Advisory Board

Luz Avelino, originally from Mexico, is a mother of two, whose children were a part of the Village Project for several years. Her children are now in college. She has been an active community partner and advocate since her children started elementary school. Her passion is connecting families to each another and to resources, programs, and services to improve their lives, and educational experiences.

Appalachian State University graduate, DeAnna Foust-Platt, is a seasoned educator in traditional public schools, for grades 6-9. One of her greatest joys in life is to have PASSION for teaching students about life plus learning for the whole child! She and her husband, Sigmund, have three children; Stanton (8), Sigmund (7) and Saxan (2).

Dr. Algie Gatewood was the president of Alamance Community College in Graham, NC from 2013 to 2023. Prior to ACC, Dr. Gatewood served for almost 10 years as president of Portland Community College Cascade Campus. Dr. Gatewood earned his bachelor’s degree from Livingstone College, a master’s degree from Appalachian State University, and a doctorate from North Carolina State University. He and his wife, Rosalyn, have been married for more than 40 years, and they have three children and four grandchildren.

Michael Lane, MS, is the Executive Director GEAR UP at Winston-Salem State University. Previously he was Director of Community Partnerships and Family Engagement of the U. S. Department of Education’s GEAR UP federal grant project in North Carolina at the University of North Carolina System Office. Michael has also independently consulted with college access and success organizations, including the National Council of Community and Education Partnership (NCCEP), Charleston, South Carolina’s GEAR UP partnership grant, and the Vela Institute. He holds a Bachelor of Science from Gardner-Webb University and a Master of Science in Adult Education and Leadership from NC A&T State University.

Sylvia Muñoz is the Associate Director of the Center for Race, Ethnicity & Diversity Education and the Director of El Centro at Elon University. In this role, Sylvia is part of a team that aims in creating a supportive environment for underrepresented racial and ethnic students, leads race and ethnicity education efforts, and coordinates student diversity education collaboratively with campus offices and faculty that have specialized expertise in specific social identities and/or in concepts of justice and equity. Sylvia is the point person on the CREDE’s team with particular expertise and experience working with Latinx/Hispanic students, and she serves as the visible campus leader for enhancing the experience of Latinx/Hispanic students, faculty, and staff.

Sylvia’s education includes a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Costa Rica and a Master in Business Administration from Elon University.

Oscar Miranda is a Research Associate for the Belk Center for Community College Leadership and Research. He is also a PhD student and Provost Fellow at North Carolina State University pursuing his degree in Educational Leadership, Policy, and Human Development with a concentration in Higher Education Opportunity, Equity, and Justice. Oscar’s research interests include college access and success, and students with DACA, undocumented, first-generation, and Latinx identities. He served as an Assistant Director for First-Generation Student Support Services, where he leaded Elon University’s first-generation initiative. Prior to Elon, Miranda served as a Community Impact Fellow with Alamance Achieves in Alamance County, NC. Miranda holds degrees from Elon University and the Harvard Graduate School of Education.

Jose Alex Reyes is a student at Elon University and an Odyssey Scholar and a Communication Fellows. He is a First Generation Latino student who has been a part of the Village Project since the first grade. He is excited to still be involved in the Village and to be able to help other students in Alamance Community.

Patrick Rudd is the Coordinator of Library Instruction and Outreach Services at Elon University’s Carole Grotnes Belk Library, where he helps to strategize instruction and outreach for both undergraduate as well as graduate students. Patrick is passionate about teaching and his primary area of pedagogy is research instruction to first-year students.

Tara Tinnin is a Notary and Licentiate for the African Methodist Episcopal Church. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Forensic Biology from Guilford College and is attending School of Divinity for (MDiv). She and her daughter have been a part of the It Takes a Village Project for several years. She enjoys providing advocacy, education, and training within the community. A parent representative, Tara considers it an honor to serve on the It Takes a Village Advisory Board because she can give back to her community.