Meet the Team: Alabama
Melanie Jacobi Rhodes, Alabama State Director
Melanie Jacobi Rhodes is a native of Pensacola, FL and graduated from Stetson University, in 2004 with a B.A. in sociology and Spanish. While in school, she was the captain of the rowing team, volunteered with… Read More >
Channing Kennedy Bethke, National Program Director
Channing Kennedy Bethke, a native of Athens, Alabama, graduated magna cum laude from Birmingham-Southern College in May 2009 with a B.A. in history and political Science and a Distinction in Leadership Studies. Read More >
Kaitlin Nobles, Grants Manager
Kaitlin Nobles, a native of Pinson, AL, graduated cum laude from Birmingham-Southern College in 2011 with a Bachelor of Science in economics. Read More >
Rebekah McMahen, Fiscal Officer
Rebekah migrated to the sunny south to attend Samford University, where she received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design. In 2015 Rebekah joined the Impact America team as an AmeriCorps Member, and now serves as Fiscal Officer. Read More >
Karli Boulware, AmeriCorps Member
SaveFirst Senior Training Coordinator
Karli Boulware, a native of Greenville, AL, graduated magna cum laude from The University of Alabama, where she majored in Accounting. Read More >
Maggie Baucom, AmeriCorps Member
SaveFirst Volunteer Coordinator
Maggie Baucom was born and raised in Louisville, Kentucky. She moved to Birmingham in 2012 to attend Samford University, where she graduated cum laude in 2016. Read More >
Jessica Chriesman, Media Production Coordinator
Jessica Chriesman hails from Birmingham, Alabama, the Magic City. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in filmmaking and a Bachelor of Science in psychology from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Read More >
Chris Murphree, AmeriCorps Member
SaveFirst Training Coordinator
Christopher Murphree, a native of Birmingham, AL, graduated from the Sewanee: The University of the South in 2016 with a bachelor's degree in American Studies and minors in education and history. Read More >
Mary Kate Thomas, SaveFirst Director
Born and raised in Memphis, TN, Mary Kate graduated cum laude from Samford University in 2016. Read More >
Sheila Blair, AmeriCorps Member
SaveFirst Community Outreach Coordinator
Sheila Blair graduated magna cum laude from New York University, where she majored in anthropology. Read More >
Jimika Colvin, Senior Program Officer
Born and raised in Birmingham, Alabama, Jimika Colvin holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English with a minor in human development and family studies from Auburn University. Read More >
Alyx Hawkins, AmeriCorps Member
SaveFirst Training Coordinator
Alyx Hawkins, a native of Birmingham, graduated in 2017 magna cum laude from Auburn University with a degree in health services administration and minors in business and history. Read More >
Declan McBride, Senior AmeriCorps Member
SpeakFirst High School Coach
Declan McBride returned from Surrey, England to study Sociology at Wittenberg University, where his senior thesis focused on institutional racism surrounding Ohio Election Law. Read More >
Jamie McClintock, AmeriCorps Member
SpeakFirst Middle School Coordinator, CollegeFirst Coordinator
Jamie McClintock, a native of Birmingham, Alabama, graduated summa cum laude from Auburn University in 2017, with a BA in English: Public and Professional Writing and a minor in French. Read More >
Kaitlyn Roberts, Recruitment Director
Born and raised in Hoover Alabama, Kaitlyn Roberts, graduated magna cum laude with University Honors from the University of South Alabama with a major in chemistry in 2017 Read More >
Meredith Smith, FocusFirst Director
Meredith Smith, from Homewood, AL, graduated cum laude from Auburn University with a major in Political Science and minor in Community and Civic Engagement. Read More >
Catherine McIntyre, AmeriCorps Member
FocusFirst Coordinator
Catherine McIntyre, raised in Anderson, South Carolina, graduate Clemson University in 2017 with a major in psychology and a minor in legal studies. Read More >
Mitch McCollum, Deputy Fiscal Officer
Mitchell McCollum was born in Atlanta, Georgia and raised in Birmingham, Alabama. He graduated from Hampden-Sydney College in 2017 with a B.A. in economics and business. During college, he was a member of the Phi… Read More >
Malee Galloway, Program & Fiscal Associate
Malee Galloway calls Hayden, Alabama home. She graduated cum laude from Samford University, where she majored in political science and minored in philosophy. As a student, she served on Student Judiciary Counsel and maintained an… Read More >
Marissa Musk, Program Officer
