Jon Charles, Executive Director

Prior to joining College Summit, Jon, a Bluefield, West Virginia native, was a teacher and administrator for ten years.  In addition to teaching Italian part time, Jon taught American literature and history in a gifted and talented magnet program and Theory of Knowledge in an International Baccalaureate school. In previous positions, he also served as professional development administrator and as state writing portfolio coordinator.  While education has been his primary area of experience, Jon was a buyer and collaborator in a small retail business.  Jon graduated from Transylvania University where he majored in English and history and minored in French and Italian.  After doing his initial graduate work at the University of Kentucky in educational leadership and gifted and talented education, Jon is now completing his MBA at Virginia Tech. 

 

ADVANCEMENT TEAM

Susan Shew, Development Manager

304.204.4062
A graduate of West Virginia University (M.S. Industrial & Labor Relations, 2004 and B.S. Business Administration with honors, 2003), Susan joined the College Summit team as an AmeriCorps VISTA in March 2006.  At College Summit, Susan works to build and maintain relationships with corporate, foundation, and individual donors in order to raise money and community awareness to support College Summit West Virginia. Susan is a graduate of the 2007 Leadership West Virginia class and is a member of Charleston Area Alliance’s Generation Charleston.  Susan joined the College Summit team because of her passion for education and her home state of West Virginia.

 

Jennifer Wood, Community Relations Specialist

304.561.8030
Jennifer joined the College Summit team in July 2010. She enjoys promoting the good work of College Summit in the community and working with peer leaders, alumni, and volunteers. Jennifer is a graduate of West Virginia University Institute of Technology (B.S., Business Management, 2001) and West Virginia University (M.S., Integrated Marketing Communications, 2009). Jennifer brings experience and expertise from the nonprofit and higher education sectors with interest and experience in college access.  Prior to joining to the College Summit team, Jennifer volunteered for College Summit for three years. She is passionate about College Summit because of the opportunities it provides to students and because it makes a difference in her home state.

OPERATIONS TEAM

Keri Ferro, Program Manager

304.204.4060
Keri joined the College Summit team in September 2007 and is a graduate of West Virginia State University (B.A. Education, 2002) and Marshall University (M.A., Leadership Studies, 2005).  Keri, a St. Albans native, is a former chemistry teacher in Kanawha County and also a former College Summit Advisor.  She is currently seeking a doctorate in education at Marshall University.  Keri joined the College Summit team because of her passion for education and for the opportunity to help improve college and career readiness for all students.

Billy Burdette, School Partnership Manager

304.204.4066
Billy Burdette uses his innovative spirit and experience in the public school system to encourage schools and individuals to participate in College Summit.  He attended West Virginia State University where he received a bachelor’s degree in music education.  Billy was the Director of Choral Activities at Courtland High School in Spotsylvania County, VA before joining the College Summit West Virginia team in April 2008.

 

Meghann Slaven, School Partnership Manager

304.204.4066
In April 2011, Meghann joined the College Summit team after more than four years of experience in college admissions. She has traveled extensively in West Virginia, throughout the northeastern United States, and as far south as Puerto Rico to meet with students and school administrators to promote higher education.  Meghann is a graduate of Ohio University with bachelor degrees in journalism and performance and choreography.  In her free time, she enjoys teaching Pilates and dance, working in her urban vegetable garden and playing outside with her Chocolate Labrador, Hurley.

 

Kristin Worley, School Partnership Manager

304.204.4066
A native of Parkersburg, West Virginia, Kristin joined the College Summit team in July 2010 as a School Partnership Manager and is a graduate of Marshall University where she received her bachelor’s in counseling and rehabilitation in 2005 and her master’s in school counseling in 2008. Kristin worked as a high school counselor in a College Summit partner school for two years where she also served as the school’s Upward Bound Coordinator. In her spare time, she enjoys being surrounded with my family and friends and loves to cook, travel, read, exercise, and spend time with her animals.

 

REGIONAL ADVISORY BOARD

Nikki Gray, Chair
Group Recruiting Manager, Enterprise Rent-A-Car

Scott Kaminski, Vice Chair
Partner, Balgo and Kaminski, LLC

Julie Mork, Founding Chair
Managing Director, ECA Foundation

Dr. Pamela Balch
President, West Virginia Wesleyan College                           

Dr. Hazo Carter
President, West Virginia State University

Becky Ceperley
President and CEO, The Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation

Jon Duffy
President, Jon Duffy, LLC

General Robert Foglesong
Executive Director, ALEF

Dr. Dan Foster
Senator, West Virginia Legislature

Marlene Hackett
Program Manager, Frontier Communications

Larry Salyers
Senior Vice President, United Bank

L. Newton Thomas, Jr.
Community and Business Leader

Jon Charles
Executive Director, College Summit West Virginia

Emeritus Board Members

Lloyd Jackson
President, Jackson Gas

Ed Maier
President, Maier Foundation

I. N. “Ike” Smith
Vice Chair, United Bank; President, Kanawha Roxalana Co.