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Audrey Womack (Pictured center)PIF Coordinator
Hello Everyone! I'm Audrey Womack, Piedmont International Fellowship Coordinator.
Background Info: I grew up on a farm so I learned at a young age about hard work, family values and a sense of community. I graduated from UNC-Greensboro (Go Spartans!) with a Masters in Speech-Language Pathology (SLP) and a few years later completed a Masters in Christian Education. I have worked with SLP, Social Ministries and since 1998, with Piedmont International Fellowship (PIF). I LOVE befriending students from around the world, learning about their culture/language and sharing the North American culture. Travels have taken me to Austria, Bahamas, Brazil, Germany, Italy, Jamaica, Mexico, Switzerland. I would LOVE to visit the rest of the world! I can speak some Portuguese and studied French in college.
PIF is such a fun way for North Americans and international students to get to know one another and join together for monthly/annual special events. Several hundred internationals each year study at Greensboro colleges/universities. My vision for PIF and these students is that every international student will have a meaningful friendship with a North American during their stay with us, friendships that can last a life time! PIF also desires to meet practical needs of the students with programs such as Conversational English partners. PIF is a Christian organization and wants to be there for the student with spiritual needs. PIF welcomes all students of all faiths to visit the Christian churches in the Greensboro area, although at no time will the students be pressured to convert from their faith of choice.
We hope to see you all at the next international event! Email Audrey at awomack2@triad.rr.com
Background Info: I grew up on a farm so I learned at a young age about hard work, family values and a sense of community. I graduated from UNC-Greensboro (Go Spartans!) with a Masters in Speech-Language Pathology (SLP) and a few years later completed a Masters in Christian Education. I have worked with SLP, Social Ministries and since 1998, with Piedmont International Fellowship (PIF). I LOVE befriending students from around the world, learning about their culture/language and sharing the North American culture. Travels have taken me to Austria, Bahamas, Brazil, Germany, Italy, Jamaica, Mexico, Switzerland. I would LOVE to visit the rest of the world! I can speak some Portuguese and studied French in college.
PIF is such a fun way for North Americans and international students to get to know one another and join together for monthly/annual special events. Several hundred internationals each year study at Greensboro colleges/universities. My vision for PIF and these students is that every international student will have a meaningful friendship with a North American during their stay with us, friendships that can last a life time! PIF also desires to meet practical needs of the students with programs such as Conversational English partners. PIF is a Christian organization and wants to be there for the student with spiritual needs. PIF welcomes all students of all faiths to visit the Christian churches in the Greensboro area, although at no time will the students be pressured to convert from their faith of choice.
We hope to see you all at the next international event! Email Audrey at awomack2@triad.rr.com
Mark Riddle
PIF Chairman
Chris Canipe
Transportation Team Leader
I am beginning my third year as a member of the PIF Board of Directors. My introduction to international culture came by way of a high school French class. As a college student I was fortunate to have the opportunity to attend international retreats. As a school counselor I have worked with hundreds of internationals and their families. As a family therapist I have worked with international families and better understand their family interactions. My first 54 years prepared me to better appreciate foreign travel. I am convinced that our efforts with internationals will be missions multiplied when our international friends return home.
Tom & Carla Pless
ESL/Conversation English Team Leaders
Tatia Beal
Special Events Team/ESOL Instructor
When I first came to Greensboro in 1999, I taught ESL to international studens at Interlink. Now I teach Spanish at UNCG. Since I was new to Greensboro and North Carolina, I wanted the same kinds of cultural experiences we have for international students, so I actually participated as a participant before I began volunteering with the PIF to give back to international students the hospitality I had been shown by North Carolinians. I lived in Mexico for many years teaching ESL and I was also showed tremendous hospitality there, as well as in Korea where I lived for a year. So PIF is my way of giving back to all who have given to me over the years in my cultural experiences and gives me the chance to meet others from other cultures!
