Board of Directors
Hasan Davis
Chair
Hasan Davis is a hope dealer. He has committed himself to improve the lives of children, youth and families across the nation and world. A GED recipient, Hasan earned his Bachelor’s degree from Berea College and his Juris Doctor from the University of Kentucky College of Law. Hasan is a Council of State Governments, Henry Toll Fellow, a Rockefeller Foundation, Next Generation Leadership Fellow, and a Children and Families Fellow at the Annie E. Casey Foundation. He has served as Commissioner of the Kentucky Department of Juvenile Justice and Vice-Chairman of the Federal Advisory Committee on Juvenile Justice. His work has focused on youth violence prevention, juvenile justice reform, and education inclusion. Hasan is the author of two books and lives in Berea, Kentucky with his wife and their two sons.
Mandi Fugate Sheffel
Mandi Fugate Sheffel was born and raised in Red Fox, Kentucky. A graduate of Eastern Kentucky University, she found her passion for writing and storytelling at the Appalachian Writers Workshop at the Hindman Settlement School. Her personal essays and opinion pieces can be found in Still: The Journal, Lexington-Herald Leader, and the Courier Journal. Her forthcoming personal essay collection, The Nature of Pain, will be released in 2025 through The University Press of Kentucky. She owns and operates, Read Spotted Newt, an independent bookstore in the coalfields of eastern Kentucky. She is also the Sycamore Fund Project Coordinator at The Foundation for Appalachian Kentucky. Through her work with the Sycamore Fund, she works with other community partners on decriminalization of substance use and mental illness. In addition to being on Mountain Association’s board, she is the board vice chair of the Appalachian Arts Alliance.
Robin Gabbard
President
Robin Gabbard became Mountain Association President in 2024. Robin has spent her entire career serving Appalachia. Prior to becoming President, she served as Chief Operating Officer for LKLP Community Action, an agency of more than 300 employees that serves Leslie, Knott, Letcher, and Perry counties. With more than 30 years of experience in nonprofit leadership, Robin was also previously the Associate Executive Director of the Foundation for Appalachian Kentucky and the Director for Teach for America Appalachia. Additionally, she served as Board Chair of the Mountain Association for five years and continues to serve as Board Chair for Buckhorn Children & Family Services. Robin and her family are rooted in Gays Creek, a beautiful Perry County community.
Chase Carson
Chase Carson is a dedicated public servant and community advocate based in London, Kentucky. With a background in business and public administration, he brings expertise in nonprofit leadership, financial management, and policy development to his work across sectors. Chase recently served as an Accountant at Delta Natural Gas/Peoples Gas, where he managed multi-million-dollar budgets and financial strategy. He is also the Founding Director of Unity Allies, a nonprofit focused on diversity, equity, and community growth, and serves as Treasurer for the City of London’s Tourism Commission. Chase worked closely with the Mountain Association in 2021, helping launch the SPARK Nonprofit Collaborative to support grassroots organizations across Eastern Kentucky. In 2024, Chase was awarded the title of Kentucky Colonel, the highest honor from the Commonwealth of Kentucky, recognizing his service and leadership in the state. His contributions have consistently centered on expanding access to resources, building sustainable programs, and elevating underserved voices and communities.
