Residence Life Staff
The residence life staff members who live in the residence hall are responsible for directing, guiding and supervising the students, particularly in areas of non-academic development.
The staff provides emotional support, arranges social and recreational opportunities, sets guidelines for acceptable behavior, interprets and enforces School policies, responds to problems and conflicts, and administers discipline when necessary. The residence life staff is in charge of the day-to-day operations of the residence life program and, with administrative support, has responsibility for decision-making in this area.
The residence life coordinators are professional, full-time staff members who live in the residence hall. There are four RLCs who work rotating schedules which include day, night and weekend shifts so that the students in the residence hall are supervised 24/7. The RLCs also supervise two resident assistants who also live on their floors.
The resident assistants serve as counselors, plan hall activities, help enforce guidelines, and act as liaisons between the students and staff. RAs are local college students and were chosen for their maturity, leadership, communication skills and interest in working with teenagers.
A guidance counselor is on staff to support students with both academic and emotional counseling services.
2008-09 Residence Life Staff Members
Second Floor Male
CENTER
RLC Alexander “Alex” James, of Salley, SC, recently earned his Bachelor of Arts in Communications with a minor in Graphic Design from Coker College. While at Coker, Alex worked for three years in the Residence Life Department. He also worked for four consecutive summers with the Upward Bound Math and Science-PRISM Program for high school students at Claflin University. Alex plans to pursue a master’s degree in either Communications or Higher Education and Student Affairs. His ultimate goal is to work at a college or university in the Student Affairs or Residence Life Department. He is looking forward to his second year at SCGSSM.
LEFT
RA Morgan McCarley currently lives in Hartsville SC, but spent his formative years as an Army Brat traveling around the country. He has a degree in Computer Science from Coker College and is completing his double major in math. Morgan enjoys traveling, exercising and hanging out around Hartsville.
RIGHT
RA Shane Smith is from Hickory Tavern, SC. His favorite hobbies are sports, eating, puzzles, and spending time with friends. He is a senior at Coker College majoring in Elementary Education. The upcoming year will be his second year as a Govie Resident Assistant. He is looking forward to establishing a welcoming environment and offering outstanding programs for 2008-09 school year.
Second Floor Female
CENTER
RLC Tiffany Mastle, of Lake City, SC, just finished her last year of graduate school at the University of South Carolina where she received a master's degree in Social Work. She received her bachelor’s degree in Social Work from Coker College in 2004. Tiffany has served as a RLC at GSSM for the past four years. With her master's degree Tiffany hopes to work with females and youth who are victims of human trafficking and sexual exploitation. Tiffany’s long-term career goal is to open a private practice and work with children who are victims of abuse. She enjoys traveling and spending time with family and friends.
LEFT
RA Dana Daves, of York, SC, is currently a junior at Coker College. She is majoring in psychology with a concentration in counseling and a minor in business. Dana also runs cross-country and track for Coker. Her hobbies are reading, watching movies, playing games, and spending time with her family and friends. She is looking forward to seeing everyone’s smiling faces next semester.
RIGHT
RA Kiesha Beavers, of Williamstown, NJ, is a third-year Chemistry major at Coker College who aspires to obtain her Doctorate in Pharmaceutical Studies. She is an enthusiastic person who enjoys video games, laughing with family and friends and meeting new people. She also is very excited to work with the students for this upcoming year at GSSM.
Third Floor Male
CENTER
RLC Johnny Batten is originally from Central Maine. Prior to his arrival at GSSM, Johnny spent four years working in student life at the college level in New York City. He also has worked with high school students at Upward Bound, Governor’s School Summer Science Program and the Maine School for Science and Mathematics. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Human Communication, which he earned in the University of Maine System. Currently he is pursuing his master’s degree in Psychology. Future goals include pursuing a career in Student Affairs at the high school level. Johnny's hobbies include any type of team sports and playing with his dog Scraps. He is looking forward to his third year of helping students grow during their GSSM experience!!
LEFT
Anthony Peguese, of Florence, SC, is a third-year Psychology major at Coker College. He is a fun-loving person who enjoys music, reading, laughing with family and friends and meeting new people. He also is the person who finds the silver lining in every cloud and tries to bring a smile to every bad situation. When Anthony finishes at Coker he plans to attend Winthrop and obtain his masters in Psychology. Anthony enjoys working with the students here at GSSM and could not imagine anywhere else he would rather be!
RA Johnathon Wideman, of Greenwood, SC, is a third-year Coker College student. He loves to explore the educational realm; therefore his major is elementary education. He loves to work with others and enjoys putting a smile on someone’s face. His long term goals are to complete his undergraduate work at Coker College and to further his education at a top graduate school in the US. During his spare time, he likes to hang out with friends, travel, and eat at fancy restaurants.
Third Floor Female
CENTER
RLC Cathy Thomas, of Hartsville, SC, received her Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from the University of South Carolina in 2005.This is her fourth year on staff and she comes with four years of Residence Life experience, working at USC as a Resident Adviser for first-year students. Cathy currently is in her second year of her master’s degree program in the field of Higher Education and Student Affairs. Her hobbies include traveling, reading and shopping.
LEFT
RA Gertrude Stoney, of Camden, SC, is a third-year social work major at Coker College. She enjoys meeting new people, listening to music, and shopping. She also loves helping others by volunteering in her community. Her plans after graduation are to go to USC to get her master’s degree in social work and work with children who have been abused. Gertrude is excited and cannot wait until she starts working with the students at the GSSM.
RIGHT
RA Jessica Barnes, of Moncks Corner, SC, is a third-year communications major at Coker College. She enjoys watching movies, reading, playing soccer, listening to music, and performing community service in the Hartsville area. With her communications major, she hopes to go to Howard University for grad school where she will further her studies to become a news anchorwoman for an award-winning television news station in the United States. She is a “people person” and enjoys meeting new people as well traveling to new places outside of South Carolina. She enjoys every minute of life and has learned to live life to its fullest. Jessica is very ecstatic to work with GSSM students during the 2008-2009 academic year and believes that she can learn as much from the students as they will learn from her.
