Kevin was raised in Ashland, Kentucky. He is a graduate of Paul G. Blazer High School. He has earned degrees from Nazarene Bible College (BA) and Mount Vernon Nazarene University (MMin). Kevin is currently continuing his education at the University of the Cumberlands (MAT). Kevin also earned a Certificate in Appalachian Studies from Ashland Community and Technical College. Professionally, Kevin is an ordained minister in the Church of the Nazarene and serves as lead pastor of Ashland (KY) First Church of the Nazarene. He is proud to be a part of the faculty as an English teacher at Greenup Co High School (KY).

He is a ‘23 Leadership Lab member.

Kristin Walker Collins is the Chief Executive Officer of the Foundation for Appalachian Kentucky (Foundation) in Hazard, Kentucky, the only nationally accredited community foundation in southeastern Kentucky. Before starting her career in philanthropy, Kristin worked as an attorney specializing in Family Law and Municipal Law with the law firm of Hollon & Collins. Kristin obtained her Juris Doctorate from Salmon P. Chase College of Law at Northern Kentucky University, and a B.S. in Integrated Strategic Communications with a Minor in Business from the University of Kentucky.

Kristin is active in many community activities including serving as a member of InVision Hazard, Vice-President of the Hazard-Perry County Chamber of Commerce, and serves as President of Redbud Financial Alternatives, Inc, and of the Appalachian Early Childhood Network. She is the founder and President of the Hazard Rotary Club Foundation, Inc., which operates the Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library in Perry County, Kentucky, a program providing a free book a month to children under the age of five. In addition, she is Past-President of the Hazard Rotary Club, and former President-Trustee of the Perry County Public Library, and a Philanthropy Southeast’s Hull Fellow (Class of 2020).

In her (little) free time, she enjoys traveling the world, visiting with family and friends, and reading. Kristin resides in Hazard, Kentucky with her husband, Jonathan, a local attorney, and their daughters, Palmer and Piper.

She is a ‘23 Leadership Lab member.

Dr. Rob Collins, Ed.D. is an educator, writer, and dad from Eastern Kentucky. Rob began his teaching career as a high school English teacher in Greenup County, Kentucky, and from there, began exploring leadership and action across the Commonwealth and beyond. He has since been named to a number of leadership opportunities such as the Obama Leaders United States program, the board of directors of ACLU-KY, BRIGHT Leadership Kentucky, the Prichard Committee for Academic Excellence Teacher Fellowship, and a GoTeachKY Ambassadorship. Rob is committed to a prosperous Kentucky and Appalachia and works to advance educational excellence, civic participation and pluralistic democracy, 

Rob works as an Innovative Programs Consultant for the Kentucky Department of Education, where he supports innovation, educational transformation, and the development of community accountability systems by facilitating the Local Laboratories of Learning (L3) project, the Kentucky Innovative Teacher Fellowship, and leading statewide development and implementation of the Kentucky Portrait of a Learner. He also recently founded a professional learning firm, CIP Learning.

Rob lives in Greenup, KY, with his wife, Kati, and their daughter Ellie, and too many pets to name. He is thrilled to continue his journey in TFA's Central Appalachia Leadership Lab to learn, grow, and work to realize TFA's 2030 goal, so that learners like his daughter can realize their full potential while living amongst the rich history, culture, and natural wealth of Central Appalachia. 

He is a ‘23 Leadership Lab member.

Cori is a transplant to Appalachia. Originally, she is from the suburbs of Chicago and after college she served as an Americorps VISTA and then taught science in Indianapolis for 4 years. Moving halfway across the country to a new climate and culture has brought with it some very challenging moments, while also providing her opportunities that she would have never had access to in other places. She has been able to build partnerships with the United Way of SWVA, local colleges and universities, and other community organizations to create a network of partners to meet her students’ and community’s needs. Here she has rekindled familial ties that have existed here for generations, been a student of the Appalachian culture and learned a small part of the history that exists here, and explored the vast mountainous landscape, which is much different then the flatlands of the Midwest. In her free time you can find her hiking the mountain trails admiring the local flora and fauna or enjoying the views from her grandparents’ front porch.

She is a ‘23 Leadership Lab member.

Halie is most excited - during her tenth year in a classroom - about unlocking the potential of students traditionally stigmatized as "bad" or "behavior issues." She is interested in SEL curriculum, Behavior Intervention Strategies, and helping propel the dsitrict into a future where all students have supports they deserve - regardless of their communicative behavior. In her free time, Halie is found chasing her 3-year-old Elouise, golfing with her husband, or hiding away with a good book or craft.

She is a ‘23 Leadership Lab member.

Sam Keathley is a data professional with a decade of experience in education and workforce statistics. He currently serves as the Senior Workforce Analyst for the Kentucky Center for Statistics (KYSTATS), and serves on a U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Policy Council in that capacity. He also provides grant support services and data consulting services to non-profits and businesses throughout Central Appalachia. He currently divided his time between Powell and Pike counties in Eastern Kentucky, and he enjoys traveling, reading, hiking, and caring for his four rescue dogs.

He is a ‘23 Leadership Lab member.

Morgan Kirk is a dedicated professional with a strong background in sociology and social work. Born and raised in Harlan, Kentucky, Morgan's upbringing instilled in her a deep sense of community and a passion for creating positive change. She currently resides in Hazard, Kentucky, along with her husband, who focuses on housing and home repair, and their nine year old son, who keeps their family and the community in stitches. Morgan's commitment to her community is evident in her involvement in various local and national initiatives, reflecting her drive to enhance the lives of those around her. With her educational background, professional expertise, and genuine dedication to making a difference, Morgan is excited to participate with the 2023 cohort, working better together to create equity for the communities we live in and serve.

She is a ‘23 Leadership Lab member.

Samantha Nygaard is the Appalachian Senior Program Manager at the National Parks Conservation Association, where she advocates for protecting and preserving public lands across the heart of Appalachia and the Mid-Atlantic, including New River Gorge National Park and Preserve. She also serves as the Refuse Education and Clean-up Effort (RECE) Coordinator with the West Side Neighborhood Association, leading grassroots initiatives that build pride and connection across Charleston’s West Side. Since relocating to West Virginia from Jacksonville, Florida, Sam has channeled her passion for community, conservation, and storytelling through roles with the West Virginia Tourism Office and Generation West Virginia. She remains deeply involved in civic life, serving on the City of Charleston’s Green Team, volunteering with the Junior League of Charleston, and leading local bike tours with West Virginia Pedal Pals, the community cycling club she founded. Sam holds degrees in Psychology and Media/Communication Studies from Florida State University and lives in Charleston, WV with her dog, Georgia.

She is a ‘23 Leadership Lab member.

John has been married 12 years to his beautiful wife, Chelsey; they have rambunctious 8-year-old twin girls Caiden and Carson. He is rekindling a passion for Scouting from his youth and has become a professional scouter as the Development Director for Blue Ridge Mountains Council - Scouting America. He is a former elementary principal, athletic trainer, and Athletic Director. He is currently working through the doctoral program at Radford University with plans to graduate in December 2025. He has been a raft guide on the New River for 23 years; Fayetteville, WV gets a visit from him at least once a year.

John grew up in Roanoke, VA, before going to school at Virginia Tech, East Tennessee State University, and Radford University. He loves taking the back roads through the mountains, smelling the air, and feeling the breeze. John’s parents are from Southwest Virginia (Tazewell) and Southeast West Virginia (Crumpler/Northfork). He visited their childhood homes often during his own childhood.

His love for trains has been one of his biggest draws to Central Appalachia. If there are tracks running through it, he wants to see where they go (and hopefully catch a train!).

He is a ‘23 Leadership Lab member.

Darryl (Dee) Parker is a highly accomplished individual hailing from Lexington, Kentucky, but has planted his roots in Hazard. He possesses a notable academic record, having obtained an associate degree in science and arts from Hazard Community and Technical College, as well as a bachelor's degree from Morehead State University. He is currently preparing for his master's program. Currently, Darryl is a Project Manager at Fahe. Before this role, Darryl held several positions at Hazard Community & Technical College. Darryl is deeply passionate about promoting community. His unwavering dedication to empowering young leaders of color is the driving force behind his commitment.

He is a ‘23 Leadership Lab member.

Bailey Richards joined the Mountain Association in July 2025 as the Director of Business Support Services. Bailey is originally from Cincinnati, Ohio but has called Hazard, Kentucky home since 2011. She has spent most of her career working with nonprofits, governments, and in housing and community and economic development. Most recently, Bailey was the Downtown Coordinator for the City of Hazard, overseeing a period of massive local business expansion, revitalization, and both public and private investment. She has a love of working with small business owners and believes that strong local business ownership is the key to rebuilding economies. Bailey also has a fine art degree from the University of Louisville and loves renovating and developing downtown properties. She is happily married into the WSGS Radio Family and has a young daughter that is being raised partly in the radio station.

She is a ‘23 Leadership Lab member.

Tina Wei Smith is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of Rural Up, Inc., a nonprofit dedicated to empowering Eastern Kentucky’s youth by expanding STEM opportunities and career-connected learning to strengthen the education-to-workforce pipeline. She has led policy and advocacy efforts with the Prichard Committee for Academic Excellence and now with Partners for Rural Impact, advancing state and federal strategies to improve educational outcomes in rural communities. Tina also previously served in two presidential administrations in appointments at the U.S. Department of Labor and the U.S. Department of Commerce. More recently, she was appointed to the Congressional Commission Studying the Creation of a National Asian Pacific American Museum of History and Culture. Tina lives in London, Kentucky with her husband and their four elementary school aged children.

She is a ‘23 Leadership Lab member.

Kelsey Tackett is a former middle school science and reading teacher of over 12 years for Floyd County Schools. She has worked diligently to support and progress STEM initiatives throughout the region. This has included creating a Girls Who Drone organization, designing and implementing STEM lessons for middle school students, and providing professional learning opportunities for teachers to engage in STEM implementation. Recently, Kelsey has become the Director of Appalachian Engagement for The Lighthouse Beacon Foundation. This role emphasizes providing support to schools and students in the region to engage with exposing and supporting engineering opportunities.

She is a ‘23 Leadership Lab member.

Max Yurkofsky is an assistant professor in the Doctor of Education Program at Radford University. He obtained his Ed.D. in Educational Policy, Leadership, and Instructional Practice from the Harvard Graduate School of Education in 2020. He teaches courses focused on continuous improvement, leadership, collaborative inquiry, and equitable approaches to spreading change. His research centers on using organizational theory to explore how school systems can organize for continuous improvement toward more robust visions of learning. Max is committed to preparing school and system leaders to use collaborative continuous, improvement practices to inquire into and address high-leverage problems of practice in their settings. He partners with current and former students on research, professional learning, and writing projects focused on improving educational systems in Virginia.

He is a ‘23 Leadership Lab member.