Speaker Bios
Dennis
W. Bega (National) is Director of Regional Operations /Office of
Communications and Outreach at the U.S. Department of Education. He serves as a
representative for Rural Outreach and as a resource on community and business
partnerships, and initiatives linking student learning with postsecondary
education and career exploration. Mr. Bega collaborates with faith-based and
community-based organizations, and provides t.a. to Federal/State/local
communities and school districts on education reform, inclusion of all youth,
technology, teacher quality, accountability, and student achievement. He
collaborates with partners including the Appalachian Regional Commission. Mr.
Bega completed his undergraduate and graduate studies at Southern Illinois
University in Carbondale, Illinois.
Dr. Walter G.
Bumphus, Ph.D. (National) is President of the American Association of
Community Colleges. He has served as: professor in the Community College
Leadership Program and chair of the Department of Educational Administration, University
of Texas at Austin and held the A. M. Aikin Regents Endowed Chair; president of
the Louisiana Community & Technical College System and Brookhaven College
(TX); chancellor of Baton Rouge Community College; and president, Higher Ed.
Division, Voyager Expanded Learning. Dr. Bumphus has B.A. and M.A. degrees from
Murray State U., and a Ph.D. from the University of Texas at Austin; has been
named a distinguished graduate of both Universities. He is one of the few education
leaders to: receive the National CEO of the Year Award, chair the AACC Board of
Directors, and receive the AACC National Leadership Award.
Jennifer Cagle (GA) graduated from Collins Hill High School,
played softball at the University of West Georgia, earning a degree in Sport
Management. She returned to college to earn a degree in Early Childhood
Education, coached softball at Parkview High School, and worked at the Hopper
Renwick Psycho-educational Center. Ms. Cagle discovered that her passion to
help others was best utilized in a classroom working with “at risk” students. In
2007, she began a special education program at the University of Georgia and began
teaching at Union County High School. Encouraging, supporting, and teaching
high school students describe Ms. Cagle and make her an asset to the GACHE
committee.
Phil Cauley (NC) is the Director of Student
Recruitment at Western Carolina University (WCU). He is a long time member of
the admissions staff and did a stint as director of alumni affairs at WCU. Cauley
recently collaborated with Darrell Frizsell to write “The Adventures of Lo,
the Little Angel: Sticks and Stones.” This is the first in a planned series
of children’s books about an angel named Halo – or Lo, for short – whose
adventures retell stories from the Bible for younger readers. He earned his
master’s degree in human resources at WCU.
Maisha
Challenger (National), Awareness & Outreach Specialist at the U.S.
Department of Education’s Office of Federal Student Aid (FSA), disseminates
information about federal student aid. She makes presentations, joins panel
discussions, and conducts training sessions to educate individuals on the importance
of federal financial assistance. Previously, she was an education lobbyist for
the Carmen Group and a substitute teacher at Friendship Collegiate Academy
Public Charter School (DC). Ms. Challenger, a member of Delta Sigma Theta, has
a B.A. in History from Mount Saint Mary’s University and an MPA degree from American
U.
Eric Cioffi (GA) began his teaching career in Florida in 1995; he became Principal at Mariner
High School in 2006. He helped raise the school from “D” to “B” status. After
14 years in Lee County, he relocated to Georgia as Principal of Fannin County
High School where he helped the school achieve the 2011 Platinum Award from the
Governor's office. Erik is married to Christina and has two daughters, Analea
and Teagan, and a step-daughter, Isabella.
Emily
Cobb (GA), the GACHE Grant Coordinator, teaches American
Government and is a graduation coach at Union County High School. She is a
graduate of Union County High School and attended The University of North
Georgia where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Sociology; she also holds a
Master’s Degree in School Counseling from Liberty University. Ms. Cobb
specializes in working with “at-risk” students, helping to ensure they graduate
from high school and carry out their postsecondary education plans.
Heather Collis (GA) began
teaching in North Carolina at Andrews Middle School. For nine years, she has
taught English at Fannin County High School in Blue Ridge, Georgia; she is in
her fifth year as the academic coach at the school. She is married (Alan) and
has three children, Alexis, Taylor, and Carson.
Rhonda
Colwell (GA) is the acting director of the Union County High School Early
Childhood Learning Lab, an onsite preschool. She graduated from Union County
High School and returned to work there to help the upcoming generation; she has
been teaching in Union County for 15 years. Ms. Colwell holds a degree in Early
Childhood Education, a subject she teaches at UCHS to students who wish to
become educators themselves; she also holds a degree in Educational
Administration. Ms. Colwell is married with two children.
