MWCC  in  one  capacity  or  another  since  the  start  of  the  first  cohort  in  1999.  Over  the  years  I  have  had  many  titles  with  GEAR  UP  from  Liaison,  to  Academic  Counselor,  to  Resource  Specialist,  and  now  Middle  School  Coordinator.  Regardless  of  the  title  I  held  the  thing  I  enjoyed  most  and  continue  to  enjoy  is  the  direct  contact  with  my  students.  I  love  to  see  the  impact  that  we  as  counselors,  mentors  and  role-­‐models  have  on  our  students.     I  am  a  first  generation  college  student  myself.  When  I  was  a  teenager  I  was  that  long  shot  student  that  everyone  talks  about.  My  family  was  that  low-­‐  income  family  that  was  surrounded  by  alcoholism,  drug  abuse  and  poverty.  I  had  to  overcome  what  many  people  would  consider  insurmountable  odds  to  get  where  I  am  today.  Had  it  not  been  for  my  exposure  to  programs  with  goals  similar  to  GEAR  UP  and  the  connections  I  made  with  caring  adults  who  showed  me  the  importance  of  education  I  would  not  be  where  I  am  today.    It  was  the  experiences  that  I  had  in  those  programs  that  shaped  me  and  inspired  me  to  want  to  give  back  and  do  what  I  do  now.  I  love  the  opportunity  to  open  eyes  and  to  teach  others  about  the  importance  of  higher  education.                                 The  unique  thing  that  I  love  about  my  job  that  is  different  from  others  in  this  field  is  that  I  am  able  to  work  with  and  follow  my  kids  from  middle  school  into  high  school  and  ultimately  see  them  graduate  from  high  school.  I  get  to  see  kids  grow  and  progress  right  before  my  very  eyes.  It  is  so  rewarding  to  provide  students  with  the  support,  encouragement,  and  guidance  that  they  need  to  achieve  their  goals.  Many  of  the  students  that  I  end  up  working  with  on  a  regular  basis  end  up  having  a  similar  background  to  my  own  and  I  can  relate  to  them.  It  can  definitely  be  disheartening  at  times  when  a  kid  has  great  potential  and  doesn’t  take  the  necessary  steps  or  accept  the  support  and  guidance  offered  to  help  them  succeed,  but  it’s  the  ones  that  do  achieve  their  goals  that  makes  the  work  we  do  so  rewarding!     There  were  several  things  that  influenced  my  decision  to  embark  on  the  Leadership  Institute  journey.  First,  I  had  heard  nothing  but  great  things  about  the  experiences  of  past  Leadership  Institute  attendees.  Second,  I  definitely  needed  to  develop  greater  expertise  and  skills  as  a  leader  as  well  as  build  more  confidence  in  my  leadership  abilities.  In  all  honesty  the  third  and  possibly  one  of  the  biggest  reasons  I  decided  to  apply  to  and  attend  the  Leadership  Institute  was  because  I  was  strongly  encouraged  to  do  so  by  my  colleagues  and  supervisors.    

I  had  been  with  the  GEAR  UP  program  for  many  years  and  had  attained  many  skills,  but  I  still  needed  to  take  a  bigger  step  professionally.  It  was  actually  perfect  timing  for  me  to  apply  for  Leadership  Institute  because  at  the  start  of  the  new  school  year  we  were  awarded  a  new  GU  grant  and  I  was  asked  to  consider  taking  on  a  new  position  as  a  middle  school  coordinator.  There  was  no  better  time  to  learn  to  grow  more  as  a  leader.  

Leadership  Institute  was  everything  I  needed  it  to  be  and  more.  Attendees  participated  in  workshops  that  explored  different  types  of  leadership,  differences  between  teams  and  working  groups,  facilitating  an  

Anthony  Semidey  

effective  meeting,  giving  and  receiving  feedback,  developing  a  personal  mission  statement,  diversity  training,  public  speaking,  and  DISC  training  that  identified  different  behavioral  styles.  They  were  all  essential  and  beneficial  especially  in  my  new  role,  but  the  DISC  behavioral  style  workshop  was  one  of  my  favorites.  I  would  recommend  it  to  all  of  my  colleagues  and  staff.  It  goes  a  long  way  to  helping  people  understand  their  own  behaviors  and  that  of  others  and  highlights  the  best  way  to  interact  with  each  style.  

