Amy Verlanic
Executive Director
Amy’s full time career is as the Executive Director of the Institute for Educational Opportunities at Montana Tech where she works to provide teachers and students with college-based programs that enrich statewide science, engineering, and technology education.
Amy L. Verlanic is the sole proprietor of ALV Consulting. She founded her consulting business after 15 years of a successful career in higher education and community service. ALV Consulting offers project management, strategic planning, and grant writing services to nonprofit associations and educational institutions. Her educational grant-writing skills have garnered over $80 Million in public and private funding
Amy has held elected office at the local, state, regional and national level. She was the Board Chair for the Council for Opportunity in Education in 2013, where she was charged to represent the needs of 2,900 federally funded TRIO programs serving 840,000 Americans. Ms. Verlanic is a sought after lecturer on educational access issues, grant writing, funding, management and leadership and data management; her work has been shared at the European Access Network and across the US. Ms. Verlanic served seven years on the Anaconda School Board, is the Governor’s Appointee on the Montana Board of Personnel Appeals and was most recently made a legislative appointee to the Office of Public Instruction’s K-12 Data Task Force.
The things she is most proud of are her four beautiful daughters and being acknowledged by ASPIRE as the Art Quinn Lifetime Achievement Award recipient.
Rose James
Administrative Assistant
Rose began working at the Institute for Educational Opportunities in 2022. Her job involves handling the administrative support duties of 5 different grant programs. This work gives her the opportunity to interact with staff, our amazing students, and learn something new every day.
Previously she spent 4 years working for the Butte Public School system and before that, 12 years owning and operating her own business. She is a lifelong Butte resident and the proud mother of 4 children and 4 grandchildren.
When not frantically doing paperwork at her desk, she can be found at home with her best dog friend Baby Blue, researching Butte history, collecting crystals and other cool rocks or traveling.
Michael Torpey
Volunteer Extraordinaire
Michael Torpey, all 98 pounds of him, mightily shreds paper in his volunteer service to the Montana Tech TRIO program. It is his job, which he takes quite seriously. His jolly, friendly attitude rubs co-workers and supervisors the right way, every day.
“Michael serves as a phenomenal example to students that academic achievement and good citizenry is not a result of birth intelligence, but more so of the effort and energy one puts into nurturing themselves,” Amy Verlanic noted. “Like I tell students when I am recruiting, ‘If you have a high want-to, then I want you.’”
Mainstreamed, socially adept and independent, Michael eagerly jumps at the chance to take coffee breaks. He mingles with Tech students at the Student Union Building and during Upward Bound summer programs. He’s a dynamo when it comes to working, playing multiple sports, cheering on Tech teams and, of course, socializing.
Theresa Rader
Program Director
TRIO Student Support Services
Theresa is a proud Butte native. She has been Director of TRIO Student Support at Montana Tech in Butte, MT since 2015. The previous six years she served as TRIO Coordinator for Upward Bound and Talent Search.
As a first-generation student, she received BA’s in English and Communications from the University of Jamestown. She is a former Montana ASPIRE President and currently serves as the Past President of the ASPIRE Region and as The Council for Opportunities in Education Board Secretary.
In addition to TRIO, Theresa co-founded the Montana Tech STEM Academy, assisted in creating an endowed scholarship for first-generation students, serves on the Veterans Task Force and is a member of Indigenous Mentoring Program at Montana Tech.
Outside of her professional commitments you will find her serving on several community boards.
Kristen Wanke
Academic Success Coach
Kristen is the TRIO SSS Academic Success Coach. She was previously the Academic Success Coach in the Academic Center for Excellence and helped out with the Upward Bound Unite summer program 2022, teaching a course called “The Pathogens Among Us.”
She joined the team at Montana Tech after spending a year tutoring at the local community college in Spokane, Washington where she grew up. She took on this role after graduating from Whitman College in the spring of 2020.
While she was not a part of TRIO herself, she has always cared about making a STEM education and career accessible to anyone looking to pursue one. She has a passion for doing this in Butte especially as it is where she was born.
When she is not coaching students, she likes to run, hike, ski, find any local live music, and bake.
Tom Reget
Digital Content Creator & Student Advisor
Tom, a First Generation Montana Tech Grad, began working with the TRIO SSS program in 2018. He comes to the Institute after 16 years in broadcast television, and another 16 years travelling the highways and byways of this great land producing safety training and reclamation videos at his company Reget Video Productions.
Working with members of the TRIO programs housed within the Institute allows Tom to give something back to students and his Alma Mater. Tom spends his days mainly assisting students navigate the college experience through to graduation and is also SSS’s Digital Content Creator promoting our programs at MTU and beyond through campus & community outreach, maintains the Institute’s website, and is the Montana Tech Regional Science & Engineering Fair Director, but enjoys interacting with our students the most, students whose talents continue to amaze.
When not at work, you can find Tom on the golf course, working on remodeling projects at home, maybe golfing or probably golfing.
Adam Maes
Program Director
Upward Bound & Upward Bound/Math-Science
Adam is the Director for the TRIO Upward Bound programs in Butte, Anaconda & Helena. Adam previously was the Upward Bound/Talent Search Coordinator for Helena Schools.
A graduate of Anaconda High School and Montana State University – Bozeman, Adam is also a former Montana Tech Talent Search and Upward Bound Scholar.
Adam’s passion is to motivate and empower students to reach their full potential. Without the help of TRIO Programs, he wouldn’t be where he is today and strives to pay it forward.
Brandon McLean
Anaconda High/Capital High Program Coordinator
TRIO Upward Bound
Brandon began working at the Institute of Educational Opportunities in 2006, where has served several target schools.
