Temple University Athletics
Academic & Career Services Announces Three New Hires and a Promotion
10.6.17 | General
PHILADELPHIA - Three new faces have joined the Resnick Academic Support Center for Student-Athletes, while Da'Mon Merkerson has been promoted to Assistant Director. Senior Associate AD for Academic & Career Services Justin Miller has also announced the hiring of Academic Advisor Erika DeVaughn, Academic Advisor Tori Perri and Learning Specialist Taylor Gillie.
Merkerson joined the Resnick Center as an Academic Advisor in August, 2014, and has now been promoted to Assistant Director. He will provide leadership for the academic support services for Temple football, overseeing the staff to ensure student-athletes are maximizing their time on campus. He will also continue to serve Temple fencing and act as the liaison to Temple's Career Center, collaborating to deliver the Verified Program.
"Temple felt Da'Mon's impact immediately when he arrived on campus in 2014," said Miller. "His connection with his students has always been exceptional, but now he has the opportunity to positively affect Temple's student-athletes from a leadership position. His demonstrated ability to execute a high-functioning program, while remaining committed to the holistic development of student-athletes, certainly makes Da'Mon one of the top young talents in academic support services in the nation. I am excited to see him and our program flourish under his leadership."
Prior to Temple, Merkerson worked at Lindenwood University as an academic support graduate assistant. He also spent time at Arizona State University as an academic mentor. Merkerson played football and ran track at Syracuse University, where he double-majored in sociology and communication & rhetorical studies. He later completed his master's degree in education at Arizona State. Merkerson participated in the 2011 Arizona Cardinals (NFL) training camp and went on to play for the Arizona Rattlers (AFL) in 2012 and 2013.
DeVaughn comes to Temple from Stony Brook University, where she spent the past two years as an Academic Advisor and Tutor Coordinator. Her primary responsibilities were with the softball and track & field teams at Stony Brook. From 2014-15, DeVaughn was an assistant for student-athlete support services at the University of Cincinnati, and she was a graduate assistant in athletics at Florida A&M University from 2013-14.
While working at Florida A&M, DeVaughn earned her master's degree in sport management. She also has a bachelor's in psychology from Samford University (2013). Outside of academics, DeVaughn has been a head volleyball coach for various club teams since 2010, and played Division I volleyball for Samford and the University of South Florida.
Perri is a 2014 graduate of Penn State where she has worked for the Morgan Academic Center in various roles for the past two years. She started as an Academic Support Intern before promotions to Assistant Athletic Academic Counselor and most recently Athletic Academic Counselor. For the past year, Perri has worked primarily with the men's and women's fencing, men's and women's tennis and softball teams.
Just over a year after earning her bachelor's from Penn State in public relations, Perri earned a master's degree in higher education in August, 2015. From 2010-15, Perri was a varsity member of the Nittany Lions' women's cross country and track & field teams.
Gillie comes to Temple from the University of Central Florida, where she spent the past two years as an Assistant Academic Advisor in Academic Services for Student-Athletes, working with the men's basketball, baseball and women's rowing teams. She also earned her master's degree in educational leadership while at UCF.
During her undergraduate career at Stony Brook University, Gillie was both a Peer Academic Success Coach Intern and an Academic Mentor Intern. She was a four-year member of Stony Brook's Division I volleyball team and was also a member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. Gillie graduated from Stony Brook with a degree in anthropology and sociology in May, 2015.
"It is with great pride that we announce the addition of Erika, Tori, and Taylor to our family in the Resnick Academic Support Center for Student-Athletes," said Miller. "Each have unique backgrounds and experiences that will help enhance our services for many years to come. Erika, Tori and Taylor all possess the requisite skill set, passion and dedication needed to assist Temple's student-athletes in their pursuit for academic excellence. I look forward to our student-athletes having an opportunity to benefit from their guidance and expertise."
Merkerson joined the Resnick Center as an Academic Advisor in August, 2014, and has now been promoted to Assistant Director. He will provide leadership for the academic support services for Temple football, overseeing the staff to ensure student-athletes are maximizing their time on campus. He will also continue to serve Temple fencing and act as the liaison to Temple's Career Center, collaborating to deliver the Verified Program.
"Temple felt Da'Mon's impact immediately when he arrived on campus in 2014," said Miller. "His connection with his students has always been exceptional, but now he has the opportunity to positively affect Temple's student-athletes from a leadership position. His demonstrated ability to execute a high-functioning program, while remaining committed to the holistic development of student-athletes, certainly makes Da'Mon one of the top young talents in academic support services in the nation. I am excited to see him and our program flourish under his leadership."
Prior to Temple, Merkerson worked at Lindenwood University as an academic support graduate assistant. He also spent time at Arizona State University as an academic mentor. Merkerson played football and ran track at Syracuse University, where he double-majored in sociology and communication & rhetorical studies. He later completed his master's degree in education at Arizona State. Merkerson participated in the 2011 Arizona Cardinals (NFL) training camp and went on to play for the Arizona Rattlers (AFL) in 2012 and 2013.
DeVaughn comes to Temple from Stony Brook University, where she spent the past two years as an Academic Advisor and Tutor Coordinator. Her primary responsibilities were with the softball and track & field teams at Stony Brook. From 2014-15, DeVaughn was an assistant for student-athlete support services at the University of Cincinnati, and she was a graduate assistant in athletics at Florida A&M University from 2013-14.
While working at Florida A&M, DeVaughn earned her master's degree in sport management. She also has a bachelor's in psychology from Samford University (2013). Outside of academics, DeVaughn has been a head volleyball coach for various club teams since 2010, and played Division I volleyball for Samford and the University of South Florida.
Perri is a 2014 graduate of Penn State where she has worked for the Morgan Academic Center in various roles for the past two years. She started as an Academic Support Intern before promotions to Assistant Athletic Academic Counselor and most recently Athletic Academic Counselor. For the past year, Perri has worked primarily with the men's and women's fencing, men's and women's tennis and softball teams.
Just over a year after earning her bachelor's from Penn State in public relations, Perri earned a master's degree in higher education in August, 2015. From 2010-15, Perri was a varsity member of the Nittany Lions' women's cross country and track & field teams.
Gillie comes to Temple from the University of Central Florida, where she spent the past two years as an Assistant Academic Advisor in Academic Services for Student-Athletes, working with the men's basketball, baseball and women's rowing teams. She also earned her master's degree in educational leadership while at UCF.
During her undergraduate career at Stony Brook University, Gillie was both a Peer Academic Success Coach Intern and an Academic Mentor Intern. She was a four-year member of Stony Brook's Division I volleyball team and was also a member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. Gillie graduated from Stony Brook with a degree in anthropology and sociology in May, 2015.
"It is with great pride that we announce the addition of Erika, Tori, and Taylor to our family in the Resnick Academic Support Center for Student-Athletes," said Miller. "Each have unique backgrounds and experiences that will help enhance our services for many years to come. Erika, Tori and Taylor all possess the requisite skill set, passion and dedication needed to assist Temple's student-athletes in their pursuit for academic excellence. I look forward to our student-athletes having an opportunity to benefit from their guidance and expertise."
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