Marissa Musk, a native of Muskegon, Michigan, graduated with honors from Michigan State University with a degree in biomedical laboratory science. While in school, she was an active member of her community service fraternity, Alpha… Read More >
Madison Bentley, AmeriCorps Member
Madison Bentley, a native of Northport, Alabama, graduated summa cum laude from the University of Alabama in 2018. She majored in business with a specialization in global business and minored in German, which lead her… Read More >
David Beutel, AmeriCorps Member
Born in Alabama but raised in Calhoun, Georgia, David graduated magna cum laude in 2018 from Samford University with a triple major in history, Spanish, and global studies. While at Samford, David completed the University… Read More >
Jenny Blazic, AmeriCorps Member
Jenny Blazic, a native of Cincinnati, Ohio, graduated with honors from the University of Chicago in 2017 with a major in classics. As an undergraduate, Jenny was a member of the cross country team, the… Read More >
DeJa Body, AmeriCorps Member
DeJa graduated summa cum laude from Alabama State University in 2017. She earned her B.A. in political science with a minor in history. As an undergraduate DeJa served as President of ASU's Model United Nations… Read More >
Robin Cameron, AmeriCorps Member
FocusFirst Coordinator
Robin Cameron is a native of Birmingham, Alabama. She graduated from The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) where she majored in biology and double minored in chemistry and public health. As an undergraduate, Robin… Read More >
Allison Carley, AmeriCorps Member
Allison Carley was born and raised in Greenville, South Carolina, and graduated with honors from Clemson University in 2018. At Clemson she completed her degree in health sciences with a minor in psychology. During her… Read More >
Carrie Clower, AmeriCorps Member
Carrie Clower grew up in Birmingham, Alabama, and graduated magna cum laude with honors from The University of Alabama in 2017 with a BA in political science and communication studies and a minor in German.… Read More >
Casey Cunningham, AmeriCorps Member
A native of Greenville, South Carolina, Casey graduated summa cum laude from Samford University in May 2018 with majors in English and Spanish and a minor in social entrepreneurship. During her time at Samford, she… Read More >
Eleanore Denegre, AmeriCorps Member
SpeakFirst High School Coach
Eleanore Denegre, originally from Billings, Montana, graduated from Reed College in 2018 with a Bachelor of Arts in sociology. Her senior thesis focused on the role of gender and race in the creation of artificial… Read More >
Katie Eaves, AmeriCorps Member
From Ardmore, Alabama, Katie graduated cum laude from the University of Alabama with a bachelor of science in commerce and business administration. She majored in economics with a specialization in public policy and law. She… Read More >
Ronterika Exford, AmeriCorps Member
Ronterika Exford, a native of Montgomery, Alabama, graduated magna cum laude from The University of Alabama in 2018 where she majored in criminal justice and completed a minor in English. During her undergraduate career, Ronterika… Read More >
Charlotte Gemes, AmeriCorps Member
Hailing from Bronxville, NY, Charlotte Gemes graduated from the University of Virginia. She studied human biology and graduated summa cum laude. While at UVA, Charlotte was the founder of Team One Love, which educates about… Read More >
Katie Heroux, AmeriCorps Member
Born and raised in Taunton, Massachusetts, Katie Heroux graduated cum laude from Villanova University in 2018 with a double major in history and classical studies and a concentration in peace and justice. As an undergraduate,… Read More >
Tyler Hill-Whatley, AmeriCorps Member
Tyler Hill-Whatley is a native of Birmingham, Alabama. In 2018, she graduated cum laude from The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) where she majored in public health with a concentration in global health studies. While in… Read More >
Roger Johnson, AmeriCorps Member
Roger Johnson, born and raised in Birmingham, Alabama, attended Rhodes College where he graduated magna cum laude in May 2018. Roger majored in history and minored in Greek and Roman studies. At Rhodes, Roger was… Read More >
Dee Kendrick, AmeriCorps Member
Dee Kendrick, a native of Birmingham, Alabama, attended the University of Alabama at Birmingham and graduated with a bachelor's degree in public health and African American studies. As an undergraduate, Dee served as Social Chair… Read More >
Kiana Kennamore, AmeriCorps Member
FocusFirst Coordinator
