About Staff

Dorothy Mebane
Executive Director

Dr. Dorothy Mebane has served as director for NC TEACH since its inception in 1999.  She has taken the lead in developing and implementing the state-wide lateral entry teacher licensure program, focusing on key aspects such as website development, the application and selection process, communication networks, curriculum design, host university selection and operation, public relations, budget and funding, online course development and recruitment efforts. Before coming to NC TEACH, Dr. Mebane spent three years as the project director for the Professional Development Schools Partnership program at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.  Her background also includes serving as a staff development specialist in the state of Washington and as a Biology and Chemistry teacher for 14 years.  Her publications include articles on Professional Development Schools, collaborative inquiry, team and organizational learning, and the development and implementation of the NC TEACH program. Dr. Mebane has conducted cancer research at Rutger’s University and population biology field research in Borneo and Nevada.  She currently serves on the Education Advisory Council for the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics.

Dr. Mebane holds a PhD in Educational Organization and Policy Studies from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, a MS in Biology from the University of Oregon, and a BA in Zoology and Biology from the University of Montana.  She holds a Superintendent’s license from North Carolina, a Principal’s license from North Carolina and Washington, a license in Administration and Supervision from Connecticut, and Secondary Teaching licenses (Biology, Chemistry, Science) from the states of Connecticut and Oregon. Dr. Mebane’s hobbies include kayaking, skiing, hiking, photography, and fly-fishing.

Tracey Collins
Online Learning Project Manager

During the same month that NC TEACH OnLine made its debut, Tracey joined NC TEACH.  Tracey’s responsibilities include the development, implementation, teaching, and assessment of NC TEACH OnLine. Tracey creates and edits curriculum and content, trains faculty and students in online learning, coordinates website development and is the NC co-coordinator for the eMSS (e-Mentoring for Student Success) program.  Tracey studied photojournalism at St. Michael’s College in Vermont and during her junior year matriculated and completed her BA in Communications, Radio Production and an MA in Journalism at Murdoch University in Australia. Tracey began her career hosting a sports radio show, writing articles for a newspaper and working as the Student Guild Administrator at the University of Western Australia. After 11 years in Australia she returned to the U.S. and held the position of Graduate Program Assistant in the Zoology Department at NC State University prior to coming to NC TEACH in May 2004.

A former Bostonian, Tracey developed a love for water sports, and was an active member of a dragonboat team for many years in Australia. Since arriving to NC with her two young children, she has combined three of her favorite passions – animals, volunteer work and a love of the outdoors – by becoming a member of a local volunteer rescue team, where she is a canine search and rescue handler as well as a swiftwater rescue technician.  Other hobbies include spending time with her family, hiking, photography, traveling, reading, live music, riding her horse, and being an active PTA member at her children’s school.  Her family has recently expanded with the birth of her youngest daughter, Kassidy, in June 2007.

Melissa Lankford
Recruiting & Advisement Manager

Melissa joined NC TEACH in December 2002 and manages the NC TEACH recruitment, and advisement process in collaboration with all participating universities. If you contact NC TEACH with a question, Melissa will be the voice or respondent on the other end. Advisement to potential NC TEACH participants is the most important and exciting part of Melissa's work--she will be your first NC TEACH advisor and mentor.   Melissa loves the opportunity to get out in the community to conduct information sessions and give presentations to interested participants and school districts. She also oversees the marketing aspects of our statewide program. Before coming to NC TEACH, Melissa was a teacher, curriculum developer, recruiter and trainer with Bright Horizons Family Solutions for a decade.  Other previouspositions include directing a rural Head Start program, stay-at-home mom, community liaison in the UNC Pediatrics Department and parent volunteer at the NC Children’s Hospital. Melissa holds a BA in Child Development from Meredith College.

In her time away from the office, Melissa enjoys spending time with her husband Mark and daughter Sarah, church activities, traveling to anywhere family fun can be had, singing and playing games with kids from Hillsborough Elementary at the Good News Club, singing, music, and cooking.  A Disney-nut by admission, Melissa is always planning her next getaway to Walt Disney World. She loves to entertain and can often be found with a houseful of people.