YHC Board elects two new trustees at Fall meeting
Young Harris, GA (12/10/2025) — Young Harris College's Board of Trustees elected two new trustees - Jaclyn Jones Ashe and Michael Thomas - at its Board meeting on Nov. 14 in Atlanta.
Jaclyn Jones Ashe
Ashe, an alumna of Young Harris College Class of 2000, is the President and Operating Partner for Jacky Jones Ford of Hayesville, NC. Her leadership reflects a commitment not only to the success of her business but also to the vitality of the community and the legacy of education and service within her family.
Ashe has maintained a strong connection to her alma mater throughout her personal and professional life. She is president of the YHC Mountain Lion Club, the fundraising arm for the YHC Athletics program. Ashe and her family received the YHC Alumni Association's YHC Family of the Year Award in 2025 for their dedication and support of the College for many, many years.
Married to Justin Ashe for 26 years, she is the mother of two: Kolbe and Emma, who are both current students at YHC, making it the fourth generation from this family to attend YHC. Ashe and her family attend the Village Church in Hayesville.
Michael L. Thomas
Thomas, an alumnus of Young Harris Class of 1980, is with the Department of Defense as a Senior Defense Intelligence and Operations Leader, with more than 40 years of military and civilian experience supporting joint, interagency, and multinational operations across Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.
The retired Lieutenant Colonel with the United States Air Force earned his Associate of Science in Education from Young Harris College before heading to the University of Georgia, where he earned his Bachelor of Science in Education in 1982. He then earned his Master of Public Administration at Webster University in 1988. He is also a Senior Executive Fellow with Harvard University.
Thomas is married to Kim Kolifrath, of Deerfield Beach, FL, and has four children: Heather, Hannah, Travis, and John-Michael (YHC, Class of 2016.) He received the YHC Alumni Association Award for Lifetime Career Achievement in 2017.
About Young Harris College
Young Harris College is a private baccalaureate and master's degree-granting institution located in the beautiful mountains of North Georgia. Founded in 1886 and historically affiliated with The United Methodist Church, Young Harris College educates, inspires, and empowers students through an education that purposefully integrates the liberal arts and professional studies. The College has four academic divisions: Fine Arts; Humanities; Mathematics, Science, and Technology; and Professional Studies. Approximately 1,400 students are enrolled in its residential and Early College programs. The College is an active member of the NCAA Division II and remains a fierce competitor in the Conference Carolinas. For more information, visit yhc.edu.
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