TCVSL Speaker Bios

April Carter
April L. Carter is a dedicated nonprofit leader, volunteer, and businesswoman with over 15 years of experience. She serves as Chief Program Officer at Tennessee Nonprofit Network and is the co-owner and COO of Amplified Investment, providing affordable housing in her childhood communities. A contributing writer for 4Memphis magazine, April highlights impactful local nonprofits. She holds an Advanced Certified Nonprofit Professional certification and is a licensed consultant with the Standards for Excellence Institute. Actively engaged in her community, she is an active mentor, serves on two nonprofit boards, and is deeply committed to philanthropy, leadership, and community development.

Cristalynne Dupree
With a solid foundation in nonprofit management and community engagement, Cristalynne currently is Meals on Wheels Program Manager at the Bethlehem Centers of Nashville. In this capacity, she fosters partnerships with local churches and coordinates a network of nine congregations to deliver daily meals to over 200 homebound seniors, all while managing a team of more than 50 volunteers.
She brings extensive expertise in outreach and recruitment, having served as an AmeriCorps member twice—first at a nonprofit in West Tennessee, then at Belmont University—before working as a VISTA Outreach Specialist at AmeriCorps headquarters in Washington, D.C. Additionally, she is a skilled grant writer and has been nominated for the 2024 Women Who Rock Nashville Triumph Award.

Dr. Angie Elkins
Dr. Angie Elkins is an associate professor of Sociology and Social Work and coordinator of High-Impact Practices at Walters State Community College. She holds an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis, an M.A. in Instructional Design, and an M.A. in Sociology. In 2024, Dr. Elkins received the Distinguished Faculty of the Year award at Walters Sta, and she currently serves as the chair-elect of the Tennessee Service Learning Consortium.
Dr. Elkins focuses on enhancing student engagement through service-learning and community partnerships. She has served as an ambassador for Service Learning for TBR and has participated in multiple study abroad programs. Passionate about connecting education with community needs, she collaborates with organizations to create impactful service-learning experiences that benefit students and the community.

Emory Evans
As the Community Engagement Coordinator at United Way of Greater Chattanooga, Emory bridges the gap between corporate and community partners and the needs of nonprofits across a six-county radius. She creates innovative and impactful experiences through volunteering, leadership programs, and networking opportunities. Emory also manages several grant-supported initiatives, including a locally funded project that promotes healthier communities by raising mental health awareness among youth. These partnerships enable Emory to fulfill her passion for making a difference and fostering healthier environments. Emory earned her master’s in public health from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga in 2023. Her academic achievements include publishing and presenting numerous reports on the social determinants of health, both domestically and internationally. As a Chattanooga native, Emory is dedicated to advancing her career and bringing new, significant opportunities to her community.

Vickye T. Ford, PhD, MA, APR
Dr. Vickye Ford serves as the Director of Community Engagement & Strategic Partnerships at Methodist South Hospital in Memphis, part of the Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare System. She leads mission-driven community engagement, stakeholder partnerships, and strategic employee volunteer programs. An avid volunteer and servant leader, Dr. Ford has held board roles with various nonprofit and professional organizations, dedicating her career to inspiring others to serve their communities. She holds a bachelor’s degree in English from Alabama A&M University, a master’s in journalism from The University of Memphis, and a PhD in Community Engagement from Point Park University, focusing on employee volunteer motivation.

Alexia Georghiou
Alexia is an expert in personal and professional development, coaching, and organizational culture, with over 30 years of experience in well-being initiatives. She teaches courses at The University of Tennessee Center for Professional Education and Lifelong Learning, and offers continuing education credits through Learn Formula. Alexia has also held leadership roles on various professional and advisory boards, including the Oak Ridge Human Resources Alliance, and she is a UT Promise Mentor. With certifications in leadership and management, she combines her expertise with a focus on fostering happiness and resilience. Her approach is shaped by her immigrant upbringing and extensive career as a mental health therapist.

Bailey Guy
Bailey Guy is a Speaker, Published Author, and Podcast Host. As the founder of GPS: Goals + Preparation = Success, Bailey empowers students with applicable goal setting and life skills to guide them in becoming the best versions of themselves. Inspiring ambition in all that she does, this President’s Volunteer Service Award recipient shares her story of resilience and hope in both her book, Goals in Action, and her podcast, Define Success, where her mission is to pull back the curtain of what it truly means to be successful.

Velvet Hernandez-Johnson
Velvet Hernandez-Johnson, a Guatemalan native, came to the United States as an international college student. A graduate in International Business and Marketing from Harding University in Arkansas; she also holds a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Hernandez-Johnson has had an exciting career as a transformational leader, bilingual cultural coach, and speaker. Recipient of multiple leadership awards, she is most proud of supporting Irie Love, her daughter’s initiative that provides care packages to Guatemalan children working in the streets instead of attending school.

