Meet the Staff | Achieve Program | SIU

Roger earned his B.A. and M.A in English from SIU, and has worked as part of the Achieve Program as an undergraduate tutor, a graduate-level case manager, and then in an administrative capacity as a Developmental Skills Training Specialist, for a total of over 32 years of service. Roger was named the interim director of Achieve in 2023 and became permanent director in February 2024.

Ashley completed her degrees in Management at SIU and SIUE. She joined the Achieve Program supervising our case management staff in 2023. She loves to read, and she raises chickens. She is excited to be a part of the Achieve team where she can use her organizational skills, problem-solving and love for learning to help our students achieve success.

Colleen completed her degrees at SIU in Anthropology and Linguistics/TESOL with a specialty in bilingual education. She joined the Achieve Program as a Student Support Supervisor in 2023 and brings more than a decade of public-school teaching experience in the areas of Spanish and English Language Arts and Multilingual Special Education. She enjoys informal music jams with friends and long hikes in the forest.

Grace has two bachelor's degrees in Communicative Disorders from Northern Illinois University and East Asian Languages and Cultures of University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign. When she's not studying for her master's degree in Communication Disorders and Sciences at Southern Illinois University, she's at the REC center playing basketball or lifting weights. She joined the Achieve Program in 2023 as a Case Manager where she uses her past experiences at Project: Vision and other nonprofit organizations to help the Achieve Program support its growing youth population. Grace’s role also allows her to watch Achieve youth develop and grow firsthand, and better themselves for their futures. She is proud to be able to provide students the tools needed to grow into their full potential.

Reece earned his bachelor’s degrees in Communication Studies and Agribusiness Economics in 2023 from SIU. He is currently pursuing his Master’s in Health Administration at SIU. He enjoys cooking, reading and spending times with friends. He has worked in variety of roles with the Achieve Program since 2020 and is excited to utilize his past experience and positive attitude to help his students.

Ashish earned his Bachelor of Science (BSc.) in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from
Rajshahi University of Engineering & Technology in Rajshahi, Bangladesh. He is currently pursuing his PhD in Electrical and Computer Engineering at SIU. He can play a few musical instruments and loves to draw and paint. He takes a proactive approach to guiding our neurodiverse students through their academic journey. Drawing on his background as faculty (at NBIU, Bangladesh) and teaching assistant (at SIU), he blends academic insights with holistic strategies, tailored to each student’s unique needs. He is passionate about implementing active listening, interventions, and personalized academic strategies, ensuring every student feels supported and confident in their academic pursuits. His dedication aligns with Achieve’s mission of nurturing success and growth, and he seeks opportunities to refine his approaches through evaluations and feedback.

Chelsea graduated from SIU in 2023 with a Bachelor of Science in German Education and a minor in Sociology. Currently, she is working toward a Master of Social Work degree with a Mental Health Specialization. Her favorite things include watching TV shows in German, cooking, watching Nascar races, and relaxing with her two dogs! She is excited to start her fifth year at Achieve and is looking forward to building connections and working with everyone who is a part of the Achieve team - especially our students! 

Faith is currently in her second year of her Master of Social Work program with a focus on mental health. She loves rollercoasters and once rode 50 in one summer! She hopes to bring a positive attitude, collaborative approach, and encouraging attitude while working with her students at Achieve!

Angshu completed her master's degree in Social Work at SIUC and is currently pursuing her PhD in Educational Administration. She has been a graduate assistant with the Achieve Program since August 2021. She is from Nepal, so ping her if you want to know anything about her country! Every day, Angshu bring her positive good attitude and helping hands to the Achieve Program, no matter the situation.

Summer graduated from SIU with a Bachelor of Science in Architectural Studies with minors in Spanish & Environmental Studies. Currently, she is working toward a Master of Social Work degree with a Mental Health Specialization. She enjoyed her time studying abroad at the University of Alcala de Henares in Spain for a month in 2022! She brings three years of experience with Achieve as both a tutor and case manager. From her time as a case manager and as a recent undergraduate student, she has lots of valuable knowledge to help each student in a variety of different SIU situations and fields of study!