Indiana GEAR UP Team
Current Openings
Our team is expanding! See below for available positions and links to apply.
Regional Director - Full-Time - Lafayette
External Link (for those not currently employed by Purdue): https://tinyurl.com/INGURDFT
Internal Link: (for those currently employed by Purdue): https://tinyurl.com/INGURDFTPU
Please copy and paste the appropriate link into your browser for position details and application
Regional Director - Full-Time - Indianapolis
External Link (for those not currently employed by Purdue): https://tinyurl.com/INGURDFT
Internal Link: (for those currently employed by Purdue): https://tinyurl.com/INGURDFTPU
Please copy and paste the appropriate link into your browser for position details and application
Purdue University Team Members
Dr. Virginia L.J. Bolshakova
Principal Investigator
Dr. Bolshakova is the principal investigator of the Indiana GEAR UP Program. In her role she provides logistical and conceptual oversight for the entire program, monitors budgeting and compliance, manages reporting, engages in research, and disseminates information to stakeholders. Virginia advises science work for Indiana GEAR UP and conducts research focused on out-of-school programs’ impact, community ecology, and student self-efficacy in STEM.
Dr. Terron Phillips
Co-Principal Investigator & State Director
Dr. Phillips is the state director of the Indiana GEAR UP Program. In his role, he provides oversight for the entire program, monitors budgeting and compliance, manages reporting, engages in research, and disseminates information to stakeholders. Terron, also a clinical assistant professor of educational leadership and policy, pulls from his research related to equity in postsecondary educational access to inform his work with Indiana GEAR UP.
Steve Heinold
Co-Principal Investigator & Director of School Programs
Steve Heinold is the Director of School Programs for the Indiana GEAR UP program. He provides program oversight across our nine school district partners to achieve day-to-day goals and program objectives. Steve also develops curriculum and oversees its implementation for partner school STEM programming and teacher professional development.
Tabitha Cinowski
Director of Operations
Tabitha Cinowski is responsible for all logistical aspects of the Indiana GEAR UP program. Her duties include developing processes/procedures, oversight and analysis of data to inform programming, marketing, communications, supervising tutors, training, approving, reviewing and tracking expenditures. Her background is in travel, office administration, and accounting.
Brooke Stafford
College & Career Specialist
Brooke Stafford is the College and Career Specialist for the Indiana GEAR UP program. She supports students, parents, schools, and communities across the state with programming related to career exploration, college preparation, and a successful transition from high school into postsecondary education. In this role, she enjoys helping students identify their career passions and overcome barriers to reach their educational goals. Brooke’s background is in mentorship, integrated agriculture and STEM programming, career planning with young adults, and Extension education.
Joshua Faith
Curriculum & Instruction Specialist
Joshua Faith was a Regional Director for the Indiana GEAR UP program with a specialization in mathematics and has transitioned to the Curriculum & Instruction Specialist position. Joshua works with program staff and partners to develop and deliver curriculum and instruction to staff, teachers, parents, and students. Joshua has been an educator for over 13 years in middle and high school settings, specializing in teaching mathematics to students with disabilities.
Becca Feick
Data Analyst
Becca Feick is the Indiana GEAR UP Data Analyst. She works with schools to gather required data for reporting and dissemination to stakeholders.
Austin Jenkins
Family and Community Empowerment and Engagement Specialist
Austin Jenkins is the family and community engagement and empowerment specialist for Indiana GEAR UP. In this role, Austin works collaboratively with our regional-based staff, other Indiana GEAR UP specialists, and families across the state in developing and delivering family-based programming such as monthly family diner nights, Parent University workshops, and family action groups. Through these events, Austin seeks to elevate family member voice to hold Indiana GEAR UP accountable for delivering programming that is relevant and impactful in the communities we partner with. In addition to Austin’s work with Indiana GEAR UP, he is finishing his Ph.D. in science education at Purdue University where he aims to explore family influence on middle school student science identity development.
