OUR STORY
SkillSet was founded in 2018 with funds from the Community Foundation of Western North Carolina, the Windgate Foundation, and UNC Asheville to promote inclusion in STEAM fields and trades. Underpinned by the idea that our communities should be designed and built by the people that live in them, SkillSet was designed to give girls access to hands-on maker-based education. Our programs have since expanded to welcome everyone, and our focus remains on reaching under-resourced communities and identities to help bridge the access gap in STEAM fields and trades.
We are skilled industry professionals and educators who are committed to sharing our skills, passions, problem-solving strategies, and knowledge about science, technology, engineering, art, and math.
From computer aided drafting (CAD) to processing raw materials with power tools, students learn design, development, iteration, engineering, craft, and the science behind it all. Our fabulous instructors (both professional UNCA staff and UNCA student workers) inspire students to explore career paths like engineering, fabrication and computer science.
Housed in STEAM Studio, UNC Asheville’s 12,000 square foot state of the art making space, SkillSet’s programs engage students from the western North Carolina region in the design and fabrication of a range of exciting and challenging projects. Students gain confidence and get experience working with tools ranging from hammers, drills, and welders to lasers, waterjets, and CNC routers.
We offer after school programming and summer camps for middle and high school students, and skill-building workshops for adult learners. Additionally, we travel into the community to develop and deliver on-site programming with community partners.
We provide encouragement, a positive learning environment and early access to STEAM career trajectories. We aim to foster the development of creative problem-solving skills to meet life’s challenges — from learning how to help fix a leaky faucet, to opening up new possibilities for future educational opportunities.
OUR STAFF
We invest heavily in staffing to maintain a very low average student-to-instructor ratio of 3:1 for most classes. This ratio is incredibly important to maintain a safe and supportive environment where young students can feel comfortable taking risks and developing their skills and creativity.
SkillSet staff are makers, designers, and artists representing a variety of STEAM-based professional industries. From engineering to computer science to photography, art, woodworking and welding, we are experts in our fields and also are constantly expanding our knowledge of science, art, and technology — so that we can share it with you!
CORE INSTRUCTIONAL STAFF
Director, STEAM STUDIO
Lead Instructor, Guitar Making
Digital Tools Curricular Developer
Program Coordinator
Lead Instructor, Wood/Metal/Digital
Lead Curricular Developer
Student Worker Trainer
Off-Site Coordinator
Lead Instructor, Wood
Student Worker Trainer
Darcy Ward
Instructor, Metals
Annie Ogg
Instructor, Woodturning
Jeannie Regan
Instructor, Design
Every season, we are also joined by a rotating team of UNCA Student Workers, who are students of all majors and life experiences with a common goal of wanting to learn to be teachers!
