Heartland names Assistant Director of TRIO Student Support Services

Heartland Community College has filled a position to support college students with disadvantaged backgrounds. 

LeLonna Goodson has been named Assistant Director of TRIO Student Support Services. 

In her new position, Goodson manages the programming and services of Project RISE, the College’s TRIO program. Project RISE is an essential support services, providing opportunities for a diverse target population of students who are low-income, first-generation, and/or have a disability. The Assistant Director manages programing and services including academic, personal, career, and transfer counseling in support of program goals of retention, graduation, and transfer of students served by TRIO.

Goodson comes to Heartland Community College from Prairie State College in Chicago Heights, where she has previous experience as an advisor with TRIO Student Support Services. She also was involved in the TRIO program as a student at Eastern Illinois University.

TRIO Student Support Services receives federal funding from the Department of Education.

About TRIO programs 

TRIO is not an acronym; it refers to a number (originally three, now eight) of U.S. federal programs to increase access to higher education for economically disadvantaged students. Federal TRIO Programs include: Talent Search, Upward Bound, Upward Bound Math/Science, Veterans' Upward Bound, Student Support Services, Educational Opportunity Centers, the Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program, and Training Grants.