Staff Listing

Administration

  • Photo of Betsey SmithBetsey Smith
    Director

    Betsey Smith serves as the RCU's director, overseeing all secondary curricula processes and providing supervision for all CTE-related activities and projects.
  • Photo of Myra PannellMyra Pannell
    Associate Director

    Myra Pannell, a senior research associate for the RCU, provides leadership and oversight of the RCU's work on innovative school initiatives.
  • Photo of Pam StaffordPam Stafford
    Assistant Director for Business Operations

    As the assistant director for business operations, Pam Stafford oversees the daily functions of the business office and the unit's operations

Operations

  • Staff Coming SoonBarry Williams
    Project Manager, Operations Manager

    Barry Williams joined the RCU in 2022. As a project manager and operations manager, he oversees the RCU’s online course management system, print shop and online registration system.
  • Amber Lynn MooreAmber Lynn Moore
    Business Manager

    Amber Lynn Moore joined the RCU in 2022 as business manager. In her role, Moore oversees the daily functions of the business office.
  • Photo of Joseph DudgeonJoseph Dudgeon
    Project Coordinator

    As the business operations project coordinator, Joseph Dudgeon coordinates all project management activities and attends to equipment and information concerns. He also maintains event plans, monitors their progress, and handles issues as they arise.
  • Photo of LynnEilandLynn Eiland
    Project Manager

    As a project manager, Lynn Eiland provides support for the annual Mississippi Association of Career and Technical Educators conference, as well as for the daily functions of the business operations unit. Eiland also provides support for proposal preparation and management.
  • Photo of Courtney MartinCourtney Martin
    Accountant

    As the RCU accountant, Courtney Martin maintains accounting ledgers and provides financial support to the unit.
  • Photo of Mhaire NickelsMhaire Nickels
    Office Associate

    As the RCU's office associate, Mhaire Nickels directs calls and helps with enquiries and other administrative duties.
  • Photo of Romika Sudduth-ConleyRomika Sudduth-Conley
    Project Manager

    As a project manager, Romika Sudduth-Conley maintains RCU inventory, processes payroll and leave, and performs a number of additional business and operational tasks.

Assessment, Research and Development

  • Photo of Ben AlexanderBen Alexander
    Research Associate III, Assessment Manager 

    Ben Alexander is a project manager at the RCU. He is responsible for analyzing data and conducting research for the unit’s assessment team.
  • Photo of Avery HollisAvery Hollis
    Project Manager

    Avery Hollis joined the RCU in 2021 as a project manager responsible for developing online high school Canvas courses through the Governor’s Emergency Education Relief (GEER) Fund.
  • Photo of Riesa BlackwellRiesa Blackwell
    Project Manager 

    Riesa Blackwell serves as a project manager for the RCU, working with educators to coordinate and develop performance-based assessments in career and technical education pathways.
  • Allison Crowson PhotoAllison Crowson
    Project Manager

    Allison Crowson joined the RCU in 2022. As a project manager on the assessment team, Crowson assists in the coordination, development, implementation and evaluation of career and technical education programs in the state.
  • Janna PaesJanna Paes
    Project Manager

    Janna Paes joined the RCU in 2022 as a project manager with the assessment team. She assists with state assessment procedures in career and technical education, including national certifications, embedded work-based learning and program quality evaluations.
  • Amy RobersonAmy Roberson
    Project Manager

    Amy Roberson joined the RCU in 2023 as a project manager supporting national certifications and Pulse scoring for school districts. She also supports work-based learning initiatives and assists with various statewide professional development opportunities for educators.
  • Photo of Bhanu ShanmugamBhanupriya Shanmugam
    Project Manager

    Bhanupriya Shanmugam is an IT project manager at the RCU. In this role, she manages and executes database and reporting projects and supports the RCU's information systems.
  • Photo of Denise SibleyDenise Sibley
    Senior Research Associate

    As a senior research associate at the RCU, Denise Sibley is responsible for conducting research and providing actionable information that contributes to the unit's secondary and special education efforts.

