W hat C an I Do W ith A Black Studies M ajor?
500+ A nswers
4th E dition, 2015
Robert F ikes, Jr., L ibrarian
San Diego State University
The interdisciplinary field of Blacks Studies²alternatively called African American Studies,
Afro-American Studies, Africana Studies, Pan African Studies, or Black World Studies, depending
on the school where it is offered---is a relative newcomer on the academic scene and its proponents
have had to defend its theoretical underpinnings and practicality, something which the traditional
liberal arts fields are also challenged to do but not to the same extent. Since the establishment of the
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wide acceptance and institutionalization of Black Studies in academia, there still remains the nagging
question about its ability to produce outstanding citizens equal in quality to individuals who as
undergraduates majored in, say, history or English or art. Black Studies has now been around long
enough to notice its handiwork: men and women constructively contributing to society, employed in
a wide variety of professions.
It is a difficult task to compile a list of noteworthy people who majored in Black Studies
because there are so many who could easily qualify. This list merely scratches the surface. Black
Studies attracts a broad spectrum of interested scholars. Not only persons of African descent, but also
persons of European, Asian, Latino, Middle Eastern, and Native American descent are represented in
the list. Some of those mentioned are virtually household names or have received considerable local
or regional attention. It is interesting to note which schools have produced large numbers of high
achievers on the list, and rather surprising to learn that many medical professionals first earned
degrees in Black Studies. Professions range from A (Astronaut) to Z (Zoo administrator). In short,
the answer to those asking what can a person do with a Black Studies major is simple: . . . .
Anything!
Most of the entries contain a one-sentence summary RIWKHSHUVRQ¶Voccupation, the type of
degree obtained in Black Studies, and additional (usually graduate) degrees in other disciplines
which the person was granted.
Medicine & Health
Jihaad A bdul-M ajid««'HQWLVWRZQHURI3UHPLHU'HQWDO3//&,Q.HQWXFN\DQG7HQQHVVHH
B.S., University of Louisville. DDM., University of Kentucky.
L ydia A lexander-Cook««3HGLDWULFLDQDQG3UHVLGHQWRI6XPPD3K\VLFLDQ,QF
B.A., Brandeis University. M.D., SUNY-Upstate Medical Center.
Johnnie A llen««Health Equity Coordination, Ohio Department of Health; former President of the
Board of Directors of Health Promotion and Education (DHPE).
B.A., B.S., The College of Wooster. MPH, Tulane University.
E dmund A nstey««6HQLRU5HVLGHQWLQLQWHUQDOPHGLFLQHDW%ULJKDPDQG:RPHQ¶V+RVSLWDO
B.A., Washington University (summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa). M.D., Harvard University.
A ugustine N. A rmstrong««&KLHI(QYLURQPHQWDO+HDOWK6SHFLDOLVWDWWKH/RV$QJHOHV&RXQW\
Department of Public Health.
B.A., California State University at Long Beach. M.P.H., Trident University International.
Justin E . Bird««$VVLVWDQW3URIHVVRURI6XUJLFDO2QFRORJ\8QLYHUVLW\RI7H[DV0'$QGHUVRQ
Cancer Center (Houston).
B.A., Cornell University. M.D., Mount Sinai School of Medicine (New York University).
Rhea Boyd««3HGLDWULFLDQ at Palo Alto Medical Foundation.
B.A., University of Notre Dame. M.D., Vanderbilt University.
K onju B riggs Jr««2FFXSDWLRQDO7KHUDSLVWDW9LOODJH&KLOG'HYHORSPHQt Institute, Inc.
M.A., New York University. M.S. in occupational therapy at Columbia University.
Ryan B rown««(QYLURQPHQWDOKHDOWKDQGVDIHW\VSHFLDOLVW,QVLWHPDQDJHUDW&OHDQ+DUERUV
B.A., Rutgers University. Ph.D. in biomedical infomatics, Rutgers University.
A aron B rumfield««&KLURSUDFWRU%UXPILHOG6SRUWVDQG)DPLO\&KLURSUDFWLF&HQW
B.A., California State University at Northridge. D.C., Cleveland College of Chiropractic-L.A.
Jacques C harles««&KLURSUDctor.
B.A., University of California at Santa Barbara. D.C., Southern California Univ. of Health Sciences.
M egan L . Comfort««$VVLVWDQW3URIHVVRURI0HGLFLQHDWWKH&HQWHUIRU$,'63UHYHQWLRQ6WXGLHV
University of California at San Francisco.
B.A., Wellesley College. Ph.D., London School of Economics and Political Science.
Rushelle Jones C yrus««2EVWHWULFLDQLQ*HUPDQWRZQ7HQQHVVHH
B.A., Duke University. M.D., University of Tennessee.
Sarah Davis««0LGZLIH FHUWLILHGDQGOLFHQVHG FR-IRXQGHURI%LUWK5RRWV:RPHQ¶V+HDOWKDQG
Maternity Center in San Diego, California.
B.A., Cal Poly-Pomona.
Joseph DeJames««'LUHFWRURI0\UDK.HDWLQJ+HDOWK&HQWHU 9LUJLQ,VODQGV
B.A., Boston College. M.D., SUNY-Buffalo.
W illiam E . Dingus««'HQWLVW%RDUGFHUWLILHGVSHFLDOLVWLQRUWKRGRQWLFVLQSUivate practice in
Newark, New York.
B.A., University of Washington, 1979. D.M.D., University of Pennsylvania.
Nonkulie Dladla««'RFWRURI,QWHUQDO0HGLFLQHDW3DUN6ORSH)DPLO\+HDOWK&HQWHU.
B.A., Oberlin College. M.D. Cornell University.
C andace L ee E dwards««.Podiatrist
B.A., University of Missouri. M.S., Hampton University. D.P.M., Barry University.
G erald F itts««0HQWDOKHDOWKWHFKQLFLDQDW+LOOFUHVW%HKDYLRUDO+HDOWK6HUYLFHV %LUPLQJKDP B.A., Berea College. M.S.W., Howard University.
Billy Ray F lowers««&KLURSUDFWRU)LUVWEODFNFKLURSUDFWRULQWKHVWDWHRI2UHJRQ
B.A., Western Washington State University. D.C., Western States Chiropractic College.
T yrese G aines-Reid««2VWHRSDWKPHGLFDOMRXUQDOLVWSUDFWLWLRQHURIHPHUJHQF\PHGLFLQH
B.S., Northwestern University. D.O., Nova Southeastern University.
K ayoll V . G albraith««1XUVHOHDGHUVFKRODUDW-RQDV&HQWHU^1HZ<RUN&LW\ DQGGRFWRUDO
student in nursing at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
B.A., SUNY-Binghamton.(BSN, RN). M.P.H., University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
T ravis A . G ayles««3HGLDWULFLDQ,QVWUXFWRUDW1RUWKZHVWHUQ8QLYHUVLW\6FKRRORI0HGLFLQH
B.A., Duke University. M.D. and Ph.D., University of Illinois.
T homas A . Gondre-L ewis««3URJUDPDQGSURMHFWRIILFHUDWWhe National Institute of Allergy and
Infectious Diseases.
B.A., Oberlin College. Ph.D. in microbiology and immunology at Virginia Commonnwealth
University School of Medicine.
O tis T . Gordon««*DVWURHQWHURORJLVWDt Saint Vincent Health System (Little Rock, Arkansas).
B.A., Washington University. M.D., Emory University School of Medicine.
B rian L . H arper««Medical Director of Academic Health Care Centers (NYIT)
B.A., Brown University. M.D., SUNY-Health Science Center.
O rlando H ar ris««)DPLO\QXUVHSUDFWLtioner in New York, instructor, laboratory director.
B.A., SUNY-Binghamton. RN and Ph.D. in nursing at the University of Rochester.
Senta H utchinson««9HWHULQDULDQDWWKH9&$0F&ODYH$QLPDO+RVSLWDO
B.A., Columbia University. D.V.M., University of Wisconsin.
Bianca M . Jones««/LFHQVHGFOLQLFDOSV\FKRORJLVWWUHDWLQJSULVRQLQPDWHVHPSOR\HGE\
California Correctional Health Care Services.
B.A., Miami University. PsyD., Xavier University.
Samantha K eat««9HWHULQDULDQ at San Carlos Pet Hospital in California.
B.A., New York University. D.V.M., Tufts University.
Senai K idane««(PHUJHQF\URRPGRFWRUDW2DNODQG.DLVHU+RVSLWDOLQ2DNODQG&DOLIRUQLD
B.A., UCLA. M.D., University of Michigan.
Daniel K ifle««/LFHQVHG(07 (PHUJHQF\0HGLFDO7HFKQLFLDQ LQ&DOifornia.
B.A., UCLA.
Richard L yn-Cook««3K\VLFLDQ&R-authored article in the Journal of Neuroscience . Copresident of his medical school class and active in social and professional groups.
B.A., Yale University, 1992. M.D., Yale Medical School.
L . Dawn M andeville ««Physician, Atlanta Gynecology & Obstetrics.
B.A., Wellesley College, M.D., Morehouse School of Medicine.
K eith D. M cgruder««'HQWLVWRZQHURI-XVW6PLOHV'HQWDOLQ5HQR1HYDGD
B.A., San Francisco State University. D.D.S., University of Detroit.
T racye L . Mc Q uirter««3XEOLFKHDOWKDQGQXWULWLRQH[SHUWERRNDXWKRUeditor, lecturer.
B.A., Amherst College. M.P.H., New York University.
James G . M innis««6XUJHRQDW3ULPD0HGLFDO*URXSLQ&DOLIRUQLD
B.A., UCLA. M.P.H., University of Southern California. M.D., Meharry Medical College.
Ronald V . M yers Sr««)DPLO\PHGLFLQHdoctor, musician, Baptist minister, social activist.
B.A. and M.D., University of Wisconsin.
K imberly C . Narain««,QWHUQDOPHGLFLQHSK\VLFLDQDW5RQDOG5HDJDQ8&/$0HGLFal Center.
B.A., UCLA. M.D., Morehouse School of Medicine.
C assandra Newkir k««)RUHQVLFSV\FKLDWULVW9LFH3UHVLGHQWDQG&KLHI0HGLFDO2IILFHUDW&RUUHFW
Care Recovery Solutions in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
B.A., Duke University. MBA, Regis University. M.D., University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Nana A . O fosu-Benefo««&OLQLFDO'LHWLWLDQDQG0RUULVRQ+HDOWKFDUH
B.A., Oberlin College. M.S. in nutrition and public health, Columbia University.
G bolahan O . O kubadejo««2UWKRSHGLF6XUJHRQDW7KH,QVWLWXWH for Comprehensive Spire Care.
B.A., Brown University. M.D., Johns Hopkins University.
Ranna I. Parekh««3V\FKLDWULVW3UDFWLFHVFKLOGDQGDGXOWSV\FKLDWU\DW0DVVDFKXVHWWV*HQHUDO
Hospital. Also clinical instructor at the Harvard Medical School.
B.S., M.D., Wayne State University.
Naudia Pickens««3V\FKLDWULVWDQGLQVWUXFWRUDWWKH)ORULGD$FDGHP\RI1XUVLQJ
B.A., Harvard University. M.D., Michigan State University.
B ridget Porter««&HUWLILHG3HUVRQDO)LWQHVV7UDLQHU'HWURLW0LFKLJDQ
B.A., Indiana University.
T ina Prather««+XPDQD$VVRFLDWH0HGLFDO'LUHFWRU
B.A., Wellesley College. M.D., Albany Medical College.
K evin F . Purcell««0HGLFDOVFKRROVWXGHQWDW:ULJKW6WDWH8QLYHUVLW\ZKRGLGKLVILHOGZRUNRID
PDVWHU¶VGHJUHHLQSXEOLFKHDOWKLQSouth Africa.
B.A., SUNY-New Platz. M.P.H., SUNY-Downstate Medical Center.
M urisiku Raifu««1HXURVXUJHRQDW3UR0HG6SLQH &DOLIRUQLD
B.A., Amherst College. M.D., University of Minnesota Medical School.
A nastasia Rowland-Seymore««3K\VLFLDQDirector of GIM Program and Assistant Professor at
Johns Hopkins University Hospital.
B.A., Amherst College. M.D., Columbia University Medical School.
Stella A . Safo««3K\VLFLDQ LQWHUQDOPHGLFLQH 0RQWHILRUH0HGLFDO&HQWHU
B.A. and M.D. at Harvard University.
Shonali Saha««3ULPDU\FDUHLQWHUQDOPHGLFLQHGRFWRU
B.A., Columbia University. M.D., Mount Sinai School of Medicine.
Pamela Sutton-W allace«&(2RI8QLYHUVLW\RI9LUJLQLD0HGLFDO&HQWHU
B.A., Washington University. M.P.H., Yale University.
Neo T apela««'RFWRURI,QWHUQDO0HGLFLQHDW%ULJKDPDQG:RPHQ¶V+RVpital in Boston,
Massachusetts, instructor at Harvard University.
B.A., Wellesley College. M.D., Harvard University.
Didra B rown T aylor««+HDOWKLQYHVWLJDWRUIRFXVLQJRQEHDXW\VKRSVDQGEDUEHUVhops. Worked
at Rand Corporation and UCLA Medical School.
B.A, University of the Pacific. M.P.H., Charles Drew University. Ph.D., California School of
Professional Psychology.
C laudia L . T homas««3K\VLFLDQ7KHILUVWEODFNIHPDOHRUWKRSHGLFVXUJHRQLQWKH U.S.
B.A., Vassar College. M.D., Johns Hopkins Medical School.
A nastasia T homas-L ewis««3RGLDWULVW3UDFWLFHLQ$WKHQV*HRUJLD
B.A., Cornell University. DPM. New York College of Podiatric Medicine.
K ara Toles««3K\VLFLDQ at Highland Hospital in Oakland, California.
B.A., Pomona College. M.D., University of California at Davis.
E dmund Tori««2VWHRSDWK'LUHFWRURI3UHVHQFH 0HG6WDU+HDOWK B.A., Cornell University. D.O., Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine.
A dewale T routman««3K\VLFLDQPresident of the American Public Health Association
M.A., SUNY-Albany, M.D., New Jersey Medical School.
W illiam D. T urner««$VVRFLDWH3URIHVVRULQWHUQDOPHGLFLQH&ROXPELD8QLYHUVLW\&ROOHJHRI
Physicians & Surgeons
B.A., Amherst College. M.D., Nount Sinai School of Medicine.
