Ellie Burns has been named the director of pre-college programs at Central College. Burns oversees Central’s Educational Talent Search, Upward Bound I and Upward Bound II. Each year, these programs provide tutoring, counseling, mentoring, financial guidance and access to a college education to more than 1,000 participating students from area middle and high schools. All students in the program are income-eligible and/or are potential first-generation college students. Burns earned an undergraduate degree in elementary education from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. She also has a master’s degree in special education from Murray State University and a doctorate in educational leadership from Drake University. Burns has previous experience at Central with the college’s Educational Talent Search program, where she worked from 2008-2016. Central’s pre-college programs are federally funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Education. Competitions for grant renewal happen every five to six years. Central’s programs have been continuously funded since 1966.