After successfully partnering as a host site for the United Way of the Piedmont’s VISTA program last year, we are happy to announce two new VISTAs will be joining our team for the 2024-2025 academic year: Matt Hagen and Horace McCollin! We are also happy to announce that our previous VISTA, Sam Reinhardt, will be joining the office as our first full-time staff member in the role of Community Engagement Coordinator.
Read on for a description of what each of the VISTAs and Sam will be up to here at Upstate this year.
Horace McCollin, Community Engagement VISTA
Horace McCollin is Engage Upstate’s new Community Engagement VISTA. He is responsible for getting the word out about SL/CE projects via newsletter and blog. He will also be focused on building and sustaining relationships between the University and community partners.
Horace is a United States Navy Veteran with a passion for non-profit initiatives. Be sure to look out for articles and publications that Horace will be creating about Engage Upstate happenings around campus.
Matt Hagen, Data Impact Coordinator VISTA
Matt Hagen is an AmeriCorps VISTA serving as the Data Impact Coordinator for our office. In this role, Matt is working to enhance USC Upstate’s profile in Collaboratory, a purpose-built software for tracking and reporting SL/CE activities.
Prior to coming aboard at Upstate, Matt worked as a leader in the consumer-packaged goods industry for 12 years. Please be on the lookout for his emails regarding Collaboratory and other Engage Upstate initiatives!
Sam Reinhardt, CE Coordinator
As a USC Upstate and VISTA alum, Sam is a fan of all things campus and community.
Sam loves being a Spartan and believes that each and every one of us has what it takes to change the world for the better.
As C.E. Coordinator, Sam will be supervising our office’s VISTAs, tracking down new internship opportunities for community-minded students, and supporting the growth we’ve had in our programs and initiatives. You’ll probably see her running around campus or volunteering at community events when she’s not in her office in HPAC–come say hello!
Read more about Sam’s contributions to our office during her VISTA year here.
Alongside our longstanding director Dr. Dave Marlow, the new team will work hard to support our office’s initiatives for SL/CE superstar faculty, staff, and students!