W enonah V alentine««([HFXWLYH'LUHFWRURIWKH3DVDGHQD%LUWKLQJ3URMHFWZKLFKZRUNVWR
reduce high birth mortality rate in Southern California.
B.A., University of California at Santa Barbara. MBA, Azusa Pacific University.
V ijay R. V arma««$O]KHLPHU¶VGLVHDVHUHVHDUFKHU
B.A., Duke University. M.P.H. and Ph.D. Candidate in public health at Johns Hopkins University.
A nita M . W ells««&OLQLFDO3V\FKRORJLVWSURIHVVRUDW0RUJDQ6WDWH8QLYHUVLW\
B.A., Yale University. Ph.D., Northwestern University.
Juliana W ilcox««9HWHULQDULDQDW6RXWK%D\9HWHULQDU\+RVSLWDOLQ&KXOD9LVWD&DOLIRUQLD
B.A., University of California at Santa Barbara. DVM, Colorado State University.
K eith A . W illiams««3K\VLFLDQ)HOORZRIWKH$PHULFDQ$FDGHP\of Physical Medicine and
Rehabilitation. Practices in Venice, Florida.
B.A., Brooklyn College. M.D., University of Pittsburgh.
Science & Technology
C harlene A dams««&RPSXWHU$QDO\VWDW7HU6\VDWHFKQRORJ\FRPSDQ\LQ*DLWKHUVEXUJ0'
B.A., Barnard College.
Justin D. C rutcher««0DLQWHQDQFHHQJLQHHUDW33*,QGXVWULHV,QF
B.A., University of Pittsburgh (double major in engineering and Africana Studies).
&¶$UGLVV**OHVHU««6RIWZDUHHQJLQHHUDW,';6\VWHPV&XUUHQWO\'LUHFWRURI3URJUDPVIRU
Technology Access Foundation.
B.A., Yale University. M.Ed., University of Seattle.
Rhonda Gomes««1HWZRUN(QJLQHHULQJDQG'HOLYHU\0DQDJHUDW.DLVHU3HUPDQHQWH
B.S. in computer science and African American Studies, University of California at Davis.
James Steven Hoffmaster««3URIHVVRURI Physics at Gonzaga University (retired).
B.A., Edinboro State U. Ph.D. in nuclear physics, Stevens Institute of Technology.
M alika Jeffries-E l««$VVRFLDWH3URIHVVRURI&KHPLVWU\DW,RZD6WDWH8QLYHUVLW\
B.A., Wellesley College. Ph.D. in chemistry, George Washington University.
M ae Jemison««$VWURQDXW5RFNHWHGLQWRVSDFHDERDUGWKHVKXWWOH(QGHDYRULQDVDPLVVLRQ
specialist.
B.A. in Afro-American Studies and B.S. in chemical engineering both at Stanford University.
M.D., Cornell University School of Medicine.
David P. Johnson««3URIHVVRURI'LJLWDO0HGLDDQG:HE7HFKQRORJ\DWWKH8niversity of
Maryland.
B.A. in Afro-American Studies and M.S. in computer systems management , University of Maryland.
Ph.D. in occupational studies, University of Georgia.
B rad Rickel««,76XSSRUW$QDO\VWDW$UL]RQD3XEOLF0HGLD
B.A., University of Arizona.
G . Jamar Smith««,QIRUPDWLRQ6HFXULW\&RQVXOWDQWDW8QLV\V
B.A., University of New Mexico. M.S. in information management, Syracuse University.
K yanna Sutton««6HQLRU:HE3URGXFHUDW MIT Technology Review.
B.A. Wellesley College.
E dward E . T arver I I I««&KHPLVW-Inventor. Founder and CEO of Etaran Instruments Inc.
B.A., University of California-Berkeley. Ph.D., Washington State University.
K imani C . Toussaint Jr.««Associate Professor of Mechanical Science at the University of
Illinois. A Gates Millennium fellow whose special interest is photonics (Quantum Optics). He has
published technical papers.
B.A., University of Pennsylvania. Ph.D. in electrical engineering, Boston University.
Law & Criminal Justice
Imhotep A lkebu-lan««$WWRUQH\&R-Chair of the National Conference of Black Lawyers.
B.A., University of California at Riverside. J.D., Texas Southern University.
James A nderson««$VVLVWDQW*HQHUDO&RXQVHODWWKH)HGHUDO'HSRVLW Insurance Corporation.
B.A., Washington University. J.D., George Washington University Law School.
A bimbola S. Bamgboye««$WWRUQH\$VVRFLDWHLQWKH3DUN$YHQXHILUPRI:LOPHrHale,
representing clients in hedge funds and institutional investors.
B.A., SUNY-Binghamton. J.D., American University.
Sara Bennett««/DZDVVLVWDQWLQWKH2IILFHRIWKH$WWRUQH\*HQHUDO6WDWHRI1HZ-HUVH\
M.A., Columbia University. M.S.W. and J.D. at Rutgers University.
Patricia A nn Blackmon««-XGJH2KLRth District Court of Appeals.
B.A., Tougaloo College. J.D., Cleveland State University.
K athleen M . Brady««Associate in the firm of Gordon Silver (Reno, Nevada branch office).
B.A., University of California at Santa Barbara.
K im B ressant- K ibwe««7UXVWV (VWDWHV&RXQVHODW$63&$
B.A., Cornell University. J.D., Georgetown University Law Center.
Paige L . C arlos««$VVRFLDWHLQWKH/DZILUPRI-%HUQDUG&KHU\SULYDWHWXWRU
B.A., Colgate University. J.D., Florida A&M University.
E rin Dozier««$VVRFLDWH*HQHUDO&RXQVHODWWKH1DWLRQDO$VVRFLDWLRQRI%URDGFDVWHUV
B.A., Hampshire College. J.D., George Washington University.
L atonia E arly««$WWRUQH\$VVRFLDWHLQWKHILUPRI)ULHGPDQ )ULHGPDQLQ*DUGHQ&LW\1<
B.A., Princeton University. J.D., Hofstra University.
Loriani Santos E ckerle««$WWRUQH\VSHFLDOL]LQJLQFRPPHUFLDOOLWLJDWLRQLQWKHILUPRIJackson &
Hertog (San Francisco office). Former Treasurer of La Raza Law Student Association.
B.A., Wellesley College. University of California at Berkeley.
Jinho F er reira««3ROLFH2IILFHUSOD\ZULJKWDFWRU
B.A., San State University.
W esley O . F ields««*HQHUDO&RXQVHOIRUWKH.DQVDV&LW\7D[,QFUHPHQW)LQDQFH&RPPLVVLRQ
Partner in the law firm of Bryan Cave LLP
B.A., Yale University. J.D., University of Virginia.
C lyde F razier Jr««5HYHQXH-Crimes Specialist in the New York State Office of Tax Enforcement
(killed in 9/11 attack on the World Trade Center).
B.A., SUNY-Albany.
A manda G ennerman««,PPLJUDWLRQDWtorney.in private practice in Wisconsin.
B.A., University of Wisconsin. J.D., University of Denver.
Sarah Goldfrank««Associate General Counsel and Senior Vice President at Bank of America.
B.A., Smith College (Phi Beta Kappa). J.D., Georgetown University.
Josh G reen««$WWRUQH\VFUHHQZULWHU
B.A., University of Virginia. J.D., Harvard University.
T anya G reene««Attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). Formerly an
attorney in the Capital Defender Office in New York City representing people charged with capital
crimes. Received the 1999 Reebok International Human Rights Award for her work opposing the
death penalty.
B.A., Wesleyan University. J.D., Harvard University.
L eslie H ar ris««-XGJH6XIIRON 0DVVDFKXVHWWV -XYHQLOH&RXUWMXGJe.
M.A., Boston University, 1994. J.D., Boston College.
Nia Holston««3DUDOHJDODW(TXDO-XVWLFH,QLWLDWLYH (-, B.A., Yale University.
K arume James««'HIHQVHDWWRUQH\LQ1HZ<RUN %URQ[ )RUPHUXQLRQRUJDQL]HUZLWKWKH
American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME). Former chairman of
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B.A., UCLA. J.D., Brooklyn Law School.
C andice Jones««'LUHFWRURI,OOLQRLV'HSDUWPHQWRI-XYHQLOH-XVWLFH
B.A., Washington University. J.D., New York University.
C harlotte Lewis Jones««&RUSRUDWHDWWRUQH\H[SHUWLVHLQFRS\ULJKWHQWHUWDLQPHQWPHGLDODZ
B.A., Yale University. J.D., Columbia University.
David Jones««$WWRUQH\SROLWLFDORUJDQL]HUFRPPXQLW\YROXQWHHU
B.A., University of Memphis, J.D., University of Tennessee.
Nicole Junior««([HFXWLYH$JHQF\&RXQVHO&LYLOLDQ&RPSODLQW5HYLHZ%RDUG
B.A., Smith College. J.D., Temple University.
C . Randolph K eller««&KLHI3URVHFXWRUIRU6KDNHU+HLJKWV2KLR
B.A., Vassar College. J.D., Case Western Reserve University School of Law.
Do K im«««&LYLOULJKWDWWRUQH\IRXQGHURI.RUHDQ$PHULFDQ<RXWK/HDGHUVKLS3URJUDP
B.A. and J.D., UCLA.
A melia K oplos««/HJLVODWLYHDVVLVWDQWDW%ODFNULGJHDQ$XVWLQ7H[Ds government affair
consultancy.
B.A., Colgate University. M.A. in public affairs at University of Texas at Austin.
Nekima L evy-Pounds««&LYLOULJKWVDWWRUQH\UHFRJQL]HGZLGHO\IRUKHUFRPPXQLW\VHUYLFH
record and professional and scholarly accomplishments. Law professor at University of St. Thomas.
B.A., University of Southern California. J.D., University of Illinois.
Monica L ittle««-XGJHLQWKH/RV$QJHOHV,PPLJUDWLRQ&RXUW)RUPHU$VVLVWDQW&KLHI&RXQFLO
Department of Homeland Security.
B.A., University of Washington. J.D., Lewis & Clark Law School.
Stephen M arlowe««&RQVXPHUEDQNUXSWF\DWWRUQH\FROOHJHSURIHVVRU
B.A., Miami University. J.D., University of Toledo College of Law.
K aren M c Cormack««3ROLFH6HUJHDQW/RV$QJHOHV3ROLFH'HSDUWPHQW /$3' B.A., California State University at Long Beach.
Pamela J. Meanes««President of the National Bar Association and Partner in Thompson Coburn,
the largest law firm in St. Louis, Missouri.
M.A., Clark Atlanta University. J.D., University of Iowa.
B renda J. Means««$WWRUQH\LQ(YHUHWW:DVKLQJWRQVSHFLDOL]LQJin family, real estate,
landlord/tenant, Native American and tribal law.
B.A., San Diego State University. J.D., St. Louis University.
Pricilla A . Ocen««$VVRFLDWH3URIHVVRURI/DZDW/R\ROD0DU\PRXQW8QLYHUVLW\
B.A., San Diego State University. J.D., UCLA.
R. Daniel O konkwo««([HFXWLYH'LUHFWRURI'&/DZ\HUVIRU<RXWK
B.A., Yale University. J.D., Georgetown University.
Peter B. Paris««$ttorney in the firm of Mets Schiro & McGovern in New Jersey, specializing in
civil right cases. Former Boston police officer and varsity lacrosse player at Harvard University.
B.A., Wesleyan University. J.D., Stanford University.
Jasmine Rand««$WWRUQH\RIWKH7UD\YRQ0DUWLQIDPLO\
B.A., University of Georgia. J.D., Florida State University.
Richard W . Roberts««-Xdge. Appointed In 1998 appointed By President Clinton to the U.S.
District Court for the District of Columbia. He had previously worked in the Civil Rights Division of
the U.S. Department of Justice.
B.A., cum laude, Vassar College. J.D., Columbia University.
Jennie R. Romer««$WWRUQH\'LUHFWRUDQGIRXQGHURISODVWLFEDJODZVRUJGHGLFDWHGWROLPLWLQJ
use of plastic bags.
B.A., University of California at Santa Barbara. J.D., Golden State University.
M aurice Sikes««3ROLFHRIILFHULQ&RUDO*DEOHV)ORULGa. Illegal drugs recognition expert.
B.A., University of Miami.
Peggie Smith««Vice Dean and law professor at the University of Washington. Was editor-inchief of the +DUYDUG:RPHQ¶V/DZ-RXUQDO. Teaches contracts, employment relationships, and
gender work.
B.A., Yale University. M.A., J.D., Yale University.
T yra H . Smith««0HGLDDQGHQWHUWDLQPHQWDWWRUQH\$GMXQFWSURIHVVRUDW86&
B.A., University of Missouri. J.D. University of Southern California.
Lovita T andy««3DUWQHULQWKH$WODQWDODZILUPRI.ing & Spalding.
B.A., Harvard University. J.D., Duke University.
Jeremy T ravis««3UHVLGHQWRIWKH-RKQ-D\&ROOHJHRI&ULPLQDO-XVWLFH&81<
B.A., Yale University. J.D., New York University.
A mia L . T rigg««*HQHUDO(GLWRURIWKH Harvard Civil Right-Civil Liberties Law Review.
Associate in the firm of Covington & Burling LLC in Washington, DC.
B.A., Harvard University. J.D., Harvard University.
Roger C . V ann««([HFXWLYH'LUHFWRUof the Connecticut ACLU, president of the New Haven
NAACP, radio talk show host.
B.A., Brown University.
Roger S. W areham««$WWRUQH\3DUWQHULQWKHILUPRI7KRPDV:DUHKDPDQG5LFKDUGVLQ
Brooklyn, New York. General Secretary of The International Association Against Torture.
B.S., Harvard University. J.D., Columbia University.
C arol W estbrook««3ROLFH&KLHIDW$WODQWD7HFKQLFDO&ROOHJH
B.A., University of Tennessee at Knoxville. M.P.A., Kennesaw State University.
T racie M. W ilson«3UHVLGHQWRIWKH+RXVWRQ&RXQW\%DU$VVRFLDWLRQ $ODEDPD DQGmanaging
attorney at Legal Services Alabama.
B.A., Vanderbilt University. J.D., University of Iowa.
Donte W yatt««'HSXW\'LVWULFW$WWRUQH\LQ6DQ'LHJR&XUUHQWO\LQSULYDWHSUDFWLFH
B.A., San Diego State University. J.D., California Western School of Law.
