College Access Partnerships

Yolanda Adams is a dynamic advocate for education, inclusivity, and community empowerment. Originally from Bogotá, Colombia, she has proudly called Boone, NC, home for more than two decades. With an unwavering commitment to supporting Latino/a/e/x and Hispanic students, parents, and families, Yolanda dedicated 10 years to Watauga County Schools before transitioning to her current role as the Assistant Director for Student Leadership & Family Outreach with GEAR UP at Appalachian State University in December 2023. She is also the Co-Founder and CEO of Q' Pasa Appalachia, a platform dedicated to amplifying diverse voices and fostering meaningful connections throughout the Appalachian region.

A champion of equity and belonging, Yolanda’s work reflects her belief in the transformative power of education and the strength of community. She is celebrated for creating inclusive spaces where every individual feels valued and for building bridges that unite people across cultural and social divides. Her passion and leadership have left an enduring impact on the lives she touches.

Yolanda’s dedication has been recognized through multiple awards, including:

• The Servant’s Heart Award from Watauga County Schools
• The Baker-Jones Woman of the Year Award from the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce
• The Community Diversity and Inclusion Award from Appalachian State University

Additionally, she was appointed by North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper to serve on the DRIVE Task Force, which focuses on increasing educator diversity across the state.

She currently serves on the Board of Directors for:

• Boone Area Chamber of Commerce
• Mountain BizWorks
• Immigrant Connection of the High Country
• LatinxEd
• Lumunos

Yolanda lives in Boone with her husband, Jay, their four children, and their beloved French bulldog, Felipe. Whether advocating for her community, inspiring others to lead with compassion, or spending time with her family, Yolanda embodies dedication, kindness, and the belief that every voice deserves to be heard and celebrated.

About: Jeremiah Stanton-Rich is the GEAR UP Campus Visit Coordinator at Appalachian State University. From 2016-2023, he worked for a local non-profit, Mountain Alliance, where he took students on adventure and service trips. Jeremiah joined the College Access Partnership team in November 2023 as our Administrative Support Specialist. He was then promoted to his current role in November 2024. 

Education: He graduated from App State in 2016 with a Bachelors in Sociology and Minor in Mathematics.

About: Doug Thompson is a former science educator, technology facilitator and professional development specialist who over the past ten years has served hundreds of schools as an advisor and collaborator in their approach to STEM education. Mr. Thompson has supported multiple schools in their pursuit of STEM accomplishments and accreditations through the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction as well as co-written federally funded grant proposals through the Department of Education. He currently serves as the director of the newest GEAR UP grant, APEX.

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About:  Ginger is driven by her passion for storytelling in any of its forms, be it through data, anecdotal evidence, or fiction. She lives with her wife and 3 fur babies in Boone, where she thrives in the cold weather.

Education: M.A. in Industrial Organizational Psychology and Human Resource Management (IOHRM), B.A. in Psychology, B.F.A. in Creative Writing, Certificate in Publishing

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About: Hayden Laws is the Data Management Specialist for GEAR UP. Hayden specializes in Python and Excel to clean and organize data from various GEAR UP services. Hayden is also responsible for managing and maintaining the database, Lyceum. In his free time, Hayden likes to crochet and knit.

About: Clayton has been a team member with App State's GEAR UP program since 2020. He enjoys hiking, fishing, and anything outdoors. He and his wife enjoy traveling and volunteering in our community.

Education: B.S. in K-6 Education | M.Ed. in Counseling

Accolades:  Teacher of the Year 2002-Wilson Middle School

About: Wes is the Assistant Director of College Access Services for App State GEAR UP.  Prior to joining App State, Wes worked as the senior counselor in a GEAR UP high school in western North Carolina.  Wes has 22 years of experience in public education, both in the classroom and as a counselor.  The majority of his teaching and counseling experience was in urban Title 1 schools, with an emphasis on School Turnaround processes.  He has worked every grade from kindergarten to 12th in some capacity, and was an MTSS specialist for two years as well.  Wes is published in the area of peer mediation and has professional presentations about MTSS, peer mediation, building a Counselor Network and mitigating the impact of trauma on postsecondary access to his credit.