Our Staff

Meet Our Director

 

Dr. Burton Williams became the Chief Executive Officer of The Ayers Foundation in 2023 and is a veteran leader in business, development, and education. Burton spent nearly 25  years in higher education administration, community engagement, academics, and research. Most recently, Burton was the Director of Trustcore Institutional at TrustCore located  in Brentwood, TN. He previously served as Associate Vice President for Advancement, as well as Assistant Dean of the College of Education and Associate Dean of the College of Business at Lipscomb University in Nashville. He earlier  held similar roles at Freed-Hardeman University in West Tennessee.

 

Williams has a Doctor of Education from Lipscomb University, a Master of Science in financial planning, and a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting from Freed-Hardeman University.

Email: burton.williams@theayersfoundation.org

Meet Our Director of Post-Secondary Success

 

Michael "Mike" Meadows is the Director of Post-Secondary Success and the Ayers TN Promise Coordinator. Mike has been working with the Ayers Foundation since 2011. He was hired with the Ayers as the College Access Challenge Grant Coordinator, then moved into the counselor position at Lexington High School until 2014.

Mike received his Bachelor of Science in Psychology in 2008 and his Masters of Arts in Community Counseling in 2011, both from the University of North Alabama.

Email: michael.meadows@theayersfoundation.org

Meet Our Senior Accountant

Stacy Dorn joined The Ayers Foundation staff in June 2022 as Sr. Accountant after working with The Ayers Foundation as an accounting services contractor for four years.  Stacy has over 30 years of accounting experience in the private and public sectors.

Email: stacy.dorn@theayersfoundation.org

Meet Our Director of Operations

Lorisa Williams joined The Ayers Foundation in 2021 as the Director of Operations to assist with the expansion and growth. Lorisa has over 30 years experience in healthcare operations that includes organization learning and leadership development, and executive level hospital operations.

Lorisa received her Bachelor's degree in Nursing from East Tennessee State University in 1986 and her Masters Degree in Professional Studies-Strategic Leadership from East Tennessee State University in 2015.  She is certified in Nursing Staff Development and Nursing Executive- Advanced through the ANCC. In 2019, Lorisa received the March of Dimes Georgia Nurse Leader of the Year award.

Email: lorisa.williams@theayersfoundation.org

Meet Our Human Resources Director

Emily Chadwick joined The Ayers Foundation in 2022 to oversee Human Resources efforts due to continued growth and expansion. Emily has spent over ten years in Human Resources related fields. Her background includes Organizational Leadership, Talent Management, Executive Recruitment and Business Development. Her main focus is to help achieve The Ayers Foundation initiatives to foster employee engagement and to oversee Human Resources functions to effectively support the Foundation's mission to increase college access and success for rural, low-income college students in Tennessee and Missouri.

 

Emily has lived in Tennessee most of her life and received a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration from Tennessee Technological University.

 

Email: Emily.Chadwick@theayersfoundation.org

 

Meet Our Director Of IT Operations

Jesse Turner is our Director Of IT Operations.  Jesse previously served as a College Access Counselor for Lexington High School from 2015-2021 and assisted with the Foundation's information technology migration, social media, and mobile application.  Jesse graduated from Bethel University with a Bachelor of Science in Organizational Leadership in 2013 and worked with the university as an Admissions Counselor before joining the Ayers Foundation in 2015. Jesse also previously served as the GEARUP Grant Coordinator for Henderson County.

Email: jesse.turner@theayersfoundation.org

Book an Appointment:https://go.oncehub.com/JesseTurner

 

 

Meet Our IT Coordinator

Matt Gordon joined The Ayers Foundation in September of 2018 after leaving his previous role as IT Instructor for TCAT Lebanon. Matt serves as the IT Coordinator for the foundation. A 2005 Hickman County High graduate, Matt graduated from TCAT Dickson obtaining a technical certificate in A+, Networking, and Security. Matt furthered his education at Nashville State with an Associates Degree in Computer Information Technology.

