M.C. Brown II serves as Executive Director of the Dr. N. Payne Research Center at the Thurgood Marshall College Fund. The Payne Center for Social Justice is devoted to independent research that leads to pragmatic and innovative ideas regarding the intractable problem of social justice facing society by conducting and commissioning policy studies and research from and about historically Black colleges and universities.

Regarded as an international scholar in the areas of education policy, governance/administration, and institutional contexts, Dr. Brown has lectured and/or presented over 400 keynotes and research papers in various countries on six of seven continents. He is the Founder of the Atwood Institute on Race, Education, and the Democratic Ideal and the former Executive Director and Chief Research Scientist of the Frederick D. Patterson Research Institute of the United Negro College Fund. Dr. Brown’s research has been funded by the Lumina Foundation, Spencer Foundation, AT&T Foundation, the Pew Charitable Trusts, the Sallie Mae Fund, as well as other foundations and corporations.

He is the author/editor of 20 books and monographs, including two editions of the bestselling textbook, Organization and Governance in Higher Education – and over 100 journal articles, book chapters, and publications related to education and society. A two-time recipient of the Philip C. Chinn Book Award from the National Association for Multicultural Education, Dr. Brown also received the Association for the Study of Higher Education’s Promising Scholar/Early Career Award and the AERA Committee on Scholars of Color Early Career Contribution Award.

Dr. Brown held full-time faculty appointments at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and The Pennsylvania State University and senior academic administrative roles at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas, Fisk University, and the Southern University and A & M College System. He served as president of both Alcorn State and Kentucky State Universities – both 1890 land-grant institutions. In the nonprofit sector, Dr. Brown also held executive appointments at the American Educational Research Association and the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education.

Dr. Brown received the Bachelor of Science in elementary education from South Carolina State University, the Master of Science in educational policy and evaluation from the University of Kentucky, and a Doctor of Philosophy in higher education from The Pennsylvania State University with a cognate in public administration and political science.

Dr. N. Joyce Payne founded the nationally recognized Thurgood Marshall College Fund in 1987. The TMCF is designed exclusively for exceptional students at the nation’s publicly-supported Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). In 2008-2009, she served as Executive Director of the National Alliance for Public Trust, a new organization committed to advancing principled leadership in American institutions. She accepted this position following her retirement as Vice President, Office for the Advancement of Public Black Colleges and Council of Student Affairs of the Association of Public & Land-Grant Universities (APLU) in cooperation with the American Association of State Colleges & Universities (AASCU). An authority on women’s issues in relation to higher education and labor force participation, Payne has published and presented a number of papers on the pursuit of equality for women and African-Americans in higher education. Payne received a bachelor’s degree in speech pathology from the former District of Columbia Teachers College and earned her master’s and doctorate degrees in education from the former Atlanta University.

Dr. Deanna Hayden serves as the Manager of Research and Program Development at the Dr. N. Joyce Payne Research Center, where she advances initiatives in research, strategy, and programming to strengthen the Center’s mission.

Prior to joining the Payne Center, Hayden worked with the National Park Service’s Office of Partnerships and Philanthropic Stewardship, supporting communications initiatives with stakeholders. Her work extends internationally, having served as a delegate under the leadership of Nikole Hannah-Jones at reparations and healing convenings in Bellagio, Italy (2022), Accra, Ghana (2022), and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (2023). Hayden has also collaborated with federal agencies and universities to advance media representation and develop targeted media campaigns.

Hayden’s independent research examines organizational communication and the use of multimodal media to support communities of interest. She is featured in the SAGE Video Media, Communication, and Cultural Studies Collection (2025) and in the forthcoming volume Women’s Leadership in Popular Culture (Rowman & Littlefield, 2025).

She holds a Ph.D. in Communication, Culture, and Media Studies from Howard University, an M.A. in Media and Strategic Communications from The George Washington University, and a B.A. in Women’s Studies from Spelman College.