He is now in his hometown of Anaconda where he helps students in grades 7 to 12.
In his free time, he likes to travel, ski and spend time with family and friends. He really enjoys watching sports and is a die-hard Notre Dame fan! GO IRISH!
Kaitlyn Kerr
Butte High Program Coordinator
TRIO Upward Bound Math/Science
Kaitlyn is the Math Science Upward Bound Coordinator for Butte High School.
Kaitlyn graduated from Laurel High School as a Talent Search Scholar through MSUB. She recently graduated from Montana Technical University with a bachelor’s degree in Business and Information Technology. As a TRIO SSS student and student employee in college she was exposed to the local Upward Bound students and had a desire to continue working with them after graduation.
She credits her success in college to all the help she received through TRIO programs and would love to do the same for other students.
Lindsey Brittain
Butte High/Helena High Program Coordinator
TRIO Upward Bound
Lindsey is a University of Idaho graduate passionate about educational access and opportunity for all. She has worked in the Idaho public schools as an Early Childhood Specialist and Intensive Behavioral Interventionist, helping students with diverse needs access education. For the past ten years, Lindsey has worked in higher education as an Access Specialist, helping reduce barriers for students with disabilities in a college environment.
Lindsey is new to Montana and is looking forward to hiking, skiing, and exploring this beautiful region with her family and beloved dog, Moose.
Cory Chenoweth
Program Director – TRIO Talent Search
Cory Chenoweth serves as the Director of the Montana Tech Talent Search program where he oversees staff in Butte, Anaconda, Helena, East Helena and Deer Lodge. Cory has a bachelor’s degree in Secondary education and has an extensive history working in the world of college access and success working as an admissions counselor, a financial aid manager and most recently as the TRIO Upward Bound and Talent search coordinator in Helena.
Cory was born and raised in Helena and is a proud 5th generation Montanan. When he isn’t working, Cory enjoys spending time with his family and watching his two children compete in a wide variety of sports.
Monica Glueckert
TRIO Talent Search Coach
(Helena Middle School – Helena)
My name is Monica Glueckert. I started my career in human services in Great Falls MT in 2012 working with youth in school based mental health programs. I earned my Master of Education in Counseling in 2016 from MSU- Northern, and am currently a school counselor as well as a private practice clinician (LCPC) in my personal small business.
I am a mom of two children whom my world revolves around. I love backpacking, mountain biking, swimming and have been participating in various triathlons across Montana over the last 3 years. I love everything Montana has to offer.
Michele Goyette
TRIO Talent Search Coach
(CR Anderson Middle School – Helena)
Michele is a happy wife of 33 years, mother of 3, and grandmother of 5. Her family is a source of pride and joy. Montana born and bred, the Great Falls native loves Montana and has lived and worked in several places under the Big Sky including Havre, Conrad, and as a K-12 counselor in Sunburst prior to moving to CR Anderson in Helena.
Michele felt drawn to the counseling side of education, moving from teacher to school counselor because she saw her students’ need to have someone they could trust and cared about them. Education is in Michele’s genes, her grandmother, mom, dad, and several other relatives have been teachers. Her one wish was that her dad lived long enough to see her get her master’s in counseling. In addition to her master’s degree, she has her BA in K-8 education, a minor in reading, and an endorsement in Special Education.
Kristy Dallasera
TRIO Talent Search Coach
(East Middle School – Butte)
Kristy is a S.T.E.M. Teacher and the TRIO Coach for East Middle School in Butte, MT. She was born and raised in Butte. She has been in the teaching field for the past 20 years and her passion is helping students feel successful in their educational path. She has been working with TRIO for the past 2 years and looks forward to many many more.
She has two high school students her daughter Kadance who is a senior and son Wiley who is a sophomore at Butte High School. She enjoys the outdoors, spending time with family and friends. She loves her fury babies Remi, Rue and Tink.
Lindsey Wolstein
TRIO Talent Search Coach
(Butte High School – Butte)
Lindsey is both a dual credit teacher and the TRIO Talent Search coach at Butte High School. Raised in Butte she earned her bachelor’s degree in elementary education at the University of Montana and taught in California for 5 years while earning her master’s in Reading/Language Arts at Cal State San Bernardino.
She is currently in her 21st year of teaching. In 2000 she earned her second master’s degree in school counseling and is looking forward to using this degree in the future.
Lindsey has a 17 year old daughter and enjoys spending her free time with family and friends camping, floating, and boating on the rivers and lakes of Montana. During the school year she enjoys watching sporting events.
Ali Bowdish
TRIO Talent Search Coach
(Duvall Jr. High – Deer Lodge)
Ali is the TRIO Talent Search coach and music teacher at Duvall Junior High in Deer Lodge, MT. Growing up in Anaconda, MT, she is a TRIO Talent Search and Upward Bound Alum. Earning her degree at Montana State University she became an educator in 2019.
Teaching music has given her a special bond with her students and when the opportunity came to help students in her community, she jumped at the chance to rebuild the Talent Search program and encourage students to seek higher education.
Jordyn Kohl
AmeriCorps Team Leader
Jordyn helps with Upward Bound, Talent Search and Student Support Services. She is a recent graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, completing a Bachelor of Arts in Education in Human Development and Family Studies, concentrating in Family Life Education.
Jordyn has spent the last seven years working in youth development and early childhood education services, including being an assistant director for a summer camp and interning and working at museums in the education departments.
One of Jordyn’s major passions surround accessibility in education. Having both experience and knowledge on special education, she has worked with students who are neurodivergent, and completed projects to increase accessibility in schools, museums, and camps.
Outside of work, Jordyn enjoys taking film photos and being outdoors: hiking, camping, kayaking.