23/54 PROJECT

Jill Williams

Executive Director

Jill Williams first became interested in revitalizing the legacy of the Calfee Training School because of her concern about the limited childcare options for families in Pulaski County, but as she got involved, she saw opportunities to bring her educational and professional background to the table.  As a student at Davidson College, Jill conducted oral history research around the desegregation of the Charlottes Mecklenburg School System. After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in religion,  Jill earned a masters degree in conflict resolution from Antioch University McGregor and went on to become the executive director of the Greensboro Truth and Reconciliation Commission, the first entity of its kind in the United States, modeled after similar commissions in South Africa and Central and South America. From there, she went to New York where she worked as a program officer at a national foundation supporting community reconciliation and child welfare initiatives around the United States and later as the coordinator for leadership initiatives at the Center for Social Inclusion, supporting grassroots public policy initiatives around the country. After having their first child, Jill and her husband decided to move back to her hometown of Pulaski where she worked as the Director of the Accountability in Student Learning Program at New River Community College before she got involved in and ultimately became the executive director of the Calfee Center.

Keiona Henderson

Project Coordinator

Keiona Henderson, 27, hails from Blacksburg, VA. Inspired by the enduring legacy of her grandparents, Reverend Jessie Eaves and Thomas Eaves, she embarked on a journey of historical research and social reconciliation five years ago. Throughout her career, Keiona has held various roles across multiple organizations, most notably serving as the Director of Strategic Communications for Calvary Revival Church in Norfolk, VA, where she focused on reducing barriers for economically disadvantaged and vulnerable populations. Additionally, she gained valuable experience as a congressional intern for Virginia’s 2nd Congressional District, which encompasses diverse communities along the southeastern coast of the state. 

Currently, Keiona is making significant contributions as the Project Coordinator for the 23/54 initiative. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, exploring poetry, and attending live music events.

Clay Adkins

Research Director

Clay Adkins is originally from eastern Kentucky, where he graduated from Morehead State University with a B.A. in History in 2018. Adkins finished his M.A. in History from Virginia Tech in May of 2021. His thesis, “The Great Appalachian Flood of 1977: Prisoners, Labor, and Community Perceptions in Wise, Virginia,” examined how incarcerated peoples’ labor was used during disaster relief efforts and how the surrounding communities reacted. Since 2021, Adkins has worked as the Research Director at the Calfee Community & Cultural Center. After living and working remotely in Illinois for the past year, Adkins returned to the New River Valley to work on the 23/54 Project as Research Lead. After several years of working closely with the CCCC, Clay is excited to continue his work as a member of the 23/54 Project. In addition to his work with the Calfee and the 23/45 Project, Adkins is pursuing a Master of Library & Information Science from the University of Illinois.

Kamille Simon

Research Fellow

Kamille Simon, from Northern Virginia, is on track to graduate with a bachelor’s degree in history and social sciences education from Virginia Tech in the spring of 2026. Beginning in the summer of 2024, Kamille conducted archival research on online databases and in physical archives, cataloging the abundant history of Black individuals in Appalachia, as it pertains to the Civil Rights Movement, education, segregation, and the Calfee Training School. As she interprets this history, Kamille is working to produce an online interactive exhibit to support the mission of the project. Doing this by showcasing the many individual stories that exemplify the enduring bravery and resilience within this community. To supplement this research and storytelling, Kamille worked closely with community members at various events such as, the quilting workshops, oral history interviews, the story-swap, advisory board meetings, and other celebrations, capturing a more nuanced picture. Kamille aims to continue her meaningful engagement with this history and the community with excitement to learn more. 

Oluwatoni Ikhile

Research Fellow

Oluwatoni Ikhile is a second-year student at Virginia Tech majoring in psychology and philosophy, with an additional interest in Africana studies. In the past, Oluwatoni has been involved and gained valuable experience in her work on the Kentland plantation signage project, through Virginia Tech’s First-Year- Experience class for History. She also held a semester-long position as a Teacher’s Assistant for Intro to Africana Studies, under Virginia Tech’s sociology department. Through the 23/54 Public History Fellowship, Oluwatoni aims to contribute to the project’s objectives by assisting with research and documentation of the history of Black Appalachia. In her free time, Oluwatoni enjoys reading, writing, and practicing the guitar.

Kent Taylor

Research Volunteer

Kent Taylor has lived in the New River Valley for nearly all of his adult life. Retiring from a career in various church ministries in 2022, he now enjoys working with the Research Team and 23/54 Project Fellows at the Calfee Cultural Center, digging into the past and learning so much along the way. He also volunteers with the Wilderness Road Regional Museum. He and his wife Nancy are devoted fans of the Radford Highlanders men’s and women’s basketball teams.They enjoy travel, two exceptional grandchildren, and they hit the rails-trails on their e-bikes every chance they get.

Jamie Raczynski

Research Fellow

Jamie Raczynski is an intern with Monuments Across Appalachian Virginia, working on the Calfee’s 23/54 project. Having lived in Southwest Virginia for most of her life, Jamie is currently a student at Virginia Tech, where she is studying History and plans to graduate in Spring 2026. After graduation, she plans on enrolling in Virginia Tech’s History and Social Sciences Education Masters program in hopes of becoming a high school history teacher. As a project fellow, Jamie has been involved in the research, design, and now digital exhibit work of the 23/54 project. Jamie has worked closely with the Pulaski community to ensure the historical facts and family stories are told accurately and according to the family’s wishes at various events such as the quilting workshops, story swaps, oral history interviews, museum advisory board meetings, unveilings, and other events. From many hours spent researching, writing, and piecing together the digital exhibit website, Jamie has been involved in almost all aspects of the 23/54 project both in person and online. As a history major, this experience taught Jamie about the importance of the creative process in preserving memory and generating community ties that fuel community organizing, as well as many new skillsets such as digital exhibit and archival work. 

Tristan Hickman

Research Fellow

Born and raised in Pulaski, VA, Tristan graduated with honors in Human Services from New River Community College and has been working in workforce development ever since. She serves as an intercessor, praise team member, and worship leader at the Spirit of Life Worship Center and is a devoted mother of three. Tristan’s deep connections to most of the twenty-three families make her an invaluable asset to the project.

Jessica Taylor

Faculty Advisor

Jessica Taylor is the Director of Public History and an Associate Professor of History at Virginia Tech. Her book Plain Paths and Dividing Lines: Navigating Native Land and Water in the Seventeenth-Century Chesapeake explores Indigenous and nonelite mobility in what is now Eastern Virginia and Maryland. Jessica received her PhD in history from the University of Florida and her BA and MA from the College of William and Mary in Virginia.

Michael Hickman

Committee Chair

Dr. Hickman is the president of the CCCC’s Board of Directors and chair of its museum/archives committee. He attended Calfee Training School and Christiansburg Institute. He retired after 42 years with Pulaski County Public Schools where he worked as a principal, high school history teacher, civic teacher and athletic coach. 

Mariam Ismail

Digital Projects Consultant

Mariam serves as the Digital Projects Coordinator at Virginia Tech Publishing, where she supports community projects in utilizing platforms and creating digital exhibits. She is passionate about integrating diverse mediums to craft multimodal storytelling experiences that foster positive social change, promote accessibility, and enhance community engagement. For the 23/54 Project, she guided the creative and technical development of the website and digital exhibit from concept to completion.