Melissa Cox (AL) is the Director of the West Alabama Health Development Partnership Project
funded by ARC and the Community Outreach Programs Coordinator at The University
of Alabama in the Dept. of Community and Rural Medicine. She received her
Master of Arts degree from The University of Alabama in Health Promotion, and
is currently a candidate for a Ph.D. in Kinesiology.
Shirley
Davis (GA) is the director of the Georgia Appalachian Center for Higher
Education (GACHE) at the University of North Georgia. Prior to becoming GACHE's
first director, she served as an elementary, middle and high school principal
in Union and Gwinnett Counties; directed the North Georgia-Pioneer Rising Stars
Collaborative for educational leadership; and was a school improvement
specialist with the Georgia Department of Education.
Dede deLaughter (GA) is
the Director of Learning Support at the University of North Georgia where she
also teaches. Her primary responsibilities include assisting
students, faculty, and staff with Learning Support policies, programs, and
procedures that result in successful retention, progression, and graduation. Ms.
deLaughter received dual B.A. degrees in Psychology and Religion from Emory
University, and a M.Ed., Adult Education, from the University of Georgia. Her
interests include student success, motivation, learning styles, and “grit.” She
has consulted on several editions of student success textbooks, and served on
an advisory board for Pearson Education.
Shannon
Earle (NC) is the Director of Admissions and Financial Aid at
UNC-Asheville. She joined the UNC Asheville team in February
2011. Originally from Clinton, Tennessee, Ms. Earle graduated from Tennessee
Wesleyan College with a B.S. in Human Services. She has worked in Higher
Education for more than ten years, holding positions in Student Development,
Alumni Affairs and Institutional Advancement.
Dr. Amanda Ellis
O’Quinn (VA) is the Coordinator of Student Affairs, Recruitment and
Retention at Southwest Virginia Community College. She has 13+ years of progressive
experience in community college education, encompassing administration,
curriculum development, instruction, advising, counseling, grant writing, and
fund-raising with an emphasis on student success. Dr. Ellis-O’Quinn has an
extensive research background in community college student success and has
published on the topic. She has an A.A.S. from Southwest Virginia Community
College, a B.A. from Emory and Henry College, an M.S. from Radford University,
and a Ph.D. from Old Dominion University.
Jody Felts Freeman (NC), an educator since 2001, is
a Student Success Coordinator at West Wilkes High School in the Wilkes County
School System. She teaches, serves as an administrator and develops programs
for students who will be first generation high school and college graduates. Ms.
Freeman has also worked as a middle school Dean of Students, GEAR UP
Coordinator, Social Worker III, and as Director of the Child Abuse Response
Team. She holds a B.S. degree from Appalachian State University.
Carl Forbes has a B.A. and Master’s degrees from Le Moyne College, a right-sized
Jesuit college in Syracuse, NY. He has taught Social Studies, offered college
counseling for 12th graders, provided freshman admission counseling on the
college level, and worked for the Upward Bound program. For the last eight
years, Mr. Forbes has been a Consultant and Account Manager for ACT, working
with secondary schools and auxiliary programs to interpret and incorporate data
into practice; and with colleges and universities to better use ACT data when
making admission, placement and retention decisions. His main motivation is
college access, and he doesn’t hesitate to be involved with programs and events
where the goal is to promote awareness and access to postsecondary education as
well as success after enrollment.
Dr.
Marjie Flanigan (WV) is Vice President of Student Affairs & Dean of
Students at Concord University in Athens, WV. She has over 20 years of higher
education experience, with an emphasis on and commitment to educational access,
retention, and graduation for all students. She is a former president of WV
TRIO (then WVAEOPP) and holds an Ed.D. in Counseling from Virginia Tech.
Dr. Pollyanne Frantz
(NC), Director of Grants Resources & Services at Appalachian State
University in Boone, NC, helps faculty develop competitive proposals for
internal and external funding through individual consultations, funding
opportunity information dissemination, and professional development
workshops. Frantz earned the Ph.D. in higher education administration and a
MLS degree in library science from The University of Southern Mississippi, and
a bachelor’s degree in English and journalism from Franklin College of Indiana.
