Meet the team

MRJC Executive Director

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Marisa joined the staff of MRJC in 2008 and now serves as the Executive Director, as well as Program Director for the 24th Judicial Drug Treatment Courts, Watauga Drug Treatment Court Coordinator, and all purpose mediator. She has a Master's Degree in Counseling (Expressive Arts Therapy), a Doctorate in Educational Leadership, and an extensive history of advocacy around restorative processes, community- building, peaceful conflict resolution, and experiential learning.

Homestead Recovery Center Director

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Mollie is a woman in recovery, formerly incarcerated person and Watauga County Native. She has spent all of her professional career working at the intersection of peer led recovery and justice system work first serving as the Case Manager for the Recovery on the Inside Program beginning in 2018 and then as the Program Coordinator for Watauga LEAD and Recovery on the inside from 2020-2022 before starting her new role as Center Director for Homestead Recovery in 2023.  Mollie began her recovery journey as a person who needed to leave Watauga County in order to access basic recovery services and returned to Appalachia in 2013 committed to bring some of the support she had experienced back.  Mollie holds B.S and M.S degrees in Social Work from Appalachian State University and received the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce 4 Under 40 Award for Non-Profit Business Professional in 2021. Mollie continues to experience the gifts of recovery living in the Western end of the county with her husband and their six children.

Community & Programs Specialist

Project Director for MRJC ARC INSPIRE Initiatives

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Mackenzie came to Boone from Charlotte in 2014 to study history at Appalachian State University. Studying histories of social justice, a part-time job in the school system, and an introductory social work course eventually led her to pursue a Masters of Social Work. She holds a B.S degree in Applied and Public History with a minor in Africana Studies and a M.S. degree in Social Work with a concentration in Communities and Organizations, both from ASU. She completed her second year MSW field experience as an intern at MRJC in 2019-2020 and has since worked in both juvenile and adult services here. Mackenzie now serves as a Community & Program Specialist and ARC Project Director for MRJC and loves the macro social work she has the opportunity to practice! She lives in Foscoe with her dog Murphy, volunteers as a Guardian ad Litem for Wilkes County, and is continuously learning about and working on her recovery allyship. 

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LEAD Clinical Case Manager

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Dale joined MRJC in 2021 and serves as the Clinical Case Manager for the Watauga LEAD Program. Dale received his Master of Social Work from Wayne State University and is a North Carolina Certified Peer Support Specialist.  After entering recovery in Detroit, Michigan in 1985 Dale returned to the mountains and his family in 1992 and has been a resident of Ashe country since . 

Recovery on the Inside Peer Support Specialist

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Tripp is a passionate & proud member of Homestead Recovery Center. He serves as a Peer Support Specialist for both the Recovery On The Inside & Watauga LEAD programs, finding his stride in supporting those "in the gap" between incarceration or houselessness to treatment and supportive living. Being a person in long-term recovery himself, Tripp understands the importance of having compassionate-support in order to know that there is always Hope. Tripp holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Outdoor Education & Theatre Arts from Appalachian State University and is also a Watauga County native. Over the years, Tripp has called both North Carolina and Wyoming home, serving as a Wildland-Ranger for the U.S. Forest Service and Chief Hike-Leader for an organization that caters to individuals struggling with addiction, by implementing ‘Wilderness-Therapy’ as a deliberate-conduit in ones’ journey to healing and finding serenity.

Peer Services Coordinator

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Liana is eager to support individuals along their recovery journey and is a person with lived experience. Liana joined the MRJC team in 2022 as the Watauga LEAD and Recovery on the Inside Program Associate and found her niche in the harm reduction aspect of the work. Liana now serves as the Peer Services Coordinator for Homestead, supporting peers and staff as they navigate through center services and managing our Harm Reduction supplies. Liana holds a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology from Pennsylvania State University and is currently completing a work-based internship while pursuing her Master’s Degree in Social Work from App State. 

