Commission Members

2025 Commission Members

Chair: Terry Silver, Old Hickory, recently retired as a Professor of Educational Studies at the University of Tennessee at Martin.  She is a service-learning trainer and a Lions Quest curriculum trainer.  Terry has taught using the service-learning methodology, and she has studied and written extensively on service-learning.  She regularly works on committees for the Tennessee Conference on Volunteerism and Service-Learning.  Terry volunteers at Second Harvest Food Bank. Terry also chairs the Communications Committee.

Vice Chair: Betty White, Nashville, recently retired as the Service-Learning Director at the University School of Nashville, where she worked with students for 38 years, coordinating partnerships with local public schools and organizations to implement student-driven service programs.  A Tennessee-certified service-learning trainer, she currently enjoys consulting with various organizations as they develop service-learning programs.  Betty volunteers with several organizations, including Cosecha Community Development, Primera Iglesia Youth, Raise the Roof Academy, The Well Outreach, and several clubs in the Southern Springs Community.

Treasurer: Evon Wood, Nashville, is Strategic Support Manager at GreenLight Fund, a nonprofit venture philanthropy organization that works at the intersection of community need and social innovation. Her leadership service includes the IAAP Foundation Board of Directors, The Carnegie Writers, Inc. Board of Directors, Meeting Professionals International Administrative Planners Advisory Board, Nashville State Community College Administrative Professional Technology Advisory Committee, Remington College Business Administration Program Advisory Committee, and the IAAP Nashville Branch Director. As a passionate community activist, Evon supports organizations that advocate for social equity, women’s empowerment, an end to homelessness, volunteerism, and the arts.

Secretary: Jessica Youngblom represents Commissioner Marie Williams, TN Department of Mental Health & Substance Abuse Services. She is a Licensed Master Social Worker and the Director of Strategic Initiatives for the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services. She oversees projects like Tennessee Recovery Navigators, Project Rural Recovery, and Faith-Based Initiatives. Jessica joined the state in 2019 after working with Nashville's Metro Homeless Impact Division. She holds a Bachelor's in Sociology from UC Santa Barbara and a Master's in Social Work from USC.

George Bove, Lenoir City, is Chair of the Loudon County Chamber of Commerce.  He previously served with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and Broadway Electric Service Company in Knoxville.  He is a member of the Kerbela Shrine Temple and the Lenoir City Utility Board of Commissioners.  George has written several books, including the little orange t.

Destiny Brown, Decatur, is a Senior Management Consultant with the Tennessee Department of Finance and Administration’s Office of Customer Focused Government.  She previously served as a Policy and Research Coordinator for the Tennessee Department of Human Services, a Governor’s Management Fellow, and a 4-H Agent.  She volunteers with Sigma Kappa Sorority, where she is a National Vice President, and with the Tennessee Extension Advisory Council, where she is the President.

Kim Carpenter Drake, Brentwood, is a social impact consultant with degrees in Social Psychology, Nonprofit Management and Conflict Management. Her work include strategic planning, philanthropic capacity building, change management, project management, communications, and system-scale collaborations. She currently serves as the Director for the Middle Tennessee Donors Forum and consults with foundations, corporations, and nonprofit organizations, focusing on processes that build trust, produce communities of learning, and forge pathways to collaboration. She has led more than 100 professional development classes in a variety of topic areas and dozens of speaking engagements at local, regional, and national events, as well as serving as an adjunct professor at Belmont University and Lipscomb University.

Stephanie Davis, Sevierville, serves as production group leader at SL of Tennessee.  As a student at Pellissippi State Community College, Stephanie founded the Homeless Student Scholarship, which provides funds for homeless students who might not otherwise be able to attend college.  She holds a certificate in Early Child Training from Roane State Community College.

Nathaniel Farnor, Ewin, is the Coordinator of Leadership and Civic Engagement at East Tennessee State University (ETSU). He recently served as the National Youth Advocacy Chair for the American Cancer Society.  Nathaniel received the Harold Love Community Service Award from the Tennessee Higher Education Commission and the University Peace Builder Award from ETSU.

Mayor Terry Frank, Clinton, is the Mayor of Anderson County, first elected in 2012.  She currently serves on the Tennessee Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations (TACIR), the board of East Tennessee Economic Development Agency (ETEDA), Association of Tennessee Valley Governments (ATVG), and is Chair of District 2 Homeland Security Council, as well as President of the Tennessee Association of County Mayors. Additionally, she serves on the Tennessee Commission on Aging and Disability and serves on various other boards and committees.

Amy Gilliland, Maryville, serves as Assistant Director of Community Engagement at the University of Tennessee (Knoxville).  She is a volunteer for Second Harvest Food Bank and Fantasy of Trees.  Amy previously served as a staff member at Volunteer Tennessee, as an AmeriCorps member with the AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps, and as a team leader for AmeriCorps*Rapid Response Corps.

Katie Goforth, Tracy City, recently retired  as Community Development Director with the University of the South's Office of Civic Engagement. She previously served as Program Manager for the South Cumberland Plateau VISTA Project. Katie remains active with  numerous local and regional committees and boards, including the South Cumberland Community Fund, Friends of South Cumberland State Parks, and South Cumberland Summer Meal Program. 

Rebecca Henderson, Johnson City, is self-employed and engages in many community activities.  Rebecca has extensive strategic planning, organizational development, bylaws, and parliamentary experience.  She is currently the chair of the board of the Johnson City Community Health Center and has held leadership positions with the Washington County Foundation Board, Girl Scouts of the Southern Appalachians, and the Johnson City Seniors’ Center Foundation to name a few.