Andrea Hill
Andrea is a dedicated servant leader with 20 years of experience in capacity building, programming, volunteer management, fundraising, and resource development. As Chief Development and Partnerships Officer for the Tennessee Nonprofit Network, she fosters impactful collaborations among nonprofits, funders, and corporations. Andrea holds a Bachelor of Science in Human Services Management from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and a Master of Public Administration from Kennesaw State University. She is a Certified Volunteer Administrator, Advanced Certified Nonprofit Professional, and Certified Fund Raising Executive. Andrea has received numerous accolades, including Memphis Business Journal's Top 40 Under 40 and Superwomen in Business.

Ryan Johnson
Ryan, a Southern California native and West Point graduate, earned a national title as Captain of the boxing team. After commissioning in 2012, he served as an infantry officer addressing NATO security challenges in Eastern Europe before becoming a Green Beret with the 5th Special Forces Group. Transitioning to the private sector, Ryan co-founded Bugle, a community outreach platform aiming to revolutionize volunteering and philanthropic giving. Bugle’s mission is to double U.S. volunteering by 2030 and globally by 2036, adding $1.2T in social services annually. Ryan remains committed to driving positive change in underserved communities worldwide.

Necole Jones
Necole Jones is the CEO of HR Forte, a consultancy supporting businesses and nonprofits with human capital needs. With over 20 years of global HR experience, she holds a BS in Public Administration from UT Chattanooga and multiple HR certifications. A 2023 Memphis Business Journal Super Woman in Business and 2020 HR Impact Award recipient, Necole has a strong commitment to service. She helped grow a religious nonprofit from 200 to 5,000 members and complete an $8.3M capital project. She has served on boards for the Tennessee Nonprofit Network and Family Promise of Memphis and earned numerous service awards.

Laura Knight, Jessica Jeffers & Dr. Betsy Chestnutt
Laura Knight is a Lecturer in Engineering Fundamentals at the University of Tennessee Knoxville. Prior to entering academia, she had 25 years of industry and executive management experience, as well as community outreach and volunteerism.
Jessica Jeffers is the Honors Program Coordinator for the Cook Grand Challenge Honors Program at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. In addition to overseeing the service-learning and community engagement facets of the engineering program, she is also pursuing her doctorate in educational psychology, with a focus on service-learning in STEM.
Dr. Betsy Chesnutt is a Teaching Associate Professor in Engineering Fundamentals at the University of Tennessee Knoxville. Her work promotes and supports K-12 engineering education, including improving pre-service STEM teacher education and making engineering more accessible to culturally and linguistically diverse students.

Dr. Barbara Whitman Lancaster
Dr. Barbara Whitman Lancaster is an Associate Professor at Middle Tennessee State University in the School of Nursing. She teaches in the undergraduate Bachelor of Science in Nursing program and the graduate Master of Science in Nursing/Nurse Practitioner program. A nationally certified nurse practitioner, Dr. Lancaster incorporates service-learning into her courses, including the Community/Public Health nursing course she developed. She is a recipient of the 2021 MTSU EXL Faculty Award and emphasizes leadership and community engagement in her teaching. Dr. Lancaster is a servant in her local and university communities and is currently Ms. Senior White County in White County, Tennessee.

Janet McCormick
Dr. Janet McCormick earned her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Speech Communication from Eastern Illinois University and her Ph.D. in Communication from Southern Illinois University. She taught at Spalding University and spent seven years teaching abroad in London, Buenos Aires, and Singapore before joining MTSU in 2002 as an Intercultural Communication Specialist. A recipient of numerous awards, including the “Outstanding Teacher Award” and “Distinguished Educator in Distance Learning Award,” she is a graduate of the Experiential Education Academy. Dr. McCormick has served as the Master of Arts in Liberal Arts Program Director at MTSU since 2019.

Natalie Patric
As the Director of Community Engagement for United Way of Greater Chattanooga, Natalie aims to support corporate and nonprofit volunteerism needs. With years of volunteer management experience, Natalie works to curate individualized volunteer opportunities for corporate companies, elevate nonprofit needs, and build creative strategies for access to engagement opportunities. Natalie is also passionate about providing innovative ways for young professionals and students to support their local communities. Natalie, born and raised in Canada, completed her Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from York University. Natalie, her husband Bryce, and their three daughters Lillian, Isabelle, and Juliana are thankful to call Chattanooga their home.

Meagan Potts
Meagan Potts is the Community Engagement Coordinator at Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, TN. For over three years, she has fostered student and community growth by building partnerships with local nonprofits to bridge the university and community through service. Meagan teaches University Success courses, leads alternative break trips that promote civic engagement, and oversees a volunteer-driven Living and Learning Community. Her work inspires students to develop leadership, service-oriented values, and collaboration skills. Meagan is dedicated to creating meaningful connections and cultivating a lifelong commitment to service and learning.

