BOONE, N.C. — Following a national search, Sherry Lambert has been selected to lead the Foster Grandparent Program, succeeding longtime director Tammy Taylor, who retired in September following 30 years of service. The Foster Grandparent Program is a component of Appalachian Senior Programs, housed within the Department of Sociology at Appalachian State University.
Lambert has also been elected to serve on the national board of the AmeriCorps Seniors Professional Network (ASPN), an organization that supports Foster Grandparent Program and Senior Companion Program directors nationwide. She was elected by her peers to a 2027-28 at-large term and will begin serving on the board Jan. 1, 2027.
"Sherry’s election to the ASPN Board continues to elevate the profile of the Foster Grandparent and Senior Companion programs at App State. She is dedicated to the continued success of these programs, the volunteers who serve, and the populations they work with," said Dr. Amy Dellinger Page, executive director of Appalachian Senior Programs and professor in the Department of Sociology.
The Foster Grandparent Program serves Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Watauga, and Wilkes counties, connecting older adult volunteers with local schools where they provide individualized academic and social-emotional support to children. Established in 1980, the program came under the sponsorship of App State and the Department of Sociology in 2003.
Lambert joined the Foster Grandparent Program in 2003 and has more than 20 years of experience in volunteer program administration. She previously served as the program assistant, helping oversee daily operations and volunteer support. She holds Associate in Applied Science degrees in Administrative Office Technology and Medical Office Technology and has participated in numerous professional development and leadership opportunities, most recently completing the AmeriCorps Seniors Professional Network Leadership Training Academy. In 2022, she received the Ashe County Director of Volunteers Involvement of the Year Award in recognition of her contributions to volunteer service in Ashe County.
A federally supported program of AmeriCorps Seniors, the Foster Grandparent Program is funded through federal grants and local support from United Way agencies, county governments, and the North Carolina Community Foundation.
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About Appalachian Senior Programs
Appalachian Senior Programs (ASP), sponsored by Appalachian State University, assists children and the senior population of a five-county area in northwestern North Carolina through the grant-funded Foster Grandparent Program and Senior Companion Program. Consisting of volunteers, ages fifty-five and older, ASP enhances the social-emotional and academic skills of children who need one-on-one assistance, and provides companionship and assistance for older adults who do not qualify for other assistance. Learn more about Appalachian Senior Programs
About the Department of Sociology
The Department of Sociology offers a Bachelor of Arts and seven Bachelor of Science concentrations (applied research methods; criminology; families and intimate relationships; health and aging; power and social change; social inequalities; and individually designed, which requires departmental approval). The department also offers minors in sociology and health and aging. Learn more about the Department of Sociology
By Lauren Gibbs
November 11, 2026
BOONE, N.C.
Close-up portrait of a smiling woman with blonde hair, wearing a burgundy knit sweater against a softly blurred gray outdoor background.
Sherry Lambert is the program director of the Foster Grandparent Program. Photo submitted