College of Education staff member helps students find their voice, path to college
For Neomia Hagans Flores, helping students find their voice is rooted in the journey she took to find her own.
The University of Kentucky has played a central role throughout that journey.
Hagans Flores’ connection to UK began as an eighth grader sitting in a Knott County classroom, listening to someone from the university share what higher education could make possible.
“It was a gentleman named Steve Jones, talking about an opportunity for Appalachian first-generation students to get support throughout high school and attend UK. At that time, I had not really thought about college or my ability to attend a university like UK. Listening to Mr. Jones, I knew this was my chance to do more than was expected and an opportunity I could not pass up,” Hagans Flores said.
Today, she holds two degrees from UK, is working toward a doctorate, and is paying forward the mentorship that once changed her own trajectory. As director of the university’s dual credit program, Next Generation Scholars, based in the UK College of Education Center for Next Generation Leadership, she supports efforts to broaden access to higher education and helps guide students as they navigate the path to college – continuing the kind of encouragement that once helped her find her own path.
In her free time, she coaches the speech and debate team at Paul Laurence Dunbar High School in Fayette County. It’s a way for her to give back to the same community that shaped her.
“In middle school, joining my school's speech team helped me to find a safe space where I could discover and hone my voice,” she said. “It also unlocked a passion for me that I have been able to share and engage in throughout my lifetime. It allowed me to develop a skill that I carried with me to UK."
Recently, Hagans Flores was “shocked, surprised, and incredibly grateful” to learn she had been named the National Federation of High Schools’ 2026 National Speech and Debate Coach of the Year. She emphasized the award reflects the countless hours all the students, coaches and families pour into this activity and the strong community they’ve built together.
“Coaching speech and debate and working with students is something I do because I believe in the lifelong impact it can have, so to be recognized for that work felt deeply meaningful and gratifying,” she said. “I could not believe that among the many coaches that do this amazing work, including my assistant coach Connie Hagans, my name was selected. I am one of many individuals that make this important activity possible."
The Dunbar speech and debate team started with eight students who refused to give up on the activity and searched for a coach willing to give them a chance. Since 2009, Hagans Flores has helped grow the program into one of Kentucky’s most consistent and accomplished teams.
“Step by step, we practiced, attended competitions, recruited new members, and celebrated every success, no matter how big or small,” she said.
Her coaching record includes 16 state speech champions, 23 state debate champions, two debate state team championships, nine debate team state runner-up titles and numerous top finishes.
“The key to our success has always been our students,” she said. “They bring passion, resilience, and a willingness to put in the work."
Her experience as a debate coach has influenced how she approaches her role as director of the Next Generation Dual Credit Scholars program in the College of Education’s Center for Next Generation Leadership.
“Debate teaches you how to listen, communicate clearly and meet students where they are,” she said. “These are skills that are essential when working with students who are navigating the tough and sometimes confusing transition to college."
Her commitment to helping students grow is one reason colleagues say Hagans Flores has made a lasting impact.
“Neomia is a passionate advocate for elevating student voice and expanding access to meaningful learning opportunities both inside and beyond the classroom,” said Karen Perry, executive director of the UK Center for Next Generation Leadership. “Her unwavering commitment to ensuring that all students have access to learning experiences that are relevant, empowering, and transformative is an inspiration to many."
As a lifelong learner herself, Hagans Flores has never been far removed from what it feels like to be a student. Currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Studies in Higher Education in the UK College of Education Department of Educational Policy Studies and Evaluation, she remains grounded in the learning process.
“Being surrounded by passionate colleagues and motivated students has also pushed me to keep learning, to stay curious and to embrace challenges as opportunities for growth,” she said. “I also think it sends a powerful message to my students that learning never stops. It shows them that growth is lifelong and that even as professionals, we continue to challenge ourselves, ask questions and pursue new knowledge."
Hagans Flores credits UK for creating that strong academic focus and for giving her experiences in research and service that have helped her grow in confidence and perspective.
“The university has shaped my passion for helping others into a career that has given me opportunities to lead, innovate and support students who, like me, are the first in their families to go to college,” she said.
It’s also where she built a life beyond the classroom, meeting her husband and forming connections that have stayed with her long after graduation. Now, she has the privilege of mentoring students on a similar trajectory toward higher education and helping them find the same kind of community.
“What’s unexpected is how interconnected it all has been,” she said. “Each role, challenge and opportunity prepared me for the next step."
As she mentors students today, she continues to ensure that their stories, too, begin with the simple but powerful act of finding their voice, just as she once did.