Not  only  did  we  participate  in  a  multitude  of  leadership  workshops,  but  we  always  left  our  LI  sessions  with  assignments  to  complete  for  the  next  session.  My  favorite  assignment  which  had  the  greatest  impact  on  me  was  to  read  a  book  on  leadership  and  to  do  a  15  minute  presentation  to  the  rest  of  the  group.  The  knowledge  that  I  gained  from  reading  my  book,  presenting  to  the  group  and  listening  to  the  others  as  they  presented  on  their  books  has  given  me  a  hunger  to  continue  reading  and  learning  about  leadership  and  being  the  most  effective  I  can  be.  As  the  Leadership  Institute  comes  to  an  end  I  leave  with  new  perspective,  new  vision,  and  new  hunger.  I  want  to  learn  more,  reach  higher,  and  never  settle.  I  now  know  that  if  I  don’t  have  a  vision  for  myself  others  will  lead  me.  

Leadership  Institute  has  been  one  of  if  not  the  greatest  professional  development  experiences  for  me  ever.  I  would  recommend  it  to  anyone  committed  to  personal  growth  and  making  higher  education  accessible  to  all.  It  was  a  pleasure  to  network  and  bond  with  all  of  the  2011  Leadership  Institute  participants.  Thank  you  all  for  the  experience!  We  all  came  from  different  levels  in  our  organizations  and  from  different  walks  of  life,  but  we  all  had  something  to  teach  each  other.  Always  strive  to  do  more;  to  be  more.  I’d  like  to  leave  you  with  a  phrase  that  was  burned  in  my  mind  from  Dr.  Charles  Desmond,  “We  can’t  get  there  with  what  got  us  here”.                            

 

   

I’ve  been   in   the   field  of  education   for  over   fifteen  years.    My  body  of  work  cuts  across  primary  and  secondary  education,  human  resources  and  higher  education.    Mentoring  and  advising  was  a  common  strain  that  ran  through  these  various  industries.    

I  began  my  career  with  TRIO  in  2008.    Currently,  I  am  the  Education  Advisor  for  the  TERI  Upward  Bound  Program  at  Brockton  High  School.    In  this  role,  I  am  responsible  for  the  day  to  day  operations  of  our  year  long  program   that   culminates   with   a   six   week   intensive   summer   college   residential   program.     Chief   among  my  duties  is  to  provide  academic  and  career  counseling  for  the  students  in  our  program.    In  collaboration  with  the  faculty  and  staff  at  Brockton  High  School  and  Bridgewater  State  College,  I  have  provided  opportunities  for  my  students  to  explore  many  new,  exciting  and  challenging  careers.    

The  Leadership  Institute  has  ignited  an  awareness  in  me  that  allowed  me  to  acknowledge,  understand  and   respect   individual   differences.    I   learned   that   a   leader   should   routinely   seek   out   various   strategies   to  support   individual   and   group   dynamics   at   every   level.    I   strongly   believe   that   leaders   who   highlight   and  acknowledge  differences  in  a  positive  light,  ultimately  leads  to  a  stronger  more  cohesive  environment.  I  also  learned   that   identifying   different   approaches   to   performance   adds   support   to   helping   everyone   achieve  success  and  will   enable  each   individual   to  make   the  most  of   their  potential.   The  Leadership   Institute  was  a  GREAT  experience.     It  has  given  me  the  opportunity  to   interact  with  fifteen  awesome  individuals  that   I  may  not   have   met   otherwise.     The   presenters   and   facilitator   shared   and   imparted   their   wisdom   and   personal  experiences  which  made  being  a  participant  of  the  Institute  even  more  memorable.      

