Meet the Coaches 

Elizabeth Greene

She/Her/Hers
South Carolina

Meet with Elizabeth: koalendar.com/u/LOuIC09ZpEYusAUfuLh6DKPU3fu2

Elizabeth Greene has a Master’s in Higher Education Administration for the University of South Carolina, and she is currently working on her Doctorate in Education at Anderson University, studying School and Community Leadership. She previously worked at Presbyterian College School of Pharmacy as their Coordinator of Student Success.

Elizabeth is passionate about both online learning and adult learners which is why she decided to come to Purdue Global. She is most excited about working with students from all over the country as she helps them reach their academic goals.

She loves to cook new recipes, run through her neighborhood, and spend time with her partner and their two dogs - Moose and Ranger.

"No one belongs here more than you." -Brene Brown

Jose Ledezma

He/Him/His
New Mexico

Meet with Jose: koalendar.com/e/meet-with-jose-ledezma

Jose Ledezma earned his Master’s in Educational Administration in 2019. Jose comes to Purdue Global with more than 17 years of experience in higher education, both in university and community college environments.

Jose has worked in multiple departments regarding student support services, most recently in advising/coaching. Within his past roles he has worked with diverse student populations such as transitioning, foster care, homeless, at risk, and juvenile disrupted students, ranging from ages 16 and up.

Jose believes that students require assistance beyond the traditional support systems that are used in order to be successful. As he looked into Purdue Global, he felt that the role resonated with his experience and passion for student success.

Jose’s coaching "superpower" is relatability. He is excited to be a support system for Purdue Global students because as a first generation student himself, he didn't have a great support system and was not familiar with resources, incentives, and processes. In Jose’s role as a Success Coach, he wants to provide the support that he desired when he was a student.

In his free time, Jose likes to play sports, especially basketball and sand volleyball. He also enjoys spending time with friends and family and traveling! A fun fact about Jose is that he is Mexican/Samoan.

"You can have everything in life you want. You just can't have everything at once"- Zig Ziglar

Maximillian Matthews

They/Them/He/Him
North Carolina 

Meet with Max: https://calendar.app.google/GhWZWypsuBVHaJqE8

Maximillian Matthews is a graduate of North Carolina State University (M.Ed.) and Elon University (B.A.), with more than 10 years of higher education experience.

When doing research on Purdue Global, Max was impressed by the university's mission because they agree adult students have unique needs, which makes a personalized online education critical to their success. Max’s parents went to school in their adulthood while Max was a child so they know how impactful the right education can be for adults. Max is looking forward to building relationships with students, and is pleased to be in a role where they can assist students in being successful.

In their spare time, Max likes to write essays, read, collect vinyl records, and spend time with their loved ones.

A book that influenced Max’s approach to education is “Pedagogy of the Oppressed” by Paulo Freire.

Ebony Pope

She/Her
Oklahoma

Meet with Ebony: koalendar.com/e/meet-with-ebony-pope

Ebony Pope has ten years of experience working in higher education contexts to include teaching, mentoring, student programming, and other forms of serving, while prioritizing diversity, equity, and inclusion. She has a Bachelor of Arts in African & African American Studies and Sociology, and a Master of Human Relations with an emphasis in Social Justice from the University of Oklahoma.

Ebony joined Purdue Global as a Student Success Coach to continue serving the various needs of students to reach their goal of degree completion. She enjoys building relationships with students, as well as other staff, faculty, and community partners to help guide students holistically. Her success coaching superpowers include relationship building, advocating for students, and teaching them the power in advocating for themselves.

Aside from serving students, Ebony enjoys spending time with her family and friends and engaging with her local community. She is an avid fan and engager of many art forms to include music and movement.

“You have to act as if it were possible to radically transform the world. And you have to do it all the time.”- Angela Davis

Rachel Porter

She/Her/Hers
California

Meet with Rachel: koalendar.com/e/meet-with-rachel-porter

Rachel has a Bachelor's Degree from Hope College with a focus on Japanese and Youth Ministry. Rachel is Half-Japanese, Half-European--growing up in the US and having the opportunity to live in Japan for 5 years after college. She has worked at a residential facility for at-risk youth outside of Chicago before transitioning to higher education about 3 years ago. She now lives on a farm with her husband, Christopher, her grandpa, and her aunt.

Rachel came to Purdue Global to expand her knowledge of the needs of students pursuing their college degrees. She was encouraged by the support offered to students specifically at Purdue Global.

Rachel loves connecting, supporting, and encouraging people to be the best they can be! As a success coach at PG, she is most excited about joining students on their journey and walking with them through a variety of trials and triumphs as they achieve their highest goals!

Rachel likes to take walks/jogs, go swimming, or scrapbook on lazy days! One fun fact is that Rachel and her husband are currently working their way through visiting all 50 states!

"The only person who is educated is the one who has learned how to learn...and change." -Carl Rogers

Barbara Stratman

She/Her
Missouri
Meet with Barbara: https://calendar.app.google/mBNAbRcm5UM6d22r6

Barbara Stratman holds a BS Hospitality and Restaurant Administration from Missouri State University, an MA PostSecondary Education: Student Affairs from University of Northern Iowa and earned her Ed.D. in Educational Practice at University of Missouri – St. Louis.

Barbara is a first-generation college student who was completely clueless when she first went to college. Once she figured out how to navigate higher ed, she wanted to help other students not be as clueless as she was. Before becoming a student affairs practitioner, Barbara was a cast member at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida.

She is most excited about connecting with students to build relationships that matter. She enjoys the excitement of learning and growing her own skills while helping others navigate higher education and achieve their dreams.

In her free time, Barbara enjoys playing games (board games, video games, dungeons and dragons, etc.) and enjoying all things Disney (movies, music, shows, theme parks, blogs, products, etc.)!

Walt Disney once said, “Whatever you do, do it well. Do it so well that when people see you do it, they will want to come back and see you do it again, and they will want to bring others and show them how well you do what you do.”