Ms. Kelli King – Ms. King is entering her third year as the Program Coordinator for the William H. Thompson Scholars Learning Community. Before relocating to Nebraska, Ms. King lived in New York City where she was attending the Teachers College of Columbia University. Although she is a native of Detroit, Michigan, she has spent a number of years in Des Moines, Iowa with her family. She attended the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and earned a Bachelor of Science in Education and a Bachelor of Arts in History. She also graduated from Nebraska Wesleyan University with a Masters in Historical Studies. Prior to continuing her graduate work at Columbia University, she taught a myriad of social studies courses in a variety of schools.
Dr. June Griffin – Dr. Griffin is the Faculty Coordinator of the William H. Thompson Scholars Program and an Assistant Professor of Practice in the Department of English. She is a specialist in writing and pedagogy with a particular emphasis on the use of digital technology in teaching. As the Faculty Coordinator, Dr. Griffin arranges the courses offered through the learning community, provides teaching development opportunities, supports faculty teaching W.H. Thompson courses, facilitates conversations between students and faculty, and assists students in locating additional academic support as needed.
Emira Ibrahimpasic – Emira is the Associate Program Coordinator for the Program and is a higher education professional and educator with a local connection and a global perspective. As a graduate of Lincoln High School, she has strong roots to Lincoln and Nebraska. Even though she is rooted to Lincoln, Nebraska, her career and educational choices have led her across the globe. She completed her Bachelor of Arts at Hamline University in St. Paul, MN in Anthropology and Philosophy and her M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in Cultural Anthropology at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque. Her experiences studying anthropology and philosophy in Minnesota and New Mexico fueled her passion for sharing knowledge and global engagement. As Associate Program Coordinator with the W.H. Thompson Scholars Learning Community, she works to make the student experience positive and engaging.
Lindsay Wayt – Lindsay is the Senior Assistant Program Coordinator for the William H. Thompson Scholars Learning Community, and she comes from a line of educators – both her parents and several other family members have worked in education. Although her drive for helping students may come from her family, her passion for helping students to be successful in higher education comes from her own education and career experiences. She completed her B.S. in Secondary Education at UNL and went on to teach high school English for seven years. She completed her M.A. in Educational Administration – Student Affairs at UNL and is currently working on her Ph.D. in Educational Leadership, also at UNL. As Senior Assistant Program Coordinator for the William H. Thompson Scholars, she strives to help students achieve excellence.
Amy Fellhoelter – Amy is the Assistant Program Coordinator for the William H. Thompson Scholars Learning Community. Amy is joining the W. H. Thompson staff as she enters her 5th year at the University. Originally from Broadwater, NE, Amy attended Chadron State College in Chadron, NE. While completing her undergraduate degree, she discovered her desire was to positively impact college students’ experiences throughout their college careers. Amy graduated with a Master’s degree in Higher Education Administration with an emphasis in Student Affairs from UNL. After connecting with the campus and City of Lincoln, she now works to make the campus community and Lincoln home for students.
Samantha Beltran – Samantha is the Administrative Technician for the William H. Thompson Scholars Learning Community. She was born and raised in Lincoln, Nebraska. She completed her Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice at UNL and went on to work for the Lancaster County Court for over four years. She decided to continue her education at UNL and became a graduate student during fall 2012 with a focus on physical (biological) anthropology. She’s currently working on her Master of Science in Forensic Science at Nebraska Wesleyan. As the Administrative Technician for the program, Samantha is determined to help students achieve their educational and scholarship expectations.
Jess Tate – Jess is the Graduate Assistant for the William H. Thompson Scholars and is a second year Ph.d student in the Counseling Psychology program. She is originally from Waterloo, Iowa and graduated from Iowa State University with a B.S. in Psychology, Sociology, and minor in African American studies. Jess enjoys kickboxing at Farrell's gym, going to the dog park with her puppy, and socializing with friends. Jess has experience assisting students with professional development areas such as personal statements, resumes, etc.