Politics & Government
C arl A ndrews««1HZ<RUN6WDWH6HQDWRUDQG0DMRULW\:KLS 'HPRFUDW Currently owner of
Carl Andrews & Associates, a political strategy and legislative lobby firm.
M.A., State University of New York at Albany.
Daniel D. Baer««86$PEDVVDGRUWRWKH2Uganization for Co-operation and Security in Europe.
B.A., Harvard University. Ph.D., Oxford University.
M arinna Banks-Shields««&DSWDLQin the U.S. Public Health Service, chair of its Social Work
Professional Advisory Group (SWPAG).
B.A., Emory University. Ph.D. in social work at Howard University.
W illiam Boone I I I««'HOHJDWHWRWKH'HPRFUDWLF1DWLRQDO&RQYHQWLRQUHSUHVHQWLQJ1HZ
York. Worked as a Brooklyn Democratic Party campaign consultant.
M.A., State University of New York-Albany. J.D., CUNY-Queens College.
C hristopher C ampos««&LW\&RXQFLOPDQRI+RERNHQ1HZJersey, prosecutor, civil servant.
B.A., Denison University. J.D., American University.
L ynn G ilmore C anton««([HFXWLYH'LUHFWRURI)(0$ )HGHUDO(PHUJHQF\0DQDJHPHQW
Agency), appointed by President Bill Clinton. Also former Assistant Deputy Comptroller for
management Audit for the state of New York.
B.A., M.S., SUNY-Albany.
J. R. C lairbourne««&LW\&RXQFLOPDQnd Ward Alderman with a seat on the City of Ithaca (NY)
Common Council. Former reporter at the Ithaca Journal .
B.A., University of Kansas.
G eorge C ushingber ry Jr««Detroit City Councilman. Former Michigan State Representative
elected in 1975 at age 21. Was on the Wayne County Board of Commissioners for 16 years.
B.A., Wayne State University. J.D., University of Detroit.
Tom Davidson««0DLQH6WDWH5HSUHVHQWDWive (three terms, Democrat). Also a highly successful
businessman as Vice President of Tyson Corners, an investment firm. Currently CEO of EverFi.
B.A., Bowdoin College.
E rica T er ry Der ryck««'LUHFWRURI&RPPXQLFDWLRQV2IILFHRIWKH0D\RURI2DNODQG&DOLIRUQLD
Formerly an MTV segment producer and news reporter.
B.A., Wesleyan University. M.A., University of California at Berkeley.
L aura Dowrich-Phillips««7ULQLGDG¶V'LUHFWRUof Ageing in the Ministry of Social Development.
B.A., Ph.D. (public policy), University of Maryland.
A lan S. F ar rell««)DWKHUKRRG6HUYLFHV&RRUGLQDWRU 1HZ<RUN&LW\0D\RU¶V2IILFH B.A., Oberlin College. M.S. in public policy at The New School for Public Engagement.
Jendayi F razer««U.S. Ambassador to South Africa. Senior Director of African Affairs at the
National Security Council, appointed by Condoleezza Rice. Distinguished professor at Carnegie
Mellon University. 7DXJKWDW+DUYDUG¶s Kennedy School of Government.
B.A., Stanford University. Ph.D. in political science, Stanford University.
K aren F reeman-W ilson««0D\RURI*DU\,QGLDQD3UHYLRXVO\3UHVLGHQWDQG&(2RIWKH
National Association of Drug Court Professionals (NADCP). A former drug court judge in Gary,
Indiana and former Attorney General for the state of Indiana.
B.A., Harvard University. J.D., Harvard University.
H ans Goff««.Political campaign organizer/manager. Presently the Southern Regional Organizing
Director for Hillary Clinton for President. Worked on Pres. Obama, mayoral, and gubernatorial bids.
B.A., William & Mary.
B ruce H ar ris««Republican mayor of Chatham Borough, New Jersey, attorney.
B.A., Amherst College. MBA, Boston University. J.D., Yale University.
Deonte Hollowell««/RXLVYLOOH.HQWXFN\&LW\&RXQFLOPDQHGXFDWRUFXUUHQWO\RXWUHDFK
coordinator for Black Alliance for Educational Options.
B.A.,M.A., University of Louisville. Ph.D., Temple University (all degrees related to Black Studies).
B rian C . Johnson««&RPPLVVLRQHURI:HVW3DUN)ORULGD3UHVLGHQW&(2RI0LQRULW\%XLOGHUV
Coalition, Inc.
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student body president at California State University at Long Beach.
B.A., MPA, California State University at Long Beach.
Do K im««$WWRUQH\)RXQGHURIWKH.RUHDQ$PHULFDQ<RXWK/HDGHUVKLS3URJUDPDQG3UHVLGHQW
of the Korean Democratic Committee.
B.A., Harvard University. J.D., University of California-Los Angeles.
A lyce Lee««%RVWRQ0D\RU7KRPDV0HQLQR¶V&KLHIRI6WDII%RDrd member of the Boston
Museum, trustee of the University of Massachusetts.
B.A., Wesleyan University.
Jinnie L ee««Foreign Service Officer, posted to embassies in Korea, Qatar, and Iraq.
B.A., Wellesley College.
L ee C . McDougal««&LW\0DQDJHURI0RQWFODLU&DOLIRUQLD&KDIIH\&ROOHJHERDUGFKDLUPDQ
B.A., University of California at Riverside.
M ichael M cM illan««/LFHQVH&ROOHFWRUIRUWKH&LW\RI6W/RXLV&LW\$OGHUPDQ th Ward).
B.A., St. Louis University.
M arc H . Morial««0D\RURI1HZ2UOHDQVDQGIRUPHU/RXLVLDQD6WDWH6HQDWRU,QKH
became President of the National Urban League.
B.A., University of Pennsylvania, 1980. J.D., Georgetown University.
C heryl Pahaham««'LUHFWRURI3ODQQLQJDQG3URGXFW'HYHORSPHQWState Government
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B.A., Wesleyan University. Ph.D. in sociology, The New School.
Peter Shapiro««&KDLUPDQRIWKH3ULQFH*HRUJHV 9LUJLQLD &RXQW\&RXQFLO.
A Truman Scholar, LQKHZDVDSSRLQWHGWKHFRXQW\¶VUHYHQXHDXWKRULW\GLUHFWRU
B.A., University of Maryland.
K elvin Simmons««+HDGRIWKH2IILFHRI$GPLQLVWUDWLRQIRUWKHVWDWHRI.DQVDV)RUPHU-term
Kansas City Councilman. Chairman of the Missouri Public Service Commission.
B.A., University of Missouri-Columbia.
G regory O . Smiley««'LUHFWRURI,QWHUJRYHUQPHQWDO$IIDLUVIRU866HQ.LUVWHQ*LOOLEUDQG
B.A. in Black Studies and M.P.A. both at City University of New York City College.
Jeff Smith««0LVVRXUL6WDWH6HQDWRUuniversity professor.
B.S., University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. M.A. and Ph.D., Washington University.
A dewale T routman««'LUHFWRURIWKH/RXLVLDQD0HWUR+HDOWK'HSDUWPHQW)RUPHUO\GLUHFWRURI
the Fulton County (Atlanta) Department of Health and Wellness. Currently professor at the
University of South Florida.
M.A., State University of New York-Albany. M.D., New Jersey Medical School.
Sharon W . W est««Manager of Tampa (Florida) Housing and Community Development.
Formerly Executive Director of the Buffalo Housing Authority.
B.A., University of Buffalo.
Neil W illiams««&DSWDLQ8QLWHd States Air Force.
B.A., University of Northern Colorado.
Ben W ilson««'LUHFWRURI1HZ+DPSVKLUH¶V%XUHDXRI+LVWRULF6LWHV
B.A., Syracuse University. M.S. in building conservation, University of York (England).
Business, Industry, Labor
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DC, involved in site development, construction management and renovation, title and escrow.
A.B., Smith College. J.D., Boston College.
M ichelle H ar ris A nderson««([HFXWLYH'LUHFWRURIWKH0UV1HZ-HUVH\8QLWHG6WDWHV3DJHDQW
She is a former Miss Delaware (1995) who competed in the Miss America Pageant.
B.A., Duke University.
C hristopher Asher««2ZQHURI*ROG0HGDO([FHOOHQFHDVSRUWVWUDLQLQJFRQGLWLRQLQJILUP
B.A., California State University at Northridge. M.Ed., Azusa Pacific University.
M . A yanda Bam««6HQLRU0DQDJHUDW$GDP6PLWK,QWHUQDWLRQDODBritish professional services
company located in London, England.
B.A., Amherst College.
L aShauna Barboza««3KDUPDFeuticals sales representative for Daiichi Sankyo.
B.A., Amherst College.
John Bar ros««5HVWDXUDWHXU&R-owner of Restaurante Cesaria serving Cape Verdean cuisine.
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B.A., Dartmouth College.
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company in San Diego.
B.A., University of California at Santa Barbara.
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B.A., Amherst College.
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B.A., Yale University.
A dolph S. Blackson I I I««'LUHFWRURI6HFXULW\Dt Guard Management Inc. in San Diego, CA.
B.A., California State University.
A hndrea L . Blue««2ZQHURI3LQQDFOH(TXLWLHV,QYHVWPHQWV//&$WWRUQH\DQGIRUPHU&(2RI
the Seattle Urban League.
B.A., J.D., University of Washington.
Sara B rady««President of Sara Brady Public Relations, Inc. (Orlando, Florida), formerly policy
director of MassVote (Boston, Massachusetts).
B.A., University of California at Santa Barbara.
James B rantley««Zoo Keeper at Brookfield Zoo. Formerly Director of Community Relations for
Zoo New England-Franklin Park Zoo. Currently education specialist at the Chattanooga Zoo.
B.S., B.A., majored in Zoology and African American Studies, University of Tennessee.
Johnathon E . B riggs««9LFH3UHVLGHQWIRU&RPPXQLFDWLRQ6WUDWHJ\DW3XElic Communications
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B.A., Stanford University. M.P.H., DePaul University.
Peter-C harles B right««*OREDO3URSHUW\6SHFLDOLVWDW.HOOHU:LOOLDPV1HZ<RUN&LW\Dn uppertier real estate firm selling multi-million dollar properties world-wide.
A.B., Harvard University.
M ishka B rown««Independent broadcast media professional, owner of Aerolith Inc., a media
consulting and technology development company in New York City.
B.A., Yale University.
Rochelle B rown««7HOHYLVLRQSURGXFHU-author and co-owner of Powerhous Productions. Producer
of the top-UDWHGVKRZ³(PHULO/LYH´and other popular shows on the Food Network.
B.A., Rutgers University.
V ivica Brown««'HSXW\$VVLVWDQW*HQHUDO0DQDJHURIWKH+DUWVILHOG-Jackson Atlanta
International Airport.
B.A., University Virginia. J.D., California Western School of Law.
Natatasha Foreman B ryant««(QWUHSUHQHXU, CEO of Foreman & Associates, LLC.
B.A., California State University-Long Beach. MBA, Kaplan University.
Paul E . Butler««Television Project Manager and Director of Program Enterprises for VH1
Music First and Country Music Television (CMT).
B.A., University of Rochester. J.D., Harvard University.
Peter C . B. Bynoe««3UR%DVNHWEDOO)UDQFKLVH2ZQHU)LUVW$IULFDQ$PHULFDQWRRZQD1%$
franchise when he purchased the Denver Nuggets in 1989. Other business ventures followed.
B.A., MBA, J.D., Harvard University.
K assahun C hecole««3XEOLVKHUIRXQGHUDQGRZQHURI$IULFD:RUOG3UHVVDQG5HG6HD3UHVV
B.A., Binghamton University.
Nicole C hilders««.Senior Producer at American Public Media. Former Executive Producer at
National Public Radio (NPR).
B.A., University of Pennsylvania.
K ent Codrington««7D[6SHFLDOLVWDWWKH,QWHUQDO5HYHQXH6HUYLFH ,56 B.A., California State University at Los Angeles.
A fi K . Daitey««'LUHFWRURI6WUDWHJ\3DUWQHUVKLSVDQG2SHUDWLRQVIRUWKH.KDQD*URXSD:HVW
African-focused social impact firm.
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B rad Davidson««Vice President, Top 40 Promotion, Columbia Records.
B.A., University of Massachusetts-Amherst.
Monica Dillingham««'LUHFWRURI,QIRUPDWLRQ7HFKQRORJ\IRUWKH1DWLRQDO$VVRFLDWLRQRI
College and University Business Officers (NACUBO).
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B.A., Kent State University.
K risten E rickson««%URNHUDW-30RUJDQ6HFXULWLHV
B.A., Brown University.
Ryan Ford««([Hcutive Vice President and Chief Creative Officer at Cashmere Agency, a
lifestyle marketing firm in Los Angeles.
M.A., University of California at Los Angeles.
H ector Gonzalez««)LUH6DIHW\(PHUJHQF\$FWLRQ3ODQ'LUHFWRUDW0RUJDQ6WDQOH\
B.A., SUNY-New Platz.
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B.A., University of California at Berkeley.
K aneisha G rayson««*UDGXDWHVFKRRODGPLVVLRQFRQVXOWDQWRZQHURIWKHFRQVXOWLQJILUP7KH$UW
of Applying in Austin, Texas.
B.A., Pomona College. MBA, Harvard University.
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B.A., University of California at Riverside.
Nicole H ar ris««0DUNHWLQJVWUDWHJLVW'LUHFWRURI$XGLHQFH0DUNHWLQJDW7KH'HDO//&
B.A. in Black Studies at Oberlin College and M.A. in Black Studies at New York University.
Jerome Henry««$FFRXQWVWUDWHJLVWDW6WHHO+RXVH DGYHUWLVLQJ DQG&(2RI(OHFWULF&LW\
B.A., California State University at Northridge.
M ichael Holmes««3UHVLGHQWDQGIRXQGHURI5[2utreach (St. Louis), former executive at Edward
Jones and Automatic Data Processing.
B.A., Washington University.
T amara Ibezim««6HQLRU2SHUDWLRQts Anaylst at Merrill Lynch.
B.A., The College of New Jersey.
Dawud Ingram««5HDOHVWDWHVDOHVPDQZLWK*RWKam Realty, LLC.
B.A., Drew University.
Jessica Ingram-Bellamy««Division Director of Marketing at The Trust for Public Land.
Formerly Advertising Director. Better World Advertising, a social marketing agency.
B.A., Cornell University. M.A., Columbia University.
