Inclusion for Impact Internship in Action

Porschia Robinson

Porschia Robinson was born in Raleigh, N.C., and raised in Wilmington, N.C., where the beach is nice and breezy. She has always had a passion for learning. Her academic journey culminated in acquiring an undergraduate degree at North Carolina A&T State University. She decided to further her education by attending South University, where she received a Master of Business Administration with a specialization in Healthcare Administration. During her graduate studies, she gained valuable knowledge in the subject areas of healthcare which has honed her skills to be successful in the healthcare career field.

After graduating with an MBA, she decided to pursue a healthcare career that would allow her to make a positive impact on the veterans who have served the country. As an Optum contracted employee for the Veterans Benefits Administration, her experience with Veteran's Services (VS) has allowed her to build networks and develop positive relationships between Optum and VBA vendor partners. Her primary responsibilities as a healthcare recruiter include identifying opportunities for improvement and addressing current needs in the VS market. She also partners with executive leadership to assist with future process improvements within the VBA contract. Her acceptance into teaching through the Inclusion for Impact Internship will allow her to provide equitable educational outcomes for students of various backgrounds and foster diversity and inclusion throughout Guilford Technical Community College.

She has a passion for traveling. She has visited Costa Rica, Bali, Indonesia, Santorini,Greece, and Jamaica. She loves planting during her leisure time. She finds that tending to her plants is therapeutic for her. She is a foodie person and loves to try different cuisines, especially, when she travels. Her favorite cuisines are Italian (lasagna) and Mexican (Birria tacos). She is a dog mom of two Yorkies (Bentley and Madi), they keep her going.

Kristen Morrone

Kristen Morrone is a Greensboro native who returned to the area in 2016 after graduate school. She is excited to join the 2024-25 cohort for Inclusion for Impact Internship as part of the Human Services Department.

She has a Master’s of Clinical Mental Health Counseling from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and has been practicing as a licensed clinical mental health counselor since 2015. She is also a licensed clinical addictions specialist. She has worked in community mental health, schools, private practice, and healthcare.

She initially chose to apply for the Inclusion for Impact Internship to challenge herself and explore opportunities in higher education, aiming to enhance her teaching skills. Ultimately, she has the desire to return to school and obtain a Doctorate of Counselor Education and Supervision and be a part of building the next generation of mental health professionals. She wants to teach her students the importance of self-care while supporting others, a crucial yet often overlooked aspect in the mental health and substance abuse fields.

In her downtime, she keeps herself busy by raising her two young kids and engaging in her “millennial grandma” hobbies of gardening and crocheting.

Jaeson Smith

Jaeson Smith is a husband, father, and professional who was born and raised in Havre de Grace, Maryland, just north of Baltimore City. He and his family enjoy traveling, growing deeper in their faith as Christians, and participating in community events. As a husband and father, he strives to balance his career ambitions with quality time spent with his loved ones.

He holds a Master’s of Public Health from Liberty University and a Master’s of Business Administration from the University of Baltimore. He is passionate about continuous learning and frequently seeks opportunities to expand his knowledge in both fields.

He aims to grow as an instructor, build a successful consulting business, and achieve executive roles in public health. His career goals include developing innovative solutions to public health challenges and mentoring the next generation of professionals. Achieving these goals will allow him to contribute significantly to the field and create lasting change.

He is participating in the Inclusion for Impact Program to develop his teaching skills, expand his professional network, and establish a strong foundation for college-level instruction. Additionally, he hopes to gain insights that will support his growth as a leader and educator in my field.

Jaeson enjoys playing golf, exploring new books, and finding fun restaurants with his family.

Jairo Rodriguez Bustamante

Jairo comes from the beautiful country of Peru. He is excited to be part of the Inclusion for Impact program at GTCC. He holds a Bachelor’s of Sociology from Pedro Ruiz Gallo National University in Lambayeque, Peru, a Master’s of Sociology from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, and a Master’s of Social Project Management from the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru. He also earned a post-baccalaureate certificate in Teaching Sociology from the UNCG.

His professional experience includes working as a Development Specialist at World Vision International in Peru, and he is a Community Research Associate at Wake Forest University. His career goals include becoming a professor in sociology and researching democracy, social movements, immigration, and development. He is participating in the Inclusion for Impact Program to launch his higher education career and gain valuable insights from both faculty and students. He strongly believes that education has the power to drive societal change.

