Our Staff

Meet Our Director

 

Susan Rhodes became Director of The Ayers Foundation Scholars Program in 2012.  She served as the College Access Counselor at Perry County High School from 2009-2015.   As Director of The Ayers Foundation Scholars Program, Susan oversees operations serving 18 high schools across Tennessee and Missouri, serving over 10,000 high school and post secondary students.  As director, Susan also oversees the awarding of The Ayers Foundation Scholarship.  Susan’s main focus is to increase college access and success for rural, low-income, first generation college students across Tennessee and Missouri.  Susan graduated from the University of North Alabama in 2006 with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology, and earned her Masters of Science with a concentration in Guidance and Counseling from the University of West Alabama in 2009.

Email: susan.rhodes@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 first 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 Director of Accounting

Lisa DiPasquale joined The Ayers Foundation in 2021 as the Director of Accounting after working with the Foundation as a consultant for three years.   Lisa is a certified public accountant and has over 30 years of experience in public accounting and the private sector.  She is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Tennessee Society of Certified Public Accountants.  As Director of Accounting she oversees all accounting operations, financial reporting, budgeting and applicable compliance.  Lisa obtained her Bachelors of Business Administration from Middle Tennessee State University and attended Lipscomb University to further her accounting education.

Email: lisa.dipasquale@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 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 Bachelors 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 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. Joining the Ayers Foundation as Data Manager at the Foundation’s Headquarters, Taylor spent the prior 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.

Email: taylor.dill@theayersfoundation.org

Meet Our rootED and Middle Tennessee Coordinator

Dr. Mary Lauren Garner serves the Foundation as the rootEd and Middle Tennessee Coordinators. Dr. Garner is also a licensed school counselor and educator in the State of Tennessee.

She began working with The Ayers Foundation in 2011 as a college mentor, then worked as a site coordinator for GEARUPTN, and then for Northern Virginia Community College as an advisor. She then rejoined the Ayers team as the college access counselor at Perry County High School in 2015.

Dr. Garner graduated from the University of Tennessee at Martin with a Bachelors of Science in Health and Human Performance, University of North Alabama with a Masters of Arts in Education in School Counseling, Arkansas State University with her EdS, and most recently earned her Doctorate of Education from Liberty University with a focus in Educational Leadership.

Email:mary.garner@theayersfoundation.org

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

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 went on to obtain her Masters of Arts in Counseling. She is a licensed School Counselor and worked in Charlotte, NC as a Middle School Counselor 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