In  the  spirit  of  TRIO,  I  will  continue  to  seek  opportunities  to  share  my  knowledge  and  resources  and  to  guide  my  students  in  the  right  direction.    I  believe  that  every  student  should  have  the  opportunity  to  achieve  excellence  and  to  acquire  knowledge  that  is  life  changing.    I  will  continue  to  promote  educational  values  and  differences  to  the  highest  esteem  and  I  am  dedicated  to  delivering  effective  advising  characterized  by  a  life-­‐long  learning.    Students  are  the  center  of  my  work  and  they  are  faced  with  many  challenges  within  the  school  systems   and   their   communities.   Therefore,   we   must   continue   the   work   that   we   do   and   become   more  successful  at  educating  and  serving  the  needs  of  our  students.      

My   experience   in   education   has   allowed  me   the   opportunity   to   provide   awareness   through   various  academic,  career  and  culturally  woven  events  and  activities.    It  is  my  hope  to  motivate  and  guide  students  to  discover   what   truly   inspires   them   and   create   an   environment   that   will   help   them   to   reach   their   fullest  potential.    

Lecia  Sligh  

   

I  am  Clyde  Stats,  and  I  am  the  Assistant  Director  of  Academic  Support  Services  at  Johnson  State  College,  an  SSS  TRIO  program.    My  work  centers  around  face-­‐to-­‐face  service  with  a  range  of  students  from  at-­‐risk  first-­‐  and  second-­‐year  students  to  adult  students  in  the  External  Degree  Program.    I  help  them  adapt  to  college  academic  and  social  life,  choose  courses,  select  a  major,  investigate  career  options,  and  generally  provide  advice  to  help  them  negotiate  the  maze  of  requirements  and  regulations  that  are  part  of  the  post-­‐secondary  experience.    I  also  manage  our  department’s  technological  resources,  assist  the  Director  in  supervising  the  staff,  create  most  of  the  department’s  publications  and  communications,  and  assist  the  Learning  Specialist  in  serving  students  with  disabilities.    My  job  is  fast-­‐paced  and  ever-­‐changing,  and  challenges  me  to  continually  learn  new  skills  and  re-­‐evaluate  existing  ones.      I  must  admit,  however,  that  at  times  I  tend  to  hit  a  “plateau.”    I  get  comfortable  with  the  inevitable  routine  and  familiar  cycle  of  tasks  that  accompany  the  passing  of  semesters,  and  I  get  restless  and  “coast.”    It  was  during  one  of  these  “plateaus”  that  I  finally  acted  on  my  Director’s  suggestion  that  I  participate  in  the  NEOA  Leadership  Institute.    My  expectations  were  that  I  would  improve  my  communication  and  leadership  skills,  and  that  I  might  actually  be  motivated  to  pursue  more  positions  of  leadership.    To  a  large  extent,  this  actually  happened.    During  the  workshops  we  delved  more  deeply  into  the  different  types  of  leadership  and  how  they  function  within  groups.    The  DISC  personal  assessment  gave  me  much  insight  into  how  I  act  and  react  in  groups  and  my  preferred  modes  of  communication.    The  workshop  “Running  Effective  Meetings”  also  gave  me  ways  to  improve  my  performance  in  meetings,  an  essential  skill  in  my  position.    “Eliciting/Giving/Receiving  Feedback”  was  also  very  helpful  in  improving  my  abilities  in  these  vital  areas.      I  was  not  prepared,  however,  for  the  magnitude  of  personal  growth  that  I  experienced  during  the  Institute.    Though  I  initially  resisted  it,  the  process  of  creating  a  mission  statement  opened  my  eyes  to  areas  of  myself  that  I  had  previously  only  sensed  the  presence  of.    New  connections  emerged  between  parts  of  my  life  which  had  seemed  separate.    I  became  aware  of  several  consistent  streams  of  belief  and  purpose  which  seemed  to  inform  everything  I  do,  and  suggested  new  directions  to  take  my  life  in  the  future.  Finally,   I  was  most   impressed   by   the   level   and   depth   of   group   interaction   that   occurred   at   the   Leadership  Institute.    15  strangers  from  different  walks  of  life  came  together,  and  over  the  course  of  6  days  formed  strong  bonds  of  support  and  camaraderie.    This  was  by  far  the  best  group  experience  I’ve  ever  had.    Thank  you,  Sigh,  for  organizing  and  facilitating  this;  and  thanks  to  all  the  participants  of  the  2011  NEOA  Leadership  Institution  for  making  this  such  a  memorable  and  valuable  experience!    I  hope  to  see  you  all  in  Burlington  at  the  Discover  Jazz  Festival  in  June!              

