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OUR TEAM

CEN Board of Directors

A group of dedicated volunteers committed to creating better learning outcomes and life prospects for rural students, and brighter futures for rural communities.

Collegiate Edu-Nation

Dr. Susan Holley

President

Collegiate Edu-Nation

Dr. Emily Perdue

Collegiate Edu-Nation

Alton Frailey

Collegiate Edu-Nation

Hon. John Perdue

Collegiate Edu-Nation

Eric Reeves

Collegiate Edu-Nation

Dr. Craig Rotter

Dr. Rachael McClain

Valerie

Dr. Valerie Truesdale

Dr. Frances A. M. Perez

Dr. Frances A.M. Perez

John Sharp

CEN Leadership

A team of future-focused educators intent on helping rural leaders transform their schools toward college- and career-ready learning outcomes for ALL their students.

dr alexander

Dr. Kim Alexander

Founder

jeff walker

Jeff Walker

President

Collegiate Edu-Nation

Kendall Guynes

Chief Financial Officer

susan grove

Dr. Susan Ruiz-Grove

Chief Development Officer

Brittany Bartley-Williams

Chief Partnerships Officer

michelle smith

Michelle Carroll Smith

Chief of Schools

andy wilson

Dr. Andy Wilson

Director of Research & 4-H

Collegiate Edu-Nation

Kelly Springfield

Director of P-TECH

Katy Cade

Director of School Action

Emily Birdwell

Director of Marketing & Communications

Kimberly Mouser

Kimberly Mouser

Instructional Coach

Dr. Chantel Schulz

Dr. Chantel Schulz

CTE Instructional Specialist

kristin luft

Kristin Luft

Instructional Coach

Amy Anthony

Edu-REACH Coordinator

Angela Mehl

Community Impact Coordinator

Melinda Brasuell

Community Impact Coordinator

Collegiate Edu-Nation

Sloan King

Instructional Coordinator

Camden B

Camden Boren

Tech & Data Coordinator

Katie Daugherty

CEN AmeriCorps Program Coordinator

CEN Consulting Partners & Strategic Partners

Collegiate Edu-Nation

Marsha Alexander

Co-Founder & Consultant

Collegiate Edu-Nation

Dr. Darrell Dromgoole

Community Development Consultant

Where Are You Going?

Strategic Growth Partner

📣 Rural Champions — it’s happening this Wednesday!

📣 Rural Champions — it’s happening this Wednesday! Join TMCN and Collegiate Edu-Nation’s EPIC Initiative on August 19 at 12 PM CT for Data Center 101, the first session in our Rural Data Center Readiness Webinar Series. 💻 Learn about development timelines, workforce opportunities, community impacts, and what rural leaders need to know. 📅 This Wednesday | 12 PM CT 🔗 Register: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/yxJRYbLkQdiRzFxLdL07TQ #RuralTexas #DataCenters #RuralDevelopment #EPICInitiative

The path from education to opportunity starts in o

The path from education to opportunity starts in our rural schools. CEN works alongside schools, communities, and workforce partners to create stronger connections and more opportunities for rural students—today and for the future. Connecting today. Building tomorrow. #CEN #CollegiateEduNation #RuralEducation #RuralSchools #WorkforceDevelopment

🌐 Rural Champions — we’re one week away! Next Wedn

🌐 Rural Champions — we’re one week away! Next Wednesday, August 19, Texas Midwest Community Network (TMCN) and Collegiate Edu-Nation (CEN) kick off our 8-part Rural Data Center Readiness Virtual Webinar Series! 📅 Wednesday, August 19 🕛 12 PM CT | Virtual 💡 Week 1: Data Center 101 We’re starting with the fundamentals: What are the different types of data centers, how long does development take, what kinds of jobs do they create, and what could they mean for rural communities? Our Week 1 guest panelists will bring real-world perspectives to help rural leaders better understand what’s ahead and how communities can prepare. Whether data center development is already on your radar or you simply want your community to be ready for what’s next, we’d love to have you at the table. 🔗 Register: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/yxJRYbLkQdiRzFxLdL07TQ Remember: Each week requires a separate registration, so be sure to sign up for the sessions you want to attend. #RuralChampions #DataCenter101 #RuralDevelopment #RuralTexas #EconomicDevelopment #EPIC #TMCN #CEN

CEN is connecting today to build a stronger tomorr

CEN is connecting today to build a stronger tomorrow. Through rural education, community partnerships, and workforce connections, we’re creating pathways that connect rural schools and communities with meaningful opportunities—helping learners build their futures while strengthening the places they call home. Strong schools. Strong communities. Meaningful connections. New opportunities. #CEN #CollegiateEduNation #RuralEducation #RuralSchools #WorkforceDevelopment #RuralCommunities #BuildingTomorrow