K anem Johnson««&RPSOLDQFH2IILFHUDW%DUFOD\¶V,QYHVWPHQW%DQN)RUPHUILQDQFLDODGYLVRUDW
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B.A., Wesleyan College.
Julia Baker Jones««Director of the Chidsey Center for Leadership Development at Davidson
College. Business consultant. Graduated in the top 10 percent of her business school class at
Stanford.
B.A., Carlton College. MBA, Stanford University.
L aurie M . Jonsson««)RXQGLQJGLUHFWRURI([SHGLDand former co-owner of a cruise line, an
investment company, and co-IRXQGHURIWKH8QLYHUVLW\RI:DVKLQJWRQ¶V&HQWHUIRU:RPHQDQG
Democracy. On Board of Directors of Puget Sound Bank.
B.A., University of Washington.
K ristin R. Jordan««.Book publisher, owner of Pens Up Press.
B.A., Brown University.
M ichael Joukowsky««3UHVLGHQWRI&UDZIRUG+LJK3HUIRUPDQFH&RPSRVLWHV/WGFKDLUPDQRI
the investment committee of the Joukowsky Family Foundation.
B.A., Brown University. MBA., Babson College.
M asako K awazoe««+5JHQHUDOLVWZLWK3DVRQD1$,QFDQG76&RQVXOWLQJ,QWHUQDWLRQDO
recruiting workers for Japanese companies located in North America.
B.A., California State University-Northridge. M.A., Temple University.
M aya L ake««2ZQHURI%R[LQJ.LWWHQDIDshion and apparel company whose clothing has been
worn by Beyonce, Rihana, Alicia Keyes, Erykah Badu, and others.
B.A., Wesleyan University.
Dominic L atty««,PSRUWHURZQHURI%HDXGLHU,PSRUWV )ORULGD IRXQGHURIQRQSURILW9LUJLQ
Island Youth Advocacy Coalition (VIYA).
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B.A., University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Paula M adison««3UHVLGHQWDQG*HQHUDl Manager of KNBC (Los Angeles).
B.A., Vassar College.
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B.A., UCLA.
Ashindi M axton««Union executive at SEIU International. Former Director of Research &
Special Projects, Democracy Alliance, a socially responsible financial investment company.
B.A., University of California at Berkeley.
L utalo M cG ee««5HDOHVWDWHEURNHURZQHURI$QL5HDO(VWDWHLn Chicago.
B.S., Eastern Illinois University.
M idori McSwain««6WUDWHJLVWDW&RPPRQZHDOWKD0F&DQQ(ULNVRQmarketing/advertising
company in Detroit.
B.A., Northwestern University.
Y vette Moyo««Publisher of South Shore Current Magazine. President and CEO of Resource
Associates International , Ltd., a marketing firm. Formerly President of Real Men Cook/MOBE.
B.A., Eastern Illinois University.
M andla Msimang««)RXQGHUDQG0DQDJLQJ'LUHFWRUDW3\JPD&RQVXOWLQJD6RXWK$IULFDQ
regulatory and research firm assisting private businesses and nonprofits.
B.A., Cornell University. M.Sc., London School of Economics.
F rank M ichael M unoz««0DUNHWLQJ&RRUGLQDWRUDW9HUPRQW&UHDPHU\
B.A., University of Virginia. M.Ed., University of Vermont.
0LFKDHO2¶1HDO««Licensed insurance agent, New York Life Insurance Company.
M.A., UCLA.
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Women Empowerment Project promoting natural hair care.
B.A., Miami University.
Nina O duro««(PSOR\PHQWFRQVXOWDQWIRXQGHUDQGHGLWRURI$IULFD'HY-REVFRPFRQQHFWLQJMRE
seekers to jobs in Africa.
M.A., Columbia University.
Ryan Osodolor««)LQDQFLDO5HSUHVHQWDWLYHDW1RUWKZHVW0XWXDO
B.A., San Diego State University.
T aylor Parsons««6RPmelier (wine steward) and jazz musician at Los Angeles restaurant
Republique.
B.A., Brown University.
Steven Phillips««$WWRUQH\$WDJHEHFDPHWKH\RXQJHVWPHPEHURIWKH6DQ)UDQFLVFR%RDUG
of Education. Started his own successful high tech company, law firm, and nonprofit company.
Written numerous newspaper articles and made many television appearances.
B.A., Stanford University. J.D., Stanford U. Law School.
Dawn Ridley««3UHVLGent of the marketing firm Ridley & Associates LLC. Also taught marketing
at Johns Hopkins University.
B.A., Indiana University. MBA, Clark Atlanta University
.
Detavio Samuels««3UHVLGHQWRI2QH6ROXWLRQDQG&(2RI7KH%DUH*URXS
B.A., Duke University. MBA, Stanford University.
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B.A., Barnard College. L.L.B., University of London.
M ar k Douglas Smith««3UHVLGHQWDQG&(2RI&DOLIRUQLD+HDOWKFDUH)RXQGDWLRQCurrently
practices HIV care at San Francisco General Hospital.
A.B., Harvard University. MBA, University of Pennsylvania Wharton School of Business. M.D.,
University of California at San Francisco.
Johnny T emple««3XEOLVKHUDQG(GLWRU-in Chief of Akashic Books, winner of the 2013 Ellery
Queen Award from the American Association of Publishers, essayist.
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media consulting firm. Partner in Venable LLC. Hosted radio and television talk shows in Baltimore.
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B.A., University of Iowa.
Dexter B. Upshaw Jr««'LUHFWRURI<RXWKDQG\RXQJDGXOWVDW5LVLQJ6WDU%DSWLVW&KXUFK
(Conroe, Texas), and Marketing Director for Gamma Phi Delta Christian Fraternity.
B.A., Yale University.
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workers).B.A., Brown University.
Daniel W eisman««$UWLVWPDQDJHUDW5RF1ation, an entertainment company founded by Jay Z
with offices in New York and Los Angeles.
B.A., Emory University.
Stephen W hite««Board member of Dubset Media Holdings. Formerly President of Gracenote, a
digital media technology subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America.
B.A., University of Wisconsin-Madison.
James W illiams««)LEHU6XSSO\$VVRFLDWHDW,QWHUQDWLRQDO Paper.
B.A., Brown University. M.S. in environment and resource policy at Tufts University.
Robert W ilson««&RQWUDFWVVSHFLDOLVWIRUWKH86$LU)RUFH:ULJKW3DWWHUVRQ$LU)RUFH%DVH
B.S., Miami University. MBA, University of Phoenix.
Jeremiah W ise««Chief Financial Officer of the Indianapolis Museum of Art. Formerly Director
of New Airport Business Development, Indianapolis International Airport.
B.A., Yale University. M.A., New York University.
C arter Woodruff««Supervisor of Operations at Des Moines Water Works. Formerly
Secretary/Treasurer of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees of Iowa.
B.A., Luther College.
Sean Y eager-Diamond««3Hrsonal trainer, owner of Promethean Fitness.
B.A., University of California at Santa Barbara.
K atie Z acarian««)DFHERRN3URGXFW0DUNHWLQJ0DQDJHU
B.A., Harvard University.
Performing Arts & E ntertainment
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B.A., Virginia Commonwealth University.
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B.A., Harvard University.
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Has sung at pro sports events DQGDW+DUOHP¶V$SROOR7KHDWHU Active in civic and political groups.
B.A., Duke University.
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B.A., Yale University. M.A., Drama, Yale University.
Ryan M ichelle Bathe««$FWUHVV of stage, screen and TV$SSHDUHGLQ³(5´³%RVWRQ/HJDO´HWF
B.A., Stanford University. MFA, New York University.
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B.A., California State University at Dominguez Hills.
Rashida Bumbry««'LUHFWRURI$UWLVWLF$IIDLUVDWWKH'XNH(OOLQJWRQ6FKRRORIWKH$UWV
B.A., Oberlin College, M.A., New York University (both degrees in African American Studies).
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Mexico. Formerly with the Dayton (Ohio) Contemporary Dance Company. He was an Arts
Commissioner for the city of Centerville, Ohio.
B.A., Southern Methodist University.
Rody C hiong««$FWRUDQGPXVLFLDQ+DVDSSHDUHGLQ+ROO\ZRRGPRYLHVSOD\VDQGDFFRPSDQLHG
Sania Twain and Celine Dion with his violin and fiddle.
B.A., Indiana University.
E melia Cowans««0DNH-up artist, broadcast journalist, museum spokesperson.
B.A., Indiana University.
H arlina C hurn-Diallo««&KRUHRJUDSKHU-Artistic Director. Founder and Director of Imani Dance
Company. Winner of several regional awards.
B.S., University of Louisville.
Y aya Da Costa««0RGHO-$FWUHVV$SSHDUHGRQWKH79UHDOLW\VKRZ³$PHULFD¶V1H[W7RS0RGHO´
winning second place, later picked to portray Whitney Houston in a biopic.
B.A., Brown University.
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appeared in a number of movies, television shows, and stage shows. He has won an Emmy and been
nominated for a Tony Award. Has honorary Doctor of Fine Arts from the University of Wisconsin.
M.A., New York University.
C harles Dumas««$FWRUGLUHFWRUDQGWKHDWHUSURIHVVRUDW3HQQ6WDWH$SSHDUHGLQVHYHUDO
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B.A., State University of New York-New Platz. J.D., Yale University.
Sonja E ddy««$FWUHVVZKRSOD\V(SLSKDQ\-RKQVRQRQ79¶V³*HQHUDO+RVSLWDO,´QXPHURXVRWKHU
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B.A., University of California at Davis.
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B.A., Brown University.
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Stacy E pps««6LQJHU-Attorney. Hip hop and jazz singer. Entertainment attorney at Epps Harrell
LLC.
B.A., University of Virginia. J.D., University of Southern California.
Pierce F reelon««Jazz/hip hop historian, musician, band leader, college professor, and journalist.
B.A., University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. M.A., Syracuse University.
L afayette G ilchrist««-D]]3LDQLVW+DVUHOHDVHGIRXUDOEXPV/HDGVWKHEDQG7KH1HZ
Volcanoes.
B.A., University of Maryland.
L eShawn D. Holcomb««(GXFDWLRQ7HDFKLQJ$rtist at the Actors Theatre of Louisville (KY).
B.S., California State University at Fullerton.
C . J. H unt««&omedian, middle school English teacher, founder of comedy theaters in New
Orleans and Austin, Texas.
B.A., Brown University.
M arsha Jackson-Randoph««6KRZ'LUHFWRUDW:DOW'LVQH\:RUOG
B..A., Smith College (cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa).
Donald W . K ing««$FWLQJ'LUHFWRUFounder and Artistic/Executive Director of the Providence
(RI) Black Repertory Company. Adjunct professor at Brown University.
B.A., Brown University.
Yolanda K ing««$FWUHVV-instructor. Daughter of Martin Luther King Jr. Taught theater at
Fordham University and acted in stage productions across the country.
B.A., Smith College.
Donald E . L acy Jr««$FWRUFRPHGLDQGLUHFWRU, talk show host.
B.A., San Francisco State University.
Sanaa L athan««$ZDUG-winning Hollywood actress. Played the female lead role in the movie
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B.A., California State University at Fullerton.
L eigh Morfoot««)LOP3URGXFWLRQ&RPSDQ\&R-founder. Produced two films pertaining to media
and law.
B.A., University of Virginia.
Pat Patterson««0LVV,QGLDQD/DWHUNQRZQDVWKHMD]]UHFRUGLQJDUWLVW.HOOHH3DWWHUVRQ
B.A., Indiana University.
M ichael Peace««&KULVWLDQUDSDUWLVWZLWKKLWDOEXPVLQWKHVDQGV\RXWKPLQLVWries
director, president of Michael Peace and Associates.
B.A., SUNY-Brockport.
Root Boy Slim ERUQ)RVWHU0F.HQ]LH,,, ««.Legendary alternative blues/rock band leader,
founder of Root Boy Slim and the Sex Change Band popular on the East Coast in the late 1970s and
early 1980s home-based in the Washington, DC area.
B.A., Yale University
Ben Selkow««$ZDUG-winning filmmaker (HBO, CNN, Weather Channel, Sundance Channel,
etc.)
B.A., Wesleyan University (with honors).
D rew Shoals««-D]]GUXPPHU$ZDUG-winning drummer who has performed with top jazz artists.
Composes for the Drew Shoal Collective (CD release in 2007).
B.A., Whitman College. J.D., University of Pennsylvania.
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B.A., University of California at Amherst.
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B.A., Yale University.
Ryan Hope T ravis««Artistic Director of the Paul Robeson Performing Arts Company,
playwright, choreographer, and actor in regional theater. College instructor.
B.A., Fort Valley State University, M.A., Syracuse University. M.F.A., University of Florida.
M elissa W alker««3URIHVVLRQDOMD]]DQGSRSVLQJHr. Sang at Lincoln Center under the direction of
Wynton Marsalis, the Berlin Jazz Festival, etc. Four CD albums to her credit.
B.A., Brown University.
Visual & Decorative Arts
M . K . Asante Jr.««)LOPPDNHUDXWKRUSRHWSURIHVVRU
B.A., Lafayette College. M.F.A., University of California at Los Angeles.
B rittany Ballard««,QGHSHQGHQWILOPSURGXFHUZULWHUFXUDWRUDQG'LUHFWRURI3URJUDPPLQJIRU
the Urbanworld Film Festival.
B,A., University of California at Santa Barbara.
Jim Bar ry««$UWLVWDQGDUt lecturer at the California Institute of Technology.
B.A., University of California-Santa Barbara, 1986.
Jessica Bellamy««*UDSKLF'HVLJQHUDW*5,'DJUDSKLFGHVLJQILUPLQ/RXLVYLOOH.HQWXFN\
B.A., B.A. in drawing and B.F.A. in graphic design, all three degrees at University of Louisville.
Rod B rown««&RPLFERRNDUWLVWDQGFUHDWRUof Native Comics.
B.A., Emory University. B.A., Art Institute of Atlanta.
Stanford W . C arpenter««&RPLFERRNDUWLVWDQWKURSRORJLVWSURIHVVRU&KDLUPDQRIWKH%RDUGRf
Directors for the Institute of Comics Studies.
B.A., Portland State University. Ph.D., Rice University.
A va Du V ernay««)LOPPDNHU'LUHFWRURIWKHPRYLH³6HOPD´ 2ZQHURI7KH'X9HUQD\
Agency, a marketing and PR firm.
B.A., UCLA.
E rik Ford««'Lgital Director at Heavy Heavy, a web and logo design firm in San Antonio, Texas.
