Center Staff


Dr. Beth P. Reynolds Executive Director E-mail: breyno2@clemson.edu Phone: 864-656-2450 Dr. Reynolds joined the staff in June of 2012 as the new Executive Director for the Center and Network. She holds a Ph.D. in Educational Administration from the University of South Carolina and has 34 years of diverse educational experiences including roles as a teacher, high school principal, district assistant superintendent, statewide consultant for a non-profit agency, private consultant, adjunct professor, and published author. She is a performance and data driven leader with proven ability to collaboratively coach and work with others to develop the capacity needed to drive change for increased student achievement and organizational success. A continuous learner and passionate teacher, Dr. Reynolds has comprehensive and deep knowledge of curriculum, assessment, and instruction; data analysis and use; change leadership; performance leadership; and organizational effectiveness. She is a recognized designer and facilitator of professional learning at the local, state, national, and international levels and is the co-author of two books for leaders on the use of research-based strategies to increase student learning and achievement. She has long championed creating the conditions that make learning possible for all students.
Dr. Loujeania Williams Bost Director of the National Dropout Prevention Center for Students with Disabilities (NDPC-SD) E-mail: lbost@clemson.edu Phone: 864.656.6976 Dr. Bost holds a Ph.D. in Special Education from Pennsylvania State University. She has an extensive background in working with students with disabilities. Dr. Bost was the chief of statewide compliance, monitoring, and technical assistance for the Pennsylvania Department of Education. She has been a public school teacher, a program administrator for agencies serving adults and adolescents with mental retardation, and a researcher.
Dr. Sandy Addis Associate Director E-mail: haddis@clemson.edu Phone: 864.656.0957 Dr. Sandy Addis joined the National Dropout Prevention Center/Network staff as Associate Director in May of 2013. He holds an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership from South Carolina State University. He has 42 years of experience in public education in a variety of roles that include teacher, counselor, coach, principal, system-level administrator, and director of a regional educational service agency. He has designed and administered a variety of dropout prevention initiatives that include after-school programs, counseling, and service-learning. Dr. Addis has served as an alternative school principal and authored numerous grant proposals that funded summer programs, professional learning, family engagement, and character education. Dr. Addis has served as an adjunct instructor at several colleges in South Carolina and Georgia, trained local school boards, and consulted with local school systems on policy and leadership development. He has led educator teams in the development and distribution of student achievement measures and on-line systems for delivery of educator training. Dr. Addis has served on numerous professional boards, testified before legislative committees, and recently chaired the Educator Ethics Task Force of the Georgia Professional Standards Commission.
Mrs. Janet Arnold Administrative Assistant E-mail: arnold5@clemson.edu Phone: 864.656.1734 Mrs. Janet Arnold joined the NDPC-SD staff in August 2010 as the administrative assistant for the center. She has 31 years of university experience as an administrative assistant and retired from the Georgia Institute of Technology in 2008. She is responsible for all administrative matters for the center, including word processing, desktop publishing, database entry and reports, travel arrangements, and conference planning/coordination.
Mrs. Peg Chrestman Public Information Specialist E-mail: merry@clemson.edu Phone: 864.656.2874 Mrs. Chrestman has been with the Center since 1990. She is our desktop publisher and editorial assistant on all Center publications.
Mrs. Marty Duckenfield Public Information Director E-mail: mbdck@clemson.edu Phone: 864.656.2580 Mrs. Duckenfield has a Master's degree in Nutritional Science from Clemson University. Formerly a teacher, she has been with the Center since 1988. Initially hired to develop a database of resource materials, today she supervises all Center publications, including production of The National Dropout Prevention Center/Network Newsletter. In addition to publications, Marty co-hosts the monthly radio webcast, Solutions to the Dropout Crisis, and coordinates the Center's service-learning activities.
Ms. Melinda Fischer Administrative Assistant E-mail: melindf@clemson.edu Phone: 864.656.3875 Mrs. Fischer is an administrative assistant who joined the Center in February of 2009. She is responsible for accounting, payroll, invoicing and managing grants. Mrs. Fischer has been in accounting for more than 10 years and was previously an English Major at Appalachian State University.