Judith Rautine
Judith Rautine is a seasoned manager with 27 years at Porter-Leath and over 40 years in volunteer programs. She oversees AmeriCorps and AmeriCorps Seniors, leveraging her expertise in quality improvement and data-driven decision-making to optimize program outcomes. Passionate about volunteerism, Judith is actively involved with senior-focused initiatives and local scouting organizations. Her dedication to service extends to her personal life, reflecting her deep commitment to community engagement. Married to her husband Phil for over 40 years, she is a proud mother of four and grandmother of six, embodying her values of family and service in all aspects of her life.

Dr. Jim Rost
Dr. Rost completed his Ph.D. in Sport Management in 2015 and completed the College and University Teaching Certificate in Higher Education Administration in 2020. He was appointed to the position of Assistant Professor in Educational Leadership in August 2020. Dr. Rost is the lead faculty member for the Ed.D. in Assessment, Learning, and Student Success Higher Education concentration at MTSU. His areas of research include doctoral student self-efficacy towards program completion, online andragogy and quantitative research methods. He has been an active member and presenter for MSERA since 2020.

Kayla Smith-Hardy
Kayla J. Smith-Hardy, M.Div., is a Sr. Program Manager, social impact consultant, and founder of Lilac Impact Services, LLC. Her consultancy offers tailored services in project management, community engagement, facilitation, capacity building, and event coordination, supporting nonprofits and philanthropic organizations in achieving their goals. A Harvard Master of Divinity graduate with a background in Human Rights and Justice from Birmingham-Southern College, Kayla J. employs a community-centric, womanist approach. Her expertise includes guiding inclusive decision-making, fostering growth through capacity building, and ensuring successful events with meticulous planning and execution. Kayla J. is dedicated to amplifying voices and driving meaningful impact.

Madison Staggs
Madison Staggs is a graduate student and teaching assistant at Middle Tennessee State University. She participated in the American Red Cross Youth Action Campaign (YAC) last year, which resulted in many opportunities including attening YAC Summit in Washington D.C. and interning at the American Red Cross National Headquarters as an international humanitarian law intern. She said the program was very beneficial and helped her build so many important skills that have been used elsewhere. She is excited to share this program with others and hopes more people want to join!

Teresa Brooks Taylor
Teresa teaches in the Human Services Program and the Graduate Individual, Family and Community Sciences Program. She formerly directed the Service-Learning and America Reads programs at ETSU. She has taught in various disciplines, including Human Services, Sociology, Women’s Studies, Cross Disciplinary, and Service-Learning. For many years, her teaching and work have focused on community-engaged learning. She has also worked in various capacities in Student Life and the nonprofit sector and is an avid volunteer.

Geng Wang
Geng is the CEO and co-founder of Civic Champs, a software company that helps nonprofits recruit, engage, and retain volunteers while increasing staff capacity. Prior to Civic Champs, Geng co-founded and sold two other technology companies. The first company, RentJungle.com, was an apartment search engine. The second, Community Elf was a social media management agency. In addition, Geng spent 4 years at McKinsey & Company, as an advisor to senior executive clients at Fortune 500 companies. Geng is a graduate of Michigan State University and Harvard Business School. Today, he lives in Carmel, Indiana, with his wife and their two boys.

Taylor Wilde
Taylor Wilder is the skilled volunteer programs manager at Hands-On Nashville. Her work centers around building relationships and capacity for local nonprofits to maximize their impact in the Greater Nashville area. She has 10+ years of experience in direct service and capacity-building roles, and she is grateful for the opportunity to serve her community daily.

Dee Wolters
Dee Wolters is a dedicated volunteer with over 40 years of experience in 4-H, food pantries, agriculture events, and nonprofits. She was named the Southeast Outstanding Lifetime 4-H Volunteer in 2022, Tennessee Volunteer of the Year in 2021, and Maury County Governor’s Star Volunteer in 2023. A California native and Point Loma Nazarene University graduate, Dee worked as a corporate auditor before homeschooling her four children. Passionate about service, she now volunteers extensively, including serving on The Family Center board, leading the Tennessee Sheep Producers Association, and supporting Tennessee 4-H at all levels. Dee inspires through her commitment to her community.

Madison Woods
Madison Woods (she/her) is a program coordinator for Vanderbilt University’s Student Organizations, Leadership, and Service. She primarily engages with Vanderbilt service initiatives by providing service leadership trainings and managing community partnerships between student volunteers and local organizations. Originally from Memphis, Tennessee, she graduated with her bachelor’s degree in psychology from The University of Tennessee in Knoxville in 2021 and her master’s degree in Higher Education and Student Affairs from Ohio State University in 2023. Her professional interests lie in the intersection of community engagement, leadership education, and justice.