TS Staff

Maurice Mathis, Ed.D Senior Director, TRIO Pre-College Programs Contact INFO Maurice Mathis provides oversight for both Upward Bound and Talent Search as the Senior Director for TRIO Pre-College Programs. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in Communications from Truman State University, his Master of Science in Organizational Communication from NC State University, and his Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership from Fayetteville State University. Maurice has served students in Upward Bound and Talent Search for 15 years across three institutions. As an educator, Dr. Mathis has provided a variety of workshops for students and professionals at the local, regional, and national levels. He has served as a National Trainer for the TRIO Training Project (Priority #5), a SAEOPP Board Member / Committee Chair for the Emerging Leaders Institute, and the NC TRIO President, among others. Through each appointment, he keeps the students he serves at the forefront and, as a result, has attended Policy Seminar in Washington DC multiple times to fight for increased funding for TRIO programs. In the 2021 grant competition year, Maurice successfully added a new Talent Search Program (Talent Search Encore) to the department which added an additional 500 students in Wayne County, NC. Maurice enjoys all facets of TRIO work: from writing grants to creating partnerships to increase opportunities for students to overnight trips with students!
Trevor Dobbins ASSISTANT DIRECTOR FOR TRIO TALENT SEARCH PROGRAMS CONTACT INFO Trevor Dobbins graduated from North Carolina State University in May of 2017 with a Bachelor of Science in Sport Management and a minor in Coaching Education. He has since continued to further his education as he is currently pursuing a Master of Education at NC State University in the College Counseling and Student Development program. Mr. Dobbins is a first-generation college graduate dedicated to supporting and enabling students in our Talent Search Program to follow in his footsteps and be the first in their families to go to college and graduate. Mr. Dobbins serves Southern Wayne High School, Brogden Middle School, and Grantham Middle School.
Lili Belman TALENT SEARCH LEGACY PROGRAM COORDINATOR CONTACT INFO
Lexi Benion TALENT SEARCH LEGACY PROGRAM COORDINATOR CONTACT INFO
Marcus Keith TALENT SEARCH ENCORE PROGRAM COORDINATOR CONTACT INFO

Catherine Wright Administrative Support Associate Contact Info Catherine Wright is from Nassau, Bahamas, and has earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Business Administration with a major in Human Resource Management from McHari International College (The Bahamas). She has worked in the administrative field in the education industry for more than thirty years, supplying thorough administrative support to senior executives. Catherine is the current Administrative Support Associate of the TRIO Programs in the Division of Academic and Student Affairs at NC State University. Her role ensures the smooth operation of events and academic activities within the TRIO Programs.
Gabrielle Joyner Administrative Support Associate Contact Info Gabrielle Joyner serves as the Administrative Support Associate for the TRIO Pre-College Programs. She is a native of Greenville, North Carolina. She earned two bachelor’s degrees (B.S. in Criminal Justice, B.A. in Psychology) from East Carolina University in 2016. With almost five years of administrative experience, she is dedicated to providing quality administrative services to support the TRIO staff and the students and families served by TRIO.