Student Support Services making a difference
May 18, 2020
This is the seventh installment in a series of employee spotlights for Ashland Community and Technical College to highlight how faculty and staff are helping students while working remotely.
Despite the change in delivery method, ACTC’s employees are dedicated to providing the best support possible to its students.
Name: Megan Horne
City of Residence: Flatwoods, Ky.
Education: Master’s in Adult and Higher Education (2005)
Role(s) at ACTC and how you interact with students: Director, Student Support Services and adjunct instructor for various student development
courses
How long have you been with ACTC? Since July of 2006 – 14 years
What are your favorite things about working at ACTC? I love getting to work with students – I truly enjoy helping them achieve their educational
goals and developing new skills along the way.
Special accomplishments while working at ACTC? I am very grateful and honored to have the opportunity to teach special topics courses
as an instructor at ACTC. I love being an advisor, which is its own form of teaching,
but instructing at the college level has been challenging and very gratifying.
How would your co-workers describe you? I would say they think I am passionate about serving students, that I am creative
with new ideas to better serve students and someone who is willing to put in the hard
work to see those ideas come to fruition.
Who is your biggest role model and why: My mother – and I talk about her with my students all of the time. She was a single
mother who worked full-time raising three kids and I’m the youngest. She entered college
when I was in middle-school and she didn’t even drive until I was halfway through
high school. She was a clerk at the county courthouse, took the city bus each day
to work, and attended college at night to earn a two-year paralegal degree. Her associate
degree then turned into a bachelor’s degree and eventually a master’s degree in counseling.
After many years as a nursing home administrator and substance abuse therapist, she
decided to do alternative licensure to become a special education teacher. About 30+
years later and about to turn 70 in November, she is still teaching even though she
could have retired several years ago, and just recently took a break from her after
school job as a family therapist. Aside from working circles around most people, she
is extremely intelligent and passionate about helping those who struggle. I use her
story because I see my mother (and myself) in the students I work with and many of
our students can relate to her story. But I also try to remind them that her children
(and our successes) are byproducts of her work ethic and value for education. I firmly
believe that she paved the way for me and two older brothers to achieve college degrees
and long-term careers – that the trajectory of our lives changed dramatically when
she decided to go to college. If the students I work with learn one thing, I hope
it is…Success = BET (Belief x Effort x Time). BET on yourself – you are your best
investment. With the right mindset (belief) and hard work (effort), you can achieve
your educational goals. But it doesn’t happen overnight (time)…your college education
is a marathon (or several marathons…with hurdles and potholes and windy roads), not
a sprint. Your personal investment and sacrifice now can pay off in dividends – for
you and for those you love – as you earn a college education
How are you assisting students during the pandemic and what should students know about
your area of service during this time? SSS has tried to be innovative and flexible in terms of meeting the needs of our
students. We are advising, tutoring, teaching and having regular staff meeting over
Zoom (because it was a quick tool for everyone to learn and use). Probably the highlight
so far was a Jeopardy study session for a big test that we held over Zoom. It is something
they look forward to in the classroom, so we did it over Zoom and it worked pretty
well. Certainly we miss the live and in-person interaction, but it was a fun way to
go over course content and perhaps a good distraction for students who are stranded
at home. We are also emailing with students like crazy and of course reaching out
to students through other modes of communication like phone and Facebook. Many of
our staff members are also working on Quizlet to create study tools for students in
the future. In general, I would want students to know that we are here for them and
we care. We want them to be successful…and can help them negotiate the academic side
of the pandemic. We can also just be a friendly person to chat with if they feel isolated,
disconnected, or anxious. I think another thing that I will never forget is getting
to know my colleagues and students on another level, as we meet so frequently over
Zoom and open our homes to each other. We have seen the inside each other’s homes,
gotten to know each other’s pets and some family members, and our students have gotten
to know us on a more personal level. It is a bonding experience that I will always
cherish and has laid the foundation for ways I hope we continue to interact, even
after we are no longer forced to be “remote.”
Name: Rebecca Gilliam
City of Residence: Olive Hill, Ky.
Education: Bachelor of Social Work
Role(s) at ACTC and how you interact with students: Program Assistant
How long have you been with ACTC? 5 years
What are your favorite things about working at ACTC? My favorite things about working at ACTC are helping students succeed by obtaining
their goals and the people I am lucky enough to work with every day.