She has been successfully funded by the Elsevier Foundation, National Science
Foundation, Phi Kappa Phi, National Collegiate Inventors and Innovators
Alliance, and the Mississippi State Board of Animal Health. Frantz serves on
the Research Administrators Certification Council Board of Directors and
maintains memberships in the National Organization of Research Development
Professionals; Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society; and, Beta Phi Mu International
Library Science Honor Society (Beta Psi Chapter).
David Frey (TN) has over 30 years of experience in Mathematics Education, including school
administration. He taught in the Knox County School System from 1977-1991,
transitioning to a Title l Curriculum Specialist from 1991-2001. From
2001-2006, Mr. Frey served in Principal/Assistant Principal positions and then
became a Math Specialist for the Oak Ridge Schools from 2006-2012. He also
taught Mathematics at Pellissippi State Community College. Mr. Frey holds a
B.S. and M.E. degrees from the University of Tennessee, as well as Administration
and Supervision Certification.
Melissa
A. Gattuso (WV) is a GEAR UP Regional Coordinator. She joined the Division
of Student Success and P-20 Initiatives at the West Virginia Higher Education
Policy Commission in 2008. Previously, she worked as an Admissions and
Educational Outreach Counselor at Bluefield State College. She is an
experienced presenter, facilitator, instructor and coordinator, and has served
on numerous college access and sustainability committees. Mrs. Gattuso holds a
RBA from Bluefield State College and a MS in Strategic Leadership from Mountain
State University.
Zornitsa “Zorrie” Georgieva
(WV) is currently pursuing her doctoral degree at West Virginia University
(WVU) and serving as a Graduate Researcher with the Program Evaluation and
Research Center of the College of Education and Human Services. Her work
experience includes college admissions; educational support programs with an
emphasis on retention; instructional design; and education evaluation and
research. She holds a B.S. in Business from Concord University and a M.Ed. from
Radford University.
Dr. Brenda S. Haas
(OH) serves as the Dean of University College for Shawnee State University.
The University College provides oversight of Student Success Center (advising,
tutoring, mentoring and disability services), developmental education and the
General Education Program. Prior to accepting the Dean position with Shawnee
State University, she served six years as the Executive Director of the Ohio
Appalachian Center for Higher Education (OACHE). OACHE provides college access
opportunities to the Ohio Appalachian K-12 students. Brenda started her
education career in Ohio K-12 public schools. She has 30 years of experience in
the K-12 schools, nineteen of those years serving as building principal at both
the elementary and high school levels.
Elizabeth L. (Betty) Hale (National), Senior Fellow, IEL, is the Leadership Mentor with the Appalachian Higher education Network, an
Appalachian Regional Commission effort to increase postsecondary education
attainment. She has served as an education budget analyst, Director of Training
Programs, Head Start in Region III, U.S. DHHS; and Director of Head Start
Training -West Virginia. She taught in Ohio and with the Department of Defense
Education Activity in Japan, Ethiopia, Turkey, and Italy. A graduate of the
University of Kentucky and a member of its College of Education’s “Hall of
Fame,” Ms. Hale has graduate degrees from the Harvard Graduate School of
Education and the Harvard Kennedy School. She is the 2005 recipient of the
HGSE’s Alumni Council’s Award for Outstanding Contribution to Education.
Phil Hardwick (MS) directs
the Mississippi Appalachia Higher Education Initiative and is based at the John
C. Stennis Institute of Government at Mississippi State University. He retired as the vice president of the Mississippi Valley
Gas Co., and has an extensive background in economic development. He
facilitates retreats for chambers of commerce, nonprofit organizations and
corporate boards, is a regular columnist for the Mississippi
Business Journal and writes mystery novels. His blog focuses on community and economic development.
Mr. Hardwick holds a bachelor's degree from
Belhaven College and an MBA from Millsaps College.
Jolei
Higgins (AL), College Counselor at Walker High School, has been a
high school guidance counselor for 17 years. Previously, she worked for Bradford Health Services, an addiction treatment
program, spending much of her time running Impact, a school education program. For
the past three years, she has been the school’s coordinator for the Alabama
Access to Higher Education initiative. Ms. Higgins is thrilled to have access
to resources which will allow her students to be college ready. She holds a
B.S. in Psychology from Samford University, and a
Master's Degree in Agency Counseling and an Educational Specialist Degree in
Counseling from the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
Doug Hollars (NC) is
the Academic Program Specialist at Chase High School. He is a native of
Rutherford County and a graduate of East Rutherford High School (1987). Previously,
he was a physical education teacher and assistant football and baseball coach
at Chase. He attended Wingate University on a baseball scholarship and earned a
B.S. in Liberal Studies with concentrations in Psychology and Human Services.
