Our Leadership Team

Meet Jim Ayers

Meet Janet Ayers

Chief Executive Officer

Dr. Burton Williams

Dr. Burton Williams became the Chief Executive Officer of the Ayers Foundation Trust in 2023. Dr. Williams is a veteran leader in business, development, and education. He spent nearly 25 years in higher education administration, community engagement, academics, and research. Most recently, Dr. Williams was the Director of Trustcore Institutional at TrustCore located in Brentwood, TN. He previously served as Associate Vice President for Advancement, as well as Assistant Dean of the College of Education and Associate Dean of the College of Business at Lipscomb University in Nashville. He earlier held similar roles at Freed-Hardeman University in West Tennessee.

Dr. Williams serves on the Board of Jackson State Community College Foundation, The Foundation for the College System of Tennessee, Tennessee Independent College and University Association, and is the Past-President of the Financial Planning Association of Middle, TN. He has a Doctor of Education from Lipscomb University, a Master of Science in financial planning, and a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting from Freed-Hardeman University.

Scholars Leadership Team

Operations Team

Come Home Tennessee

MEET THE AYERS COUNSELORS

Our staff are independent from the school administration and all of their costs are covered by the Ayers Foundation Trust.

OUR COUNSELING TEAM

About the Founders

Jim Ayers credits his college education as a major factor in his successful career in healthcare management and banking. However, at a young age, he witnessed friends who did not have the financial resources or opportunities to continue their education beyond high school. Mr. Ayers started the foundation in his name in 1999 to guarantee that no child from his hometown of Parsons, Tennessee would be denied a college education due to lack of funds.

Janet Ayers joined the foundation as President in 2007 after more than twenty years as a leader in healthcare administration. Thanks to her vision and leadership, the work and support of the Ayers Scholars Program has expanded all across Tennessee and serves as a leading model for other college success programs across the country.