Staff

Janet Copenhaver
Technology Instructor

Janet is a part-time technology instructor who joined NCI in 2019. She earned her Associate’s Degree in Education at Patrick Henry Community College then transferred to Radford University to complete her Bachelor’s Degree in Library Science. She continued her education with a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership at Radford University. She currently serves as a board member at PHCC, and she is a board member for VSTE (Virginia Society for Technology Education.) Janet is also and Apple Distinguished Educator.

Stacey Davis
Customer Service Receptionist

Stacey Davis joined the NCI Staff in July of 2018. As Customer Service Receptionist, Stacey’s responsibilities include providing exceptional customer service to visitors, clients, and students at New College Institute. Stacey comes to New College Institute with many years of experience, Stacey is currently the owner/operator of Infinity Dancewear. Stacey previously worked with PHCC as an Administrative Assistant for their Early Childhood Program and served in many roles supporting PHCC’s Patriot Players. Stacey obtained two Associate Degree’s in General Studies and Small Business Management with a major in Entrepreneurship/Small Business Specialization.

Christina Easley

Customer Service Receptionist

Christina Lee Easley lives in Rocky Mount, VA. and has worked in Customer Service over 20 years and Reception about 5 years. She has certificates thru Fast Track in Phlebotomy, E.K.G., Med Aide, and C.N.A. Christina came to NCI to provide customer service for visitors, clients, and students as she enjoys meeting/interacting with people. Christina is currently enrolled in classes at Patrick Henry Community College for sign language and Spanish.

Frederico “Rico” Hairston
Security Staff

Rico Hairston joined the NCI staff in 2023. As a member of NCI’s Security Staff, Rico provides safety and security operations for NCI. He is responsible for maintaining security of NCI, and she routinely assists staff, students, and visitors.

Clifford House

Quality Assurance Instructor

Clifford House serves as Quality Assurance Instructor for NCI’s Advanced Manufacturing. Clifford has worked in the industrial field since 2005 as a welder, metal fabricator, and CNC operator, setter, and programmer. House brings over ten years of experience in the North Carolina Community College system as an instructor for industrial, manufacturing, and machining.

Rebekah Hughes
Director of Marketing and Communications

Rebekah Hughes serves as NCI’s Director of Marketing and Communications where her responsibilities include managing the agency’s website and the continued development of NCI branding and marketing strategies.

A graduate of James Madison University with a Communications/Journalism degree, Hughes brings more than 30 years of experience in website development, graphic design and marketing to the NCI team.

Christian Keeler

Additive Manufacturing Technician

Christian joined the NCI staff in 2019 as a part time additive manufacturing technician. He is a graduate from Bassett High School with an associates in arts and science. While at NCI, he received a cybersecurity certification in 2020 through Radford University. In 2022, Christian became head mentor for the STAGS First Robotics Competition team that NCI sponsors and houses. This appointment was highly treasured as it is the  same team he was a member of in 2015/2016.

Teh-Way Lee
Director of Technology Integration

As Director of Technology Integration, Teh-Way Lee oversees NCI’s IT Department, assists staff in technical issues, and updates NCI’s technology. He was previously employed at Henry County Public School for almost 20 years as Systems Administrator where he was also the Director of IT and the IT supervisor.

Teh-Way earned his Associates Degree in Information Systems from Mackenzie Presbyterian University and his undergraduate degree in Computer Science from Radford University. He is fluent in English and Portuguese and proficient in Chinese.

Terresa Leopold
Customer Service Receptionist

Terresa comes to NCI with a combined 30+ years of experience in customer service and business management. Her responsibilities at NCI include providing exceptional customer service to visitors, clients, and students. She also enjoys doing various projects for the staff.

For Terresa, art and education are the corner stones of life. Some of her most cherished classes and experiences have been through various art mediums. Before moving to Martinsville, she owned and operated an art studio where the focus was free expression of creativity. She is also a classically trained Chef.

John Maxwell
Coordinator of Health and Human Services

John has an extensive background in health care administration and strategic planning, including roles as Chief Operating Officer for Culpeper Regional Hospital and Memorial Hospital of Martinsville and Henry County (now Sovah Health – Martinsville) as well as Chief Executive Officer of Central Carolina Hospital. John earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Oklahoma before going on to earn a master’s degree in human relations and later a master’s in health care administration. An active member of the community, John is involved with various volunteer activities and organizations.

Erica McDaniel
Event & Administrative Program Coordinator

Erica joined the NCI staff in December of 2020. As Event & Administrative Program Coordinator, she is the point of contact for reserving and scheduling all classrooms and Lecture Hall spaces at each of NCI’s buildings. She also serves as coordinator and facilitator for all NCI events, as well as assists with and supports marketing efforts as a member of the NCI marketing team. Erica also coordinates the LIFE Learning is ForEver Program and supervises the customer service receptionists.

She is a 2013 graduate of The University of North Carolina at Charlotte with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Communications/Public Relations and minor in journalism. She comes to NCI with experience in event planning, communications and supervision.