Ricco Hill is a research associate with a background in statistics, quantitative and qualitative research, and personality psychology. He has worked on social science projects ranging from understanding the knowledge base of the identity of Black American college students in STEM to assessing novel response formats for capturing behavioral variability, all fueled by a strong curiosity for the topics at hand and those he has worked with. Having earned his Ph.D. from Howard University, Ricco is passionate about the importance of HBCUs for the personal and professional success of students. In the workplace, Ricco values mutual learning and understanding, organization, attention to detail, and ensuring that both project quality and team well-being are prioritized. Ricco strives to continuously develop and refine his skills and knowledge toward socially important, impactful causes. In his free time, Ricco enjoys photography, writing, and drawing.

James Tague is a Data Analyst at the Dr. N. Joyce Payne Center for Research at the Thurgood Marshall College Fund, where he applies his expertise in mixed methods research and data analysis to advance impactful projects. He is passionate about leveraging data-driven insights to achieve practical and meaningful results that support institutional growth and equity in higher education. Prior to joining the Payne Center, James conducted research at the University of Essex in the United Kingdom, focusing on the role of social media in community development and the decline of physical community involvement. His experience bridges academic research and applied analysis, giving him a unique perspective on how data can inform real-world change.

K. Rzucidlo serves as the HBCU Innovation and Research Manager at the Dr. N. Joyce Payne Center for Research at the Thurgood Marshall College Fund as of September 2025. She joins the Payne Center after earning her Ph.D., in Higher Education Leadership and Policy Studies from Howard University, a M.S. in Higher Education Policy and Student Affairs from West Chester University, and a B.A. in Communication Studies from East Stroudsburg University. Her dissertation focused on HBCUs and their experience within the accreditation reaffirmation process, something she became passionate about during her professional time at Cheyney University as the Assistant Director for Undergraduate Admissions.

Prior to gaining a love for research, she served in a variety of capacities as an enrollment management professional where she was a fierce advocate for student experience and family engagement during the admissions process from start to finish. She values connectedness and sharing experiences with others that enrich her own understanding of the world we live in. She believes in an approach of being data informed while emphasizing a level of care and responsibility within the research dissemination process; in order to not lose sight of the individuals and their stories that the data may present.

Originally from Cross, South Carolina, Shauntell moved to Washington, DC in 2011 to attend Georgetown University, where she earned both a Bachelor of Arts in English (2015) and a Master of Public Policy (2019). In 2024, she completed her Ph.D. in Higher Education Leadership & Policy Studies at Howard University.

Shauntell has collaborated with multiple institutions to advance innovative solutions in higher education policy and student success. 

Her commitment to service is reflected in her active membership in Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. In 2022, Shauntell alongside 67 women charted the Alpha Beta Upsilon Omega Chapter, servicing the communities of SE & SW DC.

Jolaina Jeff-Cartier is a seasoned consultant and a recognized subject matter expert in organizational development, civil rights, and conflict resolution. With over 25 years of experience in strategic planning, she has a proven track record of guiding individuals, groups, and organizations through complex issues, empowering them to find mutually agreeable Solutions.

Currently, Jolaina serves as a liaison between the federal government, Historically Black Colleges & Universities (HBCUs), and the scientific community, focusing on activities that broaden participation and research capacity in STEM. Her profound commitment to facilitating constructive dialogue is also evident in her work as a dedicated and experienced mediator. Her empathetic, impartial approach, along with strong communication and negotiation skills, creates a productive environment for addressing unique organizational challenges.

Jolaina is currently a Ph.D. student in the Higher Education Leadership and Policy Studies (HELPS) program at Howard University. She holds a Master’s degree in Human Resources, with an emphasis in Labor and Employee Relations, and a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Cincinnati.

Ryen-Amirah Reed is a senior at Howard University pursuing dual B.A. degrees in Political Science and Criminology. She is passionate about advancing equity within the criminal justice system. She has gained experience through internships with the Thurgood Marshall College Fund’s N. Joyce Payne Center for Social Justice, where she deepened her understanding of the criminal justice system and its impact on marginalized communities. Ryen has further strengthened her commitment to cultural advocacy, awareness, and immersion through her study abroad in South Africa, where she studied isiZulu and engaged with local communities. In addition to her studies, she is a photographer dedicated to preserving family and cultural narratives, inspired by her own family’s loss of photos during Hurricane Katrina.

