OUR STAFF MEMBERS

Carol Bradford
Carol Bradford began as the Tutoring Coordinator in September 2011. She is excited to be working in such a wonderful place! Carol is looking forward to working with parents, students and volunteer tutors. Prior to working at the Carnegie Center, Carol was an environmental educator with Bluegrass PRIDE. She is a certified teacher and taught kindergarten for three years before working at PRIDE. One of her favorite hobbies is reading! Carol lives with her husband and teenage daughter. Her son attends Vanderbilt University.

Rachael Castetter
Originally from Indiana, Rachael Castetter graduated from Asbury University in May 2012 and started a summer AmeriCorps VISTA position as the Camp Carnegie Coordinator in early June. As her VISTA term was ending, the Carnegie Center was looking for a part- time Tutoring Associate, and she jumped at the chance to apply and continue working at one of her favorite places in the world. Rachael is thrilled to be working at the Carnegie Center gaining valuable professional experience while helping kids and having a blast at the same time! She is passionate about education, helping people, and all things literary, so she feels right at home at the Carnegie Center.

Neil Chethik
Neil Chethik is the Executive Dircetor of the Carnegie Center. He was the former Writer-In-Residence at the Carnegie Center for six years where he mentored writers of all levels and teaches writing workshops. His personal writing focuses on men’s lives and family issues. He is the author of two acclaimed books: VoiceMale: What Husbands Really Think About Their Marriages, Their Wives, Sex, Housework and Commitment (Simon & Schuster), and FatherLoss: How Sons of All Ages Come To Terms With the Deaths of Their Dads (Hyperion Books). The latter book was recently made into a half-hour PBS Special. Neil began his career as a staff reporter for the Tallahassee Democrat. Later, he joined the San Jose Mercury News, and wrote “VoiceMale,” the first syndicated column on men’s personal lives. His writings have appeared in hundreds of print and web publications. His website is www.NeilChethik.com.

Jennifer Mattox
Jennifer Mattox is the Carnegie Center’s Development Director. She conducts the fundraising activities and grantwriting efforts of the center and maintains communication with donors. In addition to teaching a grantwriting workshop, Jennifer is a coordinator of the Kentucky Great Writers series and is involved with coordinating other literary events and programs at the center. Her publication experience includes seven years of newspaper reporting for The Bourbon Times in Paris, KY and she is currently writing a novel. In 2009, she received an artist enrichment grant from the Kentucky Foundation Women to help her obtain her personal writing goals. Jennifer is a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, Bluegrass Chapter, where she serves on the Board and is Chair of the National Philanthropy Day Committee.

Alyssa McKenzie began working at the Carnegie Center as an Administrative Intern in the summer of 2010, and then as the evening receptionist until the spring of 2012. After graduating from the University of Kentucky with a degree in Gender and Women’s Studies and History in the spring of 2012, she began working as the summer Assistant Tutor Coordinator under the AmeriCorps VISTA program. In the fall of 2012, she began the year-long VISTA position as the Youth Outreach and Family ESL Coordinator. Outside of the Carnegie Center, Alyssa enjoys running, drawing, and volunteering.

Jude McPherson
Raised somewhere between the tobacco fields and horse farms of Woodford County, Kentucky, Jude McPherson has been bending and stretching syllables as long as he can remember. A member of the Affrilachian Poets, his first full length collection of poetry ‘on my mind’ is a reflection of his eclectic personality. He has published two previous collections of poetry through blacoetry press; loves taxicab blues revisited (1998) and the book of jude(2000).

Jessica Mohler
Jessica Faye Mohler served as a volunteer at the Carnegie Center before being hired as the Marketing and Communications Director in March of 2010. She graduated from the University of Kentucky in 2005 with a dual degree in journalism and cultural anthropology. After graduating she joined Nougat Magazine, an arts and lifestyle publication in Lexington, as the Managing Editor & Advertising Director. She was the Communications Manager and Editor at the American Saddlebred Horse Association, before coming to the Carnegie Center. Jessica serves on the Board of Directors for the Northside Neighborhood Association and on the Mayor’s Commission on Youth Development & Public Safety. She is member of Lexington Young Professionals Association, Kentuckians for the Commonwealth, UK Alumni Association, Lexington Advertising Club and is a certified Bluegrass Tourism Ambassador. In addition to teaching a Cause Marketing Class she has also been a Carnegie Academic Tutor since 2010.

Luisa Trujillo
Luisa Trujillo is the Art Director and Office Manager. A native of Colombia, she moved to Lexington in 2006 and graduated from the University of Kentucky in August 2010 with a major in Communications and a minor in Industrial Design. She started working at the Carnegie Center in September of 2010. Since then, she has helped with various graphic design projects, including brochures, flyers, posters, book layouts and other print projects. Luisa also serves as an English-Spanish translator and provides a much-needed communication bridge for the Tutoring Program and the parents of the Hispanic community. Luisa participates actively in art events in the community with Gallery Hop, the Lexington Art League and the Fashion Collaborative.

Laura Whitaker
Laura Whitaker is the Carnegie Center Program Director & VISTA Project Supervisor. A native of Lexington and a graduate of Centre College in Danville, KY, she came to the Center as an AmeriCorps*VISTA member in June 2007. After her term of service ended in 2008, she joined our full-time staff. Now, she gets to wear two hats in her position. As the VISTA Supervisor, she supervises recruitment and management efforts for a network of AmeriCorps*VISTA members at 6 nonprofit organizations in Lexington. As the Program Director, she coordinates the Carnegie Center’s lineup of youth, family, and adult programs and workshops. She’d love to talk to you about your ideas for new workshops and classes! Outside of the Carnegie Center, Laura is pursuing a Masters in Public Administration from the Martin School at the University of Kentucky and teaches yoga at Barefoot Works Yoga Studio (and a new Friday morning yoga class at the Carnegie Center!)