Agile Project Management Community of Practice
- Clint Coffey (he, him, his) - Business Systems - Applications Specialist. Clint has been at App State since 2005, first as an undergraduate, then as a staff member in the Registrar’s Office and now Business Systems. Clint has worked on technology project implementations with many areas on campus including Enrollment Management, Academic Affairs, Finance and Administration, Institutional Integrity and more. In 2023 Clint earned the Project Management Professional (PMP) certification from the Project Management Institute (PMI) which among other things, focuses on Agile project management. Outside of work Clint enjoys doing anything outdoors with his wife Jenny and two daughters. Clint loves working at AppState because it’s fulfilling to help others invest in themselves. Contact Clint at coffeycg1@appstate.edu.
- Julie Taubman (she/her) - ITS - Director of Project Management Office. Julie began working at the University in 2009, hired as the University’s first Research Compliance Officer in the Office of Research, and moved to ITS for an IT Project Manager position in 2014. Julie earned a MS in Computer Science, Certified Scrum Master (CSM) certification and a Project Management Professional (PMP) certification. She previously co-led an Agile Community of Practice at Appalachian with the goal to foster and develop Agile practices at the University, and co-chaired the UNC Cause Project Management Special Interest Group (2022-2024). She loves working at Appalachian because of the wonderful faculty, staff and students, beautiful location, and the opportunity to work in higher education and to advance IT initiatives. Outside of work, Julie loves reading, gardening and yoga; and spending time with her family and friends. Contact Julie at taubmanjl@appstate.edu.
Staff Parents of Young Children
- Heather Jo Mashburn (she/her) serves as the Director of Community-Engaged Leadership and has worked at Appalachian for the last ten years. She is the mom of two children, a tiny toddler and a current kindergartner. Heather Jo enjoys cooking, gardening, live music, and spending time with her young family. Heather Jo loves the support she has received while working at Appalachian and believes that Boone offers a great place to raise a family. Contact Heather Jo at mashburnhj@appstate.edu.
- Holly Benson-McQueen (she/her) serves as an Assistant Director of Student Employment. Holly is a two-time graduate from Appalachian State University with a BS in Sociology and a MA in Student Affairs Administration. Holly is passionate about connecting students with meaningful employment opportunities and experiences on campus during their educational career. In her free time, Holly spends time with her two-year old daughter, husband, and furbabies watching Football, reading new books, and taking walks at the Greenway. Contact Holly at bensonhn@appstate.edu.
- Laura Pell (she/her) serves as an Associate Director for Employer Relations and Marketing at the Career Development Center. Laura is a two-time graduate from Appalachian State University with a BS in Elementary Education and a MA in Higher Education. Laura is passionate about creating opportunities for meaningful connections and networking between students and employers through events, career fairs, and more. In her free time, Laura loves spending time with her two-year-old son, husband, and dog, Bear, trying new recipes, gardening, and exploring the High Country. Contact Laura at pelllr@appstate.edu.
- Summer Wisdom (she/her) serves as an Associate Director in Community-Engaged Leadership and is an alumna of Appalachian. Her two living daughters are 10 months old and 3 and a half, and she also has 3 angel babies. Summer likes to swim, make art and play outside with her kiddos. She’s excited to connect with other parents of young children for tips, tricks, commiseration, and celebration. Contact Summer at wisdomss@appstate.edu.
Transitioning to the High Country
- Brandon Hrovat (he/him) - Learning and Organizational Development Consultant, Office of Human Resources. Brandon is a lifelong learner who has spent time in both corporate L&D spaces and Public Education. As someone who has moved from out of state to work (and attend classes) at App State, Brandon truly enjoy the setting, activities, and people of Boone. However, with that being said, Brandon also understand the challenges that come with starting a new career in a remote area. Contact Brandon at hrovatb@appstate.edu.
- Katharine Johnson (she/her) - Director of College Success Seminar, University College. Katharine relocated to Boone for a position with App State without any previous connections to the university or community. Before that, Katharine lived in predominantly suburban/urban areas. App State has provided Katharine with rewarding personal and professional growth opportunities. Even so, Katharine experienced the unique challenges of adjusting to a tight-knit community in a remote location. Contact Katharine at johnsonk4@appstate.edu.