Meet Our Team of Experts
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Shirley Leew
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Dr. Shirley Leew is committed to providing quality early childhood experiences for every child, believing that “solid beginnings are the best intervention”.
She is an early childhood specialist with expertise in innovative research, identification and interventions, grant procurement and management, teaching, professional mentoring, and training. Her previous experience includes directing a research support team for a large health services organization.
Shirley values teamwork facilitated by respectful, honest and direct communication for collective collaborative engagement. She believes in generous research translation for broad knowledge dissemination that ensures best practices and optimum outcomes in early childhood. Shirley is dedicated to SSTC’s innovation and creativity that continues to grow a community of best services for all our young children.
For fun, Shirley rides her retired performance Quarter Horse, Hickup, enjoys walks and hikes anywhere in wild nature with her old dog Bo, swims, reads and knits.
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Eileen Mouyard
MANAGING DIRECTOR
A member of SSTC’s team since 2019, Eileen has worked within the organization to develop strategic messaging, communication, and outreach plans consistent with SSTC’s mission, vision, and values. Additionally, she coordinated a coherent and organized approach to WNC region-wide SSIC implementation that supports and expands local agencies’ capacity for building resilient, family-focused communities that measurably improve early childhood learning and health and social outcomes for children and families.
She grew up in a rural Appalachian community on the West Virginia and Maryland borders and developed an early awareness to the challenges that individuals and families can face from living in rural landscapes. Her background is compiled with work in communications, team and brand management, and writing. She believes that all people—especially children— deserve opportunities to thrive.
Her passions and curiosities outside of her professional wheelhouse include gardening, reading, cooking and baking, and exploring the mountains on hikes, bikes, and runs.
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Aiyanna Lollis
ADVOCACY AND STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST
Aiyanna works to influence positive change in the early childhood community of Western North Carolina and advocate for families on behalf of SSTC. Her roles works to help build capacity and quality in early child care, support policy changes that positively impact the development of infants and young children, and share knowledge and resources with families in the community so that all children enter school prepared to succeed. Much of her work is rooted in communications and she supports our Sesame Street in Communities regional partnership through social media management, content creation, and public engagement.
She was raised in the upstate of South Carolina and spent many weekends of her childhood exploring the hiking trails of western North Carolina with her family. While pursuing her Bachelors of English at College of Charleston, she worked for a nonprofit serving at-risk children living in poverty and developed a passion for equality in early childhood education. She is especially driven to increase childhood literacy and wants all children to have access to the resources and foundational materials needed to thrive academically.
Her personal interests include writing, traveling, live music, and going on long walks with her pup, Nico.
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Chelsea Stewart
COMPREHENSIVE NETWORK FACILITATOR
Chelsea’s role as Network Facilitator works to aid multiple programs and initiatives that encompass SSTC’s family support. Most notably, our GetSet Babies program, which offers family support for expectant and new parents, caregivers, and their babies. As well as our Family Friend and Neighbor care network, which offers support to our home-based child care initiatives.
She and was born and raised in Brevard, North Carolina and received her Bachelors in Psychology at Western Carolina University. After graduation, she moved back to Transylvania County to start a family and raise her children in her hometown.
Chelsea brings to SSTC her sincere and authentic passion for helping people and enabling them towards thriving. She believes in community based approaches to assisting families and meeting people where they are and that anyone has the ability to be resilient if given the proper support and tools.
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Kathryn Woodward
FAMILY HEALTH SERVICES ADVISOR
As the Family Health Services Advisor, Kathryn is excited to support and enhance new and innovative pilot programs as well as existing services to ensure that community needs are being met. The role is dedicated to ensuring that all eligible families in Transylvania County have the access to support and opportunities that they need to be able to thrive and be successful. She is excited to expand upon the services that Smart Start can offer and continue to impact positive change in Transylvania County.
A Texas native, she fell in love with the Carolinas first through Clemson University, which she graduated from in 2011 earning her Bachelors in Social Work. Having worked the last thirteen years within South Carolina child welfare and the nonprofit world she is excited to continue that passion of improving outcomes for children and families here in Western North Carolina.
Her personal interests include hiking, animal rescue, trying all the local bakeries and coffee shops and volunteering in the local community. She is excited to explore Transylvania County more and all that this area and community has to offer.