A transformative investment in the future of rural

A transformative investment in the future of rural education. 🌟 White Deer ISD has been awarded more than $1.63 million through The Moody Foundation's M-Pact Fund to expand college and career pathways, strengthen workforce connections, and create a comprehensive PreK-20 model that will serve as a demonstration site for rural districts across the Texas Panhandle. Congratulations to White Deer ISD on this exciting milestone! Click here to read full story: https://url.edu-nation.org/d #RuralEducation #StudentSuccess #CareerPathways #CollegeReady #WorkforceDevelopment #TexasEducation #FutureReady #CollegiateEduNation #WhiteDeerISD

Every piece plays a role in building stronger rura

Every piece plays a role in building stronger rural communities. When education develops skills, workforce partnerships create opportunities, and local knowledge guides the way, communities can learn, work, and grow—together. Discover how our partnerships are helping rural communities move forward. Learn more at our website: https://edu-nation.org/ #RuralCommunities #RuralWorkforce #WorkforceDevelopment #Education #CommunityPartnership

Every piece plays a role in building stronger rura

Every piece plays a role in building stronger rural communities. When education develops skills, workforce partnerships create opportunities, and local knowledge guides the way, communities can learn, work, and grow—together. Discover how our partnerships are helping rural communities move forward. Learn more at our website: #RuralCommunities #WorkforceDevelopment #Education #CommunityPartnership

So many educators are back at it—shaping minds, in

So many educators are back at it—shaping minds, inspiring dreams, and building the future one student at a time. Your impact reaches far beyond the classroom. We wish you all a school year filled with purpose, joy, and abundant blessings. #Education #StudentImpact #RuralEd #Workforce #WelcomeBack #CollegiateEduNation

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Collegiate Edu-Nation is a nonprofit organization rooted in West Texas and dedicated to ending education and income inequality in rural communities nationwide.

Collegiate Edu-Nation Rural HOPE © 2019 by Kim Alexander is licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0

Collegiate Edu-Nation does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, or disability.

View our most recent Form 990 for transparency and financial information.

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Dr. Susan Holley received her EdD in Educational Administration from Baylor University in 1991. For 34 years, Dr. Holley served in public schools in the roles of teacher, counselor, principal, central office administrator, and superintendent. She received the Texas Council of Women School Executives State Leadership Award and served on the state board for both the Texas Rural Education Association and the Texas Association of Rural Schools. Dr. Holley was Associate Executive Director for School Transformation and Leadership Services at the Texas Association of School Administrators (TASA) for nine years before joining the Department of Educational Administration and Human Resources (EAHR) at Texas A&M University in 2017 as Clinical Associate Professor. Dr. Holley teaches courses in principalship, superintendency, and organizational change, and supervises the principal practicum experience.

At Texas A&M University, Dr. Holley is the director of the John R. Hoyle Memorial Administrative Leadership Institute (ALI) and serves on the Council for Educator Preparation Programs and the department’s Executive Committee.

Alton Frailey, a native of Nacogdoches, Texas, is a veteran professional educator of more than 35 years.

Frailey retired in 2016 after serving as superintendent of the nearly 74,000-student Katy Independent School District near Houston, Texas for nine years. He has served as superintendent of the DeSoto Independent School District near Dallas, Texas and as Superintendent of Schools for Cincinnati Public Schools in Cincinnati, Ohio. From March 2018 through March 2020 he served as Interim Superintendent for the Nacogdoches Independent School District.

Frailey has held numerous professional elected leadership positions including President of the American Association of School Administrators (AASA), President of the Texas Association of School Administrators (TASA), President of the Urban Superintendents Association of America (USAA), President of the Texas Association of Suburban/Mid-Urban Schools (TAS-MUS), and Chairman of the University Interscholastic League Legislative Council.

Frailey has also served on various civic boards. In 1999, he was elected to the Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District Board of Trustees, which was selected as the 2002 Texas Honor Board. In 2015, Texas Governor Gregg Abbott appointed Frailey to the Stephen F. Austin State University Board of Regents for a six-year term. He currently serves as Chair of the board. He works with the Flip Flippen Group as one of three members of the LeadWorthy Board and is Chair of the Capturing Kids’ Hearts Foundation Board. He also serves as a member of the Board of Directors for Battelle for Kids. Additionally, he has served on the board of directors for the Katy Area Chamber of Commerce, Katy Area Economic Development Council, Junior Achievement of Southeast Texas, West Houston Association, and The Bible Seminary.

He is currently President of Alton L. Frailey & Associates, LLC, specializing in leadership development, community engagement, school board team building, and executive coaching.

He and his wife, Anissa, have been married thirty years and live in Fulshear, Texas.