B.A., Wesleyan University.
Joseph G eran Jr««6FXOSWRUPRGHO-maker, jewelry designer and manufacturer. Also was Dean of
Students at the Rhode Island School of Design.
B.A., San Francisco State University.
Daisy G iles««3RUWUDLWSDLQWHUPXOWLPHGLDDUWLVWFUHDWLYHFRQVXOWDQWZULWHU
B.A., University of Minnesota.
Robert Henry G raham««$UWLVW-educator. His paintings have been displayed in more than 70
solo exhibits since 1968. He was Professor of Art at Virginia Tech.
M.A., University of Wisconsin. M.F.A., University of Wisconsin.
Sarah J. G lover««$ZDUG-winning photojournalist at the Philadelphia Inquirer and social media
editor at NBC-10 in Philadelphia. President of Philadelphia Association of Black Journalists.
B.A., Syracuse University.
T helma Golden««$UWPXVHXPGLUHFWRU'LUHFWRUand Chief Curator at the Studio Museum in
Harlem. She has contributed to books and articles on American art.
B.A., Smith College.
Jean-Patrick G uichard««$IULFDQDUWPDUNHWLQJVSHFLDOLVWRZQHURI*XLFKDUG$UW6ROXWLRQV
B.A., San Francisco State University.
E ugenie J. Joo««&XUDWRUDirector of Art and Cultural Programs at Instututo Inhotim in
Brumadinho, Brazil. Formerly contemporary art curator at the New Museum in New York City.
Winner of the 2006 Walter Hopp Award for Curatorial Achievement.
B.A., Vassar College. Ph.D., University of California-Berkeley.
Isissa K omada-John««([KLELWLRQ'LUHFWRUIRUWKH0XVHXPRI&RQWHPSRUDU\$IUican Diasporan
Arts in Brooklyn New York.
B.A., Brown University.
Dawit Lessanu««Chief Architect and Director Research and Innovation at Associated Press.
B.A., Rutgers University. B.S, in mechanical engineering, Rutgers University. MBA, University of
Phoenix.
A aron M cG ruder««&UHDWRURIWKHQDWLRQDOO\V\QGLFDWHGFRPLFVWULS³7KH%RRQGRFNV´
B.A., University of Maryland.
T chaiko O mawale««)LOPPDNHUSURGXFHU-director, screenwriter.
B.A., Columbia University.
Joel Plummer««6SRUWVSKRWRJUDSKHURZQHU of Plummer Media & Entertainment, LLC.
B.A., Rutgers University.
A bdul Sharif««3KRWRJUDSKHURZQHURI$EGXO6KDULI3KRWRJUDSK\LQ/RXLVYLOOH.HQWXFN\
B.S., University of Louisville.
M yshell C . T abu««*UDSKLFGHVLJQHUIRUWKH/RV$QJHOHV'HSDUWPHQWRI Cultural Affairs, former
owner of Myshell Tabu Designs, actress, dancer.
B.A., California State University at Dominguez Hills.
Nadine W asserman««&XUDWRUDUWFULWLF
M.A., University of Wisconsin-Madison
M arco W illiams««'RFXPHQWDU\ILOPPDNHU
M.A. and M.F.A., UCLA.
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B.A., SUNY-New Platz.
B randon W ilson««)LOPPDNHUVFUHHQZULWHUDQGKLJKVFKRROWHDFKHU
B.A. and MFA, UCLA.
Literature, Poetry, Drama
C himanmanda Ngozi A diche««1RYHOLVWILQDOLVWIRUWKH1DWLRQDO%RRN$ZDUGIRU
Americanah (Alfred Knopf).
M.A., Yale University.
Joshua Bennett««6SRNHQZRUGSRHW+HKDVSHUIRUPHGDWWKH:KLWH+RXVHWKH.HQQHG\&HQWHU
Sundance Film Festival, NAACP Image Awards, etc.
B.A., University of Pennsylvania (magnum cum laude). M.A., University of Warwick.
M ichael Datcher««$ZDUG-winning poet and journalist who has made numerous TV and radio
appearances. Author of 5DLVLQJ)HQFHV$%ODFN0DQ¶V/RYH6WRU\(2001).
M.A., UC-Berkeley.
L . Divine««$XWKRURI5 popular novels, set in high school, aimed at black young adult (teenage)
female readers.
M.A. and M.Ed at UCLA.
Danielle E vans««:LQQHURIWKH3(15REHUW:%LQJKDP3UL]HIRUWKHVKRUWVWRU\
collection Before You Suffocate Your Own Fool Self (Riverhead Books).
John G . H all«:ULWHURIILFWLRQQRQILFWLRQDQGSRHWU\
B.A., University of Massachusetts at Boston. M.Ed., Converse College.
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B.A., Columbia University. M.F.A., Harvard University.
Suzette H ar rison««Romance novelist.
B.A., University of California-Santa Barbara.
M yesha Jenkins««$ZDUG-winning poet residing in Johannesburg, South Africa. Anti-apartheid
activist and feminist.
B.A., University of California at Riverside.
B ruce A . Jacobs««:LQQHURIWKHSUHVWLJLRXV1DRPL/RQJ0DGJHWW3RHWU\$ZDUGDQGDXWKRURI
the critically acclaimed nonfiction book Race Manners (1999).
B.A., Harvard University.
Daniel A lexander Jones««$ZDUG-winning playwright, director, educator.
B.A., Vassar College. M.A., Brown University.
Devorah M ajor««,QVKHRIILFLDOO\EHFDPHWKHWKLUG3RHW/DXUHDWHRI6DQ)UDQFLVFR6KHLV
also a trained actress, dancer, novelist, instructor, and editor.
B.A., San Francisco State University.
F elicia M ason««$XWKRURI4 romance novels. Winner of Reviewer's Choice Award from
Romantic Times and Affaire de Coeur Best Contemporary Ethnic Novel Award.
M.A., University of Maryland.
E thelbert M iller««$ZDUG-winning poet, editor, college administrator and founder of the D.C.
Humanities Council.
B.A., Howard University.
G loria Naylor««1RYHOLVW:LQQHURIWKHSUHVWLJLRXV1DWLRQDO%RRN$ZDUGLQIRU The
Women of Brewster Place (Viking Press). Guggenheim Fellow and National
Endowment Fellow. She has taught at Penn, Cornell, and the University of Kent (England).
Established her own multi-media production company.
M.A., Yale University, 1983.
Jill Nelson««1RYHOLVWIUHHODQFHMRXUQDOist and former staff writer at the Washington Post. Winner
of the America Book Award for her memoir, Volunteer Slavery (1993). She is Professor of
Journalism at the City College of New York.
B.A., City College of New York. M.A., Columbia School of Journalism.
Sandra Jackson-O poku««3RHW-Novelist. Also award-winning educator and travel journalist.
B.A., University of Massachusetts.
I rene Smalls««$ZDUG-ZLQQLQJDXWKRURIFKLOGUHQ¶VERRNV
B.A., Cornell University.
Natasha T arpley««$ZDUG-winning author of books for children and adults.
B.A., Harvard University.
V eona T homas««3OD\ZULJKW([HFXWLYH'LUHFWRURI5(-27,7UDYHOLQJ7KHDWUH3URGXFWLRQV
B.A., Lehman College.
L inda T rice««&KLOGUHQ¶VERRNDXWKRUDQGERRNUHYLHZHU)RUPHUHOHPHQWDU\VFKRol teacher.
Ph.D. in Black Studies, Union Institute and University.
Sports
C hristopher Asher««+HDG&RDFKRI7UDFNDQG)LHOGDW&DOLIRUQLD6tate University at Los
Angeles, assistant coach track coach at UCLA since 2012.
B.A., California State University at Northridge.
Renee Bostic««$WKOHWLF'LUHFWRUDW0HGJDU(YHUV&ROOHJH)RUPHUO\ZRPHQ¶VEDVNHWEDOOKHDG
coach at West Virginia State University.
B.A., College of the Holy Cross.
Ronnie Bowman««$WKOHWLF'LUHFWRUIRU-HIIHUVRQ&RXQW\3XEOLF6FKRROV(Kentucky).
B.S. and M.S. in Pan-African Studies, University of Louisville. M.Ed., University of Louisville.
Shannon Boxx««2O\PSLFJROGPHGDOLVWZRPHQ¶VSURVRFFHUVWDU
B.A., University of Notre Dame.
Coretta B rown««:RPHQ¶V%DVNHWEDOO+HDG&RDFKDWThomas University.
B.A., University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
W iley B rown««+HDG%DVNHWEDOO&RDFKDW,QGLDQD8QLYHUVLW\-Southeast.
B.A., University of Louisville.
V ince C arter««3UREDVNHWEDOOVXSHUVWDUFXUUHQWO\ZLWKWKH Memphis Grizzlies, formerly with the
Toronto Raptors, Orlando Magic, Phoenix Suns, Dallas Mavericks, and New Jersey Nets. .
B.A, University of North Carolina.
L ewis C hitengwa««3URIHVVLRQDO*ROIHUZKRLQEHFDPHWKHILUVWEODFN$IULFDQ
(Zimbabwean) to win the South African Amateur Championship. The Lewis Chitengwa Foundation
and the &DQDGLDQ*ROI7RXU¶V/HZLV&KLWHQJZD0HPRULDO&KDPSLRQVKLSZDVHVWDEOLVKHG
in his honor after his untimely death at age 26 in 2001. B.A., University of Virginia. Colin Cole««Businessman and pro football player (defensive tackle for Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, Detroit Lions), high school athletics consultant (CEO of The Cole Group, LLC). B.A., University of Iowa. Edgar I. Farmer Jr««+HDG&RDFKRIWKH:RPHQ¶V%DVNHWEDOOWeam at Wofford College. B.A., University of North Carolina. Dorothy Gators««High school athletic director. $VKHDGFRDFKRIWKHJLUO¶VEDVNHWEDOOWHDPDW
Marshall High Scholl in Chicago she has won 8 state championships and has over 900 career victories. 0$*RYHUQRU¶V6WDWH8QLYHUVLW\ -DPHV³6FRWWLH´*UDKDP««.Pro Football Player, Senior Associate Athletic Director at Arizona State University M.A., Ohio State University. Monique Hennagan««6\GQH\$XVWUDOLD2O\PSLF*DPHVJROGPHGDOLVWLQWKHx400 relay.
B.A., University of North Carolina.
A dam H utchinson««+HDGEDVNHWEDOOFRDFKDW:DVKLQJWRQDQG/HH8QLYHUVLW\IRUPHUO\KHDG
basketball coach at Case Western Reserve University.
B.A., Amherst College.
A llan W . Houston Jr««Assistant General Manager for the New York Knicks. Former pro
basketball star who played with the Detroit Pistons and the New York Knicks. 2000 Olympic gold
medalist.
B.A., University of Tennessee.
A ntwan Jamison««3UREDVNHWEDOOVWDU *ROGHQ6WDWH:DUULRUV/RV$QJHOHV Lakers, Dallas
Mavericks, et al.), broadcaster (Time Warner Cable SportNet).
B.A., University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
M aya L awrence««%URQ]HPHGDOLVWLQIHQFLQJLQWKH6XPPHU2O\PSLFVLQ/RQGRQ
B.A., Princeton University. M..Ed., Columbia University.
K eisha D. M arvin««+HDG7UDFN&RDFK6DQ*DEULHO9DOOH\+LJK6FKRRO)RUPHU8&/$$OOAmerican.
B.A., UCLA.
M arty M athis««+HDG&RDFKDQGGHIHQVLYHFRRUGLQDWRURIWKH%HWKHO&ROOHJHIRRWEDOOWHDP
B.A., University of Minnesota.
Jeff McInnis««&RDFKDQGIRUPHUSUREDVNHWEDOOVWDU&RDFKRI7HDP&KDUORWWH
B.A., University of North Carolina.
Howard Moore««+HDG%DVNHWEDOO&RDFKDWWKH8QLYHUVLW\RI,OOLQRLVDW&KLFDJR
B.A., University of Wisconsin.
Ibtihaj M uhammad««)HQFLQJFKDPSLRQ9 ZRPHQ¶VU.S. National Fencing Champion.
Gold medalist in the 2014 World Championship.
B.A., Duke University.
K eiko Price««Associate Athletics Director at the University of Illinois. Was Academic AllAmerican, PAC-10 100 meter freestyle swimming champion, and swim team captain at UCLA.
B.A., University of California-Los Angeles.
C hris Reynolds««'HSXW\'LUHFWRURI$WKOHWLFV 5HFUHDWLRQDW1RUWKZHVWHUQ8QLYHUVLW\
B.A., Indiana University.
K aren Rife««:RPHQ¶VODFURVVHWHDPKHDGFRDFKDW:DJQHU&ROOege.
B.A., Syracuse University.
L aurie Schiller««+HDG&RDFKRIWKHIHQFLQJWHDPDW1RUWKZHVWHUQ8QLYHUVLW\
B.A., Rutgers University (Phi Beta Kappa).
Duer Sharp««&RPPLVVLRQHU6RXWKZHVWHUQ$WODQWLF&RQIHUHQFH 6$& B.A., University of Wisconsin-Madison. M.A., University of Wisconsin-Madison.
T ytianna Smith««&KLOGUHQ¶VERRNDXWKRULOOXVWUDWRUDQGRZQHURI+RQH\7UHH3XEOLVKLQJ
B.S. and M.S., University of Louisville.
Jer ry Stackhouse««NBA-TV analyst and former basketball star with several pro basketball
teams, including the Miami Heat and Detroit Pistons.. .
B.A., University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
A mahl T homas««+HDG)RRWEDOO&RDFKDW7KH:HEE6FKRROV ERDUGLQJVFKRRO IRRWEDOOWHDPLQ
Claremont, California.
B.A., University of California - Santa Barbara. Ph.D. in education at Claremont Graduate University.
A rlisa W illiams««+HDG&RDFKRIWKH:RPHQ¶V9ROOH\WHDPDW*HRUJHWRZQ8QLYHUVLW\
B.A., University of Wisconsin.
Education
B rad A llen««/LEUDU\'LUHFWRUDW/DZUHQFH .DQVDs) Public Library.
M.A., University of Wisconsin-Madison. M.I.L.S. at the University of Illinois.
Daniel A ltschuler««5KRGHV6FKRODU 6WXGLHGDW2[IRUG8QLYHUVLW\
B.A., Amherst College. D.Phil. Oxford University.
W illie L . Baber««$QWKURSRORJ\Srofessor at the University of Florida.
