Klay talks with Rachael Barnett, Director, Student Support Services for a special LIVE conversation on her pioneering work in supporting first generation college students in completing undergraduate studies, at Tusculum University. She talks shop about her career journey, what drives her work and her spiritual beliefs.
Rachael Barnett is the Director of Student Support Services (SSS) at Tusculum University in Greeneville, TN. SSS is a federally-funded TRiO program that supports first-generation, Pell-eligible students as they pursue their bachelor’s degree. As a first-generation college student herself, Rachael enjoys encouraging, developing, and advising college students as they explore higher education and begin their young adult experience. Prior to joining the SSS team at Tusculum, Rachael had many wild and crazy adventures with middle school students as a school counselor in Sullivan County, TN from 2013-2017.
From 2007 – 2012, Rachael had the incredible opportunity of working with United Methodist missionaries at the General Board of Global Ministries (GM) in New York. Her work connected over 300 missionaries from all over the world to the agency and the local church for support and communication. Rachael’s connection to this work began after college, when she joined the US-2 program, a 2-year young adult mission experience with the United Methodist Church. From 1999-2001, she served at Wesley-Rankin Community Center in Dallas, TX where she worked with Mexican immigrant youth in after-school programs and the local church.
After her experience in Dallas, Rachael returned to east Tennessee and worked with another TRiO program called Upward Bound at East Tennessee State University from 2003-2007. Upward Bound prepares first-generation high school students for secondary education opportunities. Upward Bound ignited a passion for supporting and encouraging students through social and academic preparation and encouraging personal wholeness.
Rachael has a Bachelor’s degree in Mass Communications and Masters of Arts degree in School Counseling, both from East Tennessee State University. She resides in Johnson City, TN.
Contact Rachael: Instagram @tusculum_sss
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