Rucker named director of Auburn’s GEAR UP Achieve grant program

Erika E. Rucker has been named the new director of GEAR UP Achieve, Alabama’s statewide Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP) grant administered by Auburn University, effective Mar. 1. Rucker has served as interim director since October 2025, guiding daily operations and strategic planning for a program that serves 6,500 ninth-grade students across 28 counties.

As interim director, Rucker assumed responsibility for recruitment, training, supervision and evaluation of staff across multiple GEAR UP Achieve sites, as well as oversight of the alignment of services with federal grant objectives. She collaborated closely with school liaisons to strengthen academic programming, particularly in math and science, and conducted regular site visits to monitor implementation and provide hands-on support.

“Erika combines strategic vision, operational expertise and a genuine commitment to student success,” said Jason Bryant, director of the Truman Pierce Institute in the Auburn University College of Education and a principal investigator on the GEAR UP Achieve grant. “Her leadership will strengthen GEAR UP Achieve’s partnership with school administrators and educators across Alabama and further elevate the opportunities we create for students.”

Rucker brings more than 15 years of leadership experience in out-of-school-time programming, grant administration and statewide education initiatives. During her tenure as a program coordinator with Alabama’s 21st Century Community Learning Centers, she provided strategic oversight for 120 program sites, trained grantees statewide on data systems, organized professional development events and coordinated a statewide network of evaluators. Over her career she has also secured more than $3 million in grants to expand educational programming and student services, and she is a frequent presenter at state and national conferences on curriculum innovation and afterschool effectiveness.

“I am honored to lead GEAR UP Achieve and to continue building pathways that help students see themselves as future college graduates,” Rucker said. “Our team, our schools and our communities are doing extraordinary work. I’m excited to expand our efforts and ensure that every student we serve has access to high-quality academic support and college-readiness resources.”

Rucker is currently completing her doctorate in administration of supervision and curriculum at Auburn University. She holds a Master of Public Administration from the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) and a bachelor’s in psychology from Auburn University. Her professional honors include the Young Alumni Rising Star Award from UAB and national recognition as one of only twelve Afterschool Ambassadors selected across the country.

About GEAR UP Achieve

GEAR UP Achieve is Alabama’s state GEAR UP grant, established in 2023 at Auburn University. The program currently works with 6,500 ninth-grade students in 28 counties, partnering with schools and communities to deliver comprehensive college- and career-readiness services.