Staff

Alison Shields

Assistant Director, Upward Bound, TRIO
Location: Booth Library
Phone: 304-637-1807
Email: [email protected]

“It is extremely rewarding to watch our students grow into mature young adults that are prepared for their post-secondary education experience.  Each student becomes part of the UB family that will forever be connected through TRIO.”

-Alison Shields

In her role with Davis & Elkins College Upward Bound, Alison plans and implements the qualitative program to assist first generation/low-income students in preparing for, gaining entrance to and graduating from post-secondary education. The year-round program includes a six-week summer residential program that serves 50-plus students from two counties. She helps continually evolve the program in order to maintain the interest and commonalities of today’s youth. Her duties also include data recording and follow through, detailed budgeting and implantation and ongoing use of modern technology, tools and resources.

Education:

M.A. Reading, West Virginia University, Morgantown, W.Va.
B.S. Education and Human Resources, West Virginia University

Experience:

Alison has a more than 20 years of diverse experience working with youth and families through classroom education, extra-curricular activity planning, advocacy, parental support and outreach services. Prior to joining Upward Bound, she worked at Youth Health Service as the children’s service coordinator and a case manager and basic living skills teacher. In those positions, she planned and maintained quality services for children, supervised and trained employees in behavioral health components, monitored billing procedures, worked closely with administrative staff to plan and facilitate communications, developed new business through referrals and group presentations, completed goal planning and follow through advocacy, planned and implemented small group activities, and advocated throughout the community, schools and agency.

Training:

Alison has completed numerous training and certification programs, including TRiO Regulations Tracking and Performance Reporting, CPR and first aid, client centered play therapy, OSHA, FAFSA and West Virginia Financial Aid, behavioral management, development assessments for children, Title IX, suicide prevention, driver’s safety, Who Moved My Cheese, Ruby Payne’s Understanding Poverty, Summer Food Service and Nutritional Program, Appalachian Cultures & Traditions: Breaking Molds, Cellphones as Learning Tools, and Designing Virtual Field Trips.

Activities:

Alison is a member of the West Virginia Association of TRiO Personnel and Mid-Eastern Association of Equal Opportunity Program Personnel (MEAEOPP). She has participated in the MEAEOPP conference; a round table with the Davis & Elkins College Office of Admission, Upward Bound participants and former United States Senator Jay Rockefeller; State of Education in WV; and an organized volunteer presentation by Patch Adams. She has also served as a Mountain State Forest Festival committee chairman.