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Susan Thrower
EARLY CHILDHOOD PROJECT LEAD
Susan is a dedicated and accomplished professional with a multifaceted background encompassing childcare, education, entrepreneurship, and administration.
As the Early Childhood Project Lead, Susan is responsible for leading the team in critical family support project areas such as maternal and Infant support programs and the home based childcare network. Susan’s role is also essential to assessing community needs and implementing effective solutions.
For Susan, advocating on behalf of children is both a professional and a personal responsibility. Her passion for empowering families is deeply rooted in the philosophy that diversity is vital to the richness of a pluralistic society, and that there must be equity in child development if every child is to realize their full potential.
Susan was born in Charlotte, NC and attended the College of Charleston in SC where she earned a bachelor’s degree in Education. She also completed the Teacher Licensure program at Brevard College. Susan most enjoys spending time with family, reading, nature and travel.
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Laura Towell
FAMILY SUPPORT SPECIALIST
Laura is dedicated to creating lasting and positive change for the families she serves in the community. As the Family Support Specialist, she implements the Parents as Teachers model, focusing on the importance of parent-child interaction, development-centered parenting, and overall family well-being. Laura extends her support through in-home visiting services, where she provides an empathetic and holistic approach to guide and empower parents, children, and families. Laura partners with families during each home visit to foster natural learning opportunities and compassionate interactions, all grounded in evidence-based research and child development principles. She facilitates growth and reflection, helping families achieve their goals and meet their needs.
Laura’s responsibilities also include facilitating monthly parent group meetings, and community events. She coordinates services with other community programs and makes recommendations for further screenings and evaluations as needed. Laura believes that the well-being of children is our future, and she strives to make a meaningful impact in the lives of the families she works with every day.
She grew up in Tampa, FL and fell in love with the spirit and beauty of WNC. Laura graduated from Appalachian State University with a B.S. in Child Development-Child and Family Studies, and a minor in Nonprofit Management. In her free time, Laura enjoys hiking, reading, traveling, cuddling her dalmatian, and teaching yoga & meditation.
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David Berry
FINANCE MANAGER
David has 10+ years of experience working with not-for-profit organizations in a variety of roles ranging from external auditor to finance director. He believes that structure supports creativity, and that a well-founded finance function can help 'free' an organization to fulfill its' mission. While not a parent himself, he recognizes the importance of early childhood development and excites in being part of a team focused on helping further this cause.
David was raised in Tallahassee, Florida and spent time during the summers camping and recreating in North Georgia and Western Carolina. His passions outside of work include Buddhist studies, yoga, and enjoying the outdoors with his pitbull, Penny.
Team & Leadership
Board of Directors
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Pam Pallas is currently enjoying her second career as the owner/innkeeper at The Bromfield Inn in Brevard, but her first career and first love was early childhood special education. Growing up with a sister with developmental delays, she began working with children with special needs by volunteering for ARC summer camps. She began her teaching career as a kindergarten teacher and started working with younger and younger children as research and experience confirmed the need for intervention and support beginning as early as infancy.
Pam earned a Bachelor’s in elementary education, a Master’s in special education, and a PhD in early childhood special education. She taught pre-service teachers at Vanderbilt University and the University of Florida and was the director of several child care centers over the years. The last 13 years she was the director of Baby Gator Child Development and Research Centers at the University of Florida where she developed three fully inclusive centers serving over 350 children ages birth to five.
Pam shares innkeeper duties with her husband Abe. In her free time, she enjoys visiting their children Molly and Christopher and doting on grandchildren Charlie, Jacob, Josiah and Isabel, reading a good mystery and making quilts.
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Stacy has a BA in Psychology and has managed the Foster Grandparent Program at Land of Sky for 15 years. Stacy currently serves as a Board Member for the Southern Cluster for the National Association of Foster Grandparent Program Directors, has served on the planning committee for the National Foster Grandparent, Senior Companion and RSVP conference for the past two years as well, and has served as a Mentor of the Corporation for National & Community Service National Peer Mentoring Program.
In addition, Stacy serves on the Early Childhood Initiative, CARE Coalition, and Madison County Children’s Collaborative.
