Scott A. Giles, Ph.D.

Co-Vice Chair of the Board

President, Vermont Student Assistance Corporation (VSAC)

Scott A. Giles has served VSAC since 2003. He was appointed president and CEO of VSAC after serving as vice president of operations, social marketing, and strategy. Scott previously served as deputy chief of staff of the Committee on Science of the U.S. House of Representatives and as a senior professional staff member on the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, where he served on the team that coauthored the Higher Education Act of 1998 that established the GEAR UP program. He was appointed by the Secretary of Education to serve on the Federal Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance and was elected chair.

A national expert in higher education policy, regulation, and student loans, he has been designated by successive Secretaries of Education to represent the nonprofit student loan lenders and servicers in rounds of negotiated rule-making.  A passionate advocate for access to education and training, Mr. Giles serves on the Vermont Higher Education Council, the Vermont Workforce Development Board and chaired the Vermont PreK-16 Council.  

Scott has a BA from St. Lawrence University and an MA and PhD from the University of Virginia, as well as certificates in finance and management from the Harvard Business School and the Kennedy School of Government.

Dana Williams

Treasurer of the Board

Managing Director of Finance and Customer Service, National Association of Secondary School Principals

Dana Williams is the Managing Director of Finance and Customer Service for the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP).  Prior to joining NASSP, she served educators around the world at the Association of Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD) where she rose from Assistant Controller to Chief Financial Officer.  Dana is a distinguished senior financial executive leader with a proven track record of driving results and fostering growth through strategic financial planning, analysis, and operational expertise.  With a strong focus on optimizing cash management, forecasting, and leveraging technology, Dana has consistently achieved optimal financial outcomes.  Her multifaceted skill set encompasses business planning, budget analysis, financial systems implementation, and cross-functional leadership.

A graduate of Towson University with a MBA from Bowie State University, Dana’s career trajectory exemplifies a commitment to financial excellence, operational efficiency, and strategic growth.  With a blend of technical expertise, leadership acumen, and a track record of accomplishments, Dana stands as a distinguished professional in the financial realm.

Carlos Bing

State Grant Constituent Director

Director, College Access Programs
GEAR UP Ohio 4.0, Ohio Department of Higher Education

Carlos Bing serves as the Director of College Access Programs for the Ohio Department of Higher Education and has 20+ years of experience implementing initiatives for the state of Ohio with the goal of improving college access, retention, graduation, and career awareness for all citizens. As Director, Bing oversees the GEAR UP Ohio program and administers the GEAR UP Scholarship program.   

Having served on the GEAR UP team since 2008, Bing has had the opportunity to build the GEAR UP program while also amplifying the importance of college access work across the state.  Bing serves as the Ohio program coordinator for the American College Application Campaign, where the 3 To Get Ready, 4 To Go!!! Campaign launched.  Bing brings together college access stakeholders from across the state with the goal of increasing access to all citizens who wish to pursue a post-secondary educational pathway. In addition, Bing has had the opportunity to lead coordinated initiatives and improve policy directed at increasing FAFSA and college application completion efforts across the state.  

Bing is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor and a doctoral student at Franklin University in the Education in Organizational Leadership program.   

Bing is married to his wife Seneca Bing. The couple has 4 children (3 adult children and 1 child who lives in heaven).  Bing serves as the Scholarship Ministry Chairman at Faith Ministries Church.  Bing is also a 20-year member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., where he serves as the Alpha Esquire Youth Development Group co-chair.   

Pascale Charlot, J.D.

Managing Director, College Excellence Program
Aspen Institute

Pascale Charlot is the Managing Director of the College Excellence Program (CEP). She is a visionary and outcomes-driven leader deeply committed to student success. An alumna of Aspen’s year-long Rising President Fellowship, Pascale plays a lead role in crafting and overseeing CEP’s strategy to develop a network of transformational college presidents who share a relentless commitment to advancing excellence and equity in student outcomes. Chief among these programs are Aspen’s Presidential Fellowships, which have graduated over 100 presidents of community colleges that together educate over a million-and-a-half students. In the Fellowships and across CEP’s work, Pascale helps lead efforts to strengthen the inexorable connection between institutional reform and student success.

