Aristófanes Cedeño, Executive Director and Academic Dean
Born and raised in Panama, Dr. Cedeño earned the degree of Attorney at Law at the University of Panama, where he taught political science before moving to the U.S. and obtaining his Ph.D. in Spanish literature from Michigan State University. For fifteen years, he worked as a professor at the University of Louisville. He has published a book on Panamanian culture. His research interests include natural law, the nineteenth century, and the Romantic Movement. He has published and edited a book and several papers in these areas. Dr. Cedeño joined the GSP as faculty in 1992 and has served the Program as Campus Director (NKU 1995-2001), Academic Dean (1998-present), and Executive Director (2006-present). Dr. Cedeño serves on the Board of the Kentucky Humanities Council and the National Conference of Governor's Schools. He has completed appointments as an American Counsel on Education (ACE) Fellow (2006-2007, University of Pittsburgh) and a Bingham Fellow (Louisville, 2012).
Doug Draut, President of the GSP Foundation
Mr. Draut, a native of Louisville, is a graduate of Eastern Kentucky University (AS and BS) and Webster University (MA). Having spent the first twenty years of his career in the corporate world with Thomas Industries, Vest Advertising, Robinson Nugent and 3M, he then transitioned his career to the nonprofit sector. Mr. Draut started his career in fundraising with the Cedar Lake Foundation (Louisville) and then spent 11 years at Centre College (Danville) before heading to Berry College (Rome, GA). Mr. Draut carries responsibility for all aspects of administration and donor development for the GSP Foundation. His family consists of his wife Maureen, daughters Alexis (GSP alumnae ‘12) and Hannah, two dogs (Jett and Parker), and Mouse the cat.
Beth Carrier
Beth is originally from Sulphur, KY. She graduated from Sullivan Junior College of Business in Louisville. She retired from the Cabinet for Economic Development, Bluegrass State Skills Corporation in September 2012, where she served as the Executive Staff Advisor for the program. She began working for the Governor’s Scholars Program as a part-time employee during the winter of 2013 and recently joined the staff full-time in August of 2014. Beth currently lives in Danville with her husband, John. She has one son and two grandchildren. She enjoys serving her church, spending time with family and friends, and traveling.
Rita Meeks
Rita began working for the Governor's Scholars Program in 1998. She is originally from Frankfort, where she still resides with her husband, Steve. Rita has two children and four grandchildren. In her spare time, Rita loves exploring the outdoors, spending time with family and friends, traveling, and serving her church.
Bonnie Mullin, Fiscal Officer
Bonnie started her work with the Program in 1998. She lives in Louisville with her husband, Kyle, and has three children - Christopher, Heather, and Taylor. Apart from working on GSP’s finances, she enjoys housing a menagerie of animals, gardening, and supporting Christian Academy of Louisville’s softball team.
Robin Williams-Neal
The daughter of missionaries, Robin spent most of her early life living in Brazil before settling in Louisville KY. She attended Transylvania University in Lexington where she received her B.A. Upon completing her undergraduate degree, Robin moved to England to attend Graduate school at Durham University where she received her M.A. in Biblical Studies. She recently received her doctorate in educational leadership from Spalding University. Robin was a scholar on the GSP-Morehead campus in 2006 and has been a full-time employee of the program since the spring of 2018.