Scott Norenberg is the Assistant Director of TRIO Programs/Director of TRIO Student Support Services (SSS) at NDSU. He earned his Bachelor’s degree from Minnesota State University Moorhead (MSUM) and his Master’s degree from Iowa State University (ISU). Before beginning his current role, Scott worked as teachers’ aide, English Instructor, English Lecturer/Adjunct Professor, and advisor at various institutions like MSUM, ISU, and Oklahoma State University. Outside of academia, Scott has worked in the Healthcare, Construction, and Service industries. Within SSS, he oversees the general administration of the TRIO Student Support Services grant which includes: staff supervision, budgeting, general student support, project design, and compliance with Department of Education regulations. Though he doesn’t have many hobbies, he does pretend to plant a garden every spring. Additionally, he enjoys history, video games, poetry, canoeing/kayaking, and walking aimlessly across the prairie.

Tamara Blanich is the Office Manager for NDSU's TRIO Programs, supporting TRIO Student Support Services and TRIO Upward Bound, as well as supervising the tutoring program for TRIO SSS.  A graduate of Indiana University, she double majored in French and Russian and participated in study abroad in France and the Soviet Union. Tamara spent many years in New York City and Chicago before moving back to her hometown of Fargo. Tamara's professional experiences include managing a Russian study abroad program for the Council on International Educational Exchange, serving as a bookkeeper/office manager for architectural and PR firms, and working in the Office of Multicultural Programs at NDSU. Throughout her life, she has studied and taught dance (including Russian classical ballet), performed with flamenco dance troupes, and was a massage therapist. She enjoys travel, music, crossword puzzles, and textile arts.                                                   

Valerie Jones, STEM Education Specialist at TRIO SSS, is an alum of North Dakota State University and Minnesota State University Moorhead, holding bachelor’s degrees in Civil Engineering and Mathematics Education respectively. Before joining the team at SSS, Valerie taught math, business, and STEM classes as a middle and high school teacher in North Dakota. Within TRIO SSS, she takes on the role of a Math Study Strategies course instructor, alternates in teaching the Study Skills course, and offers academic guidance to her students. In addition to her current roles, she is advancing her education by pursuing a master’s degree in Higher Education Leadership at NDSU. Beyond her professional commitments, Valerie delights in spending time outdoors, especially at the lake during the summer. She also dabbles in occasional art projects and enjoys watching football, medical dramas, and horror films during her free time.                                          

Zachary Thomas, English and Study Skills Education Specialist, has worked in higher education for over a decade. Zach double majored in English and History at the University of Nebraska - Lincoln and went on to earn his master’s in English from Kansas State University. He brings 17 years of teaching experience to the TRIO Student Support Services office. For the past 10 years he was a Visiting Foreign Professor at Kyungpook National University in Daegu, South Korea, helping students from around the world write papers, prepare speeches, and meet their English language goals. Throughout his career he has worked with students from kindergarten through post-graduate studies, focusing on writing, reading, public speaking, and study skills. He has traveled to over 20 countries and spent significant time in South Korea, Czech Republic, Paraguay, Belgium, and Spain. In his free time, he enjoys playing guitar, coding, photography, and spending time with his family.                             

Levi Tronnes, Educational Specialist/Programming at TRIO SSS, holds a Master of Education in Learning, Teaching, and Curriculum with a Social Studies Emphasis from the University of Missouri Columbia, along with a Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education and a Bachelor of Arts in History from Minnesota State University Moorhead. Levi’s extensive experience includes designing engaging curricula to support diverse learners. As a Minnesota high school teacher, alternative learning center coordinator, and paraprofessional, Levi ensured accessibility and excellence in education for his students. At TRIO SSS, he offers guidance on academic and career matters, coordinates enriching programs, and supervises the Peer Mentor Program. Levi tirelessly works to foster connections beyond academics. Outside of work, Levi enjoys the outdoors especially hiking, biking, fishing, volunteering, as well as gardening.