Rising Together
We bring together people, ideas, and resources to strengthen communities and encourage philanthropy. When you partner with us, you are working with a team of professionals who have deep community connections and decades of experience in philanthropy. More than that, you’re partnering with people whose hearts and homes reside in Appalachia.
Staff
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 is active in many community activities including serving as Vice-President of the Hazard-Perry County Chamber of Commerce, and serving as Board Chair 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 to serving on the Appalachia Funders Network Steering Committee, she is a member of the Appalachian Cradle to Career Coalition, Chair of the Endow Kentucky Commission, and a Trustee for Philanthropy Southeast.
In her (little) free time, she enjoys traveling the world, quilting, 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.
Kathy King Allen is a Community Engagement Officer for the Foundation for Appalachian Kentucky. Kathy has spent her entire career focused on making positive contributions to the community and working to create opportunities for many in our region. She believes the best days lie ahead for Appalachia Kentucky and promotes positive attributes of our region throughout her travels and through networking. In her role at the Foundation for Appalachian Kentucky, Kathy has been instrumental in the development of geographic affiliate community foundations created to support local causes that improve the health and well-being of residents and the communities. Kathy serves on various boards and committees including the Southeast Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, Appalachian Early Childhood Network, East Kentucky Chapter of the American Red Cross, Baptist Learning Center Committee, and the Floyd County Chamber of Commerce. Kathy and her husband Robert live in Prestonsburg and have two grown sons, Rob and Wil.
Gerry Roll is the founding executive director of the Foundation, committed to helping create places where all people can thrive. Focused on building communities of people with the capacity to create solutions and the ability to leverage the resources needed, Gerry’s work in eastern Kentucky has been focused on engaging local people to create equity in housing, early childhood education, and health. She has led the creation of a regional Community Housing Development Organization, a federally qualified health center; a quality rated early care and education system and a full continuum of other support services for working families. Gerry is a founding member of Appalachia Funders Network and an alumni of the Federal Reserve Board of Governors Community Advisory Council. She is recognized locally, regionally, statewide and nationally as an advocate for rural development and community philanthropy. Gerry lives on the north fork of the Kentucky River in Busy, Kentucky.
On January 1st, 2024, Gerry stepped down as CEO and now serves as the Founder-in-Residence until her official retirement on March 31st, 2025.
Erica Knight is the Chief Operating Officer of the Foundation for Appalachian Kentucky. She is a lifelong native of the Appalachian region with a passion for rural communities and a heart for service. Her background includes an array of industries including banking, grant accounting, talent acquisition, finance, and community engagement. She graduated from Eastern Kentucky University with a bachelor’s in criminal justice and earned a master’s degree in communications from Morehead State University. Erica currently serves as a board member of the Hazard/Perry County Chamber of Commerce and is a member of the Hazard Rotary Club.
In her spare time, Erica loves taking naps, reading, and spending time with her friends, family, and fiancé Ryan. Her passions include animals, music, Disney, and helping others. She currently lives in Hazard, KY with her dog Lucy and her two cats Ollie and Tigger.
Kaylie Miller is the Scholarship Director at the Foundation for Appalachian Kentucky. After years of working in the manufacturing industry, Kaylie found her passion at the Foundation where she works with students pursuing their educational goals and the donors who want to help them achieve these goals through scholarships.
In her free time, Kaylie enjoys traveling and trying new restaurants, exercise, and spending quality time with friends, her fiancé, Alec, and their cats and dog.
Jenna Rose serves as the Communications Officer at the Foundation for Appalachian Kentucky. She was raised in Whitley County and has a passion for Eastern Kentucky and its people.
Prior to her current role, Jenna served as the Project Manager Fellow for Invest 606. She graduated from University of the Cumberlands with a Bachelor of Science in Communications and a Bachelor of Science in Christian Studies.
In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her nieces and nephew, traveling, reading, and party planning. Jenna is excited to use her skills to help make a positive impact on the region she calls home.
Zack lives in Hazard, KY with his wife, Hannah, their daughter Ruby, and their cats, Ari and Maple. Zack graduated from the University of Pikeville, with a Bachelor of Science in History and Political Science. Before starting at the Foundation in May of 2022, Zack was a public-school teacher for the Hazard Independent School district. Zack cares deeply about the Appalachian Region and it is part of his mission to help improve our region. In his free time, Zack enjoys watching the Kentucky Wildcats, cooking, spending time with friends and family, and being outdoors.
Amelia Kirby is the director of the Foundation for Appalachian Kentucky’s Sycamore Project. She has a twenty five-year career in Appalachian social justice. At community media center Appalshop, she co-founded and co-directed the nationally recognized Thousand Kites and Calls from Home media projects addressing the prison industrial complex, and the documentary film Up the Ridge. In addition to her work as a media producer, Amelia served as the development director at the Appalachian Citizens’ Law Center, a non-profit law firm providing free legal work for people impacted by the extraction industries of the Appalachian coalfields and was the co-owner of Summit City Lounge, a bar and live music venue in the coalfields community of Whitesburg, KY.
