Upward Bound

Full-time Staff

Director 3

I love the Upward Bound program, and I am thrilled to be a part of it! I was actually a low-income, first generation student, raised

in the small southern Utah town of Glendale, but I didn't know it because everyone else there was in the same

circumstances. But it helped me to learn early that education is very important. I graduated from Valley High School, in Orderville UT,

then went on to college at Southern Utah State College (now SUU) where I received a BA in Family and Consumer Science.

After living away from Cedar City for many years, and rearing four children, I returned in 1992 and immediately began taking

classes to complete my teacher certification. I continued on to gain a Masters in Education in May of 2000. I was thrilled to get a job

with the SUU Upward Bound project because I love education and the university setting.

I have been Director of Upward Bound at SUU since 1995 and I enjoy working with high school students because I believe that

gaining an education is one of the most important things a person can do with their life! I'd like to see every student go to school after

high school. I truly believe that the only thing more expensive than education is no education!!

Merilee Ford - Assistant Director

Assistant Director 2

I am very excited to be working with Upward Bound because I have so much fun working with High school students. I know that

education is important and I feel very fortunate to be able to help others take advantage of their own education through the Upward

Bound program.

I was raised in Orem, UT and graduated from Mountain View High where I ran track and played soccer. It was also there that I met

my husband, Colby. We love to spending time with our son Braylon and enjoy a lot of time in the outdoors. I am a first generation

college graduate and while earning a Bachelor’s in Interpersonal Communication and Psychology, I played four years of soccer at

SUU. I have also finished my Master’s Degree in Corporate Communication. Now I get to have fun working with UB students while

Colby plays baseball for SUU and finishes his teaching certificate in Biology.

Jordan Baker- Student Secretary

Secretary

Though I was raised in a family that didn't have a lot, my parents instilled the importance of an education in me and my siblings.

As my father was in the military when I was growing up, we moved a lot. I went to nine different school before I was a Freshman in

high school! But I was fortunate that both my parents and my teachers made learning an exciting process for me and I was able

to feel successful wherever I lived and attended school.

After high school I went to a small private college in New Mexico for two years, then decided to go on a mission. Through working

with the wonderful people of New England I was able to overcome my shyness and I learned that I love to teach and be around people.

I have always loved numbers and mathand I am currently one year away from my bachelor's degree in pure mathematics with a

minor in German. I hope to get a job doing corporate research or analysis after I graduate.

In the meantime, I love working for Upward Bound. This is such an amazing program! In addition to being the secretary, I was a

tutor/supervisor last summer. It was a great, fun experience tutoring Math 1010 and I look forward to another great summer this year.

or e-mail Leanne at maxwell_l@suu.edu

or Merilee at ford@suu.edu