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Meet The Team

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Sarah Presnell

Executive Director

Sarah Presnell, a Yancey County native and Mountain Heritage High School graduate, brings a wealth of experience to her role as Executive Director. She earned her undergraduate degree in History and Religious Studies from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and a Master’s in Museum Studies from University College London. With deep roots in Western North Carolina dating back to the late 18th and early 19th centuries, Sarah is deeply connected to the region’s heritage and committed to preserving its legacy.

828-536-0337

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Hannah Presnell

Media Director

Meet Hannah Presnell, a Yancey County native and Mountain Heritage High School graduate (Class of 2019). Hannah earned her undergraduate degree in History and Communication Studies from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. With extensive experience in media within the historical sector, she is dedicated to preserving and promoting Appalachian heritage. Her deep roots in Western NC fuel her passion for maintaining the region’s rich cultural legacy.

828-536-0337

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Kiesa Kay

Programs Manager

Kiesa Kay, BSJ, MA, RYT200,  poet and playwright, has edited two educational anthologies, one of which received the Legacy Award as the best book for parents and teachers in its publication year. She co-wrote Images of America: Yancey County with Elaine McAlister Dellinger. Kiesa's historical plays have been presented in six states.  Love Makes A Home: The Story of Rebecca Boone was featured as a convocation at Berea College and has been shown in more than 20 venues, including Cumberland Gap National Historical Park, the Folk Art Center on the Blue Ridge Parkway, the Orchard at Altapass, and as a livestream for Ouachita Little Theater during the pandemic.. Thunder is the Mountain's Voice has been presented at Rocky Mountain National Park and was chosen for a special sesquicentennial celebration in Estes Park, Colorado, in 2023. Her new play, Sky Eyes, received its first staged reading this year at Hendersonville Little Theater. As a member of Storytelling for Collective Healing, Kiesa co-created Creating Our Own Resilience, which was performed at La Mama Experimental Theater in New York City. Kiesa previously owned a writing retreat in the South of France, where she penned her memoir, Tornado Alley. Kiesa conducts a monthly webinar on Transforming Trauma through Creative Expression for Survivor Space, and she has written freelance articles for numerous publications, including WNC Magazine, Mountain Xpress, and Blue Ridge Christian News. 

828-536-0337

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John Hughes

Farm Manager

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