Allison Ashe
Allison Ashe is president and CEO of Wellroot Family Services, one of Georgia’s oldest child welfare organizations. Under her leadership, Wellroot expanded its reach by 933% and increased direct services by 433% through scholarships, trainings and other supports. The organization helps keep families together, prepares foster homes when needed, and supports youth aging out of care.
Ashe previously led Covenant House Georgia for nine years and worked on strategic initiatives at Covenant House International. She was a founding staff member and COO of the Atlanta Police Foundation, and currently serves on the Governor’s Safe Harbor Commission and as vice chair of the Methodist Ministries Network. She holds a master’s degree from Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, began her career as a chaplain at Northside Hospital, and lives in Georgia with her husband, Paul Barsness, and their three children.
Kim Aycock
Kim Aycock, MST, equips emerging leaders with skills that technology can’t replicate. Blending the talents of a master teacher with the experience of a seasoned camp professional, she delivers interactive, innovative presentations that engage camp staff at all levels.
Aycock speaks at regional and national conferences, contributes regularly to Camping Magazine, and co-chairs the American Camp Association’s Staff Recruitment and Retention Committee and Staffing Summit.
Grace Bagwell-Adams
Grace Bagwell Adams, Ph.D., MPA, is an associate professor of health policy in the Department of Health Policy and Management in the College of Public Health at the University of Georgia. She earned her undergraduate degrees in history and political science at Converse College (a women’s liberal arts college) in Spartanburg, South Carolina. She is a Double Dawg–she obtained her master’s in public administration and Ph.D. in public policy in the Department of Public Administration and Policy in the School of Public and International Affairs at the University of Georgia.
Her expertise is in public policy analysis and program evaluation, and all of her work has the common thread of examining how to mitigate vulnerability. Current projects include work on postsecondary access to education for youth experiencing foster care, the SNAP (food stamp) program, the opioid epidemic, and serving as Principal Investigator for the Athens Wellbeing Project. She lives in Athens with her husband, Clayton, her daughter, Bonnie, her son, Teddy, and her dog, Rosie.
Arden Bakarich
At the Fanning Institute, Arden supports youth leadership through the Embark Georgia Center, where she leads operations for the Education and Training Voucher (ETV) Program. She manages hundreds of student accounts and partners with state agencies and campuses to verify aid, coordinate wraparound support, and reduce barriers for students with foster care or homelessness experience.
Previously, Arden worked in community outreach and child advocacy at Athens–Oconee CASA. She is pursuing a master’s in Conflict Management at Kennesaw State University (anticipated December 2025). Outside of work, she enjoys time with family and her partner, hosting and attending trivia, and caring for her cat, Lizard.
Michael Butcher
Dr. Michael Butcher is the assistant vice president for student affairs and dean of students at the College of Coastal Georgia in Brunswick. With more than 20 years of experience in higher education, he oversees student life, campus housing, student well-being and support, student conduct, and Title IX. He also serves as co-adviser to the Student Government Association.
Dr. Butcher holds a bachelor’s degree in information technology, a master’s in public administration, a doctorate in educational leadership, and a graduate certificate in artificial intelligence business innovation. His broad academic background and leadership experience have positioned him to support student success through innovative programs and strategic campus initiatives.
Julia Buwick
Julia Buwick serves as the Community of Care coordinator for Basic Needs in Student Care and Outreach at the University of Georgia. She earned her undergraduate degree in psychology with a minor in business from Appalachian State University in 2015 and a Master of Education in professional school counseling from the University of Georgia in 2018.
In her role, Buwick works to connect students with resources that support their basic needs. She manages the UGA Student Food Pantry and supports other campus services that provide access to food, clothing, hygiene items and other essentials. Additionally, she is a program coordinator for Embark.
Imani Callen
Imani N. Callan is a doctoral student at the Louise McBee Institute of Higher Education at the University of Georgia. She currently serves as a graduate research assistant for Embark Georgia, where she supports research efforts focused on higher education and vulnerable populations. Her academic interests include recruitment, access, persistence and retention of historically underrepresented students, as well as the policies that influence these areas.
