PfS Academy Staff Contacts

Melissa Ross, Director

PfS Academy
(614) 292-0175
ross.565@osu.edu

Biography

 

Mindy Hutcherson, Training Coordinator

PfS Academy

(614) 292-3849
hutcherson.3@osu.edu

Biography

 

Kelly Spring, Resource Development Coordinator

PfS Academy

(614) 688-3322

spring.58@osu.edu

Biography

 

Beth Crawford, Outreach Coordinator

PfS Academy

(614) 688-5661

crawford.555@osu.edu

Biography

 

David Julian, Director

Community Planning & Evaluation

(614) 292-5046
julian.3@osu.edu

Biography

 

Al Neff, Director

Center for Learning Excellence
(614) 247-6353
neff.109@osu.edu

Biography

 

 

PfS Academy Staff Biographies

Melissa Ross, Psy.D., Director
Partnerships for Success Academy

Melissa Ross is the Director of the Partnerships for Success Academy at The Ohio State University's Center for Learning Excellence.  As the PfS Academy Director, she is responsible for directing the provision of technical assistance and training to Ohio counties currently using the PfS Model to plan, implement and evaluate strategies designed to have a significant and lasting positive impact on children and youth. Dr. Ross received her Doctorate of Psychology [Psy.D.] degree from Wright State University’s School of Professional Psychology in 1996. In 1996 she accepted a position at the Department of Youth Services [DYS] working with adjudicated juvenile sexual offenders as a psychology assistant. In 1997 she was promoted to the Coordinator of Clinical and Sexual Offender Services position at DYS’ central office. In that position, Dr. Ross was responsible for the administrative oversight of all sexual offender programming in DYS institutions and parole offices as well as the regional psychological services. In 1999 she began work as the Deputy Superintendent of Programs at DYS’ sexual offender institutions and supervised all aspects of programming for the up to 240 youth housed in the facilities. Dr. Ross held that position for approximately 3 years prior to accepting position of PfS Academy Director at OSU's Center for Learning Excellence.
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Mindy Hutcherson, Training Coordinator Partnerships for Success Academy

Mindy Hutcherson received her BA in Criminology from The Ohio State University in 1993.  She began her career in working with at-risk youth and families at a residential treatment facility and a community mental health agency.  In 1994, Mindy was hired as an Intensive Probation Officer at the Delaware County Juvenile Court where she worked with felony level offenders.  In 1997 she was hired to oversee the then Attorney General Betty D. Montgomery’s Alternative Education Program, Project O.A.S.I.S.  Mindy held that position for approximately five years before accepting the position of Training Coordinator at the Partnerships for Success Academy at the Center for Learning Excellence.
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Kelly Spring, Resource Development Coordinator Partnerships for Success Academy

Kelly Spring received her BS in Business Administration from Miami University in 1996. She began her career as a Business Assurance Associate with PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP and soon realized she preferred to work in the community rather than the corporate field.  Kelly joined City Year, an AmeriCorps program, in 1998 and implemented youth programs and led community service projects in San Jose, California for four years.  She continued her work in community development as the PfS Coordinator for Madison County. This position provided her with practical experience in implementing the PfS Model.  Back to top

Beth Crawford, MA, Outreach Coordinator Partnerships for Success Academy

Beth Crawford received her MA in Political Science with a concentration in Public Administration from Ohio University in 1998.  Beth also received her BA in Psychology and Secondary Education from Baldwin-Wallace College.  Skilled at working in collaboration with multiple service systems that provide care, Beth has over 15 years of experience in social services.  In 1999, she accepted a position with the Franklin County Family and Children First Council as the Social Program Coordinator.  She was then promoted to the Council’s Intersystem Administrator position where she developed and implemented several cross-system initiatives.  She held that position for approximately three years before accepting the position of Outreach Coordinator at the Partnerships for Success Academy at OSU’s Center for Learning Excellence. Back to top

David Julian, Ph.D., Director
Community Planning and Evaluation

David Julian received his Ph.D. from Michigan State University in Community Psychology. His areas of specialization included health and human services planning, program evaluation and community organization. Dr. Julian also received a MCRP [city and regional planning] degree from Ohio State University and a B.A. in psychology from Miami University. From 1992 until 2001, Dr. Julian was the Director of Evaluation and Research for the United Way in Franklin County, Ohio. During his tenure, Dr. Julian was instrumental in developing and implementing a comprehensive system for defining and measuring program level outcomes referred to as “outcomes based funding.” Dr. Julian held half time appointments with the Center for Learning Excellence and in the School of Public Health, where he taught program evaluation before moving to the Center full time.
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Al Neff, Ph.D., Director

Center for Learning Excellence

Al Neff directs operations at the Center for Learning Excellence.  He has been a key leader in the development of the Center's alternative education and mental health projects, the Partnerships for Success Academy and a key contributor to Ohio's new Healthy Youth Initiative.  Dr. Neff began his career as a classroom teacher and later earned a Ph.D. from the College of Education at Ohio State in educational policy and decision-making.  Before joining the staff at the Center, he was superintendent of schools of the Ohio Department of Youth Services school district, which serves the educational needs of approximately 2,000 juvenile felony offenders in nine secure facilities located throughout Ohio.  Dr. Neff holds adjunct faculty appointments in both the College of Human Ecology and the College of Education and serves as co-principal investigator on all Center projects.  He was recently appointed to the Governor's Council on Criminal Justice.
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