Our team includes long time TRIO staff members, TRIO program alumni, with backgrounds in criminal justice, philosophy, art, education and psychology all of whom bring a wealth of experiences to help students succeed academically through high school and in life.
It is the bag of experiences that we bring to the table that help us equip and encourage our students. While our main office is located in the Canfield Administration Building at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, we also have a strong presence in the Lincoln Public Schools we serve.
Reach Our Office
Professional Staff
Director of TRIO Programs
Cameron Woodard, M.Ed.
I am the Director of TRIO Programs at UNL. I oversee 4 TRIO programs including Student Support Services, Upward Bound & Upward Bound Math Science and Educational Talent Search. I am originally from Atlanta Georgia where I served professionally as an Academic Counselor at Atlanta Metropolitan State College. Prior to becoming the TRIO Director for UNL, I served as the Program Director of TRIO Student Support Services program at Broward College. I developed 6 new TRIO SSS, to which all 6 programs met the grant goals and objectives. I am a proud graduate of Augusta University with a Bachelors of Arts Degree in Psychology, and have also obtained a Masters of Education in Counseling/Psychology from Troy University. I have worked in K-12 and Higher Education for over 15 years. I love supporting, assisting, and serving students towards pursuing their academic dreams and completion of a college degree. I am a first-generation college graduate and understand the importance of college access programs that support and assist students in overcoming barriers that can be a challenge in continuing their education.
Project Director
Jamil Funnah
Hello! My name is Jamil Funnah. I am an alumni of two TRIO programs, ETS and Upward bound. I have worked with the programs since my undergraduate education. I wanted to continue to work with our programs because of how important the college preparation process is for students, and I would like to make a positive impact on that. I truly believe in that TRIO works and I hope that students working with our programs leave being positively impacted.
I earned my Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy with a minor in Psychology and Master’s in Educational Administration from UNL. I am currently working on my PhD in the Educational Administration department as well.
Education Specialist
Erica Leon
Born and raised in Lincoln, I am an alumnus of Upward Bound and a first-generation graduate of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. I received my bachelor's degree with distinction in May 2023, having double-majored in fine art and psychology, with an emphasis in painting and a minor in English. I work for Upward Bound to help students navigate the fears and obstacles that I also remember facing in high school as an aspiring college student, and because I am committed to inspiring the students in our Upward Bound family to overcome any obstacle to study what they love and pursue their dreams.
Education Specialist
Ashly Felipe-Espino
My name is Ashly Felipe-Espino and I am the Education Specialist for the Regular Upward Bound Program. I like working with Upward Bound because it allows me to work with high school students in my community and help them on their journey to higher education. As a previous Upward Bound student, I have a unique understanding the importance of the work we do and am happy to be a part of it. I graduated from Lincoln North Star in 2019 and attended the University of Nebraska – Lincoln, where I graduated from with a Bachelor of Science in Criminology and Criminal Justice in 2022.