Kathy Stack
Board Member
My husband Calvin and I have been married for 45 years and we have lived in Greensboro for the past 27 years. We are members of Immanuel Baptist Church, where we were married in 1966. We lived away from Greensboro for many years but returned to
Immanuel when Cal was transferred back to Greensboro in 1984. We have two children, a daughter who lives in Rochester, NY and a married son who lives in West Warwick, RI. We have no grandchildren.
Cal and I have been active as a Friend Family to International students for about 15 years. We originally got involved as an
outreach through our church and discovered that we loved getting to know these young people from around the world. We had the
opportunity to live in Germany when Cal was in the Army and we understand what it is like to live far from family and be on your
own. We have been so blessed by these students. They bring an energy and enthusiasm for life that is contagious. We love to
introduce them to American culture (including holiday dinners with our extended family) and to our church family.
I have been on the PIF Board for only a short time but I have discovered a depth of commitment to these students that is
impressive. Each board member wants every student to have the opportunity to learn about America from a Christian perspective
and to be exposed to the Gospel.
Erica Tucker
Special Events Team
Rick Trexler
Campus Ministry Team Leader for the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina
Rick Trexler is the Campus Ministry Team Leader for the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina. He and his wife, Joy, reside in Morrisville, NC. Rick has served in campus ministry for over 30 years. His love for students has fueled his fire to be involved with a student serving organization like Piedmont International Fellowship.
PIF Chairman
Chris CanipeTransportation Team Leader
I am beginning my third year as a member of the PIF Board of Directors. My introduction to international culture came by way of a high school French class. As a college student I was fortunate to have the opportunity to attend international retreats. As a school counselor I have worked with hundreds of internationals and their families. As a family therapist I have worked with international families and better understand their family interactions. My first 54 years prepared me to better appreciate foreign travel. I am convinced that our efforts with internationals will be missions multiplied when our international friends return home.
Tom & Carla Pless
ESL/Conversation English Team Leaders
Tatia Beal
Special Events Team/ESOL Instructor
When I first came to Greensboro in 1999, I taught ESL to international studens at Interlink. Now I teach Spanish at UNCG. Since I was new to Greensboro and North Carolina, I wanted the same kinds of cultural experiences we have for international students, so I actually participated as a participant before I began volunteering with the PIF to give back to international students the hospitality I had been shown by North Carolinians. I lived in Mexico for many years teaching ESL and I was also showed tremendous hospitality there, as well as in Korea where I lived for a year. So PIF is my way of giving back to all who have given to me over the years in my cultural experiences and gives me the chance to meet others from other cultures!
Kathy Stack
Board Member
My husband Calvin and I have been married for 45 years and we have lived in Greensboro for the past 27 years. We are members of Immanuel Baptist Church, where we were married in 1966. We lived away from Greensboro for many years but returned toImmanuel when Cal was transferred back to Greensboro in 1984. We have two children, a daughter who lives in Rochester, NY and a married son who lives in West Warwick, RI. We have no grandchildren.
Cal and I have been active as a Friend Family to International students for about 15 years. We originally got involved as an
outreach through our church and discovered that we loved getting to know these young people from around the world. We had the
opportunity to live in Germany when Cal was in the Army and we understand what it is like to live far from family and be on your
own. We have been so blessed by these students. They bring an energy and enthusiasm for life that is contagious. We love to
introduce them to American culture (including holiday dinners with our extended family) and to our church family.
I have been on the PIF Board for only a short time but I have discovered a depth of commitment to these students that is
impressive. Each board member wants every student to have the opportunity to learn about America from a Christian perspective
and to be exposed to the Gospel.
Erica Tucker
Special Events Team
Rick TrexlerCampus Ministry Team Leader for the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina
Rick Trexler is the Campus Ministry Team Leader for the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina. He and his wife, Joy, reside in Morrisville, NC. Rick has served in campus ministry for over 30 years. His love for students has fueled his fire to be involved with a student serving organization like Piedmont International Fellowship.