B.A., University of California at Davis. Ph.D. in cultural anthropology at Stanford University.
E jima Baker-Morales««(QJOLVK'HSDUWPHQW/HDGHUDQG$3(QJOLVKWHDFKHUDW:LOOLDPVEXUJ
Charter High School. College music instructor.
B.A., Barnard College. M.A. in musicology, CUNY-Graduate Center.
Jared Ball««&RPPXQLFDWLRQV3URIHVVRU-Radio Host. Teaches at Morgan State University.
Founder and host of FreeMix Radio.
M.A., Cornell University. Ph.D., University of Maryland.
M aisha Baton««3RHWKLVWRULDQDQGOHFWXUHUDWWKH8QLYHUVLW\RI1HZ0H[LFR
B.S., University of Pittsburgh. Ph.D., University of Pittsburgh.
E rnest Bond««(GXFDWLRQ3URIHVVRUDW6DOLVEXU\8QLYHUVLW\WKH&DUQHJLH)RXQGDWLRQ¶V
Maryland Professor of the Year.
M.A., Ohio State University. Ph.D., Ohio State University.
C hristopher A . B racey««/DZSURIHVVRUDW:DVKLQJWRQ8QLYHUVLW\ where he is also Senior
Associate Dean for Academic Affairs. Has published in the Harvard Law Review, among others.
B.S., University of North Carolina. J.D., Harvard University.
Rakim H . D. B rooks««5KRGHV6FKRODU Formerly Director of Communication for tyhe
New York City Council and policy advisor at the U.S. Treasury.
B.A., Brown University. M.Phil., Oxford University. MBA, Yale University.
Rae L inda B rown««$VVRFLDWH3URYRVWIRU8QGHUJUDGXDWH(GXFDWLRQDQG3URIHVVRURI0XVLFDW
Loyola Marymount University.
M.A. in African American Studies and Ph.D. in musicology, both from Yale University.
E r rol T . B rowne««+LVWRU\SURfessor at Bowie State University.
B.A. and Ph.D. at UCLA.
Sean T. Buffington««3UHVLGHQWDQG&(2RI7KH8QLYHUVLW\RIWKH$UWVLQ3KLODGHOSKLD
(enrollment 2,300). B.A., Harvard University. M.A., University of Michigan. Jeffery Burgin««$Vsociate Provost and Dean of Students at Belmont University. B.A., University of Cincinnati. Ed.D., University of Alabama. Lawrence A. Burnley««$VVW93IRU,QWHUFXOWXUDO5HODWLRQVDQGKLVWRU\SURIHVVRUDW:KLWZRUWK
University in Spokane, Washington. B.A., University of Cincinnati. Ph.D., University of Pennsylvania. David Canton««&KDLr of the History Department at Connecticut College. B.A., Ohio State University. Ph.D., Temple University. Warren J. Carson Jr««&KDLURIWKH'HSDUWPHQWRI/DQJXDJHV/LWerature, and Composition at the University of South Carolina. M.A., Atlanta University. Ph.D., University of South Carolina. Christopher Carter««&KDLURIWKH'HSDUWPHQWRI$OOLHG+HDOWKSURJUDPVDW&KDUWHU&ROOHJH B.A., California State University at Long Beach. Ed.D., Argosy University Los Angeles. Marquis Coates««3URJUDP&RRUGLQDWRURI3KLODGHOSKLD$FDGHPLHV,QF 3$, PDQDJLQJD-­
member team that facilitates entry to college for high school students. B.A., Temple University. M.P.A., Villanova University. Alexander Coccia««5KRGHV6FKRODU B.A., University of Notre Dame. Lisa M. Coleman««&KLHI'LYHUVLW\2IILFHUDW+DUYDUG8QLYHUVLW\. M.A., Ohio State University. Ph.D., American University. Dale Colston««3ULQFLSDOOLEUDULDQLQWKH%XVLQHVs, Science, and Technology Center at the Newark
Public Library.
B.A.., Rutgers University. M.L.S., Rutgers University.
Toya Corbett««&RRUGLQDWRUIRUWKH2IILFHRI6WXGHQW$FWLYLWLHVDW0RUJDQ6WDWH8QLYHUVLW\
M.A. and Ph.D. in history at Morgan State University.
Jernaine C ruz««'LUHFWRURI$GPLVVLRQDW0F*HRUJH6FKRRORI/DZ8QLYHUVLW\RIWKH3DFLILF
M.A., SUNY-Albany. J.D., Catholic University.
Sean Decatur««3UHVLGHQWRI.HQ\RQ&ROOHJH
B.A., Swarthmore College. Ph.D. in biophysical chemistry, Stanford University.
K elley F . Deetz««+LVWRU\SURIHVVRUDWWKH8QLYHUVLW\RI&DOLIRUQLDDW%HUNHOH\
B.A., The College of William and Mary. Ph.D. in history, UC-Berkeley.
T chet D. Dorman««.Director of the Center for Social Justice and Multicultural Education at
Temple University.
B.A., Oberlin College.
K ristie Dotson««3KLORVRSK\3URIHVVRU0LFKLJDQ6WDWH8QLYHUVLW\
B.A., Coe College. Ph.D., University of Memphis.
M ichael D rake««3UHVLGHQWRI2KLR6WDWH8QLYHUVLW\IRUPHU&KDQFHOORURIWKH8QLYHUVLW\of
California at Irvine.
B.A., Stanford University. M.D., University of California at San Francisco.
M arta J. Effinger-C richlow««Chair and Professor of Theater at New York City College of
Technology.
M.A., University of Pittsburgh. Ph.D. in theater, Northwestern University.
C heryl F inley««$VVociate Professor of Art and African American Studies at Cornell University.
Author of Harlem Guaranteed: The Photographic Legacy of James VanDerZee (2002).
M.A. and Ph.D., Yale University.
Stacey M . F loyd-T homas««$VVRFiate Professor of Ethics and Society at Vanderbilt University.
B.A., Vassar College. Ph.D. in religion, Temple University.
K aima L . G lover««)UHQFKSURIHVVRUDW%DUQDUG&ROOHJHUHJXODUFRQWULEXWRUWR1HZ<RUN7LPHV
Book Review.
B.A., Harvard University. Ph.D. in French, Columbia University.
Jessica G raham««$VVLVWDQWSt of History at the University of California at San Diego.
M.A., Cornell University. Ph.D. in history, University of Chicago.
E ric V . G ravenberg«,QWHULP3UHVLGHQWRIWKH&ROOHJHRI$ODPeda. Currently Vice President of
Students at Merritt College.
B.A. and M.P.A. at California State University at Chico.
Derek M . G riffith««$VVRFLDWH3URIHVVRURI0HGLFLQH+HDWK 6RFLHW\DW9DQGHUELOW8QLYHUVLW\
B.A., University of Maryland. M.A., Ph.D. in clinical-community psychology, DePaul University.
C heryl T . G rills««Associate Dean at Bellarmine College of Liberal Arts and President of the
Association of Black Psychologists, Inc.
B.A., Yale University. Ph.D., University of California-Los Angeles.
T resmaine R. G rimes««Ombudsman and former Vice President for Academic Affairs, Iona
College ( New York). )RXQGHU&(2RI6DUDK¶V'DXJKWHUV0LQLVWULHV, Inc.
B.A., Harvard University. Ph.D., Columbia University.
Rhiana G unn-W right««5KRGHVScholar (2013), Miriam K. Chamberlain fellow at the Institute
IRU:RPHQ¶V3ROLF\5HVHDUFKers.
B.A., Yale University.
F redara M . H adley««-D]]VWXGLHVSURIHVVRUDW2EHUOLQ&ROOHJHDQGRZQHURI-RRNVLDWRXU
service focusing on the New York City black music scene.
M.A., Clark Atlanta University. Ph.D. in ethnomusicology, Indiana University.
V alerie H ar rison««$FWLQJ3UHVLGHQWRI/LQFROQ8QLYHUVLW\
Ph.D. in African-American Studies, Temple University. J.D., Villanova University.
C harlene H ayes««Vice President of Human Relations and former Associate Vice Chancellor for
Human Resources at Johns Hopkins University.
B.A., Cornell University. J.D., George Washington University.
B rittany Henry««$FDGHPLF&RXQVHORUDW&DO3RO\-San Luis Obispo.
B.A., University of California at Santa Barbara. M.Ed., California State University-Fullerton.
T ai C . H inkins««)RXQGLQJSULQFLSDORI5HQDLVVDQFH&KDUWHU6FKRRODW&\SUHVVLQ:HVW3DOP
Beach, Florida.
B.A., Oberlin College. M.S. in education, Barry University.
Jumoke H inton Hodge««(GXFDWLRQDFWLYLVW%RDUGDirector of the Oakland (CA) Unified School
District. Co-founder and director of the Parent Leadership and Engagement Academy Initiative
(PLEA).
B.A., Oberlin College.
Shannon T . Hodge««([HFXWLYH'LUHFWRURI2SWLRQV3XEOLc Charter School in Washington, DC.
B.A., Harvard University. M.S.Ed, Purdue University. J.D., Stanford University.
M andy Hoke««3ROLF\$VVRFLDWHDWWKH6RXWKHDVW&HQWHUIRUWHDFKLQJ)RUPHUVFKRROWHDFKHU
B.A., University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
E ndesha Ida M ae Holland««:DVWKHDWHUSURIHVVRUDWWKH8QLYHUVLW\RI6RXWKHUQ&DOLIRUQLD
award-winning playwright, and author of several books.
B.A., University of Minnesota. Ph.D. in American Studies, U. of Minnesota.
Dwight Hopkins««Professor of Theology, University of Chicago. Ordained Baptist Minister.
B.A., Harvard University. Ph.D., Union Theological Seminary. Ph.D., University of Cape Town.
Diane H ughes««3URIHVVRURIApplied Psychology at New York University.
B.A., Williams College. Ph.D., Michigan State University.
A drienne Israel««9LFH3UHVLGHQWIRU$FDGHPLF$IIDLUVDQG'HDQDW*XLOIRUG&ROOHJH
M.A., Howard University, 1973. Ph.D. in History, Johns Hopkins U.
G enteen L . Jean-M ichel««3ULQFLSDO/HH$FDGHP\3LORW6FKRRODQHOHPHQtary school in
Dorchester, Massachusetts.
B.A. and M.Ed., University of Massachusetts-Boston.
Agatha Jeffers««$FFRXQWLQJ3URIHVVRUDW Montclair State University. Also Certified Public
Accountant.
B.S., Hunter College. Ph.D., Rutgers University.
C edric K wesi Johnson««3ROLWLFDO6FLHQFH3URIHVVRUDWHobart and William Smith Colleges in
New York.
M.A., Ohio State University. Ph.D., University of Maryland.
O llie A . Johnson I I I««3ROLWLFDOVcientist at Wayne State University. Author of the book Brazilian
Party Politics and the Coup of 1964 (University of Florida Press, 2001).
B.A., Brown University. Ph.D., University of California at Berkeley.
Louis Jones««)LHOG$UFKLYLVWDWWKH:DOWHU35HXWKHU/LEUDU\
M.A., Cornell University. Ph.D. in American history, Wayne State University.
Peniel E . Joseph««3URIHVVRURI+LVWRU\DW7XIWV8QLYHUVLW\&RPPHQWDWRURQ79DQGUDGLR
B.A., SUNY-Stony Brook. Ph.D., Temple University.
Jordan K onell««5KRGHV6FKRODU B.A. expected in 2015 at Yale University.
C hana K ai L ee««$VVRFLDWH3URIHVVRURI+LVWRU\DWWKH8QLYHUVLW\RI*HRUJLD+HUDZDUGwinning book is )RU)UHHGRP¶V6DNH7KH/LIHRI)DQQLH/RX+DPHU(1999).
B.A., University of California-Berkeley. Ph.D., UCLA.
H aipeng L i««Head Librarian at Hong Kong Baptist University. Born in the Chinese Province of
Jilin, he was previously a reference librarian at Oberlin College.
M.A., University of Mississippi.
Naima Lowe««0HGLDDUWVDQGILOPLQVWUXFWRUDW(YHUJUHHQ9DOOH\&ROOHJH Filmmaker, and
public intellectual.
B.A., Brown University. M.F.A., Temple University.
M aria M artin««3URIHVVRURI$JULFXOWXUDO(FRQRPLFVDQG$VVLVWDQW'HDQDW3XUGXH8QLYHUVLW\
B.A., University of Nebraska. Ph.D. in agricultural economics at Kansas State University.
Dionne M ack-H arvin««Library director, headed Brooklyn Public Library and El Paso Public
Library.
M.A., SUNY-Albany. M.L.S., SUNY-Albany.
Joy M ay-H ar ris««3ULQFLSDORI$OOLDQFH6NLUEDOO0LGGOH6FKRROLQ/RV$QJHOHV
B.A., Florida A&M University. M.Ed., California State University at Northridge.
Dar ren Moore««$VVLVWDQW3URIHVVRURI3V\FKLDWU\DQG%HKDYLRUDO6FLHQFHVDW0HUFHU8QLYHUVLW\
B.A., University of Minnesota. Ph.D., Virginia Tech.
K imberly G . Nao««6DQWD0RQLFD+LJK6FKRRO6RFLDO2XWUHDFK6SHFLDOLVW
B.A., UC-Berkeley. Ph.D. in education, UCLA.
Jennifer E . O bidah««'HDQRIWKH)DFXOW\RIWKH+XPDQLWLHVDQG(GXFDWLRQDWWKH8QLYHUVLW\RI
West Indies. Also Director of the Education Evaluation Centre.
M.A., Yale University. Ph.D. in education at UC-Berkeley.
Pamela B. O rganista««3URIHVVRUDQG&KDLURI3V\FKRORJ\DWWKH8QLYHUVLW\RI6DQ)UDQFLVFR
B.A., Washington University. Ph.D., Arizona State University.
Shuron O wens-L incoln««6FKRRO'LUHFWRURI,QJOHZRRG(OHPHQWDU\6FKRRO &DOLIRUQLD B.A., California State University at Long Beach.
M arc D. Per ry««$QWKURSRORJ\SURIHVVRUDW7XODQH8QLYHUVLW\
B.A., Vassar College. Ph.D., University of Texas.
Deborah Petitto««3ULQFLSDODQGIRXQGHURI7KH$UOLQJWRQ6FKRROLQ%LUPLQJKDP
B.A., Boston University. M.Ed., University of Alabama at Birmingham.
K imberly L . Phillips««Provost and Dean of Faculty at Mills College. Formerly a history
professor at the College of William & Mary. Her award-winning book is AlabamaNorth: African
American Migrants, Community, and Working-Class Activism in Cleveland (1999)
M.A., Yale University. Ph.D., American Studies, Yale University.
W endy Purifoy««6FKRROUHIRUPHU3UHVLGHQWRI3XEOLF(GXFDWLRQ1HWZRUN
M.A., Boston University.
Jamar Rahming««/LEUDU\'LUHFWRU'HO&LW\3Xblic Library in Oklahoma City.
B.A., Northern Colorado University. M.L.S., University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
M ichael Ralph««$QWKURSRORJLVW$ssociate Professor of Social and Cultural Anthropology at
New York University.
B.A., Morris Brown College. Ph.D., University of Chicago.
Debra A nn Roberson««&ROOHJHLQVWUXFWRU6DQ'LHJR1$$&3VWDIIHUDOXPQLDVVRFLDWLRQ
president.
B.A., San Diego State University.
Besinia Rodriguez««$VVRFLDWH'HDQRIWKH&ROOHJHDW%URZQ8QLYHUVLW\6HFUHWDU\RIWKH%RDUG
of the Latino Policy Institute at Roger Williams University.
B.A., Brown University. M.A. and Ph.D., Yale University (all degrees in African American Studies).
C layton F . Rosati««Telecommunications professor at Bowling Green State University.
B.A., Ph.D. Syracuse University.
JaDora F . Sailes««.Assistant Professor of Educational and School Psychology at Indiana State
University.
B.S., Eastern Illinois University. Ed,D, University of Indiana.
W ilfred D. Samuels««English/Ethnic Studies Professor at the University of Utah, President of
the African American Literature and Culture Society.
B.A., University of California at Riverside. Ph.D., University of Iowa.
C laudia V . Schrader««9LFH3UHVLGHQWIRU$FDGHPLF$IIDLUVDQG3URYRVWDW%URQ[&RPPXQLW\
College.
B.A., Rutgers University. Ed.D., Columbia University.
Jabari Simama««3UHVLGHQWRI*HRUJLD3LHGPRQW7HFKQLFDO8QLYHUVLW\)RUPHU$WODQWD&LW\
Councilman, civil servant, and professor.
M.A., Atlanta University. Ph.D. in American Studies, Emory University.
Saadi Simawe««(QJOLVK3URIHVVRUDW*ULQQHOO&ROOHJH
M.A., University of Iowa. Ph.D., University of Iowa.
Richard Smith««'LUHFWRURIWKH/LEHUW\3DUWQHUVKLSV3URJUDPVHUYLQJth through 12th grade
students in the Schenectady City School District (New York).
M.A. in Africana Studies and Ph.D. in social welfare both at SUNY-Albany.
E van Simpson««+HDGRI5HVHDUFKDQG,QVWUXFWLRQDW7LVFK/LEUDU\7XIWV8QLYHUVLW\
B.A., The College of Wooster. M.S., SUNY-Albany.
M aboula Soumahoro««English professor at Columbia University.
M.A., Universite Paris-XII Creteil. Ph.D., Universite Francois Rabelais de Tours.
E ric T homas««0DWKHPDWLFVWHDFKHUDW*UHHQ'RW3XEOLF6FKRROV in Los Angeles.
B.A., San Diego University.
Stevie J. Swanson««/DZSURIHVVRUDWthe Western Michigan University.
B.A., Yale University. J.D., University of Michigan.
B rian T aylor««([HFXWLYHDirector of Teleos Preparatory Academy in Phoenix, Arizona. Former
pro basketball star.
B.A., Princeton University.
T er ry T homas««0LGGOHVFKool art teacher, founder of the award-winning African American
Cultural Arts Organization in Florida.
M.A., Clark Atlanta University.
Richard B rent T urner««$VVRFLDWH3URIHVVRURI5HOLJLRXV6WXGLHVDWWKH8QLYHUVLW\RI,RZD
M.A., Boston University. Ph.D., Princeton University.
A yana W illiams««After school programs director at the African American Cultural Center in
Buffalo, NY. Formerly dance Instructor, DreamYard Preparatory School (Bronx, NY).
B.A., College of Wooster.
Sharon W illiams««'LUHFWRUof College Counseling at Chatham Hall all-girl prep school in
Virginia, formerly admissions staffer at Binghamton University and University of Rochester.
B.A., University of Colorado.
T ara M . W atford««'LUHFWRURI5HVHDUFKDQG(YDOXDWLRQDWWKH<RXWK3ROicy Institute.
B.A., Georgia State University. Ph.D. in education at UCLA.
Lori Woodall-Schaufler««7KHDWHU3URIHVVRU3HUIRUPVLQSOD\VPRYLHVDQGFRPPHUFLDOVLQ
Wisconsin and California. Teaches at Concordia University.
B.A., University of Wisconsin-Madison. M.A., California Institute of the Arts.
G eorge Y ancy««3KLORVRSK\SURIHVVRUDW'XTXHVQH8QLYHUVLW\DQGDXWKRURIQXPHURXVERRNVDQG
scholarly articles.
M.A., New York University. Ph.D. in philosophy at Duquesne University.
News Media & Publishing
Janus A dams««6\QGLFDWHGFROXPQLVW(PP\-winning news writer and talk show host on
Connecticut television, author, and historian.
M.A., Mills College.
K halil A mani««-RXUQDOLVWhip hop blogger, book author.
B.A., University of Nebraska.
Stacey Barney««6HQLRU(GLWRUDW3HQJXLQ5DQGRP+RXVH
B.A. Temple University. M.F.A., Emerson College.
K aren G rigsby Bates««-RXUQDOLVW-novelist. She has written for the New York Times,
Washington Post, People magazine, and the Los Angeles Times; made appearances on National
3XEOLF5DGLR 135 $%&¶V³1LJKWOLQH´DQGWKH³&%6(YHQLQJ1HZV´
B.A., Wellesley College.
T iffany Black««Head of Social Engagement and Content Network at Ebay. Former editorial
producer for InStyle.com. At age 23, she was an online editor of the Philadelphia Inquirer .
B.A., University of North Carolina.
James T . C ampbell««(GLWRULDOZULWHUand reader representative for the Houston Chronicle .
Former director of the Press Club of Houston.
B.A., University of Houston.
C lay C ane««(QWHUWainment journalist and New York City radio show host. Has written for a
number of high-profile magazines and has interview top entertainment celebrities.
B.A., Rutgers University (Phi Beta Kappa).
'HERUDK³%LJ5HG´&RWWRQ««1HZ2UOHDQVMRXUQDOLVWEORJJer, videographer.
B.A., San Francisco State University.
Pamela E dwards C hristiani««0DJD]LQHHGLWRU EHDXW\DQGVW\OH IRU Essence and People .
B.A., Vassar College.
H aven Daley««9LGHRMRXUQDOLVWIRU$VVRFLDWHG3UHVV)RUPHUWHOHYLVLRQDQFKRUPDQRQ³1HZ´
in Houston Texas. He is a member of the Native American Journalists Association.
B.A., Pennsylvania State University. M.A. in Broadcast Journalism, Northwestern U.
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B.A., Wesleyan University. M.A., University of California at Berkeley.
C hristina F lowers««79QHZVSURGXFHUDW:609LQ1DVKYLOOH7HQQHVsee.
B.A., Marquette University.
Douglas Flynn««6SRrts reporter and broadcaster covering Boston hockey and football scene. B.A., Brown University. Smokey D. Fontaine««&KLHI&RQWHQW2IILFHUDW,QWHUDFWLYH2QHDQXUEDQHQWHUWDLQPHQWZHEVLWH B.A., Wesleyan University. Jessie G raham««)UHHODQFHSULQWDQd radio journalist. Has worked for National Public Radio
(NPR) and the New York Post.
B.A., Wesleyan University.
G aynor H all««5HSRUWHUIRU:*1(YHQLQJ1HZV &KLFDJR79 B.A., Syracuse University (summa cum laude, double major AAF and broadcast journalism).
Selwyn S. H inds««Media producer and screenwriter. Former editor-in-chief of The Source , the
leading hip hop magazine. He is also the author of two books.
B.A., Princeton University.
Shani Jamila««.Pacifica Radio talk show host-producer, writer.
M.A., University of California at Los Angeles.
A liya S. K ing««)UHHODQFHZULWHU and author of novels and biographies. Her articles have appeared
in Vibe, The Source, Essence , Us Weekly, Black Enterprise , New Music Monthly, etc. Editorial
positions at Billboard magazine and The Source.
B.A., Rutgers University.
M eribah K night««5HSRUWHUIRU Chicago Business covering the economy, manufacturing,
transportation, and labor.
M.A., New York University. M.A. in journalism at Northwestern University.
Jean L ibby««3XEOLVKHUDXWKRUKLVWRU\LQVWUXFWRURZQHURI$OOLHVRI)UHHGRPSXEOLVKHUV
B.A., University of California at Berkeley. M.A., San Francisco State University.
K im M elton««&RPPXQLFDWLRQVGLUHFWRU6WDQG)RU&KLOGUHQ2UHJRQLQWKH3RUWODQG2UHJRQ)RU
seven years was education and politics reporter for The OregonianWKHDUHD¶VSUHPLHUQHZVSDSHU
B.A., Stanford University. M.A. in journalism, University of California at Berkeley.
Y vette Moyo«3XEOLVKHURISouth Shore Current Magazine (Chicago).
B.A., Eastern Illinois University.
C hris M ur ray««6SRUWVMRXUQDOLVW Baltimore Sun, Philadelphia Tribune , Washington Post, etc.).
M.A., Temple University.
Sarah Rosenthal««$VVLVWDQWHGLWRUDW2[IRUG8QLYHUVLW\3UHVV
B.A., Brown University.
Pearl Stewart««3URIHVVRUDQGIRXQGHURI%ODFN&ROOHJH:LUH,QVKHEHFDPHWKHILUVWEODFN
female to become editor of a major daily newspaper, the Oakland Tribune .
B.A., Howard University.
David V an T aylor««9LFH3UHVLGHQWRI/XPLHUH3URGXFWLRQ,QF+DVZULWWHQ directed, and edited
highly acclaimed documentary films including the 1993 Emmy-QRPLQDWHG³'UHDP'HFHLYHUV´
B.A., Harvard University.
Jose A ntonio V argas««3XOLW]HU3UL]H-winning journalist, immigration reform and gay rights
advocate, founder of the nonprofit Define America.
B.A., San Francisco State University.
H assan W ahab««0DQDJLQJ(GLWRURI Africa Today, a leading journal on contemporary Africa.
M.A., University of Indiana
B rantley W atson««6SRUWV writer for the Long Beach Register and sports editor for three Orange
County, California newspapers ( Huntington Beach Wave , The Current, and Fountain Valley View).
Japhet W eek««Senior Producer at Al Jazeera Media Network. Former editor and freelance writer
working in Shanghai, China.
B.A., Brown University.
Bill W hitaker««&%6QHZs correspondent based in Los Angeles.
M.A., Boston University.
L loyd K am W illiams««6\QGLFDWHGILOPDQGERRNFULWLF
M.A., Brown University, MBA, University of Pennsylvania, J.D., Boston University.
Social & Community Services
K hafre K . A bif««)RXQGHUDQG([HFXWLYH'LUHFWRURI&\FOHIRU)UHHGRPDQRQSURILWKHOSLQJ
people to fight against the spread of HIV/AIDS in African American and Latino communities.
B.A. and M.I.L.S. at the University of Pittsburgh.
M elanie A . A dams.......Managing Director of the Missouri History Museum responsible for
community education and events.
B.A., University of Virginia. M.Ed., University of Vermont.
M argaret Q . A tkins««'LUHFWRURINJ-Step, providing higher educational opportunites for prison
inmates in New Jersey.
B.A., University of Pennsylvania. M.S. in criminal justice policy at Rutgers University.
Peter Bouckaert««(PHUJHQF\GLUHFWRUIRU+XPDQ5LJKWV:DWFKLQYHVWLJDWLQJKXPDQULJKWV
abuses around the globe.
B.A., University of California-Santa Barbara. J.D., Stanford University.
M ar kese B ryant««Environmentalist, founder of Fight for Light in Oakland, California.
B.A., Morehouse College.
A nna C astro««&RPPXQLFDWLRQ6WUDWHJLVW6DQ'LHJR&RXQW\$PHULFDQ&LYLO/LEHUWLHV8QLRQ
(ACLU).
B.A., Amherst College.
C hristine Colouro««)RXQGHUDQG&KDLURIWKHERDUGRI%XLOGLQJ+RSH)RU$IULFD %+$ B.A., University of California at Santa Barbara.
Monique Cook-Bey««&KLHI3URJUDP2IILFHUZLWK&KLFDJR<RXWK3URJUDPV,QF
B.S. and M.Ed., Eastern Illinois University.
Devon Countee««Field Manager/Community Organizer for Working America.
B.A., William Paterson University.
Asa C raig««3ROLF\DQDO\VWIRUWKH/DXUDDQG-RKQ$UQROG)RXQGDWLRQ
B.A., Cornell University.
James C rowder««3URJUam officer at Philadelphia LISC, a community development organization.
M.A., Columbia University.
M alika Z. C rutchfield««&DVHPDQDJHUIRU/D5D]D&RPPXQLW\5HVRXUFH&HQWHULQWKH6DQ
Francisco Bay Area.
M.A., University of California at Berkeley.
Morgan Davison««&R-Founder and Executive Vice President of United States Africa Sports and
Education Foundation.
B.A., San Francisco State University.
W endy Day««)RXQGHUDQG&(2RI5DS&RDOLWLRQDQRQSURILWRUJDQL]DWLRQGHYRWHGWREURNHULQJ
fair deals for rap and hip hop artists.
M.A., Temple University. MBA, McGill University.
C hristopher Dobyns««5KRGHV6FKRODU &RUQHOO8QLYHUVLW\ B.A., Cornell University.
Jonah M . E delman««CEO and co-founder of Stand for Children, an education reform group. Son
of MaULDQ:ULJKW(GHOPDQRIWKH&KLOGUHQ¶V'HIHQVH)XQGKHJUDGXDWHGVXPPDFXPODXGHDQGZDV
a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford University.
B.A., Yale University. Ph.D. in Politics, Oxford University.
Der rick C . E vans««&Rmmunity activist and professor. Founder and Executive Director of the
Turkey Creek (Mississippi) Community Initiative formed after Hurricane Katrina. Teaches part-time
at Boston College.
