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Sandhills Alumnae Chapter is comprised of college-educated women making progressive movements in their educational, professional and personal endeavors. Utilizing the talents of our members, let's take a moment to celebrate our Soror Spotlight:
Ellen Spencer
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Ellen McLaughlin Spencer was born in Pinehurst, NC.
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She was educated in various school systems across the US and Germany in her formative years as a child of a step-parent in the military. She received her secondary education in Moore County Schools and graduated from Pinecrest High School in Southern Pines, NC in 1988.
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In August of 1988, Ellen enrolled in college at Pembroke State University (currently The University of North Carolina at Pembroke) in Pembroke, NC. While a student at the university, she initiated into our illustrious Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. via the Omicron Nu Chapter on April 13, 1990. She was actively involved sorority activities in addition to executing duties as a member of A.P.P.L.E. (Association of Pembroke Peer Leaders and Educators) Corp., in which she served as an alcohol and drug abuse peer counselor, who facilitated mandatory education sessions to university students, who violated the university’s alcohol and drug policy, and she worked at Family Alternatives as a day friend who taught basic living and social skills to a child with moderate intellectual disabilities.
Ellen returned the human services field, first, by way of Tri-County Mental Health in Bennettsville, SC where she provided Intensive In-Home Services to families of children who were at risk of being removed from their homes and then as a Child Protective Services Social Worker with The Moore County Department of Social Services. Deciding that she could make a greater impact in the field of education, Ellen started Bright Genesis Learning Care, a home day care and a couple of years later became the Education Director at the Boys’ and Girls’ Clubs of the Sandhills as well as served part time as an Instructor of High School Equivalency and English Language Acquisition at Sandhills Community College. Her career as a full-time instructor at Sandhills Community College began in 2002 and spanned a period of 14 years before she decided to transition out of the classroom, in 2016, and into her current administrative position as the Office Coordinator of Sandhills Community College’s Campus Services Center, which plays and integral role in ensuring that operations of all three campus locations in Pinehurst, Raeford, and Robbins, NC..
Professionally, Ellen transitioned into the field of education at Sandhills Community College as a High School Equivalency Instructor and then Scotland County Schools as a Behavior Improvement Program Coordinator where she ensured that students who violated the school system’s behavior policy satisfied their disciplinary penalties as well as stayed on track with their academic assignments.
Ellen, whose husband, Ken, is the Associate Head Men’s Basketball Coach at Shaw University in Raleigh, NC, has also been actively involved in the Nations of Coaches (NOC) Organization in the marriage and family ministry as well as the Coaches’ Wives Sisterhood for more than a decade.
Ellen and her husband, Ken, of 33 years resides in West End, NC. They are the parents of 2 adult children, Kevin and Karmen and have 6 grandchildren, 2 granddaughters.
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THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO!