Community Support

The Roan is empowered by the support of community leaders from across the region, particularly those who serve on our Steering Committee and Regional Interview Committee. These committee members provide strategic direction, play a vital role in the selection process, and engage with Roan Scholars and Alumni.

Steering Committee Transitions:

Steering Committee members Heather Cook ’04, Anne Darden, and Clarinda Roe rotated off the Committee this past summer after years of service to the Roan. All three brought valuable experience, insights, ideas, and energy to the Program, making the Roan even stronger as a result of their involvement. We are exceedingly grateful to these three individuals for their investment in these future leaders and their commitment to the success of the Roan Program.

Joining the Steering Committee as of July 1, 2021 are Keely Goodwin ’07, Jennifer Keller, and Kelly Price. We look forward to working with them – and to all they will bring to the Roan in the coming years.

Also on July 1, 2021, Mark Kinser assumed the role of Committee Chair from Melissa-Steagall Jones, who expertly led the Steering Committee for the past two years and navigated the many challenges created by the pandemic. Many thanks to both Melissa and Mark - and to all the other Committee members for their exceptional leadership and service.

Roan Steering Committee, 2020-2021

Dr. Heather Cook ’04 Anne Darden Stephen Dixon Louie Gump, Founder Kathy Hall Mark Kinser Dr. Brian Noland Clarinda Roe Dr. Joe Sherlin Melissa Steagall-Jones John D. “Spike” Tickle, II Caroline Ross Williams ’07

Regional Interview Committee, 2020-2021

P.B. Bachman Dr. Philip Benfield ’06 John Birchette Jim Bolton Tara Burns Claudia Byrd Dr. Daryl Carter Gene Cossey Heidi Dulebohn Mark Eades April Eads Gwen Ellis Dr. Susan Epps Dr. Aya Fukuda ’06 Scott Galpin Emily Goepel Dr. Allen Gorman Heath Guinn Leighton Hart Doris Hensley Dr. McKenzie Highsmith Brittany Hollingsworth ’05 Dr. Amy Johnson Jennifer Keller Tammy Latture Laura Levine Allison Lowe ’08 Schell McCall Abraham McIntyre Landon Owen Matt Pencarinha ’14 Kevin Peters Kelly Price Lynn Richardson Scott Robertson Josh Smith Tracy Solomon Dr. Subhashini Vashisth Lea Anne Wiles Jeff Williams Cynthia Woodmansee Anna Zook

“THANK YOU all for your continued support in my path as a Roan Scholar and your investment in pushing me and my fellow scholars to new heights.” — Clara Reynolds ’22 Letter to the Steering Committee