This school year, career connections will continue to grow for students in the Indiana Uplands as Regional Opportunity Initiatives welcomes the newest cohort of the Career Coaching Fellowship. Twenty-one individuals serving across the Indiana Uplands as school counselors, career coaches, work-based and internship coordinators, and Preparing for College and Career teachers have stepped up to help guide students on a path to career success in the 2025-2026 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.
This year’s Fellowship consists of the following participants:
| 2025-2026 ROI Career Coaching Fellowship |
| Name | School | Position |
| Clinton Burch | Eastern Greene High School | Work-Based Learning Coordinator |
| Callie Schlemmer | Edgewood Junior High School | School Counselor |
| Yvette Karaffa | Edgewood Junior High School | Preparing for College and Careers Teacher |
| Crystal Bratton | Jackson Creek Middle School | School Counselor |
| Melody Lundin | Jackson Creek Middle School | Preparing for College and Careers & Family Consumer Science Teacher |
| Chris Adduci | Bloomington High School South | Preparing for College and Careers Teacher & Internship Coordinator |
| Beth Smith | Monroe County Community School Corporation STEM to Them Mobile Lab | STEM to Them Mobile Lab Coordinator |
| Brooke Hostetler | The Academy of Science and Entrepreneurship | School Counselor |
| Abby Schmidt | Bloomington High School North | College and Careers Coach |
| Megan Hawkins | COSMOS – Shoals | Preparing for College and Careers Teacher & Early College Director |
| Kallie Fuhrman | COSMOS – Shoals | School Counselor |
| Julia Anderson | North Lawrence Career Center | College and Careers Coach |
| Lauren Strauser | Bedford North Lawrence High School | School Counselor |
| Lesley Slaughter | COSMOS – Mitchell High School | School Counselor |
| Ben Stuck | Bedford North Lawrence High School | Preparing for College and Careers Teacher |
| Darin Powell | North Lawrence Career Center | Engineering/Electronics Teacher |
| David Keefer | Shoals Jr./Sr. High School & Washington High School | College and Careers Advisor |
| Jette Thompson | Brown County High School | School Counselor |
| Donna Alwin | Brown County High School | School Counselor |
| Eric Jochum | Greater Jasper Consolidated Schools | Career Coach |
| Aiden Minton | Paoli High School & Crawford County High School | College and Careers Advisor |
The Fellows in this newest cohort, combined with ROI’s previous cohorts, bring the total to 80 Fellows who will have participated in ROI’s career coaching program. This vibrant community of practice extends to all 11 counties of 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. The fellowship will grow leadership and expertise by providing Fellows the opportunity to:
- participate in new learning through monthly professional development,
- develop an understanding of Uplands key industry sectors and career opportunities through industry tours and career information sessions,
- connect with regional and state-wide partners and resources,
- increase capacity for connecting students with a relevant path to success through the 6-E’s: explore, engage, and experience opportunities that lead to employment, enrollment, or enlistment.
- learn effective strategies to meet the requirements of the new high school diploma deepen an understanding of high quality Career Discovery Meetings and work based learning models, and
- become part of a regional Career Coaching network.
“This is a welcome opportunity to expand the Indiana Uplands Career Coaching network,” said Michi McClaine, Vice President of Talent Development at ROI. “This newest cohort of Fellows will support a growing and responsive regional career coaching system that empowers students to pursue post-secondary pathways aligned with their interests, strengths, and regional career opportunities. We are excited for our new Career Coaches to get started.”
This latest cohort will form an active regional career coaching network, build relationships with employers and community partners, and model successful evidence-based career coaching within their organizations.
Learn more about Career Coaching Fellowships by clicking here.