Alyssia J. Coates                           E-Mail: acoates@nd.edu

Alyssia Coates serves as the Senior Director of Notre Dame TRiO College Preparatory Programs, Upward Bound and Educational Talent Search, by successfully helping students graduate from high school and enroll into college.  She also served as a recruiter for the National Consortium for Minorities in Engineering and Science preparing college students around the nation for internship opportunities and graduate school. 
Alyssia is originally from New York City and attained her Bachelors in Literature/Communications and Masters in Education and Counseling from Binghamton University.   In 2003 she completed her Specialist degree in Educational Leadership from Eastern Michigan University and is currently writing her dissertation for her PhD in Leadership from Andrews University.
Alyssia is an advocate for education and presents annually at professional conferences and community organizations.  She is married to Jua Coates and they have two beautiful children, Ashley and Ian.

Rafael Marín                                   E-Mail:  rmarin@nd.edu

Rafael Marín is the Associate Director of Upward Bound Program at the University of Notre Dame.  He earned his bachelor's degree in Spanish Literature in 1993 from Indiana University.  He is responsible for assisting the Director in the administration of the program and for implementing and overseeing the day to day academic components including instruction, assessment, and curriculum development.  Before coming to Upward Bound, he served as an educational advisor for Educational Talent Search at the University of Notre Dame.  He also has worked as a Bilingual Resource Specialist at Riley High School in South Bend Indiana and served as staff supervisor for the Latino Cultural Center in Bloomington Indiana.
Rafael also likes to volunteer by teaching a Computer Literacy class at La Casa de Amistad, a "charitable organization that functions as a community center on the west side of South Bend."

Melissa Richmond                          E-Mail: mrichmo1@nd.edu

Melissa Richmond is Senior Advisor of the Upward Bound program at the University of Notre Dame. She attended Holy Cross College for two years before earning her bachelors degree in communications with a minor in psychology at Indiana University of South Bend.  Melissa will start on her masters degree in education counseling at IUSB in the fall of 2008.
She serves as a counselor and mentor by planning educational and cultural workshops and trips, as well as senior society, where she guides seniors through their final year of preparation for college.
Melissa served as an education reporter and a college admissions counselor before joining Upward Bound.She enjoys reading, writing, shopping and travel.

Debra A. Wisler                               E-Mail: wisler.6@nd.edu

Debra Wisler is the Administrative Assistant of Upward Bound at the University of Notre Dame.  She received an Associate Degree in Applied Science of Veterinary Technology from Purdue University and her Bachelor's of General Studies from Indiana University South Bend with a Certificate of International Studies. 
She believes that everyone should have the opportunity to pursue higher education which makes working at Upward Bound a very rewarding experience. Debra currently volunteers at the St. Joseph County Literacy Council as an adult tutor. 
Before coming to Upward Bound, Debra was a Library Specialist at the University of Notre Dame's Kresge Law Library. She also has two children, Brandon and Raena, who are a great inspiration to her to continue to grow intellectually as well as emotionally and spiritually.