Emily Nicholson is a native of Northeastern North Carolina, raised by two dedicated community advocates who instilled in her a lifelong commitment to service and equity. She graduated as Valedictorian from the Political Science department at NC State University and later earned a graduate degree from East Carolina University.

Emily brings a strong background in workforce development, having served as the Assistant Director for the Northeastern Workforce Development Board. In that role, she worked to strengthen the skills and readiness of both emerging and current workers across a 10-county region to meet the evolving needs of local employers.

With experience as both a high school and community college educator and as a mother of three young daughters, Emily understands firsthand the critical connections between education and economic opportunity. She is deeply committed to applying an equity-focused lens to the work of the P20 Council.

As Executive Director, Emily leads the Collaborative by bringing together cross-sector leaders to encourage innovation, build alignment with statewide efforts like myFutureNC, and drive coordinated action. She supports Council members in connecting their institutional priorities with shared goals, maintains ongoing communication across partners, and oversees the development and implementation of a measurable plan for success.

Melissa Zenz currently fills three roles at the Land of Sky P20 Council: Community Engagement and Data Management Specialist, Workforce Opportunity for Rural Communities (WORC) Grant Administrator, and YouthBuild Project Director.

Melissa Zenz is passionate about identifying the root causes of disparities and injustices and working on policy solutions to reform and remove systemic barriers. She has called Asheville home for almost two decades, and during that time, she has heeded her strong internal calling to service as she has volunteered and worked in the public health field all over Western North Carolina, primarily in the disability, mental health, and education sectors. She is a graduate of the NC Rural Center’s Homegrown Leaders program, and her diverse skills include Collaborative Problem Solving, Motivational Interviewing, technical writing, and project management.

Melissa is a polymath and former MENSA member who has been a soccer coach, an entrepreneur, a Latin teacher, and a niche financial analyst. She has a B.S. in Health Science from the University of North Carolina at Asheville and a Google Data Analytics Professional Certificate.

Katlen Smith serves as P20’s Administrative Support Specialist, bringing a sharp eye for detail and a passion for organization to everything she does. After a successful career as a realtor in Asheville, she made a purposeful shift toward mission-driven work and quickly became an essential part of the P20 team.

Katlen plays a key role in coordinating the Student Representative program, leading its development and management. She also oversees internal and external communications, social media campaigns, and a wide range of administrative responsibilities that help keep the Council’s work running smoothly and effectively.

Originally from Connecticut, Katlen has also called the Chicago area and Boulder, Colorado home. She and her husband chose Asheville as their forever home in 2009, settling in with their then three-year-old daughter. Outside of work, Katlen is an artist, an avid traveler, and a passionate hockey fan.