Jamie Gilbert is the Operations and Communications Coordinator at Brushy Fork Leadership Institute, where she leads organizational operations and strategic communications and supports programs that strengthen communities throughout Appalachia. A first-generation college graduate from Bell County, Kentucky, Jamie holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Berea College and a Master of Public Administration from Eastern Kentucky University, with a focus on nonprofit management and community development. Drawing on her education and experience in the nonprofit sector, her work focuses on organizational effectiveness, cultivating regional leadership, and building capacity for community-driven change. She is passionate about empowering Appalachian youth and emerging leaders see themselves as agents of positive change, fostering a sense of belonging, and deepening appreciation for the unique communities and places that shape them.