Cougar Student Center
“Kind people are brave people. Brave is not something you should wait to feel. Brave is a decision.”
We are the hub on campus to plan your future and find support in academics and writing!
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Get to Know Our Staff!
Get to Know Our Staff!
Amanda Galvin
Amanda Galvin
Cougar Student Center Director
An English teacher for over 25 years, Ms. Galvin currently teaches AP English Literature and AVID 3 Honors at Asheville High School. Her education includes degrees from UNC-Chapel Hill (B.A. Secondary English Education) and NC State University (M.Ed. Curriculum and Instruction). Ms. Galvin's graduate level work with the National Writing Project instilled in her the belief that "access to high-quality educational experiences is a basic right of all learners and a cornerstone of equity." In addition to supporting students academically, Ms. Galvin is a mother of two daughters. She enjoys being in nature whenever possible - on the trails in our beautiful mountains or gardening at her home.
Her role as Director of the Cougar Student Center involves scheduling, supporting staff, promotion, and coordinating special events and additional programming to support students in their planning for life beyond high school. She is the point-person at AHS/SILSA for our BACKRS SCHOLARS.
Beth Kainic
Beth Kainic
College Application Support Specialist
Passionate about education and college access, Beth served as the Director of Graduate Admissions and Financial Aid at Northwestern University for the Medill School of Journalism. As well, she has served as the Director of college access programs at several Chicago-area high schools, supporting first-generation students to get to and through college. Beth’s academic background includes degrees from the University of Wisconsin - Madison (B.S. Journalism), Northwestern University (M.S. Journalism), and DePaul University (M.Ed. Secondary Education). In 2019, Beth was honored by the Colleges That Change Lives, with the Counselors That Change Lives national award.
Daniel Acocella
Senior Associate
Senior Associate
Daniel is a Warren Wilson College Alumnus, where he earned a B.A. in English, a minor in education, and worked as an editor on the school's literary magazine, the Peal. After teaching Language Arts at the high school level for two years he went back to school and earned an M.A. in Literature from Western Carolina University, where he currently teaches English.
Clark Wilson
Math and Science Support Specialist
Clark is in his 7th year teaching and is also an alumnus of Asheville High School. Clark was one of the first staffers at The Writing Center back in 2019. Though he teaches math, Clark is passionate about reading and writing and has even contributed articles published in The Mountain Express.
Clark trains, supervises, and supports our peer coaches--a program at AHS/SILSA where outstanding high school juniors and seniors coach other students in all subject areas.
Julianna Manchester
Associate
Associate
With a passion for helping children succeed, Julianna is a preschool teacher who also runs an afterschool program in West Asheville. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Anthropology from the University of North Carolina at Asheville, and is currently pursuing her Master’s degree in School Counseling at Western Carolina University. With a strong background in education and youth development, she hopes to contribute to the well-being and growth of Asheville, and is committed to creating spaces where every child feels capable and cared for.
Anthony Freeman
Anthony Freeman
Associate
Anthony Freeman is an AHS alumni (Class of 2022). He is a current student at Western Carolina University with a major of political science with a double minor in communication and leadership. He loves sports, mainly football and basketball. He is looking forward to giving back to the students and community, and help both achieve their goals and be successful.
"even larks and katydids are supposed by some to dream"
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