NSI Advisory Board

April Bell

With over twenty-five years of experience in the education sector, Dr. Bell currently serves as the Director of Constituent Relations at the National Council for Community and Education Partnerships (NCCEP), where she focuses on expanding professional learning communities and engagement with GEAR UP sites. Previously, she held leadership roles at Baltimore City Public Schools, the College Board, and began her career as a classroom teacher and college advisor. She is recognized as an expert in college and career readiness and financial aid, and holds a Ph.D., with distinction, in Instructional Leadership from Notre Dame of Maryland University. 

Sarah Butler

Sarah Butler is the Assistant Dean of Admission at Sewanee and has been part of the university community for 19 years. She works closely with students from Davidson County, helping them navigate their path to Sewanee.

Daryl Curry

Daryl is the Chief Talent Development Officer for the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce who's mission is to be a dedicated advocate for community development and collaborative initiatives that enhance educational and career opportunities for Middle Tennesseans. At the Chamber, he has led efforts like the Education Report Committee, Partnership Council, and recently, the New Skills Ready Nashville Grant, bringing stakeholders together to strengthen career pathways and work-based learning. Originally from Prince George's County, Maryland, Daryl's commitment to empowering youth and building partnerships has been a cornerstone of his work since moving to Nashville in 2015, including his roles at the Oasis Center and the Martha O'Bryan Center, as well as his service on the board of Communities In Schools of Tennessee. 

Mike Drish

Mike Drish is the Executive Director of Undergraduate Admissions at Vanderbilt University. With over 20 years of experience in university admissions at top private and public universities nationwide, Mike is committed to attracting and retaining student bodies of all backgrounds and experiences and has a deep understanding of the overall best practices in higher education, undergraduate admissions, and enrollment management. 

Jorie Fawcett

Jorie Fawcett graduated from Vanderbilt University in 2025 with a B.S. in secondary education and sociology. While a student at Vanderbilt, she was a student teacher at the Nashville School of the Arts, and was a Buchanan Library fellow where she researched social activism and voting trends amongst Gen Z. Jorie is currently pursuing an M.Ed in Education Leadership, Organizations, and Entrepreneurship at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, and will graduate in May 2026. 

Franklin Gaglione

Franklin is a veteran higher education administrator who now serves as the executive director of the Marlene and Spencer Hays Foundation. Through prior work at Breakthrough Collaborative and leadership roles in enrollment management at Denison University, Elmhurst University, and Lake Forest College, he has supported thousands of first-generation, low-income students navigating the admissions and financial aid process. He received his bachelor’s degree from Denison University and master’s from Northwestern University.

Lee Gray

With an infectious “can do” attitude, Lee has dedicated his career to improving postsecondary outcomes for youth. In 2011, Lee came to us to lead our College Connection program. Over the years, he has grown in his leadership roles within the agency and has served as the Sr. Director of Action, Advocacy and Education since 2021.  In this role, he is also responsible for a suite of programs that serve youth being directly impacted by systems (educational systems, juvenile justice system, and societal systems).

Marcus Hayes

Marcus Hayes currently serves as the inaugural Dean for the Creative School at DePauw University, in Greencastle, IN, where he also holds faculty appointments in the Institute of Music and Department of Communication and Theatre. Prior to his appointment at DePauw, Hayes served as Professor of Dance and African American Studies and Chair for the Department of Theatre and Dance at Austin Peay State University (TN), where he focused on dance techniques, dance history, and choreography, as well as the African influences on social dances in the Americas.  He received a dual Bachelor of Arts in History and Theatre Arts: Dance from Beloit College (WI) and a Master of Fine Arts in Dance from Mills College (CA).  He is a past president of the Tennessee Association of Dance Board of Directors and is a past regional director and board member for the American College Dance Association (ACDA) National Board of Directors.

Alisha Kieg

Alisha is the Director of Development for Teach for America Nashville-Chattanooga focused on events, engagement and stewardship. Over the last 12 years, Alisha worked as an MNPS classroom teacher serving English Language Learners, as an MNPS district coach, and as a consultant, curriculum designer and executive coach for national nonprofits with a focus on organizational structure, leadership and development.  

Kelly Pietkiewicz

Kelly Pietkiewicz is a native of Middle Tennessee who has worked in higher education and financial aid for 15 years. She has worked as a college admissions counselor and high school college counselor, and now serves as the Senior Manager of Scholarships at the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee. Kelly is thrilled to work with the Nashville Scholars Initiative to help students know that there are endless opportunities for pursuing a college education and experience.

Meghan Rushing

Meghan Rushing is the Director of Communications and Senior Assistant Director of Admissions for the Office of Undergraduate Admissions at Duke University, where she leads strategic outreach efforts and enhances communications that support access for prospective and admitted students. She has over 15 years of experience in enrollment management, digital communications, and student engagement, with a focus on improving pathways for first-generation, limited-income, and rural students through her work with Duke’s STARS (Small Town and Rural Students) team and the Duke LIFE office. She earned a M.A. in Digital Communication at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and holds two B.A. degrees in Communication and Film Studies from North Carolina State University.

Robert Spencer

Robert has served higher education for more than 30 years, including nearly two decades working in Vanderbilt University administration. He is currently a principal in Huron Consulting Group's higher education practice. He and his wife raised four children in Nashville with positive experiences at Harpeth Valley Elementary, Bellevue Middle, Head Middle, CPA High School, Martin Luther King Jr. High School, and Hillwood High School.

Peggy Talbot

Peggy Talbot is a nonprofit consultant with more than two decades of experience in founding, operating, and advising education-focused organizations across Illinois and Tennessee. A co-founder of Beacon Place and board leader at Cristo Rey St. Martin College Prep and Communities in Schools of Middle Tennessee, she brings deep expertise in fundraising strategy, postsecondary access, and nonprofit development to the Nashville Scholars Initiative Advisory Board.