Clyde  Stats  

 

Be  an  opener  of  doors  for  such  as  come  after  thee,  instead  of  making  the  universe  a  blind  alley.    ~Ralph  Waldo  Emerson     I  have  been  the  Program  Coordinator  for  the  Wheelock  College  Upward  Bound  program  for  the  past  three  years.  I  consider  myself  extremely  fortunate,  because  I  began  working  for  Wheelock  at  the  very  beginning  of  our  grant.  We  started  from  the  ground  up  so  it  has  been  lot  of  hard  work,  but  I  have  learned  so  much  and  gained  a  lot  of  valuable  experience.    It’s  been  such  a  wonderful  journey  and  I  really  enjoy  the  work  that  we  do.       As  a  new  comer  to  TRIO,  part  of  what  influenced  my  decision  to  take  part  in  the  NEOA  Leadership  Institute  was  a  desire  to  learn  from  my  peers.  Our  program  is  new  and  I  wanted  to  learn  about  ways  to  improve  our  program  design  from  TRIO  veterans.    Another  reason  I  decided  to  apply  was  a  desire  to  become  a  better  leader.  Tolstoy  once  said  “Everyone  thinks  of  changing  the  world,  but  no  one  thinks  of  changing  himself.”    Sometimes  we  can  become  so  focused  on  what  we  do,  that  we  don’t  take  time  to  assess  who  we  are.       The  Leadership  Institute  was  truly  a  blessing.  I  have  definitely  learned  from  the  experience  and  applied  what  we  learned  into  my  work  and  everyday  life.    One  thing  that  I  found  really  helpful  was  the  DISC  assessment.  Who  knew  that  such  a  relatively  short  questionnaire  could  be  so  accurate!  It  really  helped  me  pinpoint  my  blind  spots  and  identify  what’s  important  to  me  professionally  and  personally.    I  also  really  enjoyed  the  workshops  on  communication  and  feedback.  It  was  nice  to  be  able  to  run  things  by  my  peers  and  it  helped  me  improve  the  way  I  communicate.         As  a  result  of  the  Leadership  Institute  I  was  also  able  to  pinpoint  my  leadership  style  and  realized  that  I  was  a  servant  leader.  I  found  that  to  be  helpful  in  pinpointing  areas  of  weakness  and  effectiveness.    Furthermore,  I  was  able  to  learn  about  other  programs  and  gain  a  better  perspective  on  the  different  types  of  TRIO  programs.    We  can  become  very  plugged  into  our  individual  programs  so  it  was  nice  to  be  able  to  see  TRIO  as  a  family.       If  you  are  thinking  about  applying  for  the  next  Leadership  Institute  I  would  highly  recommend  it!      

Jasmine  Toussaint  

 

         I  have  been  an  advisor  for  the  Educational  Talent  Search  program  with  TERI,  Inc.  since  October  of  2006.  Prior  to  that,  I  worked  within  the  Boston  Public  School  system  in  a  few  different  capacities.  My  life’s  work  and  passion  has  been  to  help  young  men  and  women  realize  and  fulfill  their  educational  dreams  and  personal  life  goals.  Working  with  ETS  and  TRIO  has  allowed  me  to  continue  doing  what  I  love  and  more.  It  has  allowed  me  to  give  my  students  exposure  to  people,  places,  and  things  of  which  they  may  have  never  had  the  opportunity  to  experience;  experiences  which  will  last  with  them  forever.              I  first  learned  of  the  Leadership  Institute  while  attending  the  NEOA  conference  last  year.  After  listening  to  past  participants  share  their  experiences  I  felt  that  participating  in  the  institute  would  be  the  perfect  opportunity  for  me  to  step  out  of  my  comfort  zone  and  to  network  with  TRIO  colleagues  from  different  programs  and  strengthen  my  leadership  skills.              Deciding  to  participate  in  the  institute  was  one  of  the  best  decisions  that  I  have  ever  made.  I  truly  received  all  that  I  expected  and  much  more.  Interacting  and  learning  from  other  TRIO  professionals  reinvigorated  me!  I  not  only  learned  from  my  colleagues  but  I  created  meaningful  and  lasting  bonds.  I  now  feel  more  confident;  more  connected.  I  have  gained  new  energy  to  continue  this  great  work  that  we  all  do.  Lastly,  I  would  like  to  thank  Sigh  for  sharing  his  passion  and  imparting  his  wisdom.      

