NCCCSPA Board Members
Porscha Orndorf Media Coordinator Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College |
I grew up in a trailer park in rural North Carolina. "Redneck" may best describe the lifestyles of my friends and neighbors. I left there at 18 to go to college, and I'm thankful every day for that decision. Many folks made sacrifices so I could pursue higher education, and I intend to value their sacrifices by supporting others in their journeys.
My road to teaching was long and twisty-turny (Do we really care if these are real words?). I'm not sure I know exactly how I ended up here. One thing I do know is that my life is more valuable when I am sharing it with others. My classroom is sacred space to me, and my students are not just minds to be opened, but hearts and souls to be nurtured. Learning is hard and messy. I see my role as someone who helps students navigate the sometimes-foreign world of higher education. I believe in the importance of stepping back from myself and understanding my own life in the context of a complex social world. I feel giddy when students are able to do this for the first time. That's the power of Sociology, and that's why I love it so much. When I'm not teaching, I can generally be found hanging with my dogs and cats, my uber-nerdy wife, reading books, watching science fiction, quilting, or making clothing in my sewing room. I plan on perfecting the "boring old person" stereotype.
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Jean Cahoon Communications coordinator Pitt Community College |
I completed my undergraduate work at Elmira College in biology and psychology. I then went to UNC-Charlotte to do a MS in genetics. After completion, I worked at ECU Brody School of Medicine doing research in the Allergy/Immunology department. After a few years, it became obvious to me that I needed human interaction. I enrolled in the clinical psychology program at ECU and obtained my MA. I hold a license in NC to practice psychology, which I have done privately since 2001.
I began teaching part time at Pitt Community College in 1998. I have been an adjuncting at ECU since 2013, where I teach abnormal. In 2016 I took a full time position at PCC in the social science department as a psychology faculty member. I teach general, abnormal and developmental psychology. I take advantage of the numerous professional development offered on and off campus which helps to broaden my area of expertise and the resources I can share with my students. NCCCSPA is a wonderful organization to collaborate within and outside of my field with like-minded people who share a passion for teaching. |
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I am the Senior Director of Teaching and Learning at Pitt Community College in Greenville, NC. I have been teaching for over a decade. I have a bachelor’s degree in sociology and a master’s degree in adult education from East Carolina University. I have won numerous awards including the Excellence Award through the National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development (NISOD) and the Innovation Award through the League of Innovation. I am active member of my state’s professional association, and have given numerous presentations on flipped and blended learning.
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Happy Gingras Past-President Pitt Community College |