Callan earned a master’s degree in higher education administration and a bachelor’s degree in criminology from the University of Miami. Her work reflects a commitment to equity and inclusion in postsecondary education, with a particular emphasis on improving outcomes for marginalized student groups.
Heidi Carr
Heidi brings more than 30 years of marketing and operations experience to her role at Fostering Success Act, Inc., where she serves as a servant leader dedicated to making a difference in the lives of others. Her professional background includes roles in the automotive, homebuilding and soft drink industries, but her most meaningful work has been in children’s ministry, volunteering, mentoring others through cancer journeys and offering support to those in need.
A graduate of the University of South Carolina, Heidi is originally from San Francisco and grew up in an Army family that moved frequently, including time in Germany. She and her husband, David, live in Cumming, Georgia, and are proud parents of two sons.
Barbara Duffield
Barbara Duffield is executive director of SchoolHouse Connection, with more than 30 years of experience bridging policy and practice in early care, education, housing and homelessness. She began her career in 1990 as a tutor for children experiencing homelessness in Washington, D.C. and later served as director of education for the National Coalition for the Homeless. From 2003 to 2016, she was director of policy and programs at the National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth, where she led national efforts and helped shape legislation to strengthen federal protections and services for children and youth experiencing homelessness, from early childhood through higher education.
Barbara’s academic work has appeared in Educational Studies, Early Childhood Research Quarterly, Families in Society, The Urban Review and the Journal of Children and Poverty. She has served on numerous commissions and advisory groups, including Sesame Street Workshop and the National Commission on Children and Disasters education group. She earned her bachelor’s degree summa cum laude in political science from the University of Michigan.
Daniel Gibbs
Daniel Gibbs is an assistant professor in the University of Georgia School of Social Work. He uses quantitative, mixed and system dynamics methods to study how human services systems can better serve youth with complex needs, with a focus on artificial intelligence and the intersection of social work and the law.
Before joining UGA, Gibbs practiced as an attorney representing children in the child welfare system. His interdisciplinary approach bridges legal advocacy and data-driven research to improve outcomes for vulnerable youth.
Regginald Holloway
Regginald Holloway is a youth advocate, public speaker and podcast host from Atlanta. He is a graduate of the University of West Georgia, where he earned a degree in communications with a minor in sociology. Holloway works with several youth-focused organizations across Georgia, using his voice and platform to support and uplift young people.
He is the host of the podcast Outreach with Reggie, where he engages in conversations about community, advocacy and personal growth. Through public speaking and media, Holloway continues to champion causes that impact youth and promote positive change.
Beverly Johnson
Dr. Beverly Johnson serves as director for the Fanning Institute. In this role, she focuses on internal operations and the strategic priorities of the institute, along with supporting the institute’s work in strategic planning and leadership development.
Prior to joining the Fanning Institute, Dr. Johnson served as unit director of the UGA Carl Vinson Institute of Government’s Atlanta-based State Services Unit. She has extensive experience in managing complex governmental operations at the local, regional and state levels. Dr. Johnson applies her expertise in adult education and human resources and organizational development to collaborate with diverse stakeholders to conduct enterprise-wide assessments and develop strategies to build effective organizations. Her applied research and action research work have helped groups address complex issues related to professional development, workplace culture and performance improvement.
She also has significant experience in the workforce development field and contributes to national employment strategies and professional certification development.
Elaine Martin
Elaine Martin a Student Care Case Manager in the Student Affairs office at Middle Georgia State University. She holds a Master of Arts in clinical psychology from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, earned in 2009. She also earned two bachelor’s degrees from the University of Georgia in 2005: a Bachelor of Science in psychology and a Bachelor of Arts in sociology.
In addition to her role in Student Affairs, Martin serves as the designated point of contact for Embark Georgia at Middle Georgia State University, supporting students who have experienced foster care or homelessness.
Stephanie Martin
Stephanie is the Administrative Financial Director at the J.W. Fanning Institute for Leadership Development, where she leads financial planning and budget management for both the Institute and the Embark Georgia Center. With 11 years of experience in financial administration at the University of Georgia, she brings a strong foundation in fiscal strategy and operational oversight to her role.
She holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of North Georgia and a master’s in Public Administration from Valdosta State University. Currently, Stephanie is pursuing her doctorate in Public Administration at Valdosta State, further deepening her expertise in public sector leadership and financial governance.
