Click HERE to schedule an appointment with your TRIO Coach or Tutor!
L-112 & L-113
Dr. Jessica Thompson (L-112) and Melody Faircloth (L-113)
L-110
Leah Kerney de Mayes and Rachel Brandon-Hopper
TRIO Tutoring Lab
Enjoy our lab for tutoring, studying, and relaxing between classes!
Apply to TRIO by logging into My McM Portal and clicking "TRIO Application" under Quick Links.
TRIO Student Support Services Team Members
Jessica Thompson, Ph.D.
Project Director
she/her/hers
Dr. Thompson is the Project Director for TRIO Student Support Services here at McMurry. Abilene is her home and she graduated from McMurry but left Abilene and received her M.S in Educational Administration from Texas A&M and Ph.D. in Higher Education from the University of North Texas.
Dr. Thompson has worked in student affairs and with TRIO programs since leaving. She's happy to be back at McMurry to work with the first TRIO program here.
She enjoys getting to know students, so please stop by the Library to visit her and learn more about TRIO Student Support Services.
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Clifton Strengths
Deliberative, Responsibility, Intellection, Developer, & Empathy
Leah Kerney de Mayes, MMFT
Project Coach
she/ella
Leah Kerney de Mayes is a Project Coach for TRIO Student Support Services at McMurry. She decided to go to Indiana Wesleyan University as a freshman in college, where she learned how to navigate college, academics, and the snow. After four years of hard work and facing challenges, Leah graduated with a B.A. in Psychology.
She then decided to move to the sunshine of Abilene, Texas, where she earned an M.A. in Marriage and Family Therapy at ACU.
Leah grew up speaking Spanish in Argentina, where she lived for 15 years. She recently moved to Texas, where she met and married the love of her life.
Leah loves listening to her students’ experiences and about their pets. Leah currently has a pet hamster named Java chip. His hobbies are sleeping, being adorable, and eating banana chips.
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Clifton Strengths
Context, Restorative, Deliberative, Adaptability, & Responsibility
Melody Faircloth, M.ED.
Project Coach
Melody is a Coach in the TRIO Student Support Services here at McMurry. She grew up in the Abilene Area and received her Bachelor of Behavioral Science degree, and Master of Education from Hardin Simmons University.
Some interesting facts about Melody she has Olympic Medals in Speed Stacking, and one of her former students is on the U.S.A. Speed Stacking Team. She also officiates in Volleyball and Basketball.
She is very excited to be here at McMurry and looks forward to meeting the students. So please come by the library to see what TRIO Student Support Services does, and say hi!
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Clifton Strengths
Includer, Input, Learner, Arranger, and Achiever.
Rachel Brandon-Hopper, B.B.A.
Program Services Assistant I
she/her/hers
Rachel is the Program Services Assistant for TRIO Student Support Services, and is excited for the opportunity to gain experience working in higher education.
Rachel is from Vernon, Texas. She chose McMurry University for her undergraduate degree and graduated in May 2022 with a BBA in Entrepreneurship.
She is working on her M.Ed. in Student Development and Leadership in Higher Education at Angelo State University and will graduate in May 2024.
In her spare time, Rachel enjoys listening to podcasts about her favorite childhood book series, going to concerts, and hanging out with her dogs.
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Clifton Strengths
Futuristic, Achiever, Discipline, Focus, & Strategic