Dori Leadbetter: Leading adult learners like herself to new horizons
For much of her life, Dori Leadbetter didn’t think of herself as “college material.” She dropped out of high school, had two kids by age 20 and earned her GED during her second pregnancy.
By age 39, as a recent divorcee with three children, Leadbetter discovered the Maine Educational Opportunity Center (MEOC), a federally funded TRIO program housed in the University of Maine College of Education and Human Development. Nationwide, Educational Opportunity Centers like MEOC provide free services to adults, such as career counseling and financial aid assistance and help with applying to college or vocational education programs. The centers are designed to serve individuals from low income and first generation college backgrounds.
“The free services the center provides are extremely important to students like me, who didn’t have family members to help them through the college process,” said Leadbetter, who grew up in Oxford and attended schools in the Oxford Hills School District. “Navigating the educational aspect is stressful enough on its own, so having a mentor to assist with things like applying for admission or financial aid is instrumental to reaching your goals.”
With MEOC’s help, Leadbetter applied for and was accepted to the University of Maine at Augusta (UMA) in 2011. She participated in MEOC and UMA’s TRIO programs, earned a Human Resource Certificate in 2015 and a bachelor’s degree in business with a management concentration in May 2016. She was named to the Dean’s List multiple semesters and received a Rising Scholar Award from UMA. After graduating, she attended the Maine NEW Leadership Institute through the University of Maine’s Margaret Chase Smith Policy Center. Since then, she has taken graduate courses through the University of Southern Maine, earning a graduate certificate in leadership and organizational studies.
Leadbetter now works as an advisor for MEOC, guiding others like herself toward college success.
“I love my job and feel fortunate that I now get to ‘pay it forward’ and help others on their educational journeys. As a former TRIO participant, I understand the value and importance these services provide for students,” Leadbetter said. “I wake up every workday excited to meet with and help my participants, and I treasure the relationships I have developed over the years with participants, students and community partners.”
The following Q&A has been edited for length and clarity.
How did the Maine Educational Opportunity Center prepare you for college?
My co-worker Christy Le was my MEOC advisor and helped me with my first FAFSA as well as my UMA and Central Maine Community College applications. Christy also talked with me about scholarships and stressed how important scholarships were to help stretch my financial aid and to ensure I achieved all my educational goals.
What was the most interesting, engaging or helpful part of your MEOC experience?
Having a mentor and someone to reach out to with all of my questions regarding the college process was the most valuable to me. I am the first in my family to attend college, and I had none of the knowledge or skills I needed when I started at UMA in 2011.
Did you work closely with any mentors or staff members who made your experience in the program better? If so, who were they and how did they do that?
Christy Le was my MEOC advisor and Anthony Staffiere was my UMA TRIO advisor. They were both instrumental to my success in college. Without their continued support, I would have given up and not finished college or earned a degree.
What’s the most memorable moment from your MEOC experience?
What stands out in my mind the most is after completing my first FAFSA with Christy Le’s help, I learned that I qualified for federal financial aid and could actually pay for and attend college. I was very low-income and didn’t have a good understanding of how financial aid works. Before that, I thought paying for and attending college would never be an option for me.
How long have you worked for MEOC?
I have worked for MEOC for five years (April 2020-present). Before working for MEOC I was a financial aid counselor at UMA. While I was a student at UMA, I had a work-study job proctoring exams and working as a peer mentor. During grad school at USM, I had a graduate assistantship as a conduct officer in the Dean of Student’s Office.
How do you approach mentoring young people who participate in MEOC?
During the first meeting with a new MEOC participant, I ask a lot of goal-orientated questions so I have an understanding of their education and career goals. I am quick to respond to student outreach, because I know how difficult it can be to ask for help. Because our participants can go to any school, I am an unbiased “listening” ear when students need to vent, and I feel that I am their “cheerleader” encouraging them along their educational path.
How do you see MEOC participants grow during their time in the program?
I’m grateful that I get to see and aid MEOC participants as they grow, evolve and feel empowered and learn educational process skills like how to navigate the FAFSA, scholarship and financial aid paperwork and college applications. I feel lucky that I get to continue to work with MEOC participants from the beginning of their journey until they achieve their goals and earn their degrees.
What difference has MEOC made in your life?
I know for certain I would not be where I am today without participating in TRIO programs. I would have given up at the first bump in the road, and I feel privileged to have had TRIO advisors to reach out to for help whenever needed. My TRIO advisors mentored me by connecting me to valuable school resources and helping me find the funding to pay for school. I had a lot of help while I was working on my undergrad degree and the MEOC and UMA TRIO programs guided me to the help that I received for which I am extremely grateful!
Contact: Casey Kelly, casey.kelly@maine.edu