 

Tamika  Williams  

 I  have  worked  as  a  GEAR  UP  Outreach  Counselor  at  VSAC  serving  middle  and  high  school  students  in  northern  Vermont  for  the  past  ten  years.  Prior  to  that  I  worked  as  a  Guidance  Counselor  in  the  public  schools.    When  I  was  a  student  in  the  sixties  and  seventies,  there  was  a  powerful  movement  sweeping  across  the  country  of  hope,  change  and  social  justice.    I  

knew  then  that  I  wanted  to  be  a  part  of  it;  to  make  a  difference  in  the  lives  of  others.    I  wanted  to  give  a  voice  to  the  children  and  their  families  who  weren’t  being  heard.      

 My  parents  had  both  dropped  out  of  college  making  me  the  first  in  my  family  to  complete  my  college  education.    I  was  blessed  to  grow  up  in  a  community  where  higher  education  was  valued  and  at  a  time  when  college  was  more  affordable  but  I  recognized  that  this  opportunity  wasn’t  available  to  every  American.    Many  didn’t  have  the  resources  or  people  in  their  lives  to  support  such  endeavors.        I  was  so  fortunate  to  become  a  part  of  VSAC  whose  mission  is  to  support  Vermonters  in  their  pursuit  of  higher  education  and  where  I  am  surrounded  by  genuinely  caring  and  supportive  colleagues.    And  more  importantly,  I  have  the  opportunity  to  watch  my  students  grow  from  middle  schoolers  to  seniors  and  to  achieve  their  goals.    It’s  this  time  of  year,  when  my  students  are  getting  their  acceptance  letters  and  financial  aid  packages  that  makes  my  work  so  rewarding.    I  applied  to  the  Leadership  Institute  hoping  to  learn  more  about  myself  and  my  leadership  style;  to  get  to  know  others  in  NEOA  and  learn  about  other  TRiO  programs;  to  reexamine  and  explore  my  personal  and  professional  goals;  and  to  come  away  rejuvenated  and  inspired.  The  Leadership  Institute  offered  exactly  that  and  so  much  more.  I  worked  and  played  with  a  fabulous  group  of  colleagues  who  are  so  passionate  about  their  work.  The  passion  was  contagious.    The  variety  of  workshops  was  thought  provoking  and  because  most  of  the  presenters  had  at  one  time  been  a  part  of  the  TRiO  community,  extremely  relevant.    Charlie  Desmond  in  particular,  reminded  all  of  us  why  the  work  we  do  continues  to  be  so  important.    Thank  you  to  Sigh  for  providing  a  safe  forum  from  which  we  were  able  to  share  and  practice.      I’ve  come  away  invigorated  and  grateful  to  have  been  a  part  of  the  Leadership  Institute  and  to  have  met  such  a  wonderful  group  of  people.    NEOA  is  composed  of  such  a  rich  and  diverse  group  of  professionals  who  do  this  important  work!    Thanks  to  all  of  you!        

Ellen  Wright  

     

                                               

“If  you  are  thinking  one  year  ahead,  sow  a  seed.    If  you  are  thinking  ten  years  ahead,  plant  a  tree.    If  you  are  thinking  one  hundred  years  ahead,  

educate  the  people.”    

Kuan  Tzu,  Chinese  Poet,  500B.C.