Scholarly Opportunities for Advancement and Research
High-impact practices are evidence-based strategies that deepen learning by engaging students in meaningful academic and cocurricular experiences. At Wake Technical Community College, we organize our high-impact practices into Scholarly Opportunities for Advancement and Research (SOAR). SOAR is composed of eight programs that serve approximately 500 students each semester: Career Connections Mentorship Program, Eagle Innovation Challenge, Global Education, Honors Program, Pathways – First in Flight Mentorship Program, Peer Tutoring, Service Learning, and STEM Academic Research and Training (START). In the SOAR framework, program leaders share best practices, use data to evaluate programming, and develop resources to better meet the needs of students. SOAR provides an incubator for collaboration among programs. This collaboration streamlines processes and provides more effective and efficient communication to students, other college stakeholders, and potential donors, amplifying the overall impact on student success. This model advances the college’s mission of accessible high-quality education, and demonstrates innovation through cross-unit collaboration and efficiency.
Innovators
- Laura Bethea-Lewis, Senior Director, Title IX, Student Success, and Strategic Innovation
- Ian Brown, Associate Department Head, Physical Sciences
- Jamie Burgins, Instructor, 9M Academic Success
- Carrie Carreno-Zingaro, Professor and Site Coordinator, ILC
- Rasheeka Fogg, Instructor, 9M Human Services Technology
- Julia Groom, Program Coordinator, Career Services
- Dawn Harvel, Associate Dean, Occupational Programs
- Carolyn Hoffman, Professor, 9M Mathematics
- Mina Hogsett, Assistant Professor, 9M English as a Foreign Language
- Wendy Johnson, Professor, 9M Mathematics
- Bethanie Lister, Instructor, 9M Academic Success
- Emily Moore, Administrative Department Head, Communication and Theatre
- Brooke Outlaw, Associate Professor, 9M Mathematics
- Nolan Outlaw, Associate Professor, Mathematics
- Richard Redding, Coordinator, Pathways Success Scholars Mentorship Program
- Stephanie Rollins, Senior Professor, Geology
- Angela Smedley, Associate Department Head, Communications and Theatre
- Jackie Swanik, Dean, Mathematics and Sciences
- Jason Whitehead, Department Head, Physical Sciences