Megan Mills
High Impact Tutoring Specialist
Megan is the High Impact Tutoring Specialist for Indiana GEAR UP. In this role she recruits, hires, and trains tutors to work directly with students in our partner schools across the state.
Kayla Jordan
Office Assistant
Kayla is the Indiana GEAR UP Office Assistant. In this role she supports all schools and staff across the state with purchasing, materials distribution, and a host of other support activities.
Regional Directors
Indiana GEAR UP Regional Directors are in charge of oversight at our partner schools. They provide instructional support to students each day during regular school time and supervise afterschool programming at their partner schools.
Anita Johnson
Regional Director, Gary Middle School & Bailly STEM Academy
Anita Johnson is a Regional Director for the Indiana GEAR UP Program based in Gary, IN. She has over twenty-five years of experience as an educator in middle school/high school education specializing in English/Language Arts (ELA). Anita was also an Educational Consultant for the State of Indiana, advocating for Indiana’s foster youth. Aside from being a West Side alum, Anita received her BS in English/Journalism Education at Indiana State University, and a MA in Adult Education and Training. As Regional Director, Anita collaborates with administrators and the building coordinator to provide educational support to teachers and students in the classroom, after-school tutoring program, community outreach support, and enrichment sessions. As of recently, she completed her certification to obtain her administrative license at Indiana Wesleyan University.
Tom Lyon
Regional Director, Muncie Northside Middle School & Southside Middle School
Tom Lyon is a Regional Director based at Muncie specializing in science curriculum. He provides educational support to administrators, teachers and students with a focus on STEM related activities, after school tutoring programs, and community outreach. Tom is recently retired from a 33 year career in education and athletics administration.
Pamela Bailey
Regional Director
Pam Bailey is a Regional Director for the Indiana GEAR UP program with a specialization in mathematics and physics. She works with students, teachers, and building coordinators to provide educational and instructional support and facilitate a tutoring program. Prior to GEAR-UP, Pam was a mathematics and physics teacher at Warren Central High School for 35 years where she specialized in a lab-based approach for teaching mathematics.
Sarah Newsom
Regional Director, Arsenal Technical HS
Sarah works at Arsenal Technical High School as the Regional Director and provides on-site educational and instructional support to both teachers and students. Her background is in science.
Turrell Jones
Regional Director, West Side Leadership Academy
Turrell is the Regional Director at West Side Leadership Academy and provides on-site educational and instructional support to both teachers and students.
Jenny Caffrey
Regional Director, Crawford County Middle & High School
Jenny is the Regional Director in Crawford County and provides on-site educational and instructional support to both teachers and students.
LaMonica Henson
Regional Director, Creston Middle School & Raymond Park Middle School
LaMonica is the Regional Director at Creston and Raymond Park Middle Schools and provides on-site educational and instructional support to both teachers and students.
Natalie Wheeler
Regional Director, Central Middle School & Maple Crest STEM Middle School
Natalie is the Regional Director at Central Middle and Maple Crest STEM Middle School and provides on-site educational and instructional support to both teachers and students.
Jayme Willan
Regional Director, H.L. Harsham Middle School & Stonybrook Middle School
Jayme is the Regional Director at H.L. Harshman Middle School and Stonybrook Middle School and provides on-site educational and instructional support to both teachers and students.
Julie Muffler
Regional Director, River Valley Middle School & Parkview Middle School
Julie is the Regional Director at River Valley & Parkview Middle Schools and provides on-site educational and instructional support to both teachers and students.
Christine Galbraith
Regional Director, Bon Air Middle School & Maconaquah Middle School
Christine is the Regional Director at Bon Air Middle School and Maconaquah Middle Schools and provides on-site educational and instructional support to both teachers and students.
Todd Gibson
Regional Director, Muncie Central High School
Todd is the Regional Director at Muncie Central High School and provides on-site educational and instructional support to both teachers and students.