Prior to joining CEP, Pascale was at Aspen Prize-winning Miami Dade College, where she most recently served as president of the Kendall campus, the largest of the college’s eight. Pascale was also dean of Miami Dade’s highly regarded Honors College, where she developed and implemented a pathways strategy that increased the number of first-generation students who went on to attain a bachelor’s degree. Herself a transfer student, Pascale brings substantial expertise to one of Aspen’s core priorities—advancing post-graduation outcomes for students of color and low-income students. Demonstrable student learning, equitable talent development, and social mobility for students and families are key levers that inspire Pascale’s student-centered approach.

A graduate of Duke University and the University of Michigan Law School, Pascale also held leadership roles at both New York University and Rutgers law schools earlier in her career.

Irene Garcia

Program Officer, The Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation

Irene Garcia supports the Skills for the New Economy portfolio, working closely with partners to provide L.A. youth with the skills, knowledge, and experiences needed to thrive in a competitive workforce. Irene has cultivated a deep understanding of California’s education and policy arena through diverse roles in philanthropy and government. Irene previously served as a Program Officer at The Sobrato Organization, leading the organization’s state policy strategy to uplift California’s English Learner students, and as a Program Manager at the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, crafting a $17 million national portfolio to amplify the voices of parents and youth of color in educational discourse. As Special Assistant to the California State Superintendent of Publish Instruction, Irene advocated for cohesive K-12 education policies including launching the first state-side undocumented support program, underscoring her commitment to serving vulnerable populations.

A proud alumna of the University of California, Berkeley, Irene holds a bachelor’s degree in political science. Her advocacy for educational equity is deeply rooted in her upbringing in East Los Angeles and participation in GEAR UP, shaping her perspective and informing her expertise in education policy. She is a dedicated athlete, having completed an impressive nine half marathons and a full marathon.

Troy Grant

Vice Chancellor for Strategic Enrollment Management for the

Tennessee Board of Regents (TBR)

Troy Grant serves as the Vice Chancellor for Strategic Enrollment Management for the Tennessee Board of Regents (TBR), where he leads systemwide efforts to create student-centered enrollment experiences that expand access, improve retention, and streamline admissions and advising processes across Tennessee’s community and technical colleges. His leadership focuses on aligning statewide policy, technology, and campus practice to strengthen pathways from access through college completion.

Before joining TBR, Troy served as Chief Scholars Officer at the Ayers Foundation Trust, providing executive leadership to the Ayers Scholars Program—one of the nation’s premier rural college access and success initiatives. He oversaw a $7.5 million expansion into ten new Tennessee counties and led a team of more than 70 professionals supporting over 30 high schools across 21 rural counties. Under his leadership, the Scholars Program achieved a 96 percent Tennessee Promise application rate and a FAFSA completion rate exceeding 91 percent, far outpacing statewide averages. 

Earlier, Troy spent over 15 years with the Tennessee Higher Education Commission (THEC), where he served as the Senior Director of College Access and Success. He led major statewide initiatives such as GEAR UP TN, Advise TN, TN FAFSA Frenzy, and TN College App Month. During his time at THEC, Troy and his team collectively secured more than $55 million in state and federal funding to advance college access and success efforts. These efforts helped Tennessee achieve national recognition for innovation in financial aid, advising, and student success policy.

A first-generation college student, Troy’s career has been guided by a deep commitment to creating equitable postsecondary opportunities for all Tennesseans, regardless of their background or zip code. He has served on numerous state and national boards, including the National Council for Community and Education Partnerships Board of Directors as the elected State Grant Representative, the Education Strategy Group’s Aligned Advising Working Group, and the Tennessee School Counseling Advisory Council. In 2018, Troy was recognized as the National GEAR UP Professional of the Year. 

Troy resides outside of Nashville, TN and holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in business administration from Trevecca Nazarene University.

Michael Matsuda

Superintendent, Anaheim Union High School District

Michael Matsuda is a nationally recognized 21st century educational leader known for innovation, entrepreneurship, and compassion. Under his leadership, the Anaheim Union High School District built a new educational model incorporating “reverse engineered” career pathways in partnership with higher education, private, and non-profit sectors, which have extended and transformed educational opportunities for all students.

