Regional Opportunity Initiatives (ROI) has launched the third cohort of its Career Coaching Fellowship. Twenty-two individuals serving across the Indiana Uplands as school counselors, career coaches, work-based and internship coordinators, teachers, and adult educators are participating in the 2024-2025 academic year.
This year-long program focuses on developing regionally relevant career connections for students and articulated pathways that lead to high-opportunity and high-wage jobs in the Indiana Uplands. Over the course of the Fellowship, participants will engage in professional development, connect with regional employers, and learn about opportunities that will support their students as they pursue post-secondary paths and careers.
| ROI Career Coaching Fellowship – Cohort 3 | ||||
| First Name | Last Name | Organization | Position | Counties |
| Coriann | Arts | Southridge High School | College and Career Counselor | Dubois |
| Megan | Baldwin | North Lawrence Career Center | College & Careers Instructor and Work-Based Learning Coordinator | Lawrence |
| Jesse | Bissey | Washington Community Schools | Career Coach | Daviess |
| Megan | Connelly | Brown County High School | Work-Based Learning Coordinator | Brown |
| Brian | Consley | Salem High School | Classroom Teacher | Washington |
| Haley | Cook | Bloomington North High School | Career Coach | Monroe |
| Sarah | Craig | The Academy of Science & Entrepreneurship & Bloomington Graduation School | Career Coach | Monroe |
| Brian | Dodd | Northeast Dubois Jr/Sr High School | Career Coach | Dubois |
| Mychal | Doering | Owen Valley High School | Career Coach | Owen |
| Kylie | Gilbertson | Bedford North Lawrence High School | Career Coach | Lawrence |
| Susan | Harrington | Edgewood High School | Career Coach | Monroe |
| Heather | Hawkins | Loogootee High School | Counselor | Martin |
| Jessica | Holtsclaw | Shakamak High School | Career Coach | Greene |
| Ken | Howard | Eastern Greene High School | Assistant Principal | Greene |
| Cory | Joy | Brown County High School | Career Coach | Brown |
| Melissa | Lottes | Barr-Reeve Jr/Sr High School | Career Coach | Daviess |
| Kelsey | Moody | White River Valley School District | High School Guidance Counselor | Greene |
| Abigail | Ritchey | Bloomington High School South | Career Coach | Monroe |
| Libby | Rubacha | The Collaboration of Shoals, Mitchell, & Orleans Schools (COSMOS) | Career Coach | Lawrence/ Martin/Orange |
| Matt | Wadsworth | Edgewood High School | Business Teacher & WBL Coordinator | Monroe |
| Murphy | Wheeler | Orleans Jr. Sr. High School | Classroom Teacher | Orange |
| Amy | Winkler | Edgewood High School | Counselor | Monroe |
For the third cohort, ROI anticipated welcoming 12 fellows into the program this year but was able to accept 22 new fellows, thanks to funding provided by the Indiana Commission for Higher Education (CHE). ROI was one of 28 organizations awarded funding in June by CHE to further meaningful career coaching opportunities across Indiana. Read more about the Indiana CHE Career Coaching Grant:https://www.in.gov/che/files/240620_RELEASE_Career-Coaching-Grant-Recipients.pdf
“ROI is incredibly grateful for CHE’s investment in the Uplands region,” said Vice President of Talent Development Michi McClaine. “Working closely with K-12, post-secondary, and employer partners in the Uplands, we can create real-world career connections for students, and this grant will allow resources to directly impact students’ post-secondary and career decisions.”
The Fellows in the third cohort, combined with ROI’s previous two cohorts, bring the total to 59 Fellows that will have participated in ROI’s career coaching program. This vibrant community of practice extends to all 11 counties of the Indiana Uplands region.
McClaine explained that the region’s long-term growth depends on developing and attracting a skilled workforce. “It is up to us to make the connections that will allow students to find their passion in some of the amazing opportunities that are available in the Uplands. Career Coaches act as vital links by employing innovative, research-driven practices in their schools. The goal of the Fellowship is to increase the number of students that pursue and complete relevant pathways that lead to successful post-secondary opportunities, continued education, or high-opportunity employment in the Indiana Uplands.”
“The third cohort of the Career Coaching Fellowship is an inspiring group,” added McClaine. “We are proud to bring together such a diverse group, poised to positively impact thousands of K-12 students and adult learners in the Indiana Uplands region.”
ROI’s Career Coaching Fellowship will participate in monthly professional development programs and connect with regional and statewide career partners and resources.
This cohort will form an active regional career coaching network, build relationships with employer and community partners, and model successful evidence-based career coaching within their organizations. Upon completing the fellowship year, fellows will also receive a $2,000 stipend and other relevant supporting resources and materials.
Read more about ROI’s Career Coaching Fellowship:
https://regionalopportunityinc.org/career-coaching-fellowship/
About Regional Opportunity Initiatives
Regional Opportunity Initiatives (ROI) is a nonprofit organization with a mission to advance economic and community prosperity in the 11 counties of the Indiana Uplands (Brown, Crawford, Daviess, Dubois, Greene, Lawrence, Martin, Monroe, Orange, Owen, and Washington counties). ROI is growing potential and possibility through a focus on advanced industry sectors, regionalism, transformative school and workforce redesign, and placemaking strategies. To learn more about ROI’s programs, visit https://regionalopportunityinc.org/.