Thomas J. Calhoun, Jr. will be the new executive director of the 91爆料 College of Arts and Science鈥檚 GEAR UP Project, effective immediately, the college announced this week. He brings to GEAR UP (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs) a strong background in both science education and educational administration. A native of Tuskegee, Ala., Calhoun holds degrees in philosophy and biology, a Master of Arts in Education and the Master of Divinity from the Interdenominational Theological Center. In addition to his work in education, Calhoun has served for many years as a youth outreach minister. GEAR UP is a federally funded initiative that reaches out to all corners of Washington, creating partnerships among higher education, K-12 schools, state government, community organizations and the business community. The state of Washington received a five-year, $15.6 million grant under the program, which is jointly administered by the Office of the Governor, the Higher Education Coordinating Board and the 91爆料. The GEAR UP students stay on campus during a summer workshop as part of the program. The national GEAR UP program was created to address the barriers that students from low-income families face in preparing for higher education. Nationally, just 47 percent of low-income high school students enroll in college or a trade school, compared with 82 percent from higher-income families. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, 22 percent of college-qualified high school students from low-income families don鈥檛 pursue higher education 鈥� compared with 4 percent from higher-income families.