Mike Jones (TN) has been Director of Schools for
the Fentress County School System since July 1, 2007. Prior to that time, he
served as a Principal at Clarkrange and South Fentress Elementary Schools. Mr.
Jones began his 28 year career as a teacher and coach. He holds degrees from
Tennessee Technological University in Cookeville, TN: A.S., B.S., M.A. and
Ed.S.
Carol Knight (GA) has
taught mathematics in the Union County School System for 20 years. She has
three degrees from Emory University and an Education Specialist degree from
Piedmont College. Ms. Knight is married and has two children. She graduated
from Woody Gap School, the smallest public school in the State of Georgia; she
was part of a class of eleven students.
Dr.
Terry Lashley (TN) has 32 years of experience in STEM education. She has
served as a middle and high school science teacher, program manager at the Oak
Ridge National Laboratory, Resource Collaborative Director for an Appalachian
Rural Systemic Initiative at the University of Tennessee, and faculty member at
Tennessee Technological University. She currently serves as the Executive
Director of a non-profit focused on College Access and Success, TnACHE. Dr.
Lashley holds a B.S. degree from the University of Wisconsin, and an M.S. and a
Ph.D. degree from the University of Tennessee.
Monica Lee (NC) is the Executive Director of
the Robert and Janice McNair Educational Foundation; it provides supports and
services to all students to increase college readiness, access, retention and
success. She is a native of Rutherford County and a graduate of East Rutherford
High School. Mrs. Lee has a Bachelor Degree in Sociology from the University of
North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a Master of Arts in Teaching from Western
Carolina University.
Jason (J.R.) Luyster (WV) joined the West
Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission in September 2009 as the Central
Regional Coordinator for West Virginia GEAR UP. In addition, he serves as a
training facilitator for the College Foundation of West Virginia and serves on
the Executive Council of West Virginia’s ACT State Organization. Mr. Luyster
holds a BA in Mass Communications from Alderson-Broaddus University and an MA
in Communication Studies from West Virginia University.
Elizabeth Manuel (WV), GEAR UP Regional Coordinator, is employed by the West Virginia Higher Education
Policy Commission. Her professional experience consists of serving WV students
over a 10 year span. Previously, Ms. Manuel worked with various outreach
programs providing educational opportunities. Her central work has focused on
enhancing and supporting college access efforts in West Virginia. Ms. Manuel
holds a BBA in Business Administration and an MS in Adult Education from
Marshall University.
Krista
Maxson (OH), the Interim Associate Provost for
Research and Graduate Programs, is a Professor and Chair, Department of
Mathematical Sciences, at Shawnee State University. She has presented on the
flipped classroom many times and moderated five sessions at the Joint
Mathematics meetings on the subject. Currently, she is a guest editor for a
special issue on the flipped classroom for Pedagogies, Resources and Issues in
Mathematics Undergraduate Studies (PRIMUS). Ms. Maxson has a Ph.D. in
mathematics from the University of Nebraska, Lincoln. She is pictured here
(1972) with Dr. George Polya, the father of problem solving in Mathematics
education; aka, “The How to Solve it Guru.”
Sarah McKinney (NC) is
the Academic Program Specialist for the Robert and Janice McNair Educational
Foundation and is responsible for academic programs at East Rutherford High
School. She is a native of Rutherford County and a graduate of East Rutherford
High School. Mrs. McKinney has a degree in Communications and Public Relations
from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and received her teacher
licensure through Western Carolina University.
Joni Webb
Petschauer (National and NC) is a Senior Fellow at the American
Council on Education. She serves as a national trainer for the American College
Application Campaign. A retired Appalachian State University administrator,
Ms. Petschauer worked closely with Upward Bound, Student Support Services, GEAR
UP, and the Appalachian Higher Education Network in her efforts to increase
educational access and to improve student success in western North Carolina.
Ronica Raines (AL), born
and raised in Sitka, Alaska, moved to Alabama at the age of fifteen. A first
generation college graduate, she has an A.D.N. from Bevill State Community
College (BSCC) and a B.S.N. from the University of Alabama. Ms. Raines
participated in the Miss Alabama/Miss America Pageant system winning
scholarships that paid a majority of her college tuition. She was a Registered
Nurse for twenty years; the last twelve in school nursing. She relocated to
Alabama and changed careers; Ms. Raines now oversees the Alabama Access for
Higher Education initiative. Education is her passion and helping students
“Achieve the Dream of Higher Education” has been the single most important
highlight of her career. Married to her high school sweetheart, Ms. Raines has
two daughters.
