Contact Us
Rm. 138, Plemmons Student Union
P.O. Box 32145
263 Locust Street
Boone, NC 28608
Staff
Dr. Heather Jo Mashburn
(she/her)
Director
Community-Engaged Leadership
Ask me about:
- Department Info
- Community Engagement
- Spirituality
- College Women
Dr. Heather Jo Mashburn
Heather Jo provides leadership and strategic direction for all co-curricular service and community engagement opportunities and undergraduate leadership education and programming. Heather Jo believes that mutually beneficial community engagement can serve as a vehicle for student leadership, for discovering one's purpose, and for fostering deeper impact and transformation. In addition to leading CEL, Heather Jo co-directs a prestigious leadership and mentorship program for the division of Student Affairs. Heather Jo has more than twelve years of experience working in higher education having worked directly with community engagement activities, leadership development, international travel, risk management, student conduct, and scholarship programming. Outside of work, Heather Jo enjoys gardening, live music, running, and spending time with her young family.
- Ed.D. Educational Leadership | Appalachian State University
- M.A. Higher Education Administration | Georgia Southern University
Dr. Amanda Cutchens
(she/her)
Associate Director
Community-Engaged Leadership
Dr. Amanda Cutchens
Amanda oversees the relevant curricular and co-curricular initiatives within Community-Engaged Leadership. She serves as the director of the academic Leadership Studies Minor through the Reich College of Education and co-director of Plemmons Leadership Scholars. Prior to working in CEL, Amanda worked for three years in University Housing at AppState and 10 years in the Judy Genshaft Honors College at the University of South Florida Tampa campus. Amanda is passionate about leadership pedagogy and curriculum development, student identity development, and building relationships with others in the AppState and Boone communities. Outside of work, Amanda enjoys spending time with her family and friends, reading, watching movies, and going on new adventures. She and her partner, Josh, have two amazing children, Abigail and Emma, and two moody cats named Pringles and Allie.
- Ph.D. Curriculum and Instruction, emphasis Higher Education Administration | University of South Florida
- M.Ed. Curriculum and Instruction, emphasis Student Affairs | University of South Florida
Summer Wisdom
(she/her)
Assistant Director
Alternative Service Experience
Ask me about:
- Service Breaks
- Sustained Dialogue
- LGBTQ Student Services
Summer Wisdom
Summer joined Community-Engaged Leadership in 2018, after previously serving as a Learner Partner on three programs and falling for #ASEmagic. ASE gives students opportunities to lead and learn about social issues by working alongside local, regional, and global communities. Summer previously served as the Assistant Director of Alumni Affairs at Appalachian State, and was the founding director of the LGBT Resource Office at East Carolina University. Summer met her husband Hunter Boone as Mountaineer undergrads, and they welcomed their daughter Decker Jean Boone in 2020. They have three dogs - Charlie, Sophie, and Rosie.
- M.A. Sociology | East Carolina University
Dr. Joshua Kurz
(he/him)
Assistant Director
Leadership Education & Development
Ask me about:
- Trailhead
- Leadership in Action RLC
- Sociology and Culture
Dr. Joshua Kurz
Josh oversees the Trailhead Experience, Plemmons Leadership Scholars, and Leadership in Action residential learning community. Prior to joining App State in 2021, Josh taught Global Studies and Sociology at the National University of Singapore. Before pursuing a PhD, Josh worked in student affairs in a variety of roles, including two years as the Graduate Program Assistant at the Miami University Women's Center in Oxford, Ohio. Josh is passionate about working with and developing students' leadership capabilities, building community, and acting as an ally to marginalized students. In his free time he enjoys hiking, mountain biking, and photography.
- Ph.D. Comparative Studies | The Ohio State University
- M.S. College Student Personnel | Miami University
Carly May
Carly May is the Assistant Director of Community Engagement. Carly believes that mutually beneficial relationships with community partners allows for students to create positive local change, while expanding their knowledge of global social issues and leadership skills. Carly earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Human Development from University of Connecticut, and a Masters in Higher Education Student Affairs from Baylor University. Carly is looking forward to working with CEL programs and local nonprofits to serve the Boone community.
- M.S. Higher Education Student Affairs | Baylor University
Ashley Borders
(she/her)
Assistant Director
Leadership Education & Development
Ask me about:
- LEAD Team
- Leadership Workshops
- Leadership Conferences
Ashley Borders
Ashley loves creating connections with students while helping them discover their leadership potential and apply their skills to their own experiences. Ashley earned her B.S. in Communication, with a minor in Leadership from Emporia State University and her M.S. in Student Affairs Administration from Appalachian State University. In her free time, Ashley loves reading, watching reality TV, and taking her two pups on adventures.
- M.S. Student Affairs Administration | Appalachian State University
Graduate Staff
Cori Ferguson
(she/her)
Ask me about:
- Sustained Dialogue
- Book Club
- Diversity & Inclusion Initiatives