Eric McGhee
Eric McGhee is the Grants Program Manager in the Federal Programs Division at the Georgia Department of Education. As Program Manager, Mr. McGhee coordinates the McKinney-Vento Program, the Neglected and Delinquent Children Program, Foster Care Education Program and the Rural Education Achievement Program.
Polly McKinney
Polly McKinney is a partner at Lexicon Strategies, bringing more than 30 years of experience in communications, public policy and storytelling to advance communities and causes. She has helped improve outcomes for Georgia’s children and families through her long tenure with Voices for Georgia’s Children, where she became known for her “Two-Minute Take” videos, legislative updates and the “Kid Pro Quo” podcast series.
A filmmaker and strategist, McKinney has directed and produced award-winning documentaries, public campaigns and issue-based content for organizations including the National POW Museum, Georgia’s Department of Behavioral Health and the American Academy of Pediatrics. Her leadership spans numerous boards and advisory groups, such as Georgia’s Juvenile Justice State Advisory Board and the Georgia School-Based Health Alliance. She is a recipient of the Georgia Legislative Women’s Caucus Servant Leadership Award and the governor’s Outstanding Georgia Citizen recognition.
Tashita McGhee Moses
Tashita McGhee-Moses has worked in social services for 22 years. She earned a bachelor’s degree in social work from Clark Atlanta University in 2005, followed by a master’s degree in human services from Capella University in 2007 and a master’s degree in education from Northcentral University in 2012. McGhee-Moses began her career with the Georgia Department of Family and Children Services in 2005 and has also worked in the mental health field.
She currently serves as an Independent Living Specialist at the state office, supporting Region 13 and the Cobb County Department of Family & Children Services. Outside of work, McGhee-Moses enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, shopping, journaling, gardening, cooking and volunteering in her community.
Erik Ness
Erik Ness is a professor of higher education and director of the Louise McBee Institute of Higher Education. He previously served as a faculty member at the University of Pittsburgh and as a policy analyst for the Tennessee Higher Education Commission. Ness conducts research on higher education politics and policy, with a focus on public policy effects—particularly on students, institutions and state systems—and the policy-making process, including the political dynamics involved in higher education policy adoption.
In addition to his work with the Embark Georgia Research Consortium, Ness studies how intermediary organizations influence policymakers’ use of evidence in crafting and implementing state higher education initiatives, such as college completion strategies and merit-based scholarship programs. Based on this research, he developed a First-Year Odyssey seminar titled “Research Evidence, Alternative Facts, and Fake News,” which earned a UGA First-Year Odyssey Teaching Award in 2021.
Lauren Padgett
Lauren Padgett currently serves as Director of Kennesaw State University CARE Services. Lauren joined the CARE Services team in May 2022 as Assistant Director of CARE Services. Prior to KSU, Lauren served for three years at the Kansas Attorney General’s Office as the Batterer Intervention Program Unit Coordinator where she certified and monitored program compliance with the Batterer Intervention Certification Act.
Prior to that role, she served as a case manager for families in the child welfare system and was a Site Manager for a Harvard University study on the long-term impact of legal debt on indigent clients and their families. Lauren holds Juris Doctorate and Master of Social Work degrees from the University of Oklahoma.
Jenny Paveglio
Jenny is a licensed clinical social worker with more than 30 years of experience addressing homelessness, poverty, trafficking and exploitation, trauma-sensitive care, and mental health. She earned her Master of Social Work degree from Hunter College School of Social Work and has extensive experience working with young adults and adolescents. Jenny specializes in treating trauma and trauma-related disorders using TF-CBT, DBT, and play therapy. She also trains professionals in the Reaching Teens framework for adolescent care and has implemented the program across the United States.
For decades, Jenny has successfully integrated spirituality and spiritual development into her clinical practice. Her work has been recognized with the Feva Fine Holtzman Family Award for Excellence in Field Work from her alma mater and by Bank of America’s Center for Leadership Innovation.