Amelia has served on a variety of regional and national boards, including the Highlander Research and Education Center and the Appalachian Community Fund. Amelia’s work has been covered by National Public Radio, the New York Times, The Guardian and The American Prospect, among others. She has a master’s degree in social work with a clinical concentration on gender-based violence intervention from Virginia Commonwealth University. In her free time Amelia likes to cook, work jigsaw puzzles, and take long walks with her unruly dog.
Sarah Deal joined the Foundation for Appalachian Kentucky in 2023 as a Community Engagement Officer. Sarah is a graduate of Berea College. Her education and career has focused on serving others and creating a better community. In her free time, she enjoys reading, crafting, exploring new places & spending time with friends.
“Owning your story is the bravest thing you’ll ever do.” – Brene Brown
Mandi Fugate Sheffel was born and raised in Red Fox, KY. She is a graduate of Eastern Kentucky University and is currently the Sycamore Fund Project Coordinator at The Foundation for Appalachian Kentucky. She is the board vice chair of the Appalachian Arts Alliance and a Mountain Association board member. Additionally, she owns and operates Read Spotted Newt, an independent bookstore in the coalfields of eastern Kentucky. In her free time, she enjoys reading, live music, traveling, and spending time with family.
Mandi sees her work at The Foundation for Appalachian Kentucky as an opportunity to further her commitment to the region. Through her work with the Sycamore Fund, she plans to engage with other community partners in the work surrounding the decriminalization of substance use and mental illness.
Melissa Conn is a Certified Public Accountant, a Certified Fraud Examiner, and a Certified Kentucky Paralegal. She has spent much of her career working in the nonprofit world, focusing on technical assistance for small businesses. Melissa also has experience working in community development venture capital, serving as an associate in one of the first Rural Business Investment Companies.
In her spare time, Melissa enjoys reading, hiking, and spending time with family and friends and hopes someday to learn to play the ukulele and various other stringed instruments she has collected over the years. Melissa believes Appalachian Kentucky is one of the most beautiful places on earth, with boundless potential and opportunity, and couldn’t imagine living anywhere else.
Lacie DeGough is the Communications Coordinator for the Foundation for Appalachian Kentucky. She graduated from University of the Cumberlands with a Bachelor of Science in Communication Arts and a Bachelor of Science in English.
While in college, Lacie served as a Communication Specialist Intern for the Foundation. She is excited to take the next step in her career and continue to serve Eastern Kentucky in her position as Communications Coordinator!
Lacie currently lives in London, Kentucky. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family, reading, and crocheting.
Sophie Roberts
Communications Specialist Intern
Sophie Roberts
Communications Specialist Intern
Sophie Roberts is a Communications Specialist Intern at Foundation for Appalachian Kentucky. Raised in Lexington, Kentucky, Sophie Roberts came to Whitley County for college at University of the Cumberlands. While spending time in Appalachia, she has developed a passion for Eastern Kentucky and its people.
At University of the Cumberlands, Sophie is a senior, double majoring in Business Administration and Marketing with a minor in Strategic Communications. After graduation, she will marry her high school sweetheart and return to her hometown. In the future, Sophie would like to work in the social media field, helping small businesses with their marketing needs.
In her free time, Sophie enjoys spending time with friends and family, baking, traveling, arts and crafts, and listening to music. She is excited to continue to grow her marketing skills in this internship with Foundation for Appalachian Kentucky.
Chloe Evans
Communications Specialist Intern
Chloe Evans
Communications Specialist Intern
Chloe Evans is a Communications Specialist Intern at Foundation for Appalachian Kentucky. She is a resident of Bell County, where she grew up. As Appalachia is her home, through the Foundation, Chloe has grown to love the area and its people even more!
Chloe is a University of the Cumberlands senior studying Business Administration and Marketing with a minor in Strategic Communications. She is set to graduate in May 2025.
In her free time, she enjoys baking, reading, art, antiquing, and exploring her local area while spending time with her friends and family. Chloe is excited to learn more about helping out in her community and the region while continuing to learn skills that will help in her future workplace!
Board of Directors
Kathy Atkins
Board Chair – City of Pikeville
Keith Gabbard
Vice Chair – Peoples Rural Telephone Cooperative
Corey Chesnut
Treasurer – Hometown Bank
Janet Smith
Secretary – Kentucky Farm Bureau
Randy Craft
Advent Health
Ketaki Bhattacharyya
Mountain Association
Casey Michalovic
AppalReD
Dr. Danielle Bocook
UK Northfork Clinic
Simon Christon
Isom IGA
Melissa Bond
University of Kentucky—CEDIK
Danny Maggard
Emeritus, Founding Board Chair (Retired)
