The Gatton Academy 2009-10 Administrative and Residential Staff

Tim Gott
Director

My name is Tim Gott and I am the director of the Gatton Academy. As an educator for the past 24 years, I have had a multitude of opportunities. I have been a math teacher, high school guidance counselor, a highly skilled educator for the Kentucky Department of Education, and an elementary principal, to name a few of my roles. As the director of the Academy, all of these previous positions are rolled into one. I find working with the students here to be the greatest joy of the job. On a personal note, I am happily married to Ellen. We have 3 children, Andrew, Emily and Ryan. Between my actual family and my adopted family, I keep pretty busy. But in the spare moments, I love to fish, hike, read, juggle, bike, canoe, or any other adventurous thing I can manage.

Christopher “Pokey” Bowen, Ph.D.
Assistant Director, Counseling Services

For the past 10 years, I have worked with high school and college students as a counselor, professor, and college student affairs professional. I came to the Gatton Academy in July 2007 to serve as the Assistant Director, Counseling Services. I currently serve as the Academy’s professional counselor providing social and emotional support to the students and staff, as well as college search/preparation counseling.

I earned my Bachelor of Art’s in Psychology and my Masters of Science in Counseling Psychology from Lee University located in Cleveland, TN. I completed my Ph.D. in Counselor Education from the University of South Carolina and I am currently a Licensed Professional Counselor in South Carolina and a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor in Kentucky.

My academic and research interests include how “Giftedness” impacts behavior, relationships, & functioning, the impact of sexual orientation on satisfaction, behavior, & functioning, college student athletes, transcultural issues, childhood abuse, environmental behavior issues and addictive behaviors. I serve as an adjunct professor for the department of Counseling and Student Affairs at WKU.

I really enjoy working with Academy students. Their energy, passion, and creative nature makes everyday new and exciting. I am privileged to have the opportunity to reach out to students and help them to grow holistically and overcome challenges. The Academy students enrich my life beyond words, and I’m honored to be able to be part of their lives.

I’m originally from Camp Hill, PA, so I follow all of the northern sports teams. In my personal life, I really enjoy spending time with my son, Xander. We enjoy playing the guitar together, writing music, playing our Wii, and drawing silly cartoons. I really enjoy swimming, racquetball, and playing soccer. However, if you really know me, then you will know that watching any kind of football is one of my true passions.

Corey Alderdice, M.A.
Assistant Director, Admissions and Public Relations

Working with young people who are gifted and talented has been a part of my life since I began my undergraduate career at WKU in 2000. The following summer, I served as a residential counselor for The Center for Gifted Studies’ summer programs for middle and early high school students. Almost a decade later, I still find five weeks of each summer dedicated to SCATS and VAMPY. As I completed my B.A. and M.A. in English over the next several years, I looked forward to the opportunity to advocate for the Academy. I was happy to officially serve as Planning Coordinator in the 2006-07 preparatory year and accepted the assistant director position in summer 2007.

My academic interests include popular fictions, especially comic books and graphic novels. In Fall 2008, I taught a colloquium course for the WKU Honors College on the subject. I enjoy graphic design, blogging, and all things popular culture.

The most rewarding part of my work is meeting families and students throughout the admissions process and later as they become a part of the program. The difference this experience can make in a student’s life is tremendous. For close to a decade, I have witnessed what an environment of intellectual peers affords these students. I daily find myself engaged in quirky, yet thoughtful conversations that could only take place in this program. The students make this program what it is. I have the good fortune to share their experiences with others throughout the state and country.

April Gaskey, M.P.A.
Coordinator: Academics

Originally from Butler County, I moved to Bowling Green in 1999 while finishing up my undergraduate degree at Western Kentucky University. Upon graduating, I took my first real job working in WKU’s Office of Admissions. After 7 and 1/2 years there, I joined the Academy in April 2008 as the Academic Counselor. I returned to WKU’s classroom to earn my Masters degree in Public Administration in Spring 2008. With a total of 13 years on campus, my dad claims he sent me off to college and I just never came back!

As the Academic Counselor, I provide students with available resources to assist them throughout their academic career at the Academy while focusing on time management and study skills. I also represent the Academy on the Honors Development Board. As a WKU employee and graduate, I am an active member of Gamma Beta Phi and am serving my first year on WKU’s Staff Council.

In my spare time, I enjoy being with family, lazy days at home, bowling, perfecting my Photoshop skills, and attempting to have the most seasonally decorated office at the Academy.

