George Poling was appointed Executive Director of Metropolitan College in July 2005 with more than 20 years of experience in higher education at both private and public institutions. George has professional experience in the areas of residence life, admissions, transfer advising, academic advising, student life, student support services along with community college teaching experience in the arts and student success strategies. George maintains professional memberships in American College Personnel Association; American Association of Community Colleges; National Council on Student Development; National Association of Student Personnel Administrators. George holds a Bachelor of Music and Master of Arts, West Virginia University.

Courtney Abboud serves as the Director of Workforce Development for Metropolitan College and participates in the shared management of the overall program, development and implementation of program policies and procedures, development and implementation of budget, and consultation of program with external agencies and organizations. Courtney oversees the coordination of the CREW (Connecting Resources, Education and Workforce) Career Center including management of department resources, partner personnel, development of policies and procedures and evaluation of services. Prior to joining Metropolitan College, Courtney served as Assistant Dean of Students, Student Affairs Office, Bellarmine University, Louisville, KY. Courtney holds a BA Sociology, Cum Laude Westminster College, New Wilmington, PA and Masters of Science in Higher Education, Student Affairs Administration Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL.

Melissa Cline serves as a Student Development Counselor for students and community members in the CREW (Connecting Resources, Education, and Workforce) Career Center at Jefferson Community and Technical College. Along with career counseling, she case manages eligible participants in the Workforce Investment Act Program and conducts numerous career related workshops for students in various academic programs. Melissa began working through a Metropolitan College partner organization, KentuckianaWorks, (Louisville’s Workforce Development Board) in November 2003 and continued in that capacity before joining Metropolitan College in 2007. Melissa is a Cum Laude graduate of Centre College, Danville, KY, where she received a B.A. in English. She received her M.A. in English from the University of Louisville. Melissa also serves as an adjunct instructor at Jefferson Community and Technical College on the downtown campus. She has taught “Strategies for Academic Success,“ an introduction to college life class, and currently teaches English composition.

Donna Dunn, is a student development counselor for Metropolitan College participants enrolled at Jefferson Community and Technical College. Prior to joining Metropolitan College, Donna was a Life Skills Counselor at Maryhurst (home for indigent girls) and guided residents through the transitional process from the structure of a group living environment to a community based treatment setting. Donna is a member of the National Academic Advising Association; National Association for Campus Activities; and was part of the Metropolitan College student development team that was recently recognized for the 2006 Shared Journey Exemplary Practice Award by the National Council on Student Development. Donna holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Master of Education (Concentration in College Student Personnel Services) from the University of Louisville.

Carrie Faller is a student development counselor for Metropolitan College participants enrolled at JCTC. Carrie provides career counseling services such as resume development, career assessment, and interviewing and job search skills in the CREW Career Center. Prior to joining Metropolitan College Carrie worked for two years as a career counselor through KentuckianaWorks, Louisville’s Workforce Investment Board. Carrie holds an Associate in Arts from Jefferson Community College, a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, Magna Cum Laude, from Eastern Kentucky University, and a Masters of Education in Counseling Personnel Services with a Concentration in College Student Personnel, from the University of Louisville.

Lisa Hague is a student development counselor for Metropolitan College participants enrolled at the University of Louisville. Prior to joining Metropolitan College, Lisa served as an admissions counselor at the University of Louisville. Lisa is a member of the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators; National Association for Campus Activities; National Academic Advising Association and was part of the Metropolitan College student development team that was recently recognized for the 2006 Shared Journey Exemplary Practice Award by the National Council on Student Development. Lisa holds a Bachelor of Science and Masters of Education from the University of Louisville.

Mike Robertson is a student development counselor for Metropolitan College participants enrolled at Jefferson Community and Technical College. Prior to joining Metropolitan College in 2000, Mike worked for several years at Western Kentucky University. In the early 1990s Mike taught middle school language arts and social studies and has taught several college level courses. He is a member of the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators and the National Academic Advising Association. Mike holds a BS in Middle Grades Education and an MAE in Student Affairs in Higher Education from Western Kentucky University.

Julie Taylor is a member of the student development team and is a counselor for Metropolitan College participants enrolled at the University of Louisville. Julie has more than 25 years of dedicated service for the University of Louisville in academic advising and student services. Julie is a member of the National Academic Advisors’ Association; National Council on Student Development. Julie holds a BA in Psychology from Murray State University, Murray, KY and an M.Ed. in Counseling Psychology from the University of Louisville.

Shari Hayes is a program assistant senior for Metropolitan College based in the University of Louisville. Shari provides administrative support for the Metropolitan College Student Development Team members supporting participants attending U of L. Prior to joining Metropolitan College, Shari provided seventeen years’ administrative support for the Kentucky Council on Economic Education.

Madonna Johnson, administrative associate, welcomes and directs visitors, students, and guests seeking Metropolitan College services to appropriate staff or to one of our affiliate partners, Ultra and Health Career Pathways. Madonna also processes students and clients for the CREW Center, while providing support for the Metropolitan College student development team by processing student contracts and assisting with GE 101 classes.

Prior to joining Metropolitan College, Madonna retired from the United States Air Force after 20 years of service. Madonna holds an AA from Okaloosa Walton Community College, Fort Walton Beach, FL; a BA from McKendree College, Louisville, KY; and is presently enrolled in graduate school at Spalding University, Louisville, KY.

Mariam Traore Unit Business Manager

Jason Polete, web development coordinator for Metropolitan College, oversees general computer maintenance and tech support, develops and maintains web-based applications, maintains and updates the public web site for Metropolitan College and CREW career center and also maintains the web-based management system for the CREW client database. Jason developed the intranet portal that connects all Metropolitan College staff and partners and maintains the computer labs for Student Development Team and CREW client services. Prior to joining Metropolitan College, Jason provided IT consulting and development for the Kentucky Council on Economic Education and provided free-lance web development services for other clients. Jason holds an Associate of Applied Science in Computer Information Systems from Jefferson Community and Technical College and a Bachelors Degree in Education from the University of Louisville. He serves on the IT Advisory Committee for Jefferson Community and Technical College, Louisville, KY.

Kato Wilbur is the DBA/developer and Systems Administrator for Metropolitan College. Kato manages database design and administration, software development, network management, and computer hardware maintenance.

Dick McLaughlin, recruitment coordinator, has extensive experience in educational program development and implementation in the Community College and Adult Education arena including recruitment and retention of nontraditional students and has twenty-five years’ teaching experience in the Adult Education and Family Literacy. Dick represents Metropolitan College throughout the state with recruitment strategies that have impacted the continued support and growth of the program. Dick spends September and October visiting Kentucky high schools from Pikeville to Paducah, as well as attending regional and local College Fairs, spreading the word about the educational opportunities available to students participating in the Metropolitan College program. Dick is a member of the Kentucky Association of Secondary Counselors and Admission Counselors and the National Council on Student Development. Dick holds an A.A, Northern Essex Community College, Haverhill MA.; BA, University of Massachusetts, Boston, MA; M.Ed. Boston University.