Dr.
Sarita A. Rhonemus (WV) is the Director of Outreach Programs and the
Interim Director of Research and Sponsored Programs at Bluefield State College.
She also serves as the Executive Director of the West Virginia Access Center
for Higher Education (WVACHE) and works with the Appalachian Regional
Commission (ARC) as a mentor to provide training and technical support to the
Appalachian Higher Education Network Centers. Dr. Rhonemus earned her Ph.D.
from Capella University specializing in higher education leadership in addition
to an Ed.S. in higher education administration from Marshall University
Graduate College. She also received an M.S. in adult and technical education
with a minor in counseling from Marshall University along with a B.S. in
teacher education from Bluefield State College. Her passion has long been
grounded in student access and success for underrepresented students especially
in Appalachia.
Tammy Roberts (GA and NC) is a Guidance Counselor at Fannin County High School in Blue Ridge, Georgia. Previously,
she was the counselor at Hiwassee Dam in Graham
County (NC) and worked closely with the Appalachian Center at App State. Ms.
Roberts did her undergraduate work at Kennesaw State University,
Marietta GA, and her graduate work at Lincoln Memorial University, Harrogate,
TN.
Andrea Rose (MS) has served as the Community Development Director of The Alliance in Corinth,
Mississippi since 2008. She facilitates business seminars, manages adult and
student leadership development programs, maintains the community’s certified
retiree community status and leads retiree recruitment efforts. She directs two
education initiatives—Corinth
to College and Mississippi Scholars—and supports programs to address
drop-out prevention and recovery, promotes local commerce initiatives, and
directs the Corinth Area Young Professionals Association.
Dr. Jeffrey Schwartz
(National), Education Program Manager for the Appalachian Regional
Commission, is responsible for educational development at all levels – from day
care through pre-K-12, higher education, adult education and workforce training
– throughout the 13-state Appalachian region. Previously, he was a consultant,
a training specialist with various U.S. Department of Education funded
technical assistance centers, a school administrator, and a classroom teacher.
Dr. Schwartz has both national and international experience, including overall
school leadership; program design, evaluation and consultation; and elementary,
secondary, adult, and college and university level teaching. Throughout his
career, he has emphasized the development of appropriate educational
programming for students with diverse educational needs and those that have
been historically underserved.
Lloyd
Scott (NC) is the Director of Admissions at Appalachian State University. At
the University of Idaho he served as the director for new student services, senior
associate director, and director of undergraduate recruitment. Mr. Scott has served
as a staff officer and team chief in the Pentagon, and as head of the
Department of Military Science at the University of Idaho. He has an MBA from
Oklahoma City University and a B.S. degree from the United States Military
Academy. He has completed doctoral-level courses in higher education
administration.
Susan Snelick (PA) is the Workforce Investment Board Director at the North Central Planning
Commission. She began as a Youth Employability Counselor after college, was
promoted to Director of Planning, and then promoted into her current position
in 2007. Ms. Snelick oversees the administration of the Workforce Investment
Board (WIB), managing and directing affairs within the policies and guidelines
of the Workforce Investment Act Title I. She also advises in the areas of
policy development, planning, and program development and sets performance
benchmarks to ensure employers remain competitive in a global economy and customers
find gainful employment. Ms. Snelick received her Bachelor’s degree in
Marketing from Indiana University of Pennsylvania.
Pam Streich (PA), Director
of Planning, North Central Workforce Investment Board, is employed by the North
Central Planning Commission. She has been with North Central since 1998 and has
worked as a secretary, Youth Employability Counselor, and Planner. She works
with the Youth Council/Regional Career Education Partnership developing local
youth policy and implementing programs that connect business and industry to
schools. Ms. Streich received her Bachelor’s Degree in Human Relations from
the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford and an Associate Degree in Human
Development and Family Studies from Penn State DuBois. Recently, she completed
a Human Resources Professional certificate program through Clarion University
Ed2go.
