Meet Our Team
Meet the current ABSPD team.
- Gerald Parker
Gerald Parker received a BA in History from Indiana Wesleyan University, MEd in Social Sciences and Educational Administration from UNC-Greensboro and his EdD in Reading from the University of Georgia. Gerald is one of the founding members of the Adult Basic Skills Professional Development Project and continues to be involved with Institute. During the past years, he has equipped Ukrainians and Russians to conduct most of the seminars and workshops he used to lead and helps to create new ones. His role is to assist in providing resources and to coach and mentor more than fifty of the International Partnerships' staff. He enjoys traveling, photography, reading and being able to help people solve problems. Gerald lives in Boone with his wife. - Dianne Barber
Dianne received a BS in Mathematics and Computer Science from Claflin College, MEd in Mathematics Education from South Carolina State College, EdS in Higher Education/Developmental Studies and Administration from Appalachian State University and her GED from South Carolina. Dianne has been the director of ABSPD since 2005 and a part of the team since 1996. She has written and co-produced numerous articles, manuals, CD-ROMs and videos for the Project. Along with serving on various Basic Skills committees, she is an Irlen Screener, GED Trainer and Developmental Education Specialist. When not hosting workshops or adding special touches to the house she built, Dianne enjoys reading, shopping and finding a great bargain. She lives in Boone with her husband and has two children, three stepchildren and five grandchildren. - David Thompson
David Thompson received a BS in Communications from Messiah College and MA in Educational Media from Appalachian State University. He has been a part of the ABSPD team since 2003. David has also been videotaping professional wrestling matches for over 18 years. One of his heroes is wrestler Terry Funk, whom he has been following since he was a child. He admires him because he is a self-made man, doing what he loves and not caring what others think about him. In his spare time, he enjoys videotaping, wrestling, spending time with his daughter and teaching video production classes in the College of Education. He lives in Elk Park with one dog and one cat despite being allergic to both of them.- Jackie McInturff
Jackie McInturff received a BS in Communications from Appalachian State University. While at Appalachian, she was a marching Mountaineer and can still play a tune or two on her flute. After receiving her degree, she spent time in Atlanta, Durham, Charlotte and Lynchburg, VA before settling in Boone with a native Wataugan. She enjoys reading, writing poetry, movies, spending time with family, taking pictures, hiking and camping. Tweetsie Railroad has also become a favorite place to go with her boys. Jackie has been with the Project since 2005. She lives in Boone with her husband, two sons and a dog. - Brandy Brown
Brandy Brown received a BA in Industrial Technology with a concentration in Photography from Appalachian State University. She enjoys hiking, canoeing, reading, taking pictures and movies. Brandy began with the Project in 2007. She lives in Boone with her husband, Matthew and dog. She hopes to one day be a self-employed photographer/videographer.- Billy Irwin
Billy Irwin received a BA in linguistics and MS in speech pathology from UNC-Chapel Hill and PhD in speech pathology from Vanderbilt University, all after receiving his GED in Burlington, NC. He is an assistant professor in the Communication Disorders Program where he teaches voice disorders, speech and hearing science and neurogenic communication disorders. He conducts research in the areas of neurogenic communication disorders and voice disorders, and maintains an active clinic treating persons who have experienced brain damage. He specializes in working with brain damaged populations including stroke, traumatic brain injury and dementia. Billy has been a part of the team since 2004. When time allows he enjoys riding his bicycle and whitewater kayaking and is a compulsive reader of literary fiction. He lives in Boone with his wife and two sons.- Jeff Goodman
Jeff Goodman received a BA in Biology from Harvard College in 1986 and his Masters in Educational Media Production from Appalachian State University in 1993. In addition to 15 years teaching at the University level, Jeff has taught both middle school and high school and worked with numerous elementary school groups. He has been involved with ABSPD since 1997. When he was a child, Jeff’s brother taunted him with the phrase, “Jack of all trades, master of none!” and, after drying his tears and dusting off his tattered self-esteem, Jeff made this his life’s motto. His teaching at Appalachian has included classes in media studies, technology, documentary film, video production and science education. In addition, over the years, he has gotten to explore a wide range of artistic and scientific topics with his students by leading workshops for children and adults on video production, stop-action animation, astronomy, molecular genetics, photography, creative writing, robotics and many other topics about which he and his students are curious. Jeff lives in Yancey County with his wife, two cats and forty chickens. - Mary Ferrell
Mary Ferrell received a BA in Biology from Pfeiffer University and MS in Biology from Appalachian State University. Her area of specialty is the neurophysiology of the brain and spinal cord. She has also taught high school biology, physical science and math at Watauga High School. She became a part of the ABSPD team in 2007. When not teaching, Mary enjoys kayaking, hiking, tennis, swimming and biking. She lives in Boone with her husband, son and black lab.
