Serita Acker is an accomplished leader with a rich background in higher education and student support services. With a bachelor’s degree from Lander University and a Master of Science in Human Resources and Development from Clemson University, Serita brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to her role as Executive Director of PEER & WISE.
Before assuming her current position in August 2015, Serita served as the Women in Science and Engineering program director. Over her 30-year career in higher education, she has demonstrated a strong commitment to mentoring, coaching, and fostering academic and professional enrichment opportunities for students.
As a certified Global Career Development Facilitator and Life Coach, Serita is dedicated to equipping students with the resources they need to excel at Clemson University and beyond. Her vision for PEER & WISE centers around providing innovative student success programs and services that empower students to achieve their educational goals and succeed in their careers.
She has won several State and National Awards: the Thomas Green Clemson Award, Woman of Distinction by the Girl Scouts of Mountains to Midlands, Clemson University Woman of the Year, Clemson University Board of Trustees Award, Women in Engineering Pro-Active Network Distinguished Service Award, Career Communications Magazine College-Level Promotion of Education Award, Calder D. Elhmann Outstanding, Individual. In December 2021, she received the College of Engineering and Computing and Applied Sciences Exceptional Staff Award and the WEPAN University Change-Agent Award in 2022. One of the highlights of her career was graduating from the Presidents Leadership Institute at Clemson University in 2020.
Under Serita’s guidance, PEER & WISE have established partnerships and initiatives to enhance engineering, including serving as implementation partners and Principal Investigators for GE’s Next Engineers Program. This $5 million investment aims to strengthen the engineering workforce in Greenville, SC, and the upstate region.
In her spare time, Serita enjoys reading, traveling, and spending time with family. Her greatest joy lies in promoting education and inspiring individuals to reach their fullest potential.
Lisa Jackson earned her MBA from Clemson University in 2021. This had always been a goal since graduating from Benedict College with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Economics/Accounting. She saw the MBA program as an opportunity to immerse herself in the education culture here at Clemson. It also gave her a unique perspective, working with undergraduate students striving to earn their degrees. Prior to becoming the Associate Director of PEER, Lisa worked for the South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce as a Career Development Specialist. Lisa is a Global Career Development Facilitator and an Advance Academic Coach. As the Associate Director of PEER, Lisa oversees the first-year student PEER mentoring program and manages several other outreach, recruitment and retention programs.
While here at Clemson University, Lisa has been engaged in other Educational Leadership Programs. She participated in the 2021 cohort LEAD Forward Leadership for Faculty and Staff, and CU Grow Leadership/Talent Acquisition Cohort 2022. She is also a Co-PI and Career Readiness Coach for the GE Next Engineers Program.
Lisa was a finalist for the WYFF Remarkable Woman finalist in 2022. When not working, Lisa enjoys reading, shopping, and enjoying time with family and friends.
Stephanie came to Clemson as a first-generation, non-traditional transfer student. She is now a two-time Clemson graduate, having earned a BA in Psychology (Nonprofit Leadership minor) and an MS in Youth Development Leadership.
Before joining the PEER & WISE team, Stephanie held various positions at Clemson. She has worked with pre-collegiate programs under the College of Behavioral, Social and Health Sciences, and with graduate student services within the College of Education.
In her position with WISE, she is responsible for educating, encouraging, and preparing students to pursue and secure successful careers in STEM fields.
She believes her role provides her with the perfect opportunity to blend her experience in student-centered services with her knowledge of the intricacies of Clemson’s academic systems and policies to create an environment where her students feel cared for and well-informed while navigating their undergraduate experience.
In her free time, she enjoys volunteering. She has worked with Greenville County Parks, Recreation, and Tourism, Special Olympics South Carolina, Scouts BSA, United Way, and other smaller, local non-profits.
Jodi Redlinger earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Clemson University. She began working with PEER & WISE in 2013. She handles the accounting for PEER & WISE’s state and foundation accounts. Jodi enjoys reading, watching Clemson sporting events, and volunteering with the Oconee Humane Society in her free time.
Levi holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Media Communications with a minor in Psychology from Southern Wesleyan University. He is currently pursuing a Master of Public Administration Degree at Clemson University. His research interest centers on improving access to education, public facilities, and inclusive excellence. As the Outreach & Operations Manger, Levi supports PEER&WISE by managing all operations of the department from procurement coordination to office management. He also manages outreach for PEER&WISE such as Girl Scouts & Friends Day, S.E.E. Clemson, STEM Day, and Sneak Preview.
Prior to becoming the Outreach and Operations Manager for PEER&WISE, Levi served as the Program Coordinator for Access and Excellence for the College of Engineering, Computing and Applied Sciences. In this role, he managed the strategic plan for the college's education, recruitment, retention and communication goals, through the Driving Education and Leadership Training Academy. Currently, he serves as a CECAS Staff Senator. His previous work experience has been in higher education, media, and law enforcement where he served as a 911 Dispatcher at Clemson University. While in that role he earned certifications ranging from Mental Health First Aid, National Alliances on Mental Illness Certification, and Intercultural Development Inventory Qualified Administrator.
During his time off, he enjoys photography, planning weddings, spending time with friends, and listening to music such as Taylor Swift. He enjoys traveling and making new memories
Brittany, a proud Clemson University alumna, holds a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering with a minor in Mathematical Sciences and a Master of Science in Industrial Engineering, specializing in Operations Research. She is currently pursuing a Doctor of Philosophy in Engineering and Science of Education at Clemson.
Her research is dedicated to understanding and addressing disparities in academia, utilizing Operations Research (OR) models and optimization to develop solutions that promote belonging.
Before stepping into her role as Program Manager for Next Engineers Greenville, Brittany honed her skills through a series of progressive roles within PEER & WISE, including Undergraduate Mentee, Mentor, Graduate Administrative Assistant, and Graduate Academic Enrichment Coordinator.
In her current role as Program Manager for Next Engineers Greenville—a $5 million partnership with the GE Foundation, GE Vernova, and Clemson University PEER & WISE—Brittany leads three transformative programs: Engineering Discovery, Engineering Camp, and Engineering Academy. Through these initiatives, she inspires and empowers youth in Greenville and Upstate South Carolina to explore engineering careers, fostering a new generation of global change-makers. Brittany’s leadership is instrumental in managing operations, logistics, and reporting, while ensuring students gain hands-on experience with engineering concepts and career pathways.
In her free time, Brittany loves singing along to Disney classics with her husband, daughter, and son, blending her love for family with the same enthusiasm she brings to empowering young minds in engineering.
Tyler Roland received his Bachelor and Master’s degree in Education from Anderson University, SC. Prior to his work in PEER & WISE, Tyler worked as a Part-Time teacher at Wren Highschool and further worked as a Social Studies Teacher at Easley high school covering the subjects of Economics, US History, and Government. As a Program Assistant for Next Engineer’s Greenville, Tyler’s main duties are to facilitate the three core programs sponsored by the GE Foundation: Engineering Discovery, Engineering Camp, and Engineering Academy alongside. He also acts as an assistant during Peer and Wise outreach events.