Donna Fleming is the Director of Counseling and Research for the Texas Academy of Mathematics and Science at the University of North Texas.  She is a licensed psychologist and received her Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from Oklahoma State University.  She has developed a structured and interactive program for career development in conjunction with Dr. Vicki Campbell of the UNT Psychology Department.  The program, "Life Directions," is designed to help students think about their future selves and map a course for achieving their goals.

Jennifer Akins
...from high school to college

Jennifer Akins is currently a high school guidance counselor in McKinney, Texas, one of the fastest growing cities in the nation. Akins holds a M.Ed. in School Counseling from Dallas Baptist University, as well as a B.S. in Neuroscience and a B.A. in Psychology from the University of Texas at Dallas. Akins believes strongly in the impact of social and emotional needs on learning. She has particular expertise working with unique learners, creating individualized educational and career plans tailored for diverse populations. Her hobbies include reading speculative fiction, enjoying quality movies, volunteering within her community of faith, and spending time with her large extended family. Akins and her husband reside in McKinney.

Kyle Bewsey is a clinical psychology doctoral student at the University of North Texas. He received his B.S. in psychology from Gardner-Webb University and his M.A. in clinical psychology from Western Carolina University. His research and clinical interests include psychodynamic psychotherapy, personality assessment, and dimensional models of psychopathology.

Moe McGuinness
...from high school to college

Maureen "Moe" McGuinness has worked at the University of North Texas as an administrator and adjunct instructor for the past 11 years. She is in touch with students who attend UNT through advising and being a student advocate. She loves to support the Mean Green and assist spreading the word about what a great school it is. She has three children, Kevin (11), Reilly (9) and Regan (5) who are her prides and joy!

Dr. David Taylor was born in Denton, Texas and, after fifteen years away, has returned. He earned his B.A. and M.A. at the University of North Texas and his Ph.D. at the University of Tennessee. He has taught at the graduate, undergraduate, and secondary levels for almost twenty years. He is currently a lecturer in the English Department at UNT.

He has written and edited four books: Pride of Place: A Contemporary Anthology of Texas Nature Writing (UNT Press, 2006), South Carolina Naturalists: An Anthology, 1700-1860 (University of South Carolina Press, 1998) and Lawson's Fork: Headwaters to the Confluence (Hub City Writer's Project, 2000) and a book of poetry Praying Up the Sun (Pecan Grove Press, 2008). Forthcoming volumes include, Restoring Home: Essays and Family and Place (Texas Tech University, 2008) and South Carolina Nature Writing, 1860-1970 (University of South Carolina Press, 2008). David serves as Editor for the Southwestern Nature Writing Series with UNT Press. He has published multiple articles, essays, columns, and poetry in such journals as Ecological Restoration, Dallas Morning News, ISLE, Borderlands, Mountain Gazette, and Southern Poetry Review.

Marshall Armintor
Writing: Comics

Marshall Needleman Armintor is a Lecturer and Graduate Advisor in the Department of English at UNT.  He received his PhD in English from Rice University in 2002.  His research interests are primarily in 20^th century British literature and critical theory, especially psychoanalysis; his book Lacan and the Ghosts of Modernity: Masculinity, Tradition, and the Anxiety of Influence (Peter Lang) was published in 2004.  He has taught a wide range of courses since coming to UNT in 2003, on topics ranging from Greek and Roman literature to British drama and the "gateway" course "Analysis and Interpretation."  He is currently working on a book about Jacques Derrida's writings on art.

Kari's interest for shopping began at a young age.

Kari Haile grew up on a farm in west Central Texas. She attended Tareleton State and Texas Woman's University and earned a degree in journalism and marketing.  Haile currently teaches sixth grade reading in Denton and has taught art, English, journalism, theater, social studies, science and remedial programs in grades six through twelve.

Haile has a variety of career experiences.  She has sold cars, painted buckets, taught swimming, worked retail and owned a decorating business.  She has also written for magazines and newspapers while promoting nonprofit organizations.

The Hailes have two boys, a dog and a horse.  Most of their time is spent at sporting and school events.  When she can get away from the boys, Haile enjoys shopping, painting and garage saling.

Carolyn Matteson
Writing: Catastrophes, Crises, and Cures

Carolyn Matteson now works as an Instructional Support Teacher with Denton's first- and second-year secondary English teachers. In her twenty-five year career as an English teacher, she has taught fourth graders through university students in public and private school settings. She holds B.A. and M.A. degrees in English from Baylor University and has done graduate work at the University of North Texas. Mrs. Matteson is recognized as a teacher who cares for students and at the same time works them hard to master reading and writing whatever their futures demand. "Of all the skills students must acquire to achieve their dreams, learning to capture clear thought in clear language is most important," she says. Traveling, reading, and gardening fill her leisure time.

Dr. Sam Matteson is a twenty-year veteran of the university and is an award winning physics professor who enjoys a reputation as a skilled writer and editor of both technical and creative non-fiction.  His scholarly activities include ion beam and accelerator physics, materials science and the acoustics of musical performance.  Matteson is also currently writing a memoir of his youth growing up in the swamps of Alabama.  Furthermore, he is serving at the moment as Interim Chair of the Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences.  "In The Governor's School at UNT we find a unique opportunity to help motivate and guide promising students at the very beginning of their journey into science and technological careers," he said recently. "The possibilities are beyond our imagination."

Sharon Kremer
Writing: Left Brain, Right Brain...

Sharon Kremer has spent more than 3 decades happily teaching teenagers, whether it be English or French, reading or writing, grades 7 through 10. She considers the teaching of language to be the perfect vehicle for refining the processes of thinking and questioning, marveling daily at her students' abilities.

Summers find her in the yard, at the library, on the Continental Divide backpacking, or with her grown children. Her family includes her daughter , son-in-law, and two grandsons; and her son, an architecture major at Virginia Tech. She has, at all times in her life, been owned by a dog. The current model is a spotted mutt who is much too refined to join her backpacking, preferring a mannerly stroll on pavement.

Jason Hindman is currently a doctoral student of Counseling Psychology at the University of North Texas. He has earned his master's degree in psychology at UNT as well as a bachelor's degree in business marketing from Abilene Christian University. He has previously served as a psychology intern for the Texas Academy of Math and Science, where he specialized in helping students navigate the career decision making process. This fall he will begin his pre-doctoral internship at the Texas A&M Student Counseling Service. Jason will be a facilitator for the "Life Directions" program that is designed to help TGS students think about their future selves and define a course for achieving their goals.