Staff

Valerie Anderson, Ph.D.

Valerie joined the Emily K Center as Chief Program Officer in 2017 and was promoted to Chief Impact Officer in 2022. Valerie transitioned to an Executive Director role in 2024 and Chief Executive Officer in 2025. 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.)

Nephitearya Bailey Singleton

Nephitearya joined the Emily K Center team in 2019 as Director of Elementary and Middle School Readiness. She was promoted to Senior Director of Program Operations in 2024 and to Chief Program Officer in 2025. 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.

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?)

Eric Vreeland

Eric joined the Emily K Center team as Chief Advancement Officer in 2025. He earned his B.A. In Political Science from University of Miami (FL) and Masters of Public Affairs from University of Missouri. 

Favorite college course: U.S. Health Care Crisis: Politics and Policies
Best advice ever received about education: Figure out the way you learn best and use it. It may be different from everyone else. 

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?)

ani Ibarra

ani joined the Emily K Center team in 2022 as the inaugural Accounting Associate. They earned their B.A. from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington.

Favorite school supply: A blue inky pen – 0.5mm!
Favorite college course: Natural Resource Policy

Dave McKnight

Dave joined the Emily K Center in 2024 as the Director of Facilities and Operations. He earned his B.A. from Davidson College.

Favorite book: The Magic Mountain by Thomas Mann
Favorite school supply: A graph paper notebook and a new pencil

Nephitearya Bailey Singleton

Nephitearya joined the Emily K Center team in 2019 as Director of Elementary and Middle School Readiness. She was promoted to Senior Director of Program Operations in 2024 and to Chief Program Officer in 2025. 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.

Pamela Gonzalez

Pam joined the Emily K Center full time in September 2022, started her role as Strategic Initiatives and Community Engagement Manager in 2026, and is a proud alumni and graduate of the Scholars to College Class of 2016 cohort. Pam earned her B.A. in Psychology from Meredith College.

Favorite book: A Chair for My Mother by Vera Williams
Favorite college course: Sociology of the Border

Stella Jackman-Ryan, Ph.D.

Stella joined the Emily K Center as the Student Support and Resource Manager in December 2025. She earned her B.Sc. And M. Sc. from the University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago and Ph.D. in Educational Psychology from North Carolina State University. 

Best advice ever received about education: The best students are not the smartest, they’re the most curious. That’s where true learning begins.
Favorite school supply: The daily planner. I’ve been stuck to a planner since high school!

Daniel Yu

Daniel joined the Emily K Center in 2023 as the Data and Evaluation Strategy Manager. He earned his undergraduate degree in Business Economics at the University of Texas and his MBA at the Fuqua School of Business at Duke University. 

Favorite book: When by Daniel Pink
Best advice ever received about education: It’s not about being the best at everything. Figure out how you learn best and go at your own pace!

Patrice High

Patrice joined the Emily K Center full-time in 2024 after working part-time as a Pioneer Scholars Lead Tutor from 2015-2017. She earned her undergraduate degree in African and Afro-American Studies from UNC and her MS in Higher Education with a concentration in Student Affairs from Kaplan University. 

Favorite school supply: Papermate Flair Pens
Favorite College Courses: Blacks in Film, Black Press & U.S. History

Aimee Ruiz

Aimee started her role as Elementary and Middle School Program Coordinator for the Pioneer Scholars program in 2026. She earned her Bachelor of Arts from Davidson College and Master’s degree from Wake Forest University School of Business.

Favorite college course: Latin American Women Writers
Best advice ever received about education: “Education is one thing no can ever take away from you.” – Elin Nordegren

Zenovia Hogue

Zenovia joined the Emily K Center team in 2024 as a Postsecondary Transition Advisor with Game Plan: Future, and became the Director of College Readiness for Scholars to College in July, 2025. She earned her Bachelors of Arts in Psychology from Guilford College and a Masters in Mental Health and School Counseling from NC Central University. 

Favorite late night college snack: Reese’s Cups 
Best advice ever received about education: “Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing it is stupid.”

Jaida Torain

Jaida joined the Emily K Center in 2024 as a College Readiness Counselor. She earned her undergraduate degree in Psychology from UNC Charlotte and will begin her graduate studies in Higher Education Administration at NC Central University in the fall of 2024.

Favorite college course: Positive Psychology
Favorite late night college snack: Motts Gummies

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

Sergio Madera-Garcia

Sergio joined the Emily K Center full-time in 2024 and was previously a part-time Curriculum Specialist with Scholars to College. Sergio is a recent graduate of North Carolina State University where he earned his M.Ed in Higher Education.

Favorite late night college snack: Mangoes
Favorite school supply: Colored gel pens (especially the Sharpie kind)!

Ginny Larkin-Thorsen

Ginny began her role as college readiness counselor for the Emily K Center Scholars to College program in early 2022. She is currently working closely with the Class of 2026 as they make their college decisions. Ginny earned her B.A. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and her MPA from North Carolina State University.

Favorite late-night college snack: Frozen garlic bread
Favorite school supply: Notebooks and pens!

Shanice Green

Shanice joined the Emily K Center in September of 2021, serving as our Scholars to College program assistant. Shanice earned her undergraduate degree from North Carolina Central University and received her M.Ed. from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington.