LEAD Peer Support Specialist

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Pam Greer is a Boone native who has a calling to help and support others in their recovery wherever that may be. She is very passionate about helping others and wants to help each individual be the best person possible. She has been down her own path of addiction and wants to help others experience the joy that recovery can bring to the life of someone broken. She is excited and proud to be part of the Homestead team and looks forward to being a link in the chain, a piece to the puzzle that helps paint a beautiful picture. She has a wonderful husband and a beautiful daughter who support her recovery journey.

Recovery Court Advocate

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Originally from Gaston County, Melissa moved to Western North Carolina in the summer of 2021 to pursue a Bachelor in Criminal Justice from Western Carolina University and now proudly calls the mountains home. After years of building her own recovery, Melissa decided she wanted to help others break the cycle of addiction and justice system involvement. During the course of school Melissa began working in the mental health and substance use field . Melissa now happily serves as our Recovery Court Advocate for the 24th Judicial District by using her personal and professional experience to help others heal and find belonging. 

Watauga LEAD Peer Support Specialist

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Born and raised in Ashe County, Crystal has been on a recovery journey for many years. She is a formally incarcerated person who used the support of loved ones and community to break the cycle of addiction. She loves to hike and be in nature, she used yoga and meditation to stay focused and grounded. Crystal says she is excited to be part of the Homestead Recovery team and use her lived experience to advocate and help people with their own journey to recovery and wellness.

Peer Support Specialist

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Katlynd joined Homestead in 2023 and works as a Peer Support Specialist with the Peer Service components of the recovery center. Katlynd is the first team member to come full circle, beginning her recovery journey as a client of our programs and going on to become an employee. Katlynd says she is grateful for the opportunity to be a part of Homestead and is very excited to use her experience, strength, and hope to make a difference in her community.

Volunteer Transportation Ally

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Ken began volunteering with MRJC in 2022. He is a retired software developer who moved to Boone from West Virginia in 2014. For the past 14 years, Ken has volunteered through local jail and prison ministry  and completed Recovery Coaching Academy in 2022. 

Social Work Intern

 

Sarah is an Advanced Standing Master's of Social Work student at App State. She completed her undergraduate degree in Fall of 2022 with a Bachelors in Social Work and a Minor in Sociology, with a Concentration in Criminology, Deviance, and Law. 

Criminal Justice Intern

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Faith is a Senior at Appalachian State University  majoring in Criminal Justice. Her goal is to have a future in forensics and crime investigation. Faith loves learning from the amazing staff and volunteers at Homestead Recovery Center. She hopes to be a part of the recovery community and helping others in the future.

Criminal Justice Intern

 

Maria is a senior at Appalachian State majoring in Criminal Justice and minoring in Apparel Design and Merchandising. She would like to work in a place that helps people and is excited to be able to do that this semester at Homestead!

Psychology Intern

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Grace is a Junior at Appstate studying Psychology with a Social Work minor. Grace plans to pursue a job in the clinical mental health setting. She is excited to learn how to support others in their recovery and excited to apply what she learns at Homestead Recovery Center to her future education and work.

Sociology Intern

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Addison is a Sociology major with a Concentration in Criminology, Deviance, and Law and she has a minor in psychology. She is graduating in December of 2023 and is hoping to continue advocating for her community by attending law school in the future!

Criminal Justice Intern​

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Katie is a senior at Appalachian State University with a major in Criminal Justice. Katie is interning with the Recovery on the Inside Program and hopes to pursue a path in law after graduation. Katie is super excited to be interning with ROI and hopes she can apply what she learned in her future career.

Communication Intern 

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Ava is a senior at Appalachian State and currently is pursuing a B.A. in Communication Studies with a double minor in Non-Profit Organizations and Political Science. After graduation she is looking to get a masters degree in Non-Profit Administration. Ava is excited to learn first hand how nonprofits work internally as well as looking forward to becoming a bigger part of the community.

Psychology Intern

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Logan is a senior at Appalachian State with a major in Psychology, a concentration in Human Services, and a minor in Sociology. He plans to graduate in Spring 2024 and pursue a masters degree in Sociology. He is excited to get to know the staff and clients at Homestead to play a bigger part in the community.