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Lisa Sheffield is the Adult Services Librarian at the Transylvania County Library and is serving her second term on the Smart Start Board. She wears many hats at the Library including responsibilities for programming for adults, collection development, IT support, supervision of Reference, Outreach Services, and Technical Services, and staff training.
She grew up in Albany, GA, attended Georgia Southern for a BA in History, and the University of Tennessee at Knoxville for her Masters in Library and Information Science. She and her husband Scott have one daughter, Emily, who attends the University of North Carolina-Charlotte, and three cats, London, Luna, and Thalia. She loves to read books of all types, be outside in our beautiful mountains, and to spend time watching the Atlanta Braves play baseball.
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Liz Dobbins-Smith is a Raleigh native but moved to the mountains of North Carolina in 2018. She resides in Brevard with her husband Joe and their energetic kids (8 year old son Elliot and 5 ½ year old daughter Eleanor) who tirelessly keep their parents running in circles!
Liz currently serves as Executive Director for the North Carolina Economic Development Association (NCEDA). She loves being at the heart of NCEDA and working to strengthen North Carolina’s economic development community every day.
Liz has had great opportunities in her career working for the Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce, Leadership North Carolina (LNC), the North Carolina Department of Commerce, the North Carolina Bankers Association and the North Carolina Restaurant & Lodging Association.
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Mark Ellenberger is a lifetime resident of Transylvania County. He attended Straus Elementary, Brevard Elementary, Brevard Middle and graduated from Brevard High School in 1990. In addition, both of Mark's parents retired from careers at Transylvania County Schools.
He attended the University of North Carolina at Charlotte where he received a degree in Criminal Justice. Upon graduation, Mark returned to Transylvania County and began his role as an Adult Probation/Parole Officer. After working in that capacity for two years he then accepted an appointment as a magistrate judge in Transylvania County. He was a magistrate for ten years before moving to the Transylvania County Sheriff's Office.
For 13 years Mark served as the School Resource Officer at Brevard High School. Most recently, Mark moved to the Criminal Investigations Division of the Sheriff's Office where he currently serves as the Sergeant in that division.
His wife of 25+ years, Missy, is also a lifetime resident of Transylvania County and has worked her whole career with the Transylvania County Schools. She currently is the Director of Curriculum for grades 9-12, Director of Safe Schools and the Director of Student Services. They have two boys, Tanner and Luke. Both went on to play college football after they graduated from Brevard High School. Tanner played at Appalachian State and graduated in May 2020. Luke is currently in his 3rd year playing football at Coastal Carolina University.
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Chuck is a lifelong resident of Transylvania County. Chuck is married to his wife April and they have two beautiful daughters. He graduated from Brevard High School in 1994 and then graduated from Mars Hill College with a Bachelors Degree in Sociology with a concentrate in Criminal Justice.
Chuck started his career in law enforcement in 2002 when he swore in with the Transylvania County Sheriff’s Office. Chuck has held the position of Deputy Sheriff, School Resource Officer, Sgt. in the Patrol Division and is now the Professional Standards and Training Lt.
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Kimberlee Dodson is an ordained deacon in the First United Methodist Church of Brevard, with her certification in Christian Education. She is a graduate of Furman University and Scarritt Graduate School. After working in Naples, Florida and Durham, NC, she and her husband, Marcus, moved to Brevard in 1993. Kim served as a full time educator from 1993-1998.
When her second child was born, she became a full-time mother while also continuing her work leading an adult Sunday School class, teaching, and helping with other community endeavors. In 2006, Kim returned to a part-time role in which she still serves today. She has three children, Maggie, Jeremy, and Emilee, who were all born and raised here in Brevard and are now spreading their wings in the world.
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Nan Lee has a BS and MS in Child Development and Family Relations and has had a long career working in and administering programs for students, young children, and families including serving as a faculty member in East Carolina University’s Department of Child Development and directing the Child Development Laboratory. Although most of her career took place in eastern North Carolina, upon moving to Brevard in 2008 she began providing infant/toddler support and services to families of young children with special needs. More recently Nan mentored and evaluated Birth Through Kindergarten teachers and taught early education workshops to early childhood teachers. She currently serves on Transylvania County’s Birth Through Kindergarten Committee. Nan now works part time in the Davidson River Recovery Clinic and enjoys spending time with her young grandchildren, gardening, hiking, and volunteering in the community.