Kim Phillips
Public Relations Specialist

After a career in Human Resources, Marketing, and also being a small business owner, Kim comes to NCI in 2021 as the Public Relations Specialist.  Kim maintains the website and social media content for NCI.

Kim enjoys time with her family, sports, and painting with acrylics and oils.

Karol Quezada

Customer Service Receptionist

Karol Quezada is one of NCI’s Customer Service Receptionists. She comes to NCI with a total of nine years of experience in customer service. In addition to her customer service experience, Karol holds many skills. She is bilingual, being fluent in English and Spanish. She is also a certified paralegal and received her certification in home remodeling. She is currently taking online classes to obtain her Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice to achieve her ultimate goal of becoming a juvenile probation officer.

Christina Reed
Assistant Director of Finance & Operations

Christina joined New College Institute in 2011 after working for The Harvest Foundation for seven years. At NCI, she focuses on needs surrounding accounting and finances, but she also brings experience in various areas of operations. Christina is a first-generation college graduate who earned a BS in Accounting from Averett University. In addition, she has completed several continuing education courses and various other training classes and leadership training.

Dr. Ken Russell
Chief Innovation Officer

Dr. Ken Russell is a respected and award-winning servant leader, technologist, coach, and innovation amplifier. A technology investor and pioneer, he developed early Intranet systems for large banks which led to his participation in developing one of the first successful Internet-based training platforms. He was a valued voice and key influencer in the development of the North Carolina Research Campus (which focuses on Human Health, Agriculture, and Nutrition), leading the technology development (as CIO) for the renowned Murdock Research Institute (DHMRI). Dr. Russell has held executive roles at Duke Energy, Bank of America, Cisco, and Curran Biotech. Additional academic/executive/board roles at Wichita State University, Pfeiffer University, and the University of Houston.

Susheela Shanta, PhD
Coordinator of K12 Programs & Institutional Data

Dr. Susheela Shanta comes to us with experience of over 33 years in community service, with numerous awards for community development projects and as a STEM educator. Susheela was previously engaged for 20 years in community planning and development in cities in Pennsylvania and later, in community development in Virginia towns through designing, financing and managing construction of adaptive re-use of historic and/or underutilized properties to create affordable housing for families and seniors. Over the last 13 years Susheela has directed and taught in the engineering program at the Governor’s STEM Academy of Roanoke County. Also appointed by Governor Northam in 2021 to the VA Governor’s STEM Education Advisory Board, Susheela is committed to help provide access to high-quality STEM educational resources to students from diverse geographic, socio-economic, and cultural backgrounds in the Commonwealth of Virginia. 

Susheela earned her bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from India (1984), a master’s degree in Urban Planning (1989) from the SUNY Buffalo, NY, and more recently, a doctoral degree (2017) in Integrative STEM Education from Virginia Tech. In her free time, Susheela enjoys her time with her family, travelling, cooking, and riding her motorcycle. 

JoAnn Shellhammer-Fox
Finance & Operations Analyst

JoAnn joined NCI in 2018. She provides operational support with the fiscal, human resources, grant management, and procurement areas to ensure continued and effective operations for NCI. JoAnn participated in the NCI intern program and is a first generation college student who graduated from Patrick Henry Community College with an Associate’s Degree in Accounting. JoAnn volunteers with the local United Way, the Virginia Museum of Natural History, and fundraises for the Mycocarditis Foundation.

Joe Sumner
Executive Director

          Joe joined NCI in February 2023 as Executive Director.  Upon exiting the United States Army, he entered into the manufacturing workforce as an industrial maintenance technician, specializing in highly automated industrial technologies. After several years in manufacturing, Joe became an instructor at the technical college from which he had graduated.

           Joe arrived at NCI after serving in Program Development, which led to accepting a role as the Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs, and eventually, the Associate Vice President of Economic Development.  He also owns and operates a small industrial training company, providing customized training for niche and proprietary manufacturing technologies to manufacturers and educators.

            His education began with a technical certificate in electrical troubleshooting, which led to a variety of other technical certificates related to manufacturing and automation technology, a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering, and a Master’s of Science in Engineering Management. He holds various industry certifications as well, and has earned a variety of post-graduate certificates in Executive Leadership disciplines.

           Joe is happily married and has one son.  His wife and son are his absolute two best friends in the world, and they are the motivation and driving force behind everything he does as a professional, and as an individual.

            In his free time he enjoys volunteering with local competitive STEM events, such as Lego Robotics, SkillsUSA, First Robotics, Vex Robotics, and other organizations that support the growth and encouragement of STEM education for all ages. Additionally, he loves gardening and the outdoors, and on most weekend nights, can be found gathered around the dining room table playing board games with the family.

Marshall Thomas
Security Supervisor

After retiring from the Martinsville City Police Department as Captain over Patrol Division with 33 years of service, Marshall Thomas is now the security supervisor at NCI. He is also a graduate of Patrick Henry Community College with a degree in Administration of Justice. Marshall is active in the community and enjoys coaching baseball, football, and basketball.