Special accomplishments while working at ACTC? While at ACTC I have had the opportunity to lead student success seminars, provide
mentoring and lead many student activities.
How would your co-workers describe you? I would say they would describe me as outgoing, involved in student affairs and passionate
about helping others.
Who is your biggest role model and why: I do not have a specific person I consider a role model. I see qualities in many
people I admire and I identify areas where I can improve daily. I see myself in many
of the students I work with and I try to incorporate the aspects I have identified
into conversations with them to help them look inside and outside themselves to grow.
I would hope they would become their own role model.
If the students I work with learn one thing, I hope it is… I hope the students I work with learn that they have the power to make their dreams
come true. I want students to learn that with effort, time, and hard work they can
reach their goals. I would also want them to learn that their past does not determine
their future, they can overcome and move forward.
How are you assisting students during the pandemic and what should students know about
your area of service during this time? I am available to answer general questions and to provide mentoring and tutoring.
I have been creating Quizlet sets to assist students with studying online. If students
have any questions they can email or message me and I will be happy to help.
Name: Ron McDavid
City of Residence: Catlettsburg, Ky.
College education/degrees (with years): Master’s Degree in Career and Technical Education (2006)
Role(s) at ACTC and how you interact with students: Assistant director of Student Support Services TRIO Program that serves first generation,
low income and disability students. Providing ongoing advising, transfer advising,
mentoring, tutoring services and teaching. My main workload is targeted toward the
technical programs and students of those programs. Plus providing academic advising
to students in all academic programs.
How long have you been with ACTC? 17 Years and 14 years within Student Support Services.
What are your favorite things about working at ACTC? Connecting with students, and
some of my advisees have come full circle from student to becoming full-time employees
at ACTC. Now we all work together in assisting students for success at the college.
Special accomplishments while working at ACTC? Teacher Excellence Awards and Staff Recognition.
How would your co-workers describe you? Supportive, caring, positive, willing to go
above and beyond for the student.
Who is your biggest role model and why: Family - loving and supportive
If the students I work with learn one thing, I hope it is… Never give up, ask questions, find resources and finish your degree.
How are you assisting students during the pandemic and what should students know about
your area of service during this time? Being available online to the students and faculty. Assisting students with services
through electronic media as emails, zoom and phone. Building summer and fall class
schedules and connecting students to other offices as admission, financial aid etc..,
when needed. Connecting with faculty to provide assistance and informing we have tutors
that are available through online resources for the students. SSS staff are staying
connected through electronic means to provide the sharing of key information during
this pandemic.
Name: Susan Wurts
City of Residence: Flatwoods, KY
Education: Associate in Science, ACTC 2006; Bachelor of Arts, Morehead State University 2009;
Master of Arts, Morehead State University 2015 (adult and higher education); Associate
in Arts, ACTC 2017; Associate in Applied Science, ACTC 2019, Business Administration
(Business Accounting and Business Management Tracks)
Role(s) at ACTC and how you interact with students: Academic coordinator with Student Support Services, adjunct mathematics instructor.
How long have you been with ACTC? I started working part-time for Student Support Services in 2005 as a peer tutor.
I started working full-time for Student Support Services in 2014 as an academic coordinator.
What are your favorite things about working at ACTC? The family atmosphere and interacting with the wonderful students, staff, and faculty
Special accomplishments while working at ACTC? Nominated for Teaching Learning Excellence Award; Staff Executive Council member.
How would your co-workers describe you? Busy, cares about students and co-workers and has a unique sense of humor.
Who is your biggest role model and why? My parents. They are hard-working and have an impeccable work ethic.
If the students I work with learn one thing, I hope it is… Obviously, I want them to learn the mathematics concepts since I teach math, but
I also want them to use all resources available to achieve their goals.
How are you assisting students during the pandemic and what should students know about
your area of service during this time? I created a Facebook page for each of my classes so students can still interact with
their classmates and ask/answer questions. I also hold weekly Zoom class meetings.
I have my computer on all day at home, so I can read and respond to emails quickly.
I am also available to have video chats on Facebook, phone conversations or video
meetings. We are still here to help.