Kendra Perkins
Kendra Perkins is the co-founder of Innovative Camp Company, which supports youth-serving organizations with creative and effective solutions. With more than 20 years of camp experience and a master’s degree in special education, she volunteers with the American Camp Association’s Staff Recruitment and Retention Committee and serves on the leadership team for the Medical and Disabilities Camps Kindred group. Her work focuses on staffing, operations and reaching underserved populations.
Perkins is passionate about intentionality, clear communication and partnering with families to support each camper’s unique needs. Her commitment to inclusive and thoughtful programming continues to shape the way camps serve diverse communities.
Jordyn Roark
Jordyn Roark has dedicated her career to helping young people experiencing homelessness access higher education, earn degrees and build stable futures. She holds a master’s degree in social work from the University of North Carolina at Pembroke and draws on both professional expertise and her own lived experience as an unaccompanied homeless youth to break down barriers to education.
As director of youth leadership and scholarships at SchoolHouse Connection, Roark leads a national scholarship program that empowers young people with lived experience of homelessness to shape policy, pursue higher education and build pathways to self-sufficiency.
Ashley Singh
Ashley Singh graduated from Kennesaw State University in 2025 and is currently pursuing a dual master’s degree in social work and business administration. She works as a graduate professional assistant with KSU CARE Services and also serves as support staff at YELLS (Youth Empowerment through Learning, Leading and Serving), a nonprofit organization based in Georgia.
Singh recently completed her capstone proposal, which explored the motivations behind low-income students pursuing higher education and the factors that help them persist through college. The project reflects a deep personal passion, and she looks forward to continuing research in this area.
Yolanda Skinner
Yolanda Skinner is the special populations coordinator at Albany Technical College, where she has served for four years. She brings a strong background in education, having previously worked as director of guidance at Westover High School and as the graduation coach at the Ninth-Grade Academy in Americus, Georgia.
In addition to her role at Albany Technical College, Skinner currently serves as the project director for CCAMPIS (Child Care Access Means Parents in School) at Albany State University.
Anthony Stover
Anthony Stover, a national trainer, U.S. Navy veteran and current Navy Reservist, is a powerful advocate for young adults navigating independence. As the Youth Engagement Coordinator for the Multi-Agency Alliance for Children (MAAC) and a founding member of Georgia Empowerment, Stover brings lived experience from the foster care system and more than 20 years in child welfare to his work.
Anthony is the author of the acclaimed “Adulting 101” book series, which offers practical life skills for independent living. Stover’s contributions have been recognized by local, national and private organizations for their lasting impact on youth empowerment and leadership development.
Lori Tiller
Lori is the co-leader of the Embark Georgia Statewide Network, a coalition of higher education institutions that support young people experiencing foster care or homelessness in their academic pursuits. She focuses on building leadership capacity for nonprofit, youth and community organizations; developing leadership skills for underrepresented populations; and strengthening technical skills in evaluation design and group facilitation. She collaborates with various on-campus departments to support strategic planning and implementation.
Lori also works with specialized county- and school-based youth leadership programs, as well as nonprofit and community-based organizations, to enhance leadership capacity, governance, planning and volunteer management.
Larissa Thompson
Larissa Thompson, MSW
Independent Living Specialist, Region 7
Jenny Trinh
Jenny Trinh is a biology major at the University of Georgia with a minor in Latin American and Caribbean studies. Her passion lies in bridging science and service—studying how biological and social factors shape health outcomes across communities. With aspirations to attend medical school, she has been grateful for the opportunity to work with the Embark Georgia Research Consortium team, where she presented findings at the CURO Symposium and contributed to ongoing research on health care access and equity.
Through her leadership in TRIO and other campus organizations, Trinh continues to grow as both a scholar and an advocate committed to inclusive, community-based health care.
Eshontee Williams
At the J.W. Fanning Institute for Leadership Development, Eshontee Williams serves as a Program Operations Coordinator IV on the Embark Georgia Center’s team. In this role, she provides strategic support and day-to-day management of key initiatives, with a focus on strengthening stakeholder engagement and designing impactful programs and trainings for both Embark and the broader Fanning Institute network.
She brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in the child well-being sector serving as a youth program designer and facilitator, youth engagement strategist, and keynote speaker for events focusing on resilience and youth empowerment. In 2023, she was named a Jim Casey Young Fellow, joining a national cohort of changemakers dedicated to transforming the foster care system