Student Success Team

Email: copenhaver@hood.edu
Phone: 301-696-3860
Office: Beneficial - Hodson Library & Learning Commons, 1029
Pronouns: she/her

Click here to schedule an appointment! 

Clifton Strengths: Positivity - Responsibility - Empathy - Belief - Developer 

Lisa brings over 30 years of work experience in the field of higher education working in various student support and administrative roles. 

Lisa began her career in admissions at Hagerstown Business College in Hagerstown, MD, where she spent over 10 years as the Registrar overseeing the advisement, course scheduling, and registration for the student body.  After the acquisition by Kaplan College, Lisa worked as the Associate Academic Dean facilitating faculty engagement workshops and teaching an orientation to college class to incoming student as well as Public Speaking and Presentation Skills for the Professional.  She then was named the Dean of Student Affairs after college changed to Kaplan University, where her duties included student retention, overseeing the Registrar’s office, student activities and engagement,  and serving as a member of the Senior Team. 

Born and raised in Altoona, PA, she graduated from Shippensburg University where she earned her undergraduate degree in Public Relations and Speech Communications.  She recently completed her Educational Doctorate Degree in Educational Leadership and Management from Capella University after completing her Masters Degrees in Online College Teaching and Higher Education College Administration and Leadership.  She resides in Greencastle, PA, and is a proud parent of two grown children and two shih-tzus and enjoys the beach, cooking, baking, trying new restaurants, and spending time with her family and friends. 

As the Director of Student Success since 2017, Lisa serves as the chair of the Students of Concern Committee, a member of the Student Success Council,  Learning Commons Committee, and teaches the Academic Success Seminar and the spring First Year Seminars.  She oversees tutoring at the college and works diligently to create support systems for our students.

Email: douglas@hood.edu
Phone: 301-696-3569
Office: Beneficial - Hodson Library & Learning Commons
Pronouns: she/her

Originally from Massachusetts, Farrah is a former USA Rugby National team athlete and coach with a varied background that includes over 27 years of coaching across all levels of her sport, including Division 1 athletics at Mount St Mary’s University. She believes that coaching at its fundamental core is educational with focus on developing the whole person. Farrah’s athletic career, partnered with a strong background in both youth development and education, instilled a passion for creating a positive culture to aid in developing strong and successful student-athletes. Farrah is excited to bring her experiences to the Office of Student Success to help foster the academic success and personal growth as our students take the next steps in their future paths.

Farrah earned her Bachelor of Arts from Bowdoin College. Outside of work, Farrah enjoys reading and staying active with running, most recently she has begun to explore the Ultra Running World. Farrah is an active member of the Frederick Steeplechasers Running Club and loves running on the Chesapeake and Ohio Towpath.

Email: nonemaker@hood.edu 
Phone: 301-696-3195
Office: Beneficial - Hodson Library & Learning Commons, 1030
Pronouns: she/her

Click here to schedule an appointment!

Clifton Strengths: Empathy - Developer - Relator - Positivity - Input

Gretchen moved from California to Greece as a kid and came back to the states for college in the 90’s. She has lived in Frederick County since Fall of 1999. Gretchen began her career at Hood in August 2001 as an International Admissions Counselor. Gretchen worked in Admissions until 2004. She came back to Hood College in the Director position for Student Engagement and Orientation in 2013. Gretchen joined the Student Success team Fall of 2019. All of her education is in Psychology and College Counseling.  She values her one on one time with students and colleagues very much. Gretchen's teaching style is a very collaborative one. She believes we all have something to learn from one another and how we interact as humans in the world.

Email: ricek@hood.edu
Phone: 301-696-3419
Office: Beneficial - Hodson Library & Learning Commons, 1032
Pronouns: she/her

Click here to schedule an appointment!

Katie comes with nine years of mathematics teaching experience at the secondary level. A lifelong learner, Katie surrounds herself with books as she continually researches education and cognitive science to improve her craft and help reach students. She believes that every student can succeed in math, and she uses her pedagogical knowledge and her excitement toward math to help students get there.

Katie earned her Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Maryland, College Park, where her love of math took on real-world applications. But her favorite part of learning was teaching others, so she returned to school and earned her Master of Arts in Elementary and Secondary Education from the University of California, Irvine. The idea that the world can be understood through mathematics is nothing short of amazing, and her goal is to bring that joy to students.

Outside of work, Katie enjoys reading, knitting, and crocheting, watching her son play baseball, and walking around downtown Frederick, where she lives with her husband, Brandon, and son, Sam.

Email: rubalcada@hood.edu
Phone: 301-696-3422
Office: Beneficial - Hodson Library & Learning Commons, 1028
Pronouns: she/her

Camelia Rubalcada was born and raised in Elsa, Tx, a 96% Latino community and border town about 15 minutes away from the Mexican border. She was a teenage parent, first gen, and low-income student who beat the odds. At the age of 19, she left her hometown to work in a factory for Tyson in Columbus Junction, IA. Her plan to stay in Iowa for six months turned into 18 years.

While pursuing her BA, she encountered mentors that helped her navigate the uncertainties she had about college. Through those obstacles, she was inspired to pursue a degree in student affairs, so she could be a powerful voice for students. Upon completing her MAE in Student Affairs from the University of Northern Iowa (UNI) in 2012, Camelia began her higher education journey as a TRiO Counseling Specialist at the University of Iowa. Her experience with TRiO helped prepare her for roles that aim at advocating for marginalized students and developing strategies that contribute to student success.

Prior to Hood College, Camelia led undergraduate retention initiatives for first- and second-year students, co-developed a peer coaching model, and served on the Provost Leadership Team (PLT) for Luther College. Her leadership journey began at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley as the Director for TRiO SSS; she saw a need to bring more awareness to cross culturalism and implemented co-curriculum activities that focused on diversity, identity development, & communication to aid students in becoming more culturally competent.

In her current position, Camelia will work closely with campus leaders to develop retention initiatives, assess data to identify questions & barriers, and provide leadership to the student success team to identify best practices to better serve students. She is passionate about supporting students.