Below, please find the candidates running for the 2024-2026 Fellows Officer positions. Please consider the biography, experiences, and vision of each. Use the Qualtrics voting survey link emailed April 26, 2024 to record your vote. Voting ends May 10, 2024 at 11:59 p.m. CDT.
Candidate 1 of 1: Trey HayesTrey Hayes joined Alabama Power’s SVP of Power Delivery, Scott Moore, as his A2 in 2022 and currently supports Scott and his staff in their endeavors to safely create, construct, and maintain the smart, reliable and secure grid for today and the future. Having previously served as Team Leader of the Connectivity and Innovation Team and as a Project Manager in Economic Development, Trey knows how important connectivity is not only to the grid, but also the new economy and its ever-increasing role in how we work, learn, and maintain our health. He is passionate about serving our customers and our state in a way that creates lasting change. Trey has a strong background in industrial engineering, graduating magna cum laude from the University of Alabama and having previously served as Distribution Engineer in the cities of Trussville and Montgomery. On the business side, he completed his MBA at Auburn University at Montgomery with summa cum laude distinction. This landed him other pivotal roles in the company, including Commercial Account Manager, Commercial Development Manager, and Industrial Account Manager. Outside of work, Trey is an active leader in the community. He serves on the University of Alabama’s Honors College Board of Visitors and was an adjunct professor for 7 years where he developed and taught the class Servant Leadership: Theory & Function. He also is a Blackburn Fellow and serves at Iron City Church. Trey is a native of Brilliant, Alabama, and the proud husband of Amanda and father of Sam and John. His hobbies include reading, cycling, and becoming increasingly frustrated with the game of golf.
I grew up in a great, rural Alabama community—Brilliant, Alabama—and dreamed of coming to the Capstone as I cheered on the Tide with my Dad as a child. My reality and experience greatly surpassed my dreams. While pursuing my engineering degree, I enjoyed a wide array of experiences ranging from Alabama Action, to Honors College Recruitment, to [humble brag] being an intramural flag football champion! Nothing was more impactful, however, than becoming a Blackburn Fellow. My eyes were opened to the opportunities and challenges of our great state, and I was taught how to have and facilitate meaningful dialogue, identify and implement solutions, and ultimately do my part to “change the d*mn state!”
Our state and communities need us—perhaps now more than ever. A network of leaders that care more about the state than they do themselves or their personal agendas is a light and north star that could yield generational fruit. We know how to have difficult conversations. We know how to disagree and find common ground. We know how to implement change. That’s what we were taught and continue to learn through Blackburn. Our state and communities need that. And, we need each other for perspective, encouragement, and support.
Candidate 1 of 1: Taylor FallsTaylor Falls (she/her) is a passionate advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) who thrives on driving meaningful change within organizations. With a Bachelor of Science in Commerce and Business Administration from The Capstone, Taylor has dedicated her career to making a tangible difference. During her time at the University of Alabama, Taylor was an invaluable member and executive board leader to multiple organizations on campus, including but not limited to Culverhouse Ambassadors, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc, Black Faculty and Staff Association Ambassadors, Alpha Kappa Psi Business Fraternity, Culverhouse DEI Leadership Mentors, and Professional Women in Communication and Business. In these organizations, Taylor left her mark by pioneering endeavors to bring greater equity to the campus, including by starting an annual scholarship through her sorority that provided high school seniors funding interested in pursuing higher education. Currently, in her role at Adobe, Taylor serves as a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Specialist, where she has been instrumental in spearheading initiatives that have transformed the company culture. Notably, she leads Adobe’s groundbreaking self-identification campaign, leveraging her expertise to assess stakeholder sentiments and implement changes that have fostered a more inclusive work environment. Beyond these accomplishments, Taylor has participated in prestigious programs such as the Harvard Business School Summer Venture in Management Program, where she has continued to amplify her impact. From these learnings, Taylor has created her own platform on LinkedIn focused on providing college students and entry-level new grads with job and professional development opportunities. Driven by a deep-seated commitment to fostering inclusive environments and promoting equity at every turn, Taylor continues to make waves, leaving an indelible mark on the organizations and communities she serves.
