Student Life Counselors
Maclaine Leaird
Team Leader / Student Life Counselor
B.S. – Ball State University
A.S. – Cottey College
Office: WA A269
Phone: 765-285-1150
E-mail: maclaine.leaird
Maclaine is thrilled to be returning to the Indiana Academy as a third floor student life counselor. Maclaine was born and raised in West Lafayette, IN. During her junior year of high school, Maclaine was a Rotary International Youth Exchange student to Thailand (D.6560-D.3340). Maclaine graduated with her Associates degree from Cottey College in Nevada, MO in May 2016, and graduated with her Bachelor’s degree from Ball State University in Muncie, IN in December 2019. After graduating Maclaine taught 11th grade English at Blackford High School from 2019-2022.
In her free time Maclaine loves to travel and spend as much time as possible in the water. She is an avid scuba diver, obtaining her dive certification at age 13. Maclaine comes from a long line of scuba divers, her grandpa, grandma, aunt, uncle, cousin, dad, mom, and three brothers all enjoy the opportunity to be underwater together. When on the surface Maclaine enjoys reading an eclectic array of novels and knitting/crocheting. Maclaine looks forward to supporting students on their journey at the Indiana Academy.
Hannah Cherry
Student Life Counselor
Office: WA A257
Phone: 765-285-7380
E-mail: hannah.cherry
Vincent Rivera
Student Life Counselor
M.S., B.S. (Mathematics) – Purdue University Fort Wayne
Office: WA A459
Phone: 765-285-7484
E-mail: vincent.rivera
Vincent is beginning his third school year at the Academy as a Student Life Counselor on the fourth floor. Vincent was born in Chicago and raised in Fort Wayne, IN. As a graduate of the Academy from its class of 2008, Vincent has had experience being here both as a student and as an SLC. In his brief time here as an SLC, Vincent has sponsored clubs including the Latinx Student Union, the Video Game Club, and Japan Club, in addition to other smaller student-led clubs, and he looks forward to additionally sponsoring a Mafia Club this year for those students who enjoy that iconic party game. Vincent has also acted as the International/NECP SLC and as a PA Advisor since being hired, and he looks to continue his work as PA Advisor through this year.
Vincent attended Purdue University Fort Wayne, earning BS and MS degrees in mathematics. During his time there as a graduate student, Vincent briefly taught algebra first as a graduate teaching assistant, and eventually as an adjunct faculty member later on. As a former math teacher, and as someone who has received much formal education in math, Vincent hopes to be available to help Academy students with any math-related woes as circumstances allow.
Vincent’s hobbies include playing Smash Ultimate, rhythm games, and role-playing video games, making origami, tinkering with small electronics and retro games, and watching anime. Vincent is grateful to the Academy and its students for making his experience as an SLC worthwhile, and he hopes to work productively toward assisting as many Academites as he can as they strive for continued personal and academic success this year.
Archer Whitman
Student Life Counselor
B.S. (English and Writing) – Goshen College
Office: WA A140
Phone: 765-285-4264
E-mail: archer.whitman
Archer is excited to begin his second full year at the Indiana Academy after coming in part-way through last year. He grew up in Ukraine and Mozambique but moved to Indiana for high school and college, where he graduated with a double major in English and Writing. As an Indiana Academy alum, he knows first-hand both the struggles and the joys of being a student, and the vital emotional growth he experienced during that time led him back as an SLC to help others have the best experience they can.
Archer’s favorite activities fall into one of two categories. First, he enjoys competitive tests of knowledge, like Chess, Starcraft 2, Hnefatafl, and League of Legends. Second, he’s an amateur artist and enjoys almost anything creative, from digital art and sketching to playing the guitar to writing poetry. Although he hasn’t traveled much since his family left Mozambique in 2010, Archer dreams of one day working in a position that involves international travel and interacting with diverse cultures. Archer is looking forward to working alongside the students as a first floor SLC.