Board Members

	Janet Ayers Janet Ayers serves as president of the Ayers Foundation, which focuses on increasing education opportunities for students in Tennessee. Mrs. Ayers is a recognized business leader and philanthropist with over twenty years of experience in health care administration. She is active on a number of boards and previously served on the Tennessee State Board of Education and as a commissioner of the Tennessee Health Facilities Commission. She is a graduate of East Tennessee State University with a bachelor’s degree in health care administration.
	Steven DeCarlo Steven DeCarlo is chief executive officer of AmWINS Group, Inc., a global specialty insurance distributor. Mr. DeCarlo serves on a number of boards in the financial services and insurance industry and has also been a supporting member of the East Tennessee State University Foundation. A resident of Charlotte, North Carolina, Mr. DeCarlo holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from East Tennessee State University.
	Virginia Foley - Faculty Trustee Dr. Virginia Foley is a Professor in Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis. She came to East Tennessee State University after retiring from public education in Georgia. She has an Ed.D. in Educational Administration from the University of Alabama and an Ed.S. in Guidance and Counseling from the State University of West Georgia. She is the Program Coordinator for the Administrative Endorsement Program and served as Faculty Senate President during the 2014-2016 academic years.
	Kara Gilliam - Student Trustee Kara Gilliam is an MD/MPH candidate at ETSU’s Quillen College of Medicine (Class of 2024) in the Rural Primary Care Track in Mountain City, Tennessee.  She graduated Summa Cum Laude from The University of Tennessee- Knoxville in 2018 with a BA in History and a chemistry minor.  Kara is a former Governor and board member of the Tennessee Intercollegiate State Legislature (TISL), and she has experience in advocacy work at the State Capitol.  Kara grew up in Franklin, Tennessee, where she found her passion for community involvement through her church, whose motto is “It’s all about relationships.”  She chose to attend Quillen because of the plethora of opportunities to get involved with the vibrant Tri-Cities and ETSU communities.
	Dorothy Grisham Dorothy Grisham owns and operates an Allstate Insurance agency in Chattanooga. An active citizen, Ms. Grisham has been locally involved with the Boy Scouts of America, the Chattanooga Urban League, and the Hamilton County Foster Care Review Board. She holds a bachelor’s degree in social welfare from East Tennessee State University.
	Linda Latimer, MD Dr. Linda Latimer holds active medical licenses in both Tennessee and Virginia and is a College of American Pathologists Fellow as well as an American Society of Clinical Pathologists Fellow. A board-certified anatomic and clinical pathologist, Latimer received her medical degree from ETSU’s Quillen College of Medicine and also completed her pathology residency through ETSU. She earned her bachelor’s degree in health administration from the Medical University of South Carolina. She has held various positions throughout her career, including serving as the medical director of Cytopathology Laboratory in Johnson City and the medical director of the laboratory at Takoma Regional Hospital in Greeneville. She has also served as a clinical assistant professor in the Quillen College of Medicine. Latimer has served on many committees at hospitals including the Johnson City Medical Center and Takoma Regional Hospital. She also previously served on the Mountain States Health Alliance Foundation Board.
	Scott Niswonger Scott Niswonger is the chairman and founder of the Niswonger Educational Foundation which he established in 2001 to create opportunities for individual and regional growth through educational programs, scholarships, and other charitable activities.  Mr. Niswonger founded two transportation companies in Greene County and continues to serve as executive chairman of Landair Transport, Inc. and chairman emeritus of Forward Air Corporation. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Tusculum College, Doctorate of Technology from Purdue University, and was honored with a Doctorate of Human Letters.
	Ron Ramsey Ron Ramsey is former Lieutenant Governor of the State of Tennessee; he retired from the position in November 2016. He is owner of Ron Ramsey and Associates, a realty company in Upper East Tennessee. Lieutenant Governor Ramsey holds a bachelor’s degree in industrial technology from East Tennessee State University. He and his wife live in Blountville.
	Melissa Steagall-Jones Melissa Steagall-Jones is an alum of ETSU and is a partner in the accounting firm of Blackburn, Childers & Steagall PLC.  She is also a Certified Internal Controls Auditor. She is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Tennessee Society of Certified Public Accountants. She concentrates her practice in audit, governmental, healthcare, employee benefits plans and taxation.  She serves ETSU and the region through her active participation on numerous boards and committees including work in her church children's ministry.
	Kelly Wolfe Kelly Wolfe founded his company, Wolfe Development, in 1994 and is a highly respected businessman and developer in the East Tennessee Region. Mr. Wolfe served for nearly 10 years as Mayor of Jonesborough, during which time the town built a new $5.5 million wastewater treatment plant and a state-of-the-art senior center. Other highlights of his five-term tenure include the establishment of the McKinney Center for the Arts, the Chuckey Depot Railroad Museum, and the Boone Street Farmer's Market. In addition to the ETSU Board of Trustees, Mr. Wolfe was also appointed by Governor Bill Lee to serve the Tennessee Historical Commission. He and his wife, Jennifer, are the parents of two daughters, Audrey, who is a student at Centre College, and Emma, who attends Providence Academy.