He enjoys playing the acoustic guitar, singing, and traveling. His favorite food is ceviche, a traditional Peruvian dish, and his favorite travel destination will always be Machu Picchu, one of the wonders of the world in Peru.

Isaac Jones

Isaac, or “Professor J” as his students affectionately call him, hails from Goldsboro, N.C. He lives in Greensboro where he works as an English adjunct. He received his Bachelor of Science and Master’s in English and African American Literature from N.C. A&T State University. He aspires to obtain a doctorate in the future.

He enjoys studying and engaging in sociocultural contexts, reading, writing, researching, and consuming a broad spectrum of media – it’s more fun than it sounds.

He has plans to travel, interact, study, and explore different cultures within the next few years. Moreover, once gained, he plans to use his experience to cultivate a more well-rounded teaching philosophy that transcends cultural barriers. Hence, participation in the Inclusion for Impact Program, a catalyst for future endeavors, enables him to traverse the diasporas within his local community.

Amanda Smith

Amanda Smith is a full-time People and Culture Consultant at the City of Greensboro, with 17 years of experience in local government, the past 10 with human resources.

Originally from Charlotte, N.C., she has lived in Greensboro for the past 18 years. In her current role, she and her team manage the recruitment and selection process for almost 3,500 positions across the city.

Amanda has an associate degree from GTCC as well as a Bachelor’s and Master’s of Human Resource Management. She holds certifications as a Professional in Human Resources from HRCI and as a Senior Certified Professional from the Public Sector HR Association. She is proud to serve as an Adjunct Instructor at GTCC, helping to shape the next generation of HR professionals.

She is participating in the Inclusion for Impact Program to enhance her skills as an instructor and to gain valuable insights and techniques to better engage and mentor future HR professionals.

Amanda’s greatest joy comes from being a mother to three wonderful children: Kyle, 21; Madison, 14; and little Michael Jr., who just turned 1. Her husband, Michael, is a high school counselor and dedicated coach. She is a passionate runner, having completed 10 marathons and 45 half-marathons. She also enjoys BootCamp sessions, reading, and crocheting dolls for the children’s hospital.

Albert Cunningham

Albert was born and raised in Greensboro, N.C. He is husband to his childhood sweetheart, father to a 26-year-old son, and uncle to many nieces and nephews. Albert graduated from the Schenck Job Corp Civilian Conservation Center in Pisgah Forest, N.C., in 1994 where he was trained and certified in welding. He is a member of the American Welding Society and was nationally recognized in the Taking the Torch Campaign. He has nearly 30 years of experience in welding manufacturing. Albert loves welding because it is a creative expression of art in which he can use raw materials to help build infrastructures that keep the world revolving progressively.

Albert has overcome many obstacles from growing up in an impoverished community. Albert has served as a volunteer and mentor for the Juvenile and Adult Corrections Systems for Guilford, Randolph. and Davidson counties for over 20 years. He is currently serving as a mentor to men transitioning back into society. He also works with a youth and young adults apprentice program for new high school graduates teaching them about welding through his employer.

Albert joined the Inclusion for Impact Program to advance his welding career and enhance his skills. His goal is to become a full-time instructor.

Albert has a passion for fishing, traveling, watching documentaries, and experiencing food from various cultures. He loves to cook and to spend time with family and close friends. His life’s motto is, "I am what I am by the grace of God."

LaTonya Davidson

LaTonya Davidson is a native of Greensboro, North Carolina. She received her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree from Winston-Salem State University and a Master of Business Administration from High Point University. Her career growth has included roles in customer service operations, IT help desk, system administrator, and senior consultant across multiple financial services industries. She has worked in supply chain for the past 14 years.

Working in supply chain has taught her the true meaning of "added value." Her career goals include teaching others how to add value to their lives through education. She is grateful for the opportunity to join the Inclusion for Impact Program. This experience will allow her to enhance her teaching skills, contribute to impactful programming, and offer more educational opportunities and resources to her community. It will allow her to share her learning journey with students to provide a positive learning experience.

LaTonya enjoys traveling, and her ultimate goal is to travel to six of the seven continents by the end of 2026. She is an avid reader and a member of her local book club. Her passion is outreach and service organizations that help the elderly population and underprivileged children in grades K-eighth grade.

Her favorite quote is by Maya Angelou: “If you don't like something, change it. If you can't change it, change your attitude. Don't complain.”