Mr. John Gailer Assistant Academic Program Director for Programs and Outreach E-mail: jgailer@clemson.edu Phone: 864.656.2675 Mr. Gailer joined the Center in 2011 as a Program Coordinator for national conferences. He has a Master’s degree in Human Resource and Organizational Development from the University of Georgia and over 20 years of experience in program development as an administrator and professor in higher education. Mr. Gailer also has extensive experience in program implementation, event management, and nonprofit administration.
Ms. Denise Gianforcaro Administrative Specialist II E-mail: jgianfo@clemson.edu Phone: 864.656.3882 Mrs. Gianforcaro is an Administrative Specialist II and has been with the Center since April of 2008. She manages the Cvent online registration system and provides administrative support for all aspects of conference planning, registration, and implementation. She also manages the NDPN membership database and processes membership and literature requests.
Mrs. Debbie Hall Administrative Assistant E-mail: hall6@clemson.edu Phone: 864.656.0252 Mrs. Hall is an Administrative Assistant, and has been with the Center since 2005. She serves as business manager for the center and provides administrative and support services associated with personnel, grants and contracts, data processing and procurement activities.
Dr. Matthew Klare Research Associate E-mail: mklare@clemson.edu Phone: 864.656.1253 Dr. Klare joined the NDPC-SD in March 2005, coming from American Institutes for Research in Washington, DC. For the last 18 years, Dr. Klare's focus has been in the areas of assessment development and operations. While at AIR, he worked on alternate assessments, Braille and LEP accommodations for statewide achievement tests at grades K-8. At NDPC-SD he provides technical assistance to states and is assisting with the development of a model of dropout prevention for students with disabilities that incorporates research-based practices.
Mr. John Peters Network Coordinator E-mail: pj@clemson.edu Phone: 864.656.0253 Mr. Peters earned a Master's in Business Administration from the University of Michigan. He has been with the Center since 1992. Initially hired to provide Network support services, today he also handles the logistics of our professional development seminars, conferences, and workshops.
Dr. Sandra Covington Smith Research Associate E-mail: sandras@clemson.edu Phone: 864.656.1817 Dr. Smith holds a Ph.D. in Special Education with an emphasis in Behavior Disorders from the University of Missouri-Columbia. She is a Certified Positive Behavior Support Trainer as part of the University of Missouri-Columbia Research Collaborative Partnership with the National Technical Assistance Center on Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports. Presently, Dr. Smith develops technical assistance documents to be used by state education agencies, policymakers, local education agencies, and parents; and coordinates and provides training and technical assistance to state education agencies to develop effective dropout prevention programs and interventions based on assessment of recipient needs.
Dr. Julia Wilkins Research Associate E-mail: wilkin6@clemson.edu Phone: 864.656.2595 Dr. Wilkins holds a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology from the State University of New York at Buffalo. She came to NDPC-SD in 2009 from St. Cloud State University where she was an assistant professor of special education. Since joining the Center she has been primarily responsible for researching reentry programs for out-of-school youth. Previously, Dr. Wilkins was a public school teacher in Buffalo, NY, where she taught students with disabilities as well as students at risk of dropping out.
Mr. David Windham Information Resource Consultant II E-mail: dwindha@clemson.edu Phone: 864.656.2599 Mr. Windham is a graduate of The College of Charleston. His specialties include management of information systems and computer programming. He is responsible for maintaining and creating new features for the NDPC/N and NDPC-SD Web sites. David also provides programming and database services as needed for the Center's various activities.
Ms. Cairen Withington Assistant Academic Program Director for Research, Evaluation, and Public Relations E-mail: cairenw@clemson.edu Phone: 864.656.2873 Ms. Withington holds an M.A. in Economics from the University of South Carolina, specializing in the economics of human capital and education; and a B.A. in English from the College of Charleston. She has been with the Center since 2006. She was a key investigator on a major study by the Center involving research on career-focused education, "A Longitudinal Study of the South Carolina Personal Pathways to Success Initiative." She is a grant writer, researcher, and evaluator, and she coordinates public relations for the Center.