SDAP Team

The Scholars with Diverse Abilities Program team is made up of faculty, student support members and volunteers who are dedicated to the success and wellness of our Scholars. Our faculty and student staff members come from a variety of backgrounds and experiences.

SDAP Leadership Team

Dr. Susan Hedges

Director

Dr. Susan Hedges (She/Her/Hers) earned a Ph.D. in education with a focus on special education from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. In addition to working with SDAP, Susan is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Reading Education and Special Education at Appalachian State University. Her research interests include technology supports for students with autism, enhancing whole school environments in support of students with autism, and improving post-school outcomes for students with autism. She has presented at national and international conferences. Her published work can be found in peer-reviewed journals including the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disabilities,Autism, Exceptional Children, and Remedial and Special Education.

Beth Sibley

Beth Sibley

Assistant Director

Beth Sibley earned a BSW from James Madison University and an MSW from the University of South Carolina.  She has seven years of experience in the field doing case management in mental health, health care, and child welfare settings. Her extensive background in social work aligns well with SDAP's person-centered planning approach. Additionally, she brings experience in educational settings working with high school students with intellectual and developmental disabilities. 

Beth has worked at App since 2016 as an adjunct instructor teaching in the Social Work and Recreation Management and Physical Education departments. She has long been a go-to instructor for SDAP students with her popular weight training course. In the community, Beth has led a group fitness class for athletes with intellectual and physical disabilities.

In her free time, she enjoys family movie nights with her husband and two children and coaching group fitness classes in the Boone community.

Student Staff Members

Students provide an important peer support network for Scholars, and they serve several essential functions that enable Scholars to have a successful collegiate experience.

Graduate Assistants 
College Life Fellows 
Interns 

Graduate Assistants

Graduate Assistants with SDAP support Scholars through roles as Personal-centered Planning Advisors, Teaching Assistants and Research Assistant Mentees.

Cassie Adler

Cassie Adler

Person-centered Planning Advisor

Cassie Adler is a first year graduate student in the Master of Social Work program. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in Finance and Supply Chain Management as well as a Master’s degree in Information Systems from Indiana University. After ten years of working in business settings, Cassie is excited to shift focus and support her community in new ways. She hopes to engage in meaningful work that connects individuals and families to life-enhancing resources. She also hopes to be one of those resources as a future licensed therapist. In her spare time, Cassie loves to hike, travel with her husband, tend to her houseplants, and snuggle her two cats (Stevie and Kitty).

Kaley Coltrain

Kaley Coltrain

Person-centered Planning Advisor

Kaley Coltrain (she/her/hers) joined the SDAP team in the Fall of 2022 as a graduate intern. She graduated from Marist College in Poughkeepsie NY with a Bachelor’s of Social Work degree with a minor in Psychology and Sociology. Kaley has experience of working with individuals who may experience substance use, intellectual disabilities, mental illness and trauma. Kaley also played softball at Marist College and will continue her athletic career at Appalachian State.

Maddi Dorrill

Graduate Teaching Assistant

Maddi Dorrill, MT-BC, is a second-year graduate student in the Master of Music Therapy and Clinical Mental Health Counseling programs at Appalachian State University. She received her Bachelor of Music in Music Therapy from The University of Georgia in 2019 and spent a few years working in an inpatient psychiatric hospital before coming back to school. Maddi is passionate about advocating for people with diverse abilities through improving access to education, community resources, and healthcare services.

Skyler Prowten

Person-centered Planning Advisor
Graduate Teaching Assistant

Skyler Prowten (She/Her/Hers) joined SDAP in Fall 2021. Originally from Kent, OH, she received her Bachelor's degrees in Psychology and Animal Science at North Carolina State University. She is a second year graduate student in the Experimental Psychology Program at Appalachian State University exploring topics centered around body image, depression, and coping. She hopes to go on to pursue a PhD in Clinical Psychology to one day be an advocate for equitable physical and mental health.

Kaitlyn Reda

Person-centered Planning Advisor

Kaitlyn Reda is a second-year student in the Master of Social Work program. She joined the SDAP team as a graduate intern in the fall of 2021. Kaitlyn returned to her home state of North Carolina to pursue a social work career after obtaining a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Drama from New York University in 2015. Alongside her graduate assistantship with SDAP, Kaitlyn will be interning with the National Alliance on Mental Illness. 

Ellie Russell

Ellie Russell

Graduate Research Assistant Mentee

Ellie Russell is a first-year graduate student in the Marriage and Family Therapy Program. She recently graduated from Florida Atlantic University with a Psychology degree and an Applied Mental Health Certificate. She is elated to be apart of the SDAP team. She hopes to be a resourceful and positive peer for students journey in the SDAP program. Ellie aspires to be a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. In her free time she loves hiking with her dog, reading books, listening to podcasts, running, crafts, and most of all spending quality time with her friends and family.

Kennedy Vernon

Person-centered Planning Advisor

Kennedy Vernon is a first year graduate student in the Master of Social Work program. She recently graduated from Appalachian State with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, and is excited to be a part of the SDAP team. During her time in undergrad, Kennedy worked as a certified nursing assistant (CNA) in nursing and rehabilitation homes, and at the health center on campus at Appalachian State. Kennedy is thrilled to be able to play a role and share in the success of the scholars by providing advocacy, support, and inclusivity to each scholar in the SDAP program. In her free time, she enjoys going on drives on the parkway, hiking, listening to music, watching movies, and spending time with her family and friends.

College Life Fellows

College Life Fellows support Scholars by living alongside them in residential halls and helping provide a positive and safe living experience.

Brett Boles

Brett Boles

College Life Fellow

Brett Boles joined Appalachian State University as a Special Education major and is happy to continue as a Fellow for the Scholars with Diverse Abilities Program in fall of 2022. He is also a member of the American Sign Language Club wanting to learn more about it and better communicate with people who have this need. Before he came to Appalachian, he volunteered in a special education classroom at Yadkinville Elementary School. 

Caeleigh McGuire

Caeleigh McGuire

College Life Fellow

Caeleigh McGuire is a senior Communication Sciences and Disorders student with a minor in Social Work. She is a member of Best Buddies, Dementia Awareness Club, and the National Student Speech Language Hearing Association. She loves visiting animals at the Watauga Humane Society and exploring new restaurants in Boone. Caeleigh is looking forward to showing new students all there is to love about Appalachian State and college life.

Interns

SDAP interns come from a variety of programs including the Bachelors in Social Work (BSW), Communications, and Exercise Science progams.

Makenzie Setzer

I am in my final semester here at Appalachian State University and plan to graduate in May with a Bachelor's of Social Work degree with a minor in Sociology. I am from Hickory, NC and my hobbies include cross-stitching/embroidery, playing video games, and interior design. My number one goal in life is to become a marriage and family counselor.