Since becoming superintendent in 2014, M has earned several accolades, including: one of twelve national “Leaders to Learn From” Award from Education Week Magazine, the “Visionary Education Leadership Award” from Cal State University, Fullerton, the California Association for Bilingual Education (CABE) Administrator of the Year Award, and an honorary “Doctor of the University” from Chapman University.

Additionally, Mr. Matsuda was named the California Council for the Social Studies Administrator of the Year for promoting democracy in public schools.  AUHSD leads the state with 10 California Democracy Schools which promote student voice and civic engagement throughout the district.

As an innovator, Mr. Matsuda has developed the AIME (Anaheim Innovative Mentoring Experience) program to create mentorships for over 4,500 high school students and has created over 150 annual summer work-based paid internship experiences for students who also receive college credit through Fullerton College. He also conceptualized the AUHSD SERVATHON, an annual service event celebrating MLK Day with over 4,000 students, families, and adult mentors.

Before assuming the role of superintendent in March 2014, Mr. Matsuda spent 22 years as an educator in the Anaheim Union High School District. He began teaching at Orangeview Junior High School, where he was twice selected as Teacher of the Year. He also taught honors English classes at Oxford Academy. He received his BA from UCLA, MPA from USC, his teaching credential from Chapman University, and administrative credential from CSUF.

Corinne Smith

PARTNERSHIP GRANT CONSTITUENT DIRECTOR

Deputy Director of the Office of Rural Promise and Director of GEAR UP
Appalachian State University

Corinne Smith serves as Deputy Director of the Office of Rural Promise and Director of GEAR UP at Appalachian State University. A nationally recognized leader, she was named the 2025 National GEAR UP Professional of the Year for her role in pioneering the GEAR UP Guarantee—a transparent and simplified admissions pathway to Appalachian State University that significantly increased enrollment and persistence for GEAR UP students. Through her leadership, the Office of Rural Promise has secured more than $90 million to expand educational access for over 40,000 students across more than 100 schools in western North Carolina over the past decade.

Corinne is a published researcher focused on the impact of early college exposure and serves as a co-coordinator of the North Carolina Education Policy Fellowship Program. She began her career as a K–12 educator in Missouri after earning a degree in Physical Education from Missouri State University, and later completed a master’s degree in higher education from Arkansas Tech University. Prior to leading GEAR UP, she played a key role in expanding Appalachian State’s Residential Learning Communities program, which was recognized among the nation’s top 10 by U.S. News & World Report. Known as a bridge-builder and visionary leader, Corinne is deeply committed to cross-sector partnerships that strengthen student and community outcomes.

Kim Welch

STATE GRANT CONSTITUENT DIRECTOR

Executive Director, GEAR UP Kentucky
Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education

Kim Welch has dedicated over 25 years to serving Kentucky’s public and education sectors with a passion for ensuring every student has the opportunity to succeed. Joining the GEAR UP team in 2012, Kim currently leads Kentucky’s fifth state GEAR UP grant at the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education, serving more than 10,000 students in sixteen partner schools across the Commonwealth through 2032.  In this role, she provides statewide strategic leadership for the planning, implementation, evaluation, and continuous improvement of the $35 million, seven-year grant, overseeing a thirty-member team, managing more than 20 statewide partnerships, and aligning program strategy with the Council’s student access and success priorities.

Prior to this role, Kim’s career focused on strategic communications, outreach, and educational access through her work at the Chronicle of Higher Education, the University of Kentucky Office of the President and the Prichard Committee for Academic Excellence. She has served in multiple advisory roles with NCCEP, including the Executive Committee of the College and Career Readiness Evaluation Consortium, Communications Advisory Committee, and the GEAR UP Advisory Commission. Kim holds a bachelor’s degree in communication from the University of Kentucky, has completed post-graduate work at Morehead State University, and is a certified Gallup CliftonStrengths Coach. 

Kim lives in the Lexington area with her husband, Brandon, where together they lead Bridge the Gap Lexington, a non-profit mobile outreach ministry directly reaching adults and children living in high-poverty communities to build resilience, provide relief, and facilitate restoration. Together, they have six children, with three teenage boys currently living at home.

Alex Chough

Ex-Officio 

President, National Council for Community and Education Partnerships