Heroes Among Us shines a light on the remarkable TTC employees whose dedication helps students succeed—both inside and outside the classroom.
From teaching and mentoring to providing vital support behind the scenes, every role contributes to transforming lives and strengthening our community.
"Heroes Among Us" are individuals nominated by students and colleagues in recognition of the meaningful, lasting impact they make every day.
Bryan Smith '16 | Network Services Team Manager, IT
"Bryan goes above and beyond to remove barriers for students in two crucial ways: behind the scenes and in the classroom. On the infrastructure side, Bryan keeps our network reliable for classes, labs, testing, and financial aid. He responds quickly, coordinates with vendors and faculty, and prevents repeat issues through documentation and mentoring. As an adjunct instructor, he takes the responsibility of helping his students seriously. He offers extra support when students or his employees are struggling. Students benefit from his empathy, availability, and commitment to their progress. Bryan’s work may be often unseen, but its impact is unmistakable in student success."
Melicent Jaridau | Assistant VP, Academic Services and Initiatives
"Melicent exemplifies what it means to be a hero for students at TTC. Through her unwavering dedication and a spirit of collaboration, she goes above and beyond in support of all academics. Her proactive efforts in helping prepare for accreditation site visits - ensuring that equipment, media and technology are fully functional and up to date - directly enhances student engagement and learning outcomes. By supporting faculty and classroom needs with precision and care, she plays a vital role in creating an environment where students can thrive. Her behind-the-scenes work is a cornerstone of student success, making her a true champion of education and excellence."
James Spivey '24 | IT Consultant
"James exemplifies the kind of employee who makes a direct and meaningful difference in our students' lives. As a member of the Helpdesk team, he serves as a vital first point of contact for students facing challenges. Whether assisting with technical issues or guiding students to the appropriate resources, James consistently goes above and beyond to ensure they feel supported. Even during his time as a student, James worked at the Helpdesk and actively encouraged his peers to succeed. Now, as an alumnus, he continues to demonstrate that same commitment—not only to students but also to fellow employees. His dedication to helping others is evident in every interaction, and he approaches each situation with a positive attitude and a welcoming smile. James has a unique ability to make people feel less overwhelmed and more confident, regardless of the nature or size of their problem. His compassion, resourcefulness, and unwavering support embody the spirit of our institution. Employees like James truly make a difference."
Joyce Antonetty '16 | Wellness Center Director
"She is always lending a listening ear and is always helping push others to see their full potential."
John Singleton '01| Programming Manager, IT
"John’s educational journey did not begin smoothly, but with encouragement from his academic advisor and his father—who was a programmer at Trident Technical College—he began taking programming courses at TTC. There, he discovered both a passion and a talent for programming, ultimately graduating in 2001. In 2002, John joined the college as a processor in the Admissions Department. Just two years later, he was promoted to the AVP’s office as an Information Resource Officer, serving as a technical liaison and overseeing IT projects and enhancements. By 2006, John transitioned into the IT department as a programmer, where he steadily advanced to become Programming Manager. Throughout his career, John has combined his education, technical skill, and firsthand experience as both a student and staff member to transform countless processes across the college. While it’s difficult to single out just one achievement, what truly sets John apart is his unwavering passion for using technology in innovative ways, always with the goal of enhancing the student experience and empowering staff to better serve students."
Terrance Barner | Customer Experience Support Services Consultant, IT
"Terrance goes above and beyond while helping students that have contacted the IT Helpdesk. Terrance uses his eight years of technical skillset and knowledge to apply a solution to resolve student's IT issues."
Yuliya Denev '16 | Manager, IT - Operations
"Yuliya is always willing to find ways to help improve processes that benefit students."
Crystal Wigfall | Academic Program Director, Human Services and Human Services Instructor
"Dr. Wigfall is the director of the Human Services Program here at TTC. Under her leadership, and despite many obstacles, the program has grown 15% in the last academic year. She leads with grace and humility, always giving credit to the team she has built of full-time and adjunct faculty. The Human Services Program educates and encourages elite professionals to serve our community."
Mike Thomas '25 | ERP Operations Analyst, IT - Operations
"Mike has been part of the TTC family for just over three months, yet he has already demonstrated a strong commitment to our community. From excelling in his daily responsibilities to introducing new technology, his behind-the-scenes work makes it easier for faculty and staff to focus on student success. As a proud TTC graduate, Mike exemplifies the power of a TTC education and the spirit of giving back."