B.A., MAT, Boston College.
Shaena F azal««1DWLRQDO3ROLF\'LUHFWRU for Youth Advocate Programs, Inc.
B.A., Miami University. J.D., Chicago-Kent College of Law.
F rancesca P. G amber««$VVLVWDQWWRWKH([HFXWLYH'LUHFWRURIWKH*UHDWHU+RPHZRRG
Community Corporation in Baltimore, Maryland.
B.A., Harvard University. Ph.D. in history, Southern Illinois University.
V iki H ar rison««([HFXWLYH'LUHFWRURI&RPPRQ&DXVH1HZ0H[LFR
B.A., University of New Mexico.
C alvin Holmes««President of the Chicago Community Loan Fund.
B.A., Northwestern University.
Jasper J. H uffman««&(2RI5RFKHVWHU%ODFN8QLWHG)XQG 1HZ<RUN).
B.A., University of Buffalo.
A ntoinette M . Jackson««+DELWDWIRU+XPDQLW\%RDUG&KDLUSHUVRQ +RXVWRQ $OVRDWWRUQH\LQ
the firm of Jones Walker focusing on real estate transactions.
B.A., University of Virginia. J.D., Texas Southern University.
E ugene Jackson««Team member of the Reentry Network for Returning Citizens in East and
Central Country (Contra Costa County, CA). Ordained minister. Spent 14 years in prison ministry.
B.A., University of California at Berkeley.
Denalerie J. Johnson-F aniel««3resident and CEO of Urban League of Morris County (NJ).
B.A., Howard University. Ph.D., Capella University.
K atherine K ennedy««:DV([HFXWLYH'LUHFWRURIWKH6DQ)UDQFLVFRRIILFHRIWKH6XPPHU6HDUFK
Foundation which identifies at-risk youth and shows them a way to a better future.
B.A., University of Pennsylvania.
B rian J. K reiter««&R-founder of the National Student Partnership. Winner of the Samuel S.
Beard Award for Greatest Public Service by an Individual 35 or Under.
B.A., Yale University. MBA, Harvard University.
Portia A llen- K yle««0HPEHURIWKH%RDUGRI'LUHFWRUVRIWKH8UEDQ5HVRXUFH,QVWLWXWHZKLFK
supports social services for the poor, disabled, and the addicted in New York City.
B.A., Wellesley College. M.A., Columbia University (both degrees in African American Studies).
Justin D. L aing««6HQLRU3URJUDP2IILFHUDW7KH+HLQ](QGRZPHQWLQ3LWWVEXUJK3$
%$8QLYHUVLW\RI3LWWVEXUJK0DVWHU¶VGHJUHHLQSXEOLFPDQDJHPHQW&DUQHJLH0HOORQ8QLYHUVLW\
M aureen E . L ee««([HFXWLYH'LUHFWRUof the Black History Museum and Cultural Center of
Virginia.
M.A. in African American Studies and Ph.D. in humanities, both at Clark Atlanta University.
Stevon L ewis««/LFHQVHGPDUULDJHDQGIDPLO\WKHUDSLVWLQ/RV$QJHOHV&RXQW\
B.A., California State University at Fullerton. M.S. in counseling at Cal State-Long Beach.
A llen L ipscomb««/LFHQVHGVRFLDOZRUNHUDQGDGMXQFWFROOHJHIDFXOW\PHPEHU
B.A., University of California at Santa Barbara. M.S.W., University of Southern California.
Stacy Long««'LUHFtor of Public Policy and Government Affairs for the National Gay and
Lesbian Task Force.
B.A., Vassar College. J.D., University of Wisconsin.
W ekesa M adzimoyo««Community activist and organizer in Atlanta, co-director of the Aya
Educational Institute, founder of Justice@Home combating homeowner scams and wealth transfer,
and head of Uhuru Esusu, a home buying collective.
B.A., University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
K arena M alko««&RRUGLQDWRUIRUWKH+XGVRQ&RXQW\ 1HZ-HUVH\ &RDOLWLRQIRU'UXJ-Free
Communities.
B.A., Columbia University.
Bil Mooney-Mc Coy««'LUHFWRURI6DIH)DPLOLHVIRU7HFK0LVVLRQAlso professional musician.
B.A., Brandeis University. M.A., New England Conservatory of Music.
A lysha M c E lroy««3ULYDWH:HDOWK0DQDJHPHQW$QDO\VWDWGoldman Sachs.
B.A., Williams College.
Todd S. M c F adden««3UHVLGHQWRIWKH$VVRFLDWLRQRI%ODFN&XOWXUH&HQWHUV&ROOHJH
administrator.
B.A., Oberlin College. M.Ed., West Virginia University.
M ichael P. Mc M illan««3UHVLGHQWDQG&(2RIWKH8UEDQ/HDJXHRI Metropolitan St. Louis.
B.A., St. Louis University.
Sonja O kun««)RXQGHURIexalt, a juvenile crime prevention agency in Brooklyn, NY.
B.S., MBA, Harvard University.
Sanetta Ponton««Managing Director of Academic Programs at Legal Outreach (New York).
Homeless Advocate. Was Executive Director of SonRise House.
B.A., Columbia University
W endy D. Puriefoy««3UHVLGHQWRIWKH3XEOLF(GXFDWLRQ1HWZRUNWKHQDWLRQ VODUJHVWQHWZRUNRI
community-based school-reform organizations.
M.A., Boston University.
L incoln Restler««0DQDJLQJ Director of the New York Employment and Training Coalition, 50th
State Assembly District Committeeman.
B.A., Brown University.
Cory J. Rogers««5KRGHV6FKRODU 2), adviser to Americans for Informed Democracy.
B.A., University of Pittsburgh.
Pier Rogers««'LUHFWRURIWKH$[HOVRQ&HQWHUIRU1RQSURILW0DQDJHPHQW
M.A., Boston University. Ph.D. in organizational theory, New York University.
Sam Sachs««+XPDQ5LJKWV&RPPLVVLRQHUIRUWKH&LW\RI3RUWODQG2UHJRQGLYHUVLW\LQVtructor.
B.A., Portland State University.
Z ulayka Santiago««([HFXWLYH'LUHFWRUof El Pueblo, a Latino advocacy organization in North
Carolina. Currently an independent social entrepreneur.
B.A., Barnard College.
Jennifer A . Scott««Director of the Jane Addams Hull-House Museum on the campus of the
University of Illinois at Chicago, preserving the progressive social legacy of Jane Addams.
M.A., UCLA. M.A. in anthropology at the University of Michigan.
Nik ki Silvestri««(QYLURQPHQWDOLVW3UHVLGHQWRI*Ueen For All.
M.A., University of California at Los Angeles.
E lizabeth Siwo-O kundi««)RXQGHURI2USKDQ:LVGRP,QFDQRQ-profit organization that assists
orphans in Kenya.
B.A., Denison University. M.T., Harvard Divinity School.
Jaryd Spann««%XVLQHVVFRRUGLQDWRUIRU0RYHDEOH)HDVWSURYLGLQJPHDOVWR0DU\ODQG¶VSRRU
B.A. and M.A. both in Afro-American Studies at University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Jacci T hompson-Dodd««)RXQGHU and Chief Executive RI:H6SHDN/RXGO\DZRPHQ¶VKHDOWK
education and advocacy group in Seattle, Washington.
M.A., Boston University.
David W alker««([HFXWLYH'LUHFWRURIWKH0RUULVWRZQ1HLJKERUKRRG+RXVH7HDFKHVSURJUDP
HYDOXDWLRQDW&ROXPELD8QLYHUVLW\¶V6FKRRORI6RFLDO:RUN
B.A., Stanford University. J.D., Georgetown U. M.S.W., Columbia University.
Jason W alker««+,9$,'6FRPPXQLW\RUJDQL]HUDQGKRXVLQJFRRUGLQDWRUIRU92&$/-NY.
B.S., University of Louisville.
Jason W arwin««&R-founder and co-director of Brotherhood/Sisterhood Sol which counsels and
teaches black and Latino adolescents in New York City.
B.A., Brown University.
David W einer««8QLRQOHDGHUSUHVLGHQWRI&:$/RFDO *UHDWHU1HZ<RUN&LW\ B.S., Seton Hall University.
T innycua W illiams««'LUHFWRURI3URJUDPVDW+RPHVIRUWKH+RPHOHVV 1HZ<RUN&LW\ B.A., Colgate University.
H eidi W illiamson««6HQLRU3ROLF\$QDO\VWDWWKH&HQWHUIRU$PHULFDQ3URJUHVV
B.A., Georgia State University.
T eddy W right««6DOYDWLRQ$UP\<0$&VSHFLDOLVW6HDWWOH:DVKLQJWRQ
B.A., Harvard University.
Religion
Nekeisha A lexis-Baker««5HOLJLRQVFKRODU-writer, speaker, co-founder of Jesus Radicals.
B.A., New York University. M.A.T., Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary.
A lise D. Bar rymore««Co-Founder and Lead Pastor of The Emmaus Community a nondenominational Christian faith community. Was Dean of University Ministries and Campus Pastor at
North Park University in Chicago. Winner of academic and preaching awards.
B.A., Yale U. M.Div., McCormick Theological Seminary.
Joseph A . B rown««&DWKROLF3ULHVW3RHWDQGDXWKRU of books on religion who teaches at Southern
Illinois University.
M.A., Yale University. Ph.D., Yale University.
C had Collins««3DVWRURIValley View Presbyterian Church in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
B.A., University of Pittsburgh. M.Div., Pittsburgh Theological Seminary.
A lthea A . D ryden««0DUNHWLQJDQG&RPPXQLFDWLRQV$VVRFLDWHLQ-XVW)DLWK0LQLVWULHVSURYLGLQJ
social ministry programs to churches. Elder at Central Presbyterian Church in Louisville, Kentucky.
Ilana R. Foss««-HZLVK5DEELDW7HPSOH%HWh Emunah in Brockton, Massachusetts.
B.A., Amherst College.
Janelle Hooper««/XWKHUDQ3DVWRU3DVWRURISt. Martin Lutheran Church in Houston, Texas.
B.A., University of Texas-Austin. M.Div., Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago.
M ustafaa Islam««,PDP, An-Nur Islamic Center in Springfield, Ohio.
B.A., Brown University.
W ilma J. Johnson««([HFXWLYH'LUHFWRURI*UHDWHU/RYH,QF&KULVWLDQ(GXFDWLRQDO,QVWLWXWH
B.A., San Jose State University.
Yolanda D. L ehman««3DVWRURIWKHPXOWL-ethnic Resurrection African Methodist Episcopal Zion
Church in St. Cloud, Minnesota.
B.A., Wesleyan U. M.Div., Harvard School of Divinity.
Shaykh Suhail H . M ulla««5HVLGHQW6FKRODUDWWKH,VODPLF&HQWHURI2UDQJH&RXQW\ &DOLIRUQLD B.A., California State University at Northridge.
E lizabeth Siwo-O kundi««3astor, scholar, author of 3UHDFKLQJDV*RG¶V7UDQVIRUPLQJ-XVWLFH : A
Lectionary Commentary (Westminster John Knox Press).
B.A., Denison University. M.Div., Boston University.
A lice C . Price««([HFXWLYH3DVWRUDW&HQtral Baptist Church in St. Louis.
B.A., Carlton College. Ph.D. in American studies at St. Louis University.
Danny Pyon««Ministry consultant. Youth group pastor at the First Korean Church of New
Jersey. Founder of the nonprofit OURS, Inc.
B.A., Brandeis University. M.Div. an doctorate, Westminster Theological Seminary.
F rank M . Reid I I I««6HQLRU3DVWRURI%HWKHO$0(&KXUFKLQ%DOWLPRUH3UROLILFDXWKRUKHDUGRU
radio and seen on television, and founder of Frank M. Reid Ministries.
B.A., Yale University. D.Min., United Theological Seminary.
W . F ranklyn Richardson««6HQLRU3DVWRURIWKH-member Grace Baptist Church in Mount
Vernon, New York. Chairman of the Board of National Action Network.
M.Div., Yale U. D.Min., United Theological Seminary.
Paul T . Roberts Sr««3UHVLGHQWRI-RKQVRQ&6PLWK7KHRORJLFDO6HPLQDU\
B.A., Princeton University. M.Div., Johnson C. Smith Theological Seminary.
Stephen P. Samuel««3DVWRU of St. John Baptist Church in Gainesville, Georgia.
B.A., Morehouse College. M.Div., Princeton Theological Seminary.
C heryl J. Sanders««Professor of Christian Ethics at Howard University. Senior Pastor of Third
Street Church of God in Washington, D.C.
B.A., Swarthmore College. D.D., Harvard University.
G ary V . Simpson««3DVWRURI&Rncord Baptist Church in Brooklyn, New York. Author of articles
on religion. Phi Beta Kappa.
B.A., Denison University. D.D., Union Theological Seminary.
M artin de Por res Smith««5RPDQ&DWKROLFPLVVLRQDU\IRUPHUFDPSXVPLQLVWHUDW0RUJDQ6WDWH
University.
B.A., Xavier University. M.S.W., Loyola University.
L akeya Stewart««'LUHFWRURI6SLULWXDOLW\&KDSOLQDW6LJQDWXUH+HDOWKFDUHLQ%OXIIWRQ,QGLDQD
B.A., Berea College. M.Div. and D.Min. Lexington Theological Seminary. ABD, University.
W eldon G . T homas««3DVWRURI1HZ%HWKHO&0(&KXUFKLQ5RFKHVWHU1HZ<RUN)RUPHU
Presiding Elder of the New York-New England District of the Washington Region of the Christian
Methodist Episcopal (C.M.E.) Church.
B.A., University of Maryland. J.D., Georgetown University.
Conrad T illard««6HQLRU3DVWRURI1D]DUHQH&RQJUHJDWLRQDO&KXUFKLQ%URRNO\Q1HZ<RUN
B.A., University of Pennsylvania.
Richard Toliver««5HFWRURI6W(GPXQG¶V(SLVFRSDO&KXUFKLQ&KLFDJRIRUPHU3HDFH&RUSV
administrator and university professor. Profiled in Ebony and Business Week .
M.A., Boston University. Ph.D., Howard University.
T ravell T ravis««3UHVLGHQWRI1DWLRQDO<RXWKIRU&KULVW 7KH:D\RIWKH&URVV&KXUFK B.A., University of Virginia (double major, history and AAS). J.D., Howard University.