Email: matt.gordon@theayersfoundation.org

Meet Our Executive Assistant

Jacob Tucker joined The Ayers Foundation in December of 2019 after leaving his previous role as a college football coach. Jacob serves as the Executive Assistant at the foundation's Headquarters. A 2012 Perry County High graduate and Ayers Scholar, Jacob graduated from the University of North Alabama with a Bachelor of Science degree in Professional Biology with a minor in Exercise Science. Jacob furthered his education at Lipscomb University in Leadership and Public Service.

Email: jacob.tucker@theayersfoundation.org

Meet Our Data Manager

Taylor Dill joined the Ayers Foundation in April of 2021 as Data Manager at the Foundation’s Headquarters. Taylor spent the previous five years in Operations Management with Modine Manufacturing. A 2012 Perry County High graduate and Ayers Scholar, Taylor graduated from the University of Tennessee at Martin with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management. Taylor furthered his education at Lipscomb University and received a Master's Degree in Leadership and Public Service.

Email: taylor.dill@theayersfoundation.org

Meet Our rootED and Middle Tennessee Coordinator

Charles "Bubba" Long was born and raised in Waynesboro, Tennessee.  He graduated from Wayne County High School in 2006.  In 2012, he graduated from Martin Methodist College with a major in Business and a minor in Education.  He finished his Masters of Business Administration at Western Governors University in September 2018.  Prior to working with the Ayers Foundation, Charles taught and coached for three years until he received an opportunity to work for Tennessee College of Applied Technology at Hohenwald.  At TCAT-Hohenwald,  he served as the Financial Aid Assistant.

Email: charles.long@theayersfoundation.org

 

Meet Our East TN Regional Coordinator

Jodi Lane Gilbert is the East TN Regional Coordinator for The Ayers Foundation. Jodi served previously as the College Access Counselor at Unicoi County High School in Erwin, TN. She graduated from East Tennessee State University in 2010 with a Bachelor of Science in Human Services and Early Childhood Education and obtained her Masters of Arts in Counseling. She is a licensed School Counselor and worked as a Middle School Counselor in Charlotte, NC, before joining the Ayers Foundation in 2016.

Email: jodi.gilbert@theayersfoundation.org

Book an Appointment: https://go.oncehub.com/SchedulewithJodi

 

Meet Our West TN Lead Counselor

Recey Williamson is one of our West TN Lead Counselors. Recey has been working with the Ayers Foundation since 2014. Prior to working for the Ayers Foundation, she worked at the University of Memphis for nine years in various roles such as: Admissions Counselor, Academic Advisor, and Financial Aid Counselor.

She received her undergraduate degree from the University of Mississippi in English and her graduate degree from the University of Memphis in Leadership and Policy Studies.

Email: recey.williamson@theayersfoundation.org

Book an Appointment: https://go.oncehub.com/ReceyWilliamson

 

Meet Our West TN Lead Counselor

Brianna Morton is one of our Lead Counselors for West TN. Brianna worked in the counseling field as a mental health counselor for 4 years and a clinical supervisor for 1 year. Brianna joined the Ayers Foundation in November 2011.

She graduated from the University of North Alabama with a major in Psychology and double minor in Criminal Justice and Spanish. She also obtained a Masters degree from the University of North Alabama in Community Counseling where she also worked as the Graduate Assistant for the Counselor Education Department.

Email: brianna.morton@theayersfoundation.org

Book an Appointment:

https://go.oncehub.com/AyersFoundationRHSSchedule

 

Meet Our Grant Administrator

Blake Dill joined the Ayers Foundation in January of 2022. Joining the Ayers Foundation as Grant Administrator at the Foundation’s Headquarters, Blake spent the prior six years in healthcare operations management as the Chief Financial Officer at the Perry County Medical Center. A 2006 Perry County High School graduate, Blake went on to pursue and graduate with his Associate of Science Degree in Accounting at Jackson State Community College in 2009, from then he went on to graduate from the University of Tennessee at Martin with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management in 2011.

 

Contact Us

Phone: (731)- 847-0632