Andrea Hill, Memphis, is the Chief Development and Partnerships Officer at Tennessee Nonprofit Network. She previously served as Director of Volunteer Memphis at Leadership Memphis. Andrea has extensive nonprofit experience and is very involved in community activities. She is a Certified Volunteer Administrator (CVA) and a Certified Fund-Raising Executive (CFRE). 

Holly Jones, Manchester, is a Security Specialist with Arnold AFB Services, where she also served as Marketing Assistant/Community Outreach Coordinator.  She is a member of the Coffee County Young Professionals and a founding member of Coffee County TN Power of 100 Women.  Holly volunteers with the First United Methodist Church and Lower Cumberland Special Olympics.

Aimee LaGrone, Nashville, represents Lizzette Reynolds, Commissioner of Education, on the Volunteer Tennessee Commission.

Lissette Lopez, Murfreesboro, is a dedicated Realtor with a strong presence in her community, particularly among the Hispanic population.  She actively serves on the board of several non-profits and collaborates with Men of Valor, a Christian program that assists men in re-entering society.  Her commitment to service and community involvement reflects her passion for helping others and making a positive impact.

Greg Lyles, Murfreesboro, recently retired from Murfreesboro City Schools, where he served as the Coordinator of Community Initiatives and Teacher Performance.  He developed several youth programs including Boys To Men Mentoring Program and Club MARVEL.  Greg serves on various community boards such as the Linebaugh Public Library, Community Care of Rutherford County and St. Clair Senior Center.  Greg is Chair Emeritus.

Lee A. Moten, Jr., Memphis, currently serves as the Director of Training &
Safety with the Boys & Girls Club of the Hatchie River Region.  Most recently he served as the Senior Director of Programming at JIFF, Inc. (Juvenile Intervention & Faith-Based Follow-up), which provides interventions to youth in the Memphis and Shelby County juvenile justice systems. Lee also previously served as Community Relations Manager at Youth Villages and Vice President of Field Ministries at the Memphis Leadership Foundation and was the Director of the Training Department and Bridge Builders at BRIDGES, USA.  Lee served a previous term on the Volunteer Tennessee
Commission from 2006 - 2008.

Patricia Powell, Antioch, has served two terms as an AmeriCorps member—one with Martha O’Bryan Center and one with Hands On Nashville. Patricia is a member of the Junior League of Nashville and serves as the Executive Director for National Autism Peer Support. She volunteers with Saddle Up!, a hippotherapy program for people ages 2 to 26 in Franklin, and is a Ministry Partner at The Fellowship Church in Mt. Juliet.

Jason Scott, Knoxville, is the Program Director of the Knoxville/Knox County Community Action Committee AmeriCorps program, Tennessee’s only environmental corps.  He served two terms as an AmeriCorps member: first with the AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps and then with Florida State Parks AmeriCorps. Jason is president of the local AmeriCorps Alums chapter and volunteers with the American Red Cross.  Jason also chairs the Board Development Committee.

Tracy Van de Vate, Powell, is the manager of the Grandparents as Parents program in Knox County.  She previously served as Secondary Clinical Instructor and Supervisor at the UT College of Education, Health and Human Services and an Instructor with the UT Education 100 Apple Corps.  Having held various collegiate teaching positions, she has broad experience in the education field.  Tracy is active with the Girl Scouts and the Great Starts Transagency Committee.  Tracy is Chair Emeritus.

Amy Walter, Nashville, is currently the Director of Volunteer and Community Engagement at Cheekwood Estate and Gardens.  She has also worked at the Nashville Zoo and human and social services agencies such as Nashville CARES.  Amy has over 20 years of experience with communications and media. She is an active volunteer with a number of organizations.   Amy is Chair Emeritus.

Eileen Wollam, Nashville, is a retired Volunteer Coordinator and Technical Publications Manager. As a member of the Volunteer Tennessee Board since 2012, Eileen has served in various leadership positions, including Chair of the Board Development Committee. Currently, she is Chair of the Grants Committee and Chair of Friends of Volunteer Tennessee, a companion nonprofit that supports the work of Volunteer Tennessee. Before the COVID19 pandemic, Eileen volunteered with Nashville CARES and the Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Since 2022, she has been a volunteer reader at the Nashville Talking Library, where she records books for residents of Middle Tennessee with certified reading disabilities. 

Ex Officio Representatives

Suzanne Carr represents Commissioner Clarence Carter, TN Department of Human Services.

D'Shonta Gleeton represents Commissioner Margie Quin, TN Department of Children’s Services.

Vacant - Commissioner Jeff Long, TN Department of Safety & Homeland Security.  Michael chairs the Grants Committee.

Adam Jarvis represents Commissioner Jim Bryson, TN Department of Finance & Administration.

LaShan Dixon represents Commissioner Ralph Alvarado, TN Department of Health.

Caroline Ledlie represents the AmeriCorps agency.

Heidi Leming represents Chancellor Flora W. Tydings, Tennessee Board of Regents.

Nestor Reyes represents Commissioner Deniece Thomas, TN Department of Labor and Workforce Development.

Master Sergeant Karen Regan represents Brig. Gen. Warner A. Ross II, TN Department of the Military.

Nancy Schelin represents Commissioner David Salyers, TN Department of Environment & Conservation.  

Jessica Youngblom represents Commissioner Marie Williams, TN Department of Mental Health & Substance Abuse Services. 

Eileen Wollam is Chair of Friends of Volunteer Tennessee.

Vacant - President Randy Boyd, University of Tennessee.

Important Documents

• Our Vision and Mission
• 2023-2025 State Plan
• Bylaws
• General Policies
• Grievance Process
• Executive Orders
  • E.O. 55 - McWherter
  • E.O. 42 - Bredesen

Commission Meetings