Born and raised in Florence, Alabama, in 2017 Kiana Kennamore graduated from The University of Alabama, where she double majored in African American Studies and human environmental sciences. As an undergraduate, Kiana served as founder… Read More >
Catherine Li, AmeriCorps Member
Catherine Li was born in Washington DC, and raised in China and Singapore. She graduated from Cornell University with a major in bioengineering and minors in inequality studies and biomedical engineering. While in school, Catherine… Read More >
Liz Macro, AmeriCorps Member
Media Production Fellow
Liz Macro, a native of Des Moines, Iowa, graduated summa cum laude from Creighton University in 2018. She graduated with a double major in graphic design and history and a minor in dance. As an… Read More >
Will McCrary, AmeriCorps Member
Hailing from Moody, Alabama, Will McCrary graduated summa cum laude from the University of Alabama with a double major in history and anthropology. At Alabama, he was part of the Honors College and Emerging Scholars… Read More >
Honour McDaniel, AmeriCorps Member
FocusFirst Coordinator
Honour McDaniel, a native of Nashville, Tennessee, completed a Bachelor's in public health with a certificate in health communication at the University of Kentucky. While at UK, Honour spent most of her time conducting research… Read More >
Tommie Pearson, AmeriCorps Member
Tommie was born in Sumter, South Carolina, raised in Westchester Co., New York, and recently graduated from Binghamton University, The State University of New York. He majored in political science. As an undergraduate, Tommie served… Read More >
Lawrence Perry, AmeriCorps Member
Lawrence, a native of Birmingham Alabama, graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 2018, with a B.A. in political science and philosophy, politics and economics (PPE) and minor in consumer psychology. At Penn, Lawrence was… Read More >
Eddie Randall, AmeriCorps Member
Edwin Randall, native of Hoover, Alabama, graduated magna cum laude from the University of Alabama with a degree in psychology in 2018. As an undergraduate, Edwin served as a Lead Volunteer for the Every Move… Read More >
Maggie Selesky, AmeriCorps Member
Maggie Selesky, a native of Birmingham, graduated summa cum laude from the University of Alabama with a B.S. in biology and a B.A. in Italian. While at university, she served as the Chief Marketing Officer… Read More >
Ellie Stayner, AmeriCorps Member
Media Production Fellow
Ellie Stayner was born in Burlington, Vermont, and raised in Birmingham, Alabama, then traveled west for college. In 2017, she earned a degree with honors in film and digital media with a concentration in film… Read More >
Johnny Thurber, AmeriCorps Member
Johnny Thurber grew up in Bethesda, Maryland and recently graduated from Wake Forest University where he majored in psychology and minored in film and media studies. He served on the executive board as Event Support… Read More >
Mercedes Vinson, AmeriCorps Member
Mercedes Vinson hails from Tuscaloosa, Alabama. In 2018, she graduated from The University of Alabama at Birmingham with a major in political science and minor in African American studies. During undergrad, Mercedes served as the… Read More >
Alex Watts, AmeriCorps Member
Hailing from Alabaster, Alabama, Alex Watts graduated cum laude from the University of Alabama in 2018 where he double-majored in economics and mathematics with a minor in Italian. While in school, Alex performed in a… Read More >
Ayanna Wedgeworth, AmeriCorps Member
Born and raised in Birmingham, Alabama, Ayanna Wedgeworth holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from The University of Alabama, where she majored in Communications with a minor in Gender and Race studies. As an undergraduate,… Read More >
Maddie Wyatt, AmeriCorps Member
Maddie Wyatt is from Thomasville, North Carolina, a small town with a once-thriving furniture industry that is now relegated to the shadows cast by a 30-feet-tall "Big Chair" landmark featured in the center of town.… Read More >
Nathan Yoguez, AmeriCorps Member
Born and raised in Los Angeles county of California, Nathan Yoguez graduated from Samford University in 2016, where he majored in philosophy and religion and minored in medical ethics, and from Louisiana State University Health… Read More >
Peyton Yurk, AmeriCorps Member
Born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia, Peyton Yurk graduated summa cum laude from The University of Alabama with a major in human development and family studies and a minor in psychology. During her undergraduate years,… Read More >
Staff and corps members for
Impact America is an AmeriCorps Program.