Favorite school supply: Colorful pens
Favorite late-night college snack: Peanut M&Ms

Tommy Yandle

Tommy joined the Emily K Center team full-time in October 2022 after working part-time with the Center from 2016-2021. Tommy was the first in his family to complete a college degree after earning his B.A. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He then received his M.Ed. in Higher Education Administration from North Carolina State University. 

Favorite book(s): Parable of the Sower & Parable of the Talents by Octavia Butler
Favorite school supply: A fresh, new Moleskine journal

Roma Bustillos

Roma joined the Emily K Center in 2024 as a College Success Advisor. She earned an A.A. from Central Piedmont Community College, a B.A. in International Studies, Spanish, and Religious Studies from UNC Charlotte, and an M.Ed. from NC State University.

Favorite school supply: College ruled reinforced filler paper 
Favorite college course: A Study Abroad course called Spain: From Empire to the Age of Globalization!

Olivia McNeill

Olivia joined the EmilyK Center in September of 2025 as a College Succes Advisor. She holds a B.S. In English, Secondary Education from Appalachian State University, an M.Ed. in Higher Education from the University of North Carolina Wilmington, and she is currently completing a Ph.D. in Social Justice Education from the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

Favorite late-night college snack: chips and guacamole 
Favorite school supply: A colorful planner and a Pilot G-2 Pen!

Christina Villegas

Christina joined the Emily K Center in 2019 as a postsecondary access advisor, bringing more than five years of experience with direct college-access work in both urban and rural settings. Today, Christina oversees our Game Plan: Future 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

Cindy Cortez

Cindy joined the Emily K Center during the summer of 2022. In her role as Lead Postsecondary Access Advisor with Game Plan: Future, Cindy works closely with area high schools to help students identify and pursue their best-fit postsecondary options. Cindy earned her B.A. from East Carolina University.

Favorite book: East of Eden by John Steinbeck
Favorite college course: Gender in Gamer Culture and Abnormal Psychology

Ronicia James

Ronicia joined the Emily K Center in 2024 as a Postsecondary Access Advisor. She is an alum of ECU, where she earned both a BA and Masters in Business Administration.

Favorite college snack: Snickers bar & Doritos
Favorite book: Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Ravyn Adams

Ravyn joined the Emily K. Center as a part-time Postsecondary Access Advisor with Game Plan: Future in fall 2025. She graduated a first-generation college student from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro with a B.A. in Communication Studies, and completed a Master of Youth, Family, and Community Science from North Carolina State University. 

Favorite late-night college snack: Spicy Nacho Doritos and canned Mountain Dew
Best advice ever received about education: Be willing to approach everything with a student mentality so that you do not miss an opportunity to learn or be inspired.

Henry Capers, Jr.

Henry joined the Emily K Center team in September 2021, serving as a postsecondary access advisor with the Game Plan: Future program. Henry is well-positioned to help students with their college goals having earned his B.S. from St. Augustine’s University, MPA from North Carolina Central University, and doctoral degree from Walden University.

Favorite late-night college snack: Cool Ranch Doritos
Favorite college course: History of Black Cinema

Whitney Lewis

Whitney joined the Emily K Center in 2024 as a Postsecondary Transition Advisor. She earned her B.A. from Wake Forest University in Political Science and her M.Ed. in Student Affairs Administration in Higher Education from UNC-Greensboro. 

Favorite school supply: A cute pencil pouch full of Paper Mate Flair Medium and Pilot G-2 07 pens 
Favorite college course: English Art: Hogarth to Present and Hip Hop and Religion

Gordon Stanley

Gordon joined the Emily K Center in 2023 as a Postsecondary Access Advisor. He has a bachelor’s degree in English and Psychology from Duke, as well as an M.Ed. and Ph.D in Counseling Psychology. Gordon has had a career in education as a university admissions director, college counseling director, and career counselor at several universities.

Favorite course: The Psychology of the Child in History and Literature
Best advice ever received about education: Everyone you will ever meet knows something you don’t (with credit to Bill Nye, the Science Guy)

Eric Vreeland

Eric joined the Emily K Center team as Chief Advancement Officer in 2025. He earned his B.A. In Political Science from University of Miami (FL) and Masters of Public Affairs from University of Missouri. 

Favorite college course: U.S. Health Care Crisis: Politics and Policies
Best advice ever received about education: Figure out the way you learn best and use it. It may be different from everyone else. 

Beth Angle

Beth joined the Emily K Center team in January 2022 and serves as our Development Associate. She earned her B.A. (with a double major!) from Emory University.

Favorite school supply: Give me all the Sharpies, Post-it Notes, and binder clips!
Best advice ever received about education: The 5 P’s I learned at my high school: Prior Planning Prevents Poor Performance.

Christin Danchi

Christin joined the Emily K Center team in 2021 and serves as the 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 grants and communications specialist. 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

Jermani Horton

Jermani joined the Emily K Center team in 2025 and serves as the Director of Leadership Giving. She earned her B.A. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She is also a proud alumna of the Center and a graduate of the Scholars to College Class of 2014 cohort.

Favorite college course: Crisis Communication
Favorite school supply: Pilot G2 Gel Pens and a fresh notebook

Julia Van Patter

Julia Van Patter joined the Emily K Center team in 2023 as the Associate Director of Communications. She earned her Bachelor of Music (with a Business Minor) from UNC Greensboro and a Master of Public Administration from NC State University.

Favorite school supply: Jumbo highlighters  
Favorite late-night college snack: S’mores Pop Tarts