Dr. Philippe E. C. Andal is President of the Hananiah Community Foundation Corporation in New Haven, Connecticut, and serves as Co-Chair of Congregations Organized for a New Connecticut (CONECT), an interfaith collective of 37 congregations representing more than 30,000 people. In this role, he leads efforts to build relational power and effect change for the common good at the local, state, and national levels. Under his leadership, CONECT has adopted an anti-racist commitment, doubled both membership dues and grant income, and advanced a grassroots policy agenda on issues such as equitable education funding, reducing healthcare costs, affordable housing, and automatic expungement.

Rev. Dr. Andal also serves as Pastor of Community Baptist Church in New Haven, where he integrates faith with community engagement and advocacy.

Dr. Andal earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Fisk University, a Master of Divinity from Yale University, and a Doctor of Philosophy in Public Policy from Southern University and A&M College.

Dr. Eugene Anderson joined Columbia University’s Office of Alumni and Development as the first Assistant Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer. In this role, he leads diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives across the university’s alumni and development programs, ensuring DEI values are embedded in strategic planning, external engagement, and advancement efforts.

Dr. Anderson’s research includes a report highlighting the ongoing underrepresentation of African American and Hispanic students in engineering degrees, despite recent gains. He is also conducting an NSF-funded study evaluating diversity in computer science programs.

Before joining Columbia, Dr. Anderson served as Vice President for External Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU), where he guided the development, implementation, and evaluation of DEI goals across member institutions. He previously served as Chief Policy Officer and Managing Vice President at the American Dental Education Association (ADEA), shaping policy, diversity initiatives, and research efforts in dental education. Earlier in his career, he held leadership roles at the American Council on Education, including Associate Director of National Initiatives, with a focus on supporting minority-serving institutions.

Dr. Anderson received a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania and holds a Doctorate in Education Policy from the University of Virginia.

Dr. Jonathan (Jay) C. Augustine serves as Chair of the Agora Council Board for the Dr. N. Joyce Payne Research Center. He is also a member of the board of directors of PartnersGlobal, Inc., a non-profit organization headquartered in Washington, DC. His leadership has been nationally recognized, profiled on the front page of USA Today (March 2024), and he has been featured on C-SPAN Book-TV. Internationally, Dr. Augustine has lectured in Heidelberg, Germany, and Accra, Ghana.

In addition to his civic and scholarly leadership, Rev. Dr. Augustine serves as Senior Pastor of Big Bethel African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church, the oldest Black church in Atlanta, GA, and as a member of the inaugural faculty at the Hampton University School of Religion. A nationally recognized preacher, scholar, and author, he was inducted into the Morehouse College Martin Luther King, Jr. Board of Preachers (2024) and currently serves as Vice President of the AME Church’s Judicial Council.

An Army veteran and former civil rights litigator, Dr. Augustine holds degrees from Howard University (B.A.), Tulane University (J.D.), United Theological Seminary (M.Div.), and Duke University (D.Min.), and is pursuing an Ed.D. at the University of Alabama. He also completed a fellowship at Princeton Theological Seminary.

Dr. Augustine is married to Michelle Burks Augustine. They are the proud parents of two children, Mason and Jillian.

Dr. Katherine S. Broderick is a nationally recognized leader in legal education and social justice. Formerly Dean of UDC David A. Clarke School of Law, she led transformative advancements, including ABA re-accreditation, expansion of clinical programs, and securing over $15 million in funding. She also forged the first U.S.–University of Havana law school partnership.

A long-time advocate for justice, Dr. Broderick chairs the D.C. Task Force on Jails and Justice.  and serves on the boards of DC Appleseed, DC Vote, and the Council for Court Excellence. She was named to the Norton Federal Law Enforcement Nominating Commission in 2009 and served over a decade on D.C.’s Access to Justice Commission. She was a founder of and ardent participant in the D.C. Consortium of Legal Services Providers, an organization committed to increasing the quantity, improving the quality, and coordinating the delivery of legal services to low-income D.C. residents.