Born and raised in Alabama, Taylor has always harbored a deep-seated desire to enhance the quality of life for all its residents. Motivated by this passion, she eagerly sought to contribute to the state’s betterment by applying to join the esteemed Blackburn class of 2022. During her tenure as a Blackburn Fellow, Taylor engaged in the Daniels Community Scholars Project titled “Keep the Tide Clean,” a venture aimed at implementing sustainable measures to preserve Alabama’s waterways. Despite the project not securing funding, Taylor leveraged the insights gained to advocate for environmental consciousness within organizations like BFSAA, inspiring fellow students to adopt eco-friendly practices. As a recent Fellow as of 2023, Taylor remains steadfast in her dedication to the Institute. She is committed to supporting students interested in transitioning to the DC area post-graduation, recognizing the importance of nurturing communities for mutual growth and learning. Taylor firmly believes that fostering inclusive connections is key to effecting meaningful change in Alabama and beyond.
As mentioned, fostering inclusive connections is key to effecting meaningful change in Alabama and beyond. Thus, I am committed to creating and disseminating compelling content, capturing the essence of Blackburn’s mission and the remarkable achievements of our Fellows. Through strategic utilization of social media platforms such as LinkedIn and targeted email campaigns, I aim to amplify the visibility of Institute activities and highlight the individual accomplishments of Blackburn Fellows, fostering a sense of pride and camaraderie within the community. As life continues to move at what seems like an increasing rate, it is the ability to support one another that will keep us upright. I aim to be a driving force for unity, acknowledgment, and empowerment within the Blackburn Fellowship community, ensuring that every Fellow feels respected, uplifted, and motivated to create significant impacts within our Institute and in broader spheres.
Candidate 1 of 1: Kyle Van FrankBorn and raised in Memphis, TN, Kyle Van Frank is a nonprofit leader and creative storyteller committed to leaving the world better than he found it. A product of Catholic K-12 education, Kyle attended The University of Alabama and received a BA in Theatre with a Concentration in Musical Theatre, as well as double minors in Spanish and Political Science. After graduation, Kyle’s work as a professional actor, director, and teaching artist took him around the country to venues in Alabama, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, and Tennessee. For two years, his work with Florida Studio Theatre’s WRITE A PLAY program provided opportunities to teach playwriting to students in grades K-12 across the country, as well as a virtual residency to students in Israel. Following his time in Florida, Kyle spent two years working as the Director of Alumni for his alma mater, St. Benedict at Auburndale High School. There, Kyle increased alumni giving by 300% and supported the school’s development, admissions, communications, and special events efforts. Kyle is a 2019 Sullivan Scholar, a 2017 Blackburn Fellow, and a graduate of University of Denver’s Master of Science in Nonprofit Leadership program where he studied Mission-Driven Operations & Management and Philanthropy & Resource Development. Kyle resides in Denver, CO where he serves as Executive Director of FIRE Foundation of Denver, a local nonprofit with a mission to champion the inclusion of students with disabilities in Catholic schools by providing educational resources, fundraising, and promoting a culture of belonging.
Over the past seven years, Blackburn has provided a challenging environment to listen, learn, and grow. As a student, I had the privilege of participating in Blackburn for a year as a new student and an additional year as a returning student. Participating in Blackburn’s current student curriculum through travel experiences, symposiums, spring networking dinners, values discussions, and Daniels Community Scholars opened my eyes to the rich history and culture of the state of Alabama, the issues facing the present, and the roadmap to a brighter future. The foundation of my work in community organizing, leadership, and project implementation, I owe to Blackburn. As a fellow, I’ve benefited greatly from the mentorship, networking, discussion, and learning provided by FIN. Attending zoom sessions and forums has connected me to fellows across the country and taught me a great deal on a variety of issues. For the past two years, I’ve served as the FIN’s Internal Vice Chair, helping develop deeper connections amongst Fellows.
If elected as External Vice-Chairperson, I hope to build upon the success of the past FIN officers and expand the Institute’s Fellow-based support. Working with Blackburn Fellows and staff, I hope to be able to foster a culture of giving amongst Fellows, as a means of planting seeds for the future. We have all benefited deeply from the gifts of Blackburn Institute, and through giving of time, talent, and treasure, Fellows can ensure future generations experience what we did and more. The Fellows Involvement Network fosters a continued commitment to the Blackburn Institute’s mission, vision, and values for its Fellows for a lifetime. I hope to continue to have a hand in listening to Fellows and responding with meaningful ways to engage them amidst their busy lives and develop systems of support for such an important resource on The University of Alabama’s campus.
