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.

 

2009-10 Residence Life Staff Members

Second Floor Male



CENTER: RLC Alexander "Alex" James, of Salley, SC, 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 has worked for six 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 departments. He is looking forward to his third year at SCGSSM.

LEFT: RA Johnathan 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 United States. During his spare time, he likes to hang out with friends, travel and eat at fancy restaurants.

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 sports management.  This is his third year at GSSM.

Second Floor Female



CENTER: RLC Lindsey Marie Gainey, of Bethune, SC, is returning to GSSM as an RLC. Lindsey has a degree in psychology from Coker College. While attending Coker, Lindsey was an RA at GSSM for four years. After completing her bachelor's degree, she worked at the North Carolina School for Science and Math. During her summers, Lindsey enjoys working at the School of American Ballet in New York City. She will be pursuing her master's degree in counselor education from Winthrop University this fall. Lindsey is extremely excited about returning to the GSSM Family and working with GSSM students.

LEFT: RA Dana Daves, of York, SC, is a senior 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.

RIGHT: RA Kiesha Beavers, of Williamstown, NJ, is a fourth-year chemistry major at Coker College who aspires to obtain her Doctorate in Pharmaceutical Studies in fall 2010. She is an enthusiastic person who enjoys video games, laughing with family and friends and meeting new people.


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 through Upward Bound, GSSM's Summer Science Program and the Maine School for Science and Mathematics.  He has a bachelor's degree in human communication, which he earned in the University of Maine System. He is pursuing his master's degree in psychology and if all goes well, he will complete this program in February. Future goals include pursuing a career in student affairs at the high school level. Johnny's free time is spent coaching sports at the Governor's School and playing with his dog Scraps. 

LEFT: 
RA 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  at GSSM and could not imagine anywhere else he would rather be!

RIGHT: 
RA Wesley Abrams, of Greenwood, SC, is a junior at Coker College majoring in sociology and criminology. His hobbies include reading, community organizing, volunteering and video gaming. This is his first year as an RA at GSSM.


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 fifth year on staff and she comes with four years of residence life experience, having previously worked at USC as a resident adviser for first-year students. Cathy is in her final semester of her master's degree program in the field of higher education and student affairs. Her hobbies include traveling, spending time with family and friends and shopping.

LEFT:
RA Gertrude Stoney, of Camden, SC, is a fourth-year social work major at Coker College. She enjoys meeting new people, listening to music and reading about social issues around the world.  She also loves helping others by volunteering in her community. After graduation, she plans to pursue her master's degree in social work at USC and work with children who have been abused. This is her second year as an RA at GSSM.

RIGHT: 
RA Jessica Barnes, of Moncks Corner, SC, is a fourth-year communications major at Coker College. She enjoys watching movies, reading, playing soccer, listening to music and performing community service in the Hartsville area. After graduating from Coker, she plans to pursue her master's degree in higher education and student affairs at USC.