Ronald Johnson | Director, Admissions
"As the Director of Admissions, Dr. Johnson leads with excellence and is definitely a hero to students. Just yesterday, a student and her parents, who does not speak much English came with her parents who also don't speak much English. The student's aunt was on the phone trying to help her get into her class. With his desire to leave a positive impact on the student and her family, he grabbed his laptop and sat in the lobby with the student and her family to help assist her with logging in to her account. He took it a step further and helped the student email her instructor to setup a video call. Dr. Johnson shows all of us daily how to handle challenges and setbacks with dignity."
Rebecca Sims | Radiologic Technology Coordinator, Diagnostic and Imaging Services
"We are incredibly proud to recognize Becky for her unwavering commitment to student success. As a passionate advocate for her students, Becky consistently goes above and beyond to create a fun, engaging environment, especially when tackling the complexities of radiologic technology, especially physics! Her enthusiasm for the profession shines through in everything she does, and it’s clear her students feel the difference. Health Sciences and TTC are truly fortunate to have Becky on our team. Her creativity, energy, and heart make her an invaluable asset—and an inspiration to us all!"
Amanda Nicholson | Financial Aid Officer
"Amanda works tirelessly in Financial Aid to help make sure our students are seen, heard and feel appreciated. She often goes above and beyond to make sure students have the tools they need to succeed, and will help students find those tools even if they are outside of financial aid."
Norman Ricks | Network Technician, IT Network Support
"Norman consistently responds to problems and not only fixes the issue but ensures that others are able to learn from situations and serves as a mentor to students and other employees."
Lori Fischer | Associate Dean, Health Sciences
"Lori is truly dedicated to Health Sciences and TTC. She not only goes above and beyond to help students that are interested in Health Sciences, she is also a hero for all of us in the Health Sciences division. She frequently stays late and works after hours at home to take care of things to help keep our division running smoothly for the faculty, staff, and students. She will happily pause what she is doing to help everyone. She puts everyone in our division ahead of herself. She is a selfless person and goes above and beyond every second of the day! Her presence here is priceless!"
Aniston Brown '18 | Programmer Analyst, IT Programming
"Aniston is the very definition of a hero for students because her story shows what is possible when talent, determination, and opportunity come together. Once a student walking the same halls, she seized every tool, every lesson, and every bit of knowledge she was given and transformed it into meaningful action. What began as a mock interview turned into a real position, and from that moment forward, she has not only risen to every challenge but also elevated the college itself. Aniston has delivered improvements that touch nearly every corner of the college experience: automated billing that frees staff to focus more on students, transcript enhancements that every graduate sees, online forms that make processes simpler for students and employees alike and complex scripts that support Financial Aid and state reporting. Each solution she creates makes life easier, clearer and better for students. Her journey is proof that Trident students can thrive not only in their chosen field of study but even here at the college itself. Aniston shows what it means to take knowledge, apply it with excellence, and use it to make a lasting difference for others."
Michael Kelly '12 | Assistant Director of Awarding and Customer Service, Financial Aid
"Michael cares deeply about students and spends a lot of time behind the scenes making sure their financial aid is in place and they are free to focus on their studies. He is incredibly knowledgeable about the rules and regulations of financial aid and can always come up with a solution to help a student."
Shannon Jones '01 | Lead Customer Service Officer, Financial Aid
"Shannon sees her role as a position to be an advocate for students, and does her best to make sure they have everything they need to be successful. She does not hesitate to reach out to other offices for assistance, and provides advice for needy students in person every day. This means she misses out on activities other employees can attend because she is selflessly helping students in need. Shannon also serves on Staff Council and brings up topics that can improve a student's overall experience at TTC."
Frank Morea '01 | Director of Counseling and Disability Services
"Frank tirelessly helps some of our most needy students find resources such as housing, childcare and other support services. He manages the student urgent needs fund and he always responds whenever I've reached out to him about help for a student."
Glenn Seale | Dean of Film, Media and Visual Arts
"Glenn goes above and beyond for both his faculty members and the students he serves. He took it upon himself to assist a student in attaining their driver's license because they had a job offer at a television station that required them to drive. Just one example of his understated leadership that exemplifies a deep caring for the TTC community."