Staff

Adam Eigenrauch

Adam has been with the Emily K Center since 2006 and has served as Executive Director since 2010. He earned his B.A. from Ithaca College and his M.Ed. from Penn State.

Favorite book: Jonathan Livingston Seagull
Favorite late-night college snack: Pizza

Lauren Gardner

Lauren began her career at the Emily K Center as an intern and moved into the role of Chief Operating Officer in 2006. She earned her B.S. from Georgetown University and her MBA from Duke University.

Favorite subject: Microeconomics
Favorite school supply: Folders. The more random, the better. (Space cats, anyone?)

Casey Barr Rios

Casey joined the Emily K Center family in 2020 as office and facilities manager. She earned her B.A. from North Carolina Central University.

Favorite late-night college snack: Cosmic Cantina
Favorite school supply: Pens! I love a good, smooth gel pen.

Emily Gilarranz

Emily joined the Emily K Center in 2019 as an office assistant and is often the first friendly voice you hear if you call the Center. She earned her undergraduate degree from Durham’s own North Carolina Central University.

Favorite late-night college snack: The Dankery or a bowl of cereal
Favorite subject: World History

Valerie Anderson, Ph.D.

Valerie joined the Emily K Center as Chief Program Officer in 2017. She earned her B.A. from Yale University and her M.A. and Ph.D. in Developmental Psychology from Duke University.

Favorite late-night college snack: Ramen, of course!
Best advice ever received about education: Get your education. Once you get it, no one can take it away from you. (Thanks, mom.)

Amber Burgin-Brothers

Amber joined the Emily K Center in 2021, serving as student support and resource manager. She earned her B.A. and M.A. in Psychology from North Carolina Central University and received her Master of Divinity from Duke Divinity School.

Favorite late night college snack: Hot Pockets!
Best advice ever received about education: Never borrow money for school that your degree path will not afford you to pay back.

Nephitearya Bailey Singleton

Nephitearya joined the Emily K Center team in 2019 as director of elementary and middle school readiness. She earned her B.A. from Meredith College and was a North Carolina Teaching Fellow.

Favorite book: The Little Prince
Best advice ever received about education: Don’t measure your success by another person’s yardstick.

Kaitlyn Gray

Kaitlyn has been working with the Pioneer Scholars program since she first came to the Center in 2017. In 2021, Kaitlyn assumed the role of elementary and middle school program coordinator. She earned her B.A. from Appalachian State University.

Favorite late-night college snack: Instant mac and cheese
Favorite college course: Child and adolescent psychology

Monserrat Banda

Monserrat joined the Emily K Center team in July 2021 as our elementary and middle school program assistant. A graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Monserrat is no stranger to the Center — she is a proud Emily K Center alumna and we’re so glad to have her working with our Pioneer Scholars team!

Favorite school supply: Sticky notes!
Best advice ever received about education: Make learning fun however you can! (I used colored gel pens for my notes.)

Camille Wilson

Camille first joined the Emily K Center in 2013 as a curriculum specialist. Since then, she has held a variety of roles at the Center and currently serves as Director of College Readiness. Camille earned her B.A. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and her M.A. in school counseling from North Carolina Central University.

Favorite Late-Night College Snack: Cool Ranch Doritos
Best Advice Received About Education: Education is one of the very few things that once you earn and own, no one can take away. No matter what else you do, earn your education.

Joshua Crump

Joshua joined the Emily K Center in 2021 as a college readiness counselor. In this role, Joshua works closely with students in our 2025 Scholars to College cohort. A proud North Carolina Central University Eagle, Joshua earned both his undergraduate and graduate degrees from the school.

Favorite book: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
Favorite college course: Diversity and Family Transition

MaKayla Leak

MaKayla joined the Center in 2019 and currently serves as a college readiness counselor for the Class of 2023. She earned her B.A. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Favorite late-night college snack: Spicy Sweet Chili Doritos
Favorite college course: Social Anthropology

Taylor Springs

Taylor came to the Emily K Center in 2019. After successfully seeing the Class of 2021 off to college, she is now working as the college readiness counselor for the Class of 2022. She earned her B.A. and MPA from North Carolina State University.

Favorite book: The Count of Monte Cristo
Favorite school supply: Pens!

Jessica Trujillo Cordero

Jessica joined the Emily K Center team in the summer of 2021. Serving as a college readiness counselor for the Class of 2024, Jessica works closely with this cohort of Scholars to College students as they work toward their educational goals. Jessica earned her B.A. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Favorite late-night college snack: Hot Cheetos
Favorite school supply: A fresh, new planner!

Donell Moore

Donell has held a variety of roles at the Emily K Center since he joined the team full-time in 2013. Currently, Donell serves as the Director of College Success for the Scholars on Campus program. He earned his B.S. from North Carolina Central University and is working toward his M.A. in counseling.

Favorite late-night college snack: Ritz crackers and easy squeeze cheese
Favorite college course: Elements of Speech

Kiara Aranda

Kiara joined the Emily K Center in 2016. After four years working with high school students, Kiara transitioned into the role of college persistence manager and now works directly with our students in college. She earned her B.A. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Favorite late-night college snack: Good Morning Camper bagel from Alpine Bagel
Favorite School Supply: Planner, calendar, pens… anything related to organization

Christina Villegas

Christina joined the Emily K Center in 2019 as a postsecondary access advisor with Game Plan: College, bringing more than five years of experience with direct college-access work in both urban and rural settings. Today, Christina oversees our Game Plan: College program as our director of postsecondary access. She earned her B.A. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Favorite late-night college snack: Hot Cheetos and coffee
Favorite subject: Math

Jackie Cerón Hernández

Jackie first came to the Emily K Center as a student in the Scholars to College program. After graduating from college, she came back to join us as a full-time staff member in 2017. Today Jackie serves as a postsecondary access advisor for Game Plan: College. She earned her B.A. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Jackie works with the following high schools: City of Medicine Academy; Hillside; Middle College; New Tech; and Southern.

Favorite college course: Capoeira
Best advice received about education: Your education is yours forever. No one can take it from you.

Sandy York

Sandy York has been with the Emily K Center since 2017 in the role of Chief Advancement Officer. She earned her B.S. from Duke University and received an M.A. in Sports Administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Favorite subject: Biology (science nerd here!)
Best advice ever received about education: College is a time to try new things.

Sara Askey

Sara has been with the Emily K Center since 2012 and currently serves as the director of communications and external affairs. She earned her B.S. from North Carolina State University and her MPA from the NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service.

Favorite college course: Power and Influence
Favorite school supply: Notebooks or Trapper Keepers (if you know, you know!)

Christin Danchi

Christin joined the Emily K Center team in 2021 and serves as the associate director of development. A talented violinist, Christin earned her Bachelor of Music from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and received a Master of Music in Violin Performance from Carnegie Mellon University.

Favorite book: Whatever book I’m reading! However, I am a serious Lord of the Rings fan.
Favorite college course: Honors Seminar: Music and Politics

Jordan Farthing

Jordan joined the Emily K Center staff in 2017 and currently serves as development associate. A proud Tar Heel, she earned her B.A. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Favorite book: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Favorite college course: History of Ancient Rome