Profiles of Freshman Experience Professional Staff
Name: Mike Fulford
Position: Assistant Director of Housing for the Freshman Experience Program
Education: B.B.A. in accounting, University of Georgia; M.Ed. in student personnel in higher education, University of Georgia; Ph.D. candidate in educational policy studies, Georgia State University
"The transition that students make from high school to college is one of the most difficult in a person's life. In the Freshman Experience, we get to play a key role in helping Georgia Tech students grow and evolve as they begin their college career. Our focus is the development of the whole student as they balance the academic, social, and personal challenges a first-year student faces at Georgia Tech. For me, being an integral part of a student's first impression and experience at Georgia Tech is challenging, exciting, and rewarding."
Name: Sheree Gibson
Position: Area Manager for Armstrong, Caldwell, Fitten, Folk, Freeman, and Montag, supervising two full-time Hall Directors, who supervise forty-two Peer Leaders
Education:
B.A. in sociology, The Ohio State University; M.A. in college student personnel, Bowling Green State University
"I am excited to work with first-year students at Georgia Tech because of their enthusiasm, energy, and excitement about being in a new place. First-year students are eager to build relationships, get involved, and experience collegiate life. I enjoy helping them make it happen!"
Name: Brett Hulst
Position: Area Manager for Cloudman, Harrison, Glenn, and Towers, supervising three full-time Hall Directors, who supervise forty-nine Peer Leaders
Education:
B.S.Ed in health promotion/behavior, University of Georgia; M.Ed. in higher education student affairs administration, University of Vermont
"I like working with freshman because the first year of college is an exciting time for them as they begin to make adult choices and have new experiences. I like watching them grow as they move away from home and become citizens of the world."
Name: Shane Caldwell
Position: Hall Director for Towers, supervising fifteen Peer Leaders for an area of two hundred fifty residents
Education: B.S. in psychology (minor in behavioral science), Trevecca Nazarene University
"I have three years experience as a Resident Assistant prior to working for Georgia Tech, as well as counseling experience at a crisis intervention center. I like to work with first-year students because they're fun, energetic, and excited about school and living in the residence halls. It's awesome to watch first-year students as they develop into adults during their progression through college. I think working with first-year students also gives me and my staff a great opportunity to influence what a great, diverse, and positive community looks like and hopefully we can help mold that into our students' hearts and minds."
Name: Sherry Grace
Position: Hall Director for Cloudman and Harrison, supervising 15 Peer Leaders for an area of 255 residents
Education:
B.B.A. in real estate, Georgia State Univeristy; M.B.A., University of Phoenix
"With three years of previous experience in higher education, my experiences gained in my short time at Georgia Tech has left me excited about the upcoming year and years to come."
Name: Christina Hardcastle
Position: Hall Director for Brown and Howell, supervising fourteen Peer Leaders for an area of two hundred residents
Education: B.S. in management, Georgia Institute of Technology
"My favorite thing about working with freshmen is that they are so excited about Georgia Tech, and eager to get involved."
Name: Joe Slade
Position: Hall Director for Glenn, supervising nineteen Peer Leaders for an area of three hundred twenty-three residents
Education: B.A. in philosophy, University of Chicago
"My favorite thing about working with first-year students is assisting them in their transition to college, and, in doing so, watching how they change and develop as individuals."
Name: Tobias Spears
Position: Hall Director for Armstrong, Caldwell, and Folk, supervising twenty-two Peer Leaders for an area of 425 residents
Education: B.S. in history, Binghamton University
"My responsibilities include implementing diversity programs and helping the staff create programs to keep the first-year students involved and focused. I am also part of the Staff Selection Task Group, which is responsible for the recruitment of new student staff, and the Staff Recognition Committee, which recognizes the efforts of great leadership at all staff levels. Working with first-year students is great. As a Hall Director, I am sensitive to issues freshman might be experiencing, and I know that residence life plays a major role in the college experience. I try to create a fun, exciting environment that supports learning and growth in my buildings. My favorite thing about working with first-year students is that they are all willing to go the extra mile."