Angela Kirtdoll Suggs
(OH) is a Student Coach for the HOPE (Health Professionals Opportunity
Grant) Project at Eastern Gateway Community College. She has an A.S. Degree in
Liberal Arts from Kent State University and a B.A. Degree in History from West
Liberty University. She is pursuing a Master’s Degree in Higher Education at
Geneva College in Beaver Falls, PA. Additionally, Ms. Suggs is an Education
Policy Fellow with the Institute for Educational Leadership (IEL) and a mentor
for the Appalachian Higher Education Network. Ms. Suggs started in college
access in 1995 as an AmeriCorps National Service volunteer. She continued her
career in college access and success programming as the Director of KEYS
(Keeping Education in Your Sight), a college access grant funded by the Ohio
Appalachian Center for Higher Education (OACHE) and later
as a field manager for College Summit National serving in WV,
FL, SC, MD, CO and NY.
Tracey
Tardiff (NC) is the Pre-Enrollment Program (PREP) Coordinator for the North
Carolina Appalachian Collaborative for Higher Education (NCACHE) at Appalachian
State University. NCACHE is committed to building strategic partnerships to
strengthen local communities through college access and success. Her previous
work experience include serving as the Family and Student Engagement
Coordinator for Appalachian’s Upward Bound Programs and as the Family and
Community Coordinator for the Children’s Council of Watauga County.
Jan Taylor (VA) is a retired teacher with 30 years of
experience — eight years in elementary education and twenty-two years in eighth grade
English. For twenty years, she also taught college classes at Keen Mountain
Correctional Center. Ms. Taylor was the recipient of the Virginia Community
Colleges’ 2008 Workforce Development Services Chancellor's Award. Since
retiring as a teacher in 2011, she has been employed as a Southwest Virginia
Community College Career Coach at Richlands High School. Ms. Taylor holds a
B.S. from UVA Wise and an M. Ed. from UVA (Charlottesville).
Tamara Thompson (National) is the CEO and founder of Mockingbird Education and an award winning educator
who has received state and national recognition for instruction and curriculum.
She was the Teacher of the Year (2003), Austin Area Charter Schools, and a
YouthBuildUSA Teacher Fellow. She also received the Michael Jordan Foundation’s
Innovation Grant Award and the Southern Poverty Law’s Teaching for Tolerance Award. In 2010, she was awarded a Doctoral Fellowship at the University of
North Texas, but instead devoted her energy to Mockingbird Education. Since
2008, the firm has provided professional development, consulting, research, and
curriculum services focused on low socio-economic and marginalized learning
populations; clients span 30 states and 5 foreign countries. Thompson holds a
B.S. from Texas A&M University and an M.S. from Stephen F. Austin
University. She is a doctoral candidate at the University of North Texas.
Keith Walker (KY) directs the Kentucky Appalachian Higher Educational Center, working with eligible
high schools in Kentucky’s 54 Appalachian counties to promote new strategies to
improve students’ access to and success in postsecondary education. Mr. Walker
worked with the Carter County (KY) school system for 32 years: math teacher,
principal of the Career & Technical Center (at age 25), and Coordinator of
Career & Technical education. He has a B.A. and a Masters in Supervision
& Administration of Career & Technical Education from Morehead State
University; he holds certification as a high school principal and as a
superintendent.
Amy Williams (GA) has taught 19 years. Currently,
she teaches high school Biology and chairs the science department at Union
County High School (GA); she also is the School District Assessment Director. Ms.
Williams has served on the GACHE team for three years, and her primary
responsibilities include organizing the Reality Store and organizing
college/industry field trips. She is a graduate of Woody Gap School, the
smallest public school in the state of Georgia.
Doris
Terry Williams (National and NC) is Executive Director of the Rural School
and Community Trust. Previously, she was Assistant Dean and Associate Professor
at North Carolina Central University. Williams serves as lead consultant,
trainer, and national expert for numerous school and community reform efforts
and has authored publications ranging from early childhood education to K-16
education reform. She has been a visiting and adjunct professor at Shaw, NC
State and Ohio Universities. Williams served 12 years on a NC school board and
is currently on the Board of Trustees of Vance-Granville Community College
(NC). She holds a doctorate from North Carolina State University and an
undergraduate degree from Duke University.
Jennifer Wilson-Kearse (NC) is the Executive
Director of the North Carolina Appalachian Collaborative for Higher Education
(NCACHE) at Appalachian State University (ASU). Her experience spans the P-16
continuum. Previous work experiences include directing a Smart Start
Partnership, serving as the Principal of a K-5 charter school, and directing ASU's
GEAR UP. Ms. Wilson-Kearse also has extensive experience writing and managing
private, state, and federal grants.