Derick Strode, M.A.E.
Coordinator: Research, Internships, and Scholarships

I have been working at the Gatton Academy as the Coordinator for Research, Internships and Scholarships since October 2008. My favorite thing about working at the Academy so far is helping students get their first experience with scholar development. I earned my Bachelor’s in English Literature (’03) and my Master’s in Student Affairs in Higher Education (’07) at Western Kentucky University. My personal interests are in American literature and travel-based learning. Before joining the Gatton Team, I held positions as the International Student Adviser
and as an Admissions Counselor at WKU. When not helping Gatton students become scholars, I enjoy international travel, the Bonnaroo festival, and canoeing on the Green River.

Beth Hawke
Coordinator: Residential Life

I am a native of Hart County, Kentucky and a 2002 graduate of Western Kentucky University. I hold a Bachelor’s Degree in Human Resources Management. Following graduation, I was a manager for Walgreen Drug Stores in the Nashville, TN market for five years. I coordinate the Community Service program here at the Academy in addition to the daily management of the residence hall, residential counselors, and desk staff. I am currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Administrative Dynamics.

In my spare time, I enjoy playing guitar, collecting John Deere memorabilia, hanging out on the family farm, visiting friends and family, personal finance and going to country concerts (especially George Strait). Working with students on a daily basis is the most rewarding part of my job. My main goal is to always be accessible to students and work with them and the staff to make their residential experience the best that it can be.

Melissa Schultz, M.A.E.
Assistant Coordinator: Residence Life

I grew up in the Great Lakes State, Michigan, and graduated from Michigan State University with a bachelor’s degree in Apparel and Textile Design with minors in Applied Arts, Interior Design, and Business. After undergrad, I worked for a couple of years in the apparel industry as a designer. While this was great work experience, my interest changed and I went back to college to pursue a master’s in Higher Education Administration at the University of Arkansas. Before coming to the Gatton Academy, I worked two years at the University of New Hampshire as a Residential Hall Director.  Aside from my love for education, I enjoy traveling, playing basketball and running, being outdoors, learning about different cultures, and the creative arts.

Emily Burns
Residential Counselor

I am a native of Florida but moved to Bowling Green when I was five years old. I graduated from Bowling Green High School in 2005 and also recently obtained my undergraduate degree in Mathematics from Western Kentucky University. I have been a part of the Gatton Academy for the last two years as a Resident Assistant and Desk Worker. In my free time, I enjoy reading, writing, playing disc golf, hiking/climbing, and taking photos. My dreams include being a National Geographic photographer and having my own show on HGTV. My more immediate goals, however, include traveling abroad and volunteering on a regular basis.

Sean Giddings
Residential Counselor

I grew up in Louisville. I am pretty weird. I can play guitar and piano to a certain extent, and I like to tinker with the mandolin and ukulele. I was an English major for the sole reason that I got to read novels for school. I have a vast movie collection and I enjoy anime, manga, and almost anything to do with Japanese culture. I enjoy small groups more than crowds, but I’d rather be talking one-on-one more than anything. I am engaged and excited about the next stage of my life.

Rose Nash
Residential Counselor

I am from Hancock County, a small county near Owensboro.  I graduated from WKU with a bachelor’s degree in English Allied Language Arts and a secondary education certification.  I taught high school English for three years.  This spring, I will graduate with a Master’s degree in English Literature.  I look forward to meeting all of our new students and seeing our returners again.

Sue Meador
Residential Counselor

I was born and raised in Franklin, Kentucky. I have two older brothers and a younger sister. I played softball growing up. I love to watch basketball, especially WKU! I attended WKU and graduated in 2005, receiving degrees Sociology and Geography. I minored in Criminology. I am now in the Criminology graduate program.  I wish I could be a full-time traveler. I really want to go to France, Australia and Japan. I enjoy photography. I used to read R.L. Stine books and still have about 25 of them, now I read Stuart Woods books (his Stone Barrington Novels).

Brian Rogers
Residential Counselor

My name is Brian Rogers. I am from the bustling metropolis of South Union, Kentucky, fifteen miles south of Bowling Green.  Recently graduating from WKU with a B.S. in Biology and Philosophy, I, too, am a nerd. I like the sciences as well as rich dialogue. From Platyhelminthes to politics to Plato, I enjoy learning from a large genre of subject matter. So please feel free to catch me in the hall and strike a conversation about whatever—because I will probably be interested.

Rachel Stewart
Residential Counselor

I was born in Mississippi, where I lived for the first five years of my life.  My family then moved to Muhlenberg County, which is where I grew up.   I went to Muhlenberg North High School, where I was extremely active in band.  After high school, I attended Western Kentucky University, where I majored in Music Education (instrumental and choral).  I graduated in December 2008, and have been living in Bowling Green ever since.

Scott Wolfe
Residential Counselor

I attended Western and obtained my Bachelors of Arts in Communication and Political Science, with a minor in Criminology.   Before working here I worked in banking.  I am currently working on the prep work to get a Masters in Business.  When I am not working I like to watch TV, collect political memorabilia, and read pretty much anything including historical biographies to comic books.