Student Success Programs has hired four new employees in NDSU’s federal TRIO programs.
Tamara Blanich, the new office manager for TRIO programs, began working for NDSU in 2013 as the administrative secretary for the Office of Multicultural Programs. A Fargo native, she returned to the area in 2011 after living in New York and Chicago. She has extensive experience working as an office manager/bookkeeper for a variety of businesses, including an architecture firm and a corporate communications consulting firm.
Kenard Booker is the new TRIO Student Support Services project director. Booker was born and raised in Oklahoma. He earned his bachelor's degree in business administration and master's degree in management from University of Mary, Bismarck, North Dakota. He has been professionally associated with higher education since 1993, including stints at University of Mary, Bacone College and Connors State College. He has taught courses such as Freshman Orientation, Strategies for Student Success, Sales Management and Marketing Channels. He was a college wrestling coach for eight years, and coached 36 All-Americans and two teams to runner-up finishes at the NAIA national championships.
Kaelen Napolean became the project coordinator for TRIO McNair Scholars program this fall. She was born and raised in New Orleans. She earned her bachelor's degree in special education from Xavier University of Louisiana. She is a former special education teacher and has taught in both Louisiana and Pennsylvania prior moving to North Dakota. She completed her master’s degree in educational leadership from NDSU this fall and is a member of Phi Kappa Phi honor society.
Scott Norenberg recently started as the new English and Study Skills instructor for TRIO Student Support Services. He earned his bachelor's degree in English from Minnesota State University Moorhead and his master's degree from Iowa State University. Norenberg has worked at MSUM, Iowa State, Oklahoma State and, most recently, NDSU as a lecturer in the English Department. He taught First Year Composition, Honors Composition, Creative Writing, Critical Analysis and Writing and Poetic Forms.
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