Clary Butler, Jr. is Chief of Staff and Vice President of External Affairs for the Indiana Minority Health Coalition. In this capacity, he leads legislative and community engagement strategies and supports statewide initiatives to advance health equity. He is also the founder of the Clary Butler Company, LLC, a consulting firm that contracts with community organizations and private businesses in the areas of governmental affairs, videography, and sports and entertainment. Since relocating to Indiana in 2000, Butler has also served as Special Assistant for Legislative Affairs to the Lieutenant Governor.

Rev. Butler also serves as Pastor of the House of God Church in both Indianapolis and West Lafayette, Indiana. Licensed in ministry in 2003 and ordained in 2005 by the House of God Church, International, he has integrated his pastoral leadership with civic and community engagement.

He is an active member of 100 Black Men of Indianapolis and Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. Butler earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Alabama in December 1999, pursued graduate studies at Purdue University, and received his Doctor of Jurisprudence from the Indiana University School of Law in Indianapolis in 2004.

Dr. T. Elon Dancy II is a Professor in the Department of Educational Foundations, Organizations, and Policy at the University of Pittsburgh, with affiliate appointments in Africana Studies and Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Studies. He previously served as the School of Education’s Associate Dean for Equity and Justice and Executive Director of the Center for Urban Education. His leadership helped establish transformative justice-focused initiatives, faculty development programs, and a Black educational studies focus that diversified faculty and expanded curriculum.

A nationally recognized scholar, Dr. Dancy’s research focuses on Black intellectual thought, masculinities, structural oppression, and the political economies of education. He has authored or co-authored nearly 100 scholarly publications and seven books. His work has been supported by over $5 million in grants and featured in national media, including ABC News, Forbes, Ebony, and The Root.

Prior to Pitt, Dr. Dancy was the inaugural Associate Dean for Community Engagement and Academic Inclusion at the University of Oklahoma, where he was also the first Black faculty member tenured and promoted to full professor in higher education administration. 

Dr. Dancy holds a B.S. in Psychology from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, an M.H.S.A. from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, and a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and Research from Louisiana State University.

Dr. Kimberley Edelin Freeman is a Professor of Educational Psychology in the Howard University School of Education. Her research focuses on the academic motivation and achievement of African American students, the production of Black science and mathematics teachers at HBCUs, and culturally responsive pedagogy. A mixed-methods researcher, she employs survey research, qualitative case studies, and secondary data analysis in her work.

Dr. Freeman has published widely on topics including Black girls and women in STEM, identity development, student well-being, and the role of hip hop in education. She has received over $4.5 million in research funding, including a National Science Foundation HBCU-UP grant to lead the Broadening Participation Research Center for the Development of Identity and Motivation in STEM, a collaborative project across Howard, Winston-Salem State, and Morehouse College.

Dr. Freeman earned her B.A. in Psychology from Spelman College, her M.A. and Ph.D. in Psychology and Education from the University of Michigan, and completed a Postdoctoral Fellowship at Brown University.

Dr. Chaz T. Gipson is a Senior Education Program Manager at the U.S. Department of Education and an Adjunct Professorial Lecturer at American University. At the Department, he oversees a national grant portfolio focused on P–20 education, mental health, equity, and workforce development. He is also a strategist and consultant, advising schools, colleges, and nonprofits on funding strategies, program growth, and capacity building.

With over a decade of experience in education leadership, Dr. Gipson has served in both faculty and administrative roles across multiple institutions. A dedicated mentor and youth advocate, he has been recognized for his commitment to student success and community engagement. He is a proud member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.

Dr. Gipson holds a Bachelor of Science from Morehouse College, a Master of Education and Ph.D. from Howard University, and a Master of Divinity from Virginia Union University.

Queen Quet Marquetta L. Goodwine is a celebrated author, computer scientist, mathematician, historian, lecturer, columnist, preservationist, environmental justice advocate, film consultant, and “Art-ivist.” She is the founder of the Gullah/Geechee Sea Island Coalition, the premier advocacy organization dedicated to the preservation and continuation of Gullah/Geechee culture. 