Communications

Curriculum

  • Photo of Courtney McCubbinsCourtney McCubbins
    Project Manager, Curriculum Manager

    Courtney McCubbins serves as a project manager for the RCU curriculum team, facilitating the curricula development and instructional design process for the agriculture, food, and natural resources pathway.
  • Photo of Angie DavisAngie Davis
    Project Manager

    Angie Davis serves as a project manager for the RCU, working with educators to develop curricula in the STEM and business, marketing, and finance pathways.
  • Photo of Rob FykeRob Fyke
    Project Manager

    Rob Fyke joined the RCU in 2021 as a project manager on the curriculum team, where he works cooperatively with educators and industry representatives to develop curricula in the health science and agriculture pathways.
  • Nathan KingNathan King
    Project Manager

    Nathan King joined the RCU in 2022 as a project manager within the curriculum team. In his role, King works with educators and industry professionals to coordinate the development and revision of curricula in STEM pathways.
  • Photo of Melissa LuckettMelissa Luckett
    Project Manager

    Melissa Luckett joined the RCU in July of 2016. As an Instructional Design Specialist, she coordinates the curricula development process for the Human Services pathway and several other programs.
  • Kyle McDill PhotoKyle McDill
    Project Manager

    Kyle McDill joined the RCU in 2022 as a project manager supporting national certification efforts, education technology training and instructional design for career and technical education.
  • Photo of Jo Ann WattsJo Ann Watts
    Project Manager

    Jo Ann Watts joined the RCU staff in 1994. As a project manager, she is responsible for all facets of the instructional-design process for the architecture and construction cluster, including curricula development and revision.

GEAR UP

  • Photo of Mandy ScarpullaMandy Scarpulla
    Director

    Mandy Scarpulla joined the RCU in 2021 and was named director of GEAR UP Mississippi in 2022. As the GEAR UP Mississippi director, she leads efforts to support the Greenville, McComb, and Meridian school districts in preparing low-income students for success in postsecondary education.
  • Altonique BinionAltonique Binion
    Project Manager

    Altonique Binion joined the RCU in 2021 as a project manager under Mississippi State University’s GEAR UP grant program. In her role, Binion works with the Greenville, McComb, and Meridian school districts in preparing low-income students for success in postsecondary education.

Professional Learning & School Innovations

  • Photo of Cindy MingCindy Ming
    Project Manager, Professional Learning Manager

    As a project manager, Cindy Ming serves as an instructional coach for the RCU and is responsible for implementing and supporting MDE's innovative school initiatives.
  • Annabelle AlsobrooksAnnabelle Alsobrooks
    Project Manager

    Annabelle Alsobrooks joined the RCU in 2021 as a part-time project manager leading multiple online licensure courses and scheduling and revising online courses for the RCU.
  • Chance CardenChance Carden
    Project Manager

    Chance Carden joined the RCU in 2022 as a project manager. In his role, Carden provides instructional coaching and supports secondary and innovative projects for the Mississippi Department of Education.
  • Photo of LaNell KellumLaNell Kellum
    Project Manager

    As a project manager at the RCU, LaNell Kellum supports the RCU's special education and secondary education efforts.
  • Adrienne MinorAdrienne Minor
    Project Manager

    Adrienne Minor joined the RCU in 2022 as a project manager on the professional learning team. In her role, Minor supports educators in their development of innovative teaching strategies and diversity in learning.
  • Anna PikeAnna Pike
    Project Manager

    Anna Pike joined the RCU’s professional learning and school innovation team in 2023 as a project manager who assists the implementation and promotion of the Mississippi Department of Education's statewide innovative school initiatives.
  • Tara ThamesTara Thames
    Project Manager

    Tara Thames joined the RCU in 2022 as a project manager supporting the RCU’s work with the Mississippi Department of Education’s Office of Special Education and Office of School Improvement.