Archives: Instructors

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As the director, Joni works to support educational partnerships among Appalachian State University, University of North Carolina-Asheville, Western Carolina University, and area high schools seeking to increase the college readiness and enrollment into post-secondary education institutions. She has served as director of freshman learning communities in general studies at Appalachian State University and as a co-coordinator of the McGraw-Hill Institute for Student Success and Academic Change (ISSAC). She has taught Freshman Seminar since 1991 and co-facilitated the annual week-long training program for new course instructors.

Joe directed the first-year seminar at the University of Iowa, a course required of all new students, for more than 25 years. He is a columnist for a bimonthly newsletter published by the National Resource Center for The First-Year Experience & Students in Transition, and has received the Resource Center’s outstanding first-year advocate award. He is also a 14-time recipient of the faculty member of the year award on his home campus, a student-driven award based on effective teaching and academic advising. He has delivered over 100 campus workshops and conference presentations, and authored numerous articles and chapters on faculty development, student retention, and the first-year experience.

Dara Raboy-Picciano’s areas of expertise include sexual trauma, sexual assault prevention, bystander intervention, and bereavement. In addition, she is a field instructor and adjunct professor to the Division of Social Work at Binghamton University. Ms. Raboy-Picciano has done extensive training in the area of sexual assault prevention with both staff and students at Binghamton University; having designed and implemented the 20:1 Programs. In addition, Ms. Raboy-Picciano presented nationally for the California Coalition Against Sexual Assault (CALCASA) in conjunction with the US Department of Justice Office on Violence Against Women, as well as NASPA and ACPA. She has presented webinars for both CALCASA and the Department of Defense Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Team (DoDSAPR), while maintaining an ongoing collaboration with DoD SAPR. Ms. Raboy-Picciano was also invited to sit on a professional focus panel on Interpersonal Partner Violence by the New York State Assembly and the NYS Senate.

Kathy’s special area of expertise is in developing strategic financial aid and retention programs, designed to enhance enrollment and net tuition revenue results. A former associate vice president at the University of Rochester and director of financial aid at Earlham College, she pays special attention to ensuring that the solutions recommended are practical, detailed, and implementable.