Under Queen Quet’s guidance, the Gullah/Geechee Sea Island Coalition worked closely with U.S. Congressman James Clyburn to secure federal support for Gullah/Geechee communities. Queen Quet played a pivotal role in the creation and passage of the Gullah/Geechee Cultural Heritage Act, signed into law in 2006. She also collaborated with the National Park Service to lead nationwide meetings and develop the Special Resource Study of Lowcountry Gullah Culture. Vetted by the White House, Queen Quet was appointed an Expert Commissioner for the U.S. Department of the Interior, serving as Chair of the Gullah/Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor’s General Management Plan and as a member of the National Park Relevancy Committee. She has participated in numerous White House conferences focused on environmental and cultural engagement.

Queen Quet’s work has earned her widespread recognition. She has received multiple proclamations including “Queen Quet Day,” “Gullah/Geechee Day,” and “Gullah/Geechee Nation Appreciation Week” across various states. 

Queen Quet serves as the first Queen Mother and official Head-of-State for the Gullah/Geechee Nation, holding the traditional title of “Head pun de Bodee.” She is globally recognized as Queen Quet, Chieftess and Head-of-State for the Gullah/Geechee Nation.

Dr. Howard Henderson is a nonresident senior fellow in Governance Studies at The Brookings Institution. He also serves as the founding director of the Center for Justice Research in the Barbara Jordan-Mickey Leland School of Public Affairs at Texas Southern University. He is a professor of justice administration and former graduate program director in the Administration of Justice Department. Henderson also serves as an advisory board member of the Vera Institute’s Rural Jail Research Policy Network and as a member of the National Scientific Advisory Committee at the Institute of Justice Research and Development at Florida State University.

Henderson is an expert on culturally responsive criminal justice research, program evaluation, and predictive bias. An equity-focused criminologist, his research takes a systems-based approach to understanding policy and program effects. Recently, Henderson served as the chair of the data subcommittee for Houston’s Racial/Ethnic Disparities Committee Data Workgroup, supported by the MacArthur Foundation. Howard was also critical to the National Science Foundation-funded project with the Baylor College of Medicine’s Initiative on Neuroscience and Law that designed an iPAD assessment application that determined decision-making characteristics of the criminal justice involved through a range of cognitive traits. Dr. Henderson has also developed a multi-university research collaborative that offers mentoring opportunities for minority graduate students and junior faculty members at the university level.

Dr. Henderson received his B.S. in criminal justice administration from Middle Tennessee State University, his Master’s in criminal justice from Tennessee State University, and his Ph.D. in criminal justice from Sam Houston State University in 2006.

Dr. Carl V. Hill serves as the Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer for the Alzheimer’s Association. In this role, he oversees strategic initiatives aimed at strengthening the Association’s outreach to all communities, ensuring that individuals from diverse backgrounds have access to resources and support in addressing the Alzheimer’s crisis. 

Dr. Hill led the Association’s efforts to convene the first national conference dedicated to addressing disparities and promoting equity in dementia science. He has developed cross-functional partnerships with organizations to raise awareness of Alzheimer’s and other dementias and to deliver education to communities that are disproportionately impacted and historically underserved. Under his leadership, the Association has significantly broadened its reach, forming more than 30 new national partnerships.

Dr. Hill previously served as the Association’s vice president of Scientific Engagement. Prior to joining the Association, he served as director, Office of Special Populations, at the NIA, where he led the development of the NIA Health Disparities Research Framework.

Dr. Hill earned his bachelor’s degree from Morehouse College, a Master of Public Health. from the Morehouse School of Medicine, and a Ph.D. from the University of Michigan School of Public Health.

Mr. Meldon S. Hollis, Jr., is a former member of the White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities. He came to the Initiative from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, where he served in various positions, including coordinator for Intergovernmental Affairs in the External Affairs Division, program officer in the Individual Assistance Division, and program officer in the Policy and Procedures Branch of the Public Assistance Division.

Hollis has held senior governmental positions at the municipal, State, and Federal levels. He has served as vice president for University Relations at Texas Southern University and as a university administrator at Harvard and the University of Maryland at College Park. 

Hollis has served on the Board of Directors of Friends of the National Zoo in Washington, DC, the Board of Trustees of the Massachusetts Bay Community College, and as a court-appointed Special Advocate for Abused and Abandoned Children in Northern Virginia. 

Hollis holds an M.A. in government and politics from the University of Maryland at College Park, and a J.D. and M.P.A. from Harvard University. He has studied international law and indigenous courts at the University of Legon in Ghana, West Africa.

Dr. Christopher B. Knaus is a Professor of Education at the University of Washington Tacoma and Professor Extraordinarius at the University of South Africa. A race scholar and critical race theory practitioner, Dr. Knaus examines how systems of intersectional oppression (racism, sexism, heterosexism, classism, islamophobia, and related interwoven oppressions) shape schools, districts, colleges, and ideas of learning that intentionally silence students, educators, communities of color and those who differ from presumed and violently enforced white middle-class hetero norms. In short, Dr. Knaus challenges that most ways of doing school and college (grading, competition, western knowledge regurgitation, dominance of standardized English, knowledge standards) are based in capitalism-affirming white supremacist anti-Blackness. 

Dr. Knaus is an educational leader and higher education administrator who works to foster educational leadership pathways, including educators of color preparation and support programs that transform towards radically humanistic, critically conscious, creative, localized, decolonial education. Dr. Knaus collaborates in South Africa, across the United States, and regionally on the West Coast.

Dr. Knaus holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Davis, a Master’s degree from Washington State University, and a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) from the University of Washington.

Dr. Harold M. Love., Jr. began serving in the TN House of Representatives for the 58th District in 2012. He serves on several key House committees, including Education Administration, Local Government, Finance, Ways and Means, the Higher Education Subcommittee, and the Finance Ways and Means Subcommittee. He is also the President of the National Black Caucus of State Legislators.

Love is a member of several organizations and boards, including being a 33° Mason and a Shriner, Board Member of the 18th Avenue Family Enrichment Center, Dr. N. Joyce Payne Center for Social Justice, Tennessee Advisory Council on Intergovernmental Affairs, and Omega Psi Phi, Fraternity, Inc.

Love was ordained by the African Methodist Episcopal Church (A.M.E.) Church in 1999 and currently serves as the Pastor of Lee Chapel A.M.E. Church in Nashville, TN.

Love received his Bachelor’s in Economics and Finance with a minor in Political Science and a Ph.D. in Public Policy and Administration from Tennessee State University, and a Masters degree in Theological Studies from Vanderbilt University School of Divinity.

Rev. Dr. Herman “Skip Mason”, Jr. is the Interim President of the Interdenominational Theological Center (ITC) in Atlanta, Georgia, and serves as Senior Pastor of the historic West Mitchell Christian Methodist Episcopal Church.

A seasoned educator for over 35 years, Dr. Mason has held numerous academic and administrative roles. He previously served as the Dean of Library and Museum Services and Assistant Professor of African American History and Religion at Voorhees College. He also served as Professor of History, College Archivist, Director and Dean of Students and Vice President of Student Services at Morris Brown College and Morehouse College. In recognition of his lifelong dedication to education and leadership in the HBCU community, Dr. Mason was named a Lifetime Achievement Inductee into the National Black College Alumni Hall of Fame Foundation, Inc. in 2023.

Dr. Mason served as the 33rd General President of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. and was a member of the National Board of Directors of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Foundation. He currently serves on the Board of the Atlanta BeltLine Partnership and is Chair of the Joint Board of Finance for the Georgia North Region of the Sixth Episcopal District of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church.

Dr. Mason enjoys reading, traveling, collecting black memorabilia and photographs, listening to music and researching his family history. He is the founder of Skip Mason Vanishing Black Atlanta Facebook Page and Book Club.  

Dr. Mason earned his bachelor’s degree from Morris Brown College, a master’s degree in library and information science with a concentration in African American studies and archives/museum management from Atlanta University, and both a Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry from the Interdenominational Theological Center.

Mr. Carl S. McNair is President and CEO of McNair Achievement Programs, LLC in Atlanta, Georgia. He is also the Founder and President Emeritus of the Dr. Ronald E. McNair Foundation. The McNair Foundation was named in honor of his brother, who died along with six of his astronaut colleagues aboard the Space Shuttle Challenger on January 28, 1986. The Foundation’s program inspires and encourages students to pursue careers in STEM and other related fields.

In 1986, Mr. McNair, along with family, educators, and legislators on Capitol Hill, advocated for the funding of the prestigious Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program (aka the McNair Scholars Program). Today, the McNair Scholars Programs reside at over 200 colleges and universities nationally. 

Mr. McNair is a member and affiliated with Leadership Atlanta, Board Member of The Fernbank Science Center Foundation, National Technical Association, National M.B.A. Association, The Urban League, Youth Entrepreneurship Club, The Tuskegee Airman, Big Brother/Big Sisters, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc., and the Christian Business Men’s Committee.

McNair earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Technology from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University in Greensboro, North Carolina, and a Master of Business Administration from Babson College in Wellesley, Massachusetts.

Rev. Dr. Karlos Nichols is an experienced non–profit administrator, educator, community organizer, and advocate with a decade-long commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging

Dr. Nichols is the Chief of Staff and Managing Director of the African American Mayors Association. AAMA is the only organization exclusively representing the over 500 African-American mayors in the United States. As an experiential fundraiser, he has led and consulted multi-million dollar campaigns that have resulted in the design and development of community centers and arts programing in the nation’s most underserved communities. 

As an elementary educator at Shelby County Schools in Memphis, TN, he launched the state of Tennessee’s largest public elementary school dance and theatre program which continues to serve over 600 students every week. Dr. Nichols is an ordained minister and has served in multiple capacities such as Associate Pastor, Minister of Worship and Arts, Children, Student, and Youth Pastor. 

He is a proud member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.

Dr. Nicols holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Musical Theatre and Urban Studies from The New School University, a Master’s Degree in Education from Walden University, a Master’s Degree in Homiletics and Worship from Union Theological Seminary at Columbia University, and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership at Delaware State University.

Dr. Linda C. Tillman is Professor Emerita of Educational Leadership in the School of Education at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, and is currently a Distinguished Visiting Professor at Loyola Marymount University. 

Dr. Tillman is a former public-school educator with high school teaching and administrative experience. Dr. Tillman’s research and scholarship is focused on school leadership, the education of African Americans in K-12, mentoring in higher education, and culturally sensitive research approaches. 

She is editor-in-chief of the SAGE Handbook of African American Education and co-editor of the Handbook of Research on Educational Leadership for Diversity and Equity (with J.J. Scheurich). Dr. Tillman is a former Vice President of the American Educational Research Association (AERA) and the former Director of the Barbara Jackson Scholars of the University Council for Educational Administration (UCEA). She has held faculty positions at the University of New Orleans and Wayne State University, and has been adjunct professor at Teachers College-Columbia University in their Urban Education Leadership Program. 

Dr. Tillman received a B.S. in secondary education from The Ohio State University, an M.S. in Educational Administration from the University of Dayton (Ohio), and her Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies from The Ohio State University.

Patricia Tyson is a retired labor and community organizer whose career spans decades of advocacy at the intersection of labor rights, faith, and social justice. She served as the Director of Community Outreach for both the Service Employees International Union and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, AFL-CIO, where she championed the rights of working people and built strong coalitions across diverse communities.

Before joining the labor movement, Ms. Tyson worked extensively within the religious community. She served as Executive Director of the Religious Coalition for Abortion Rights, led federal advocacy for low-income programs with Interfaith Action, and supported economic development efforts as an employee of the Congress of National Black Churches.

Her early work with the Greater Birmingham Ministries, focused on fighting for low-income programs and overseeing the building and rehabilitation of affordable housing. She is a founding member of both the Alabama Women’s Campaign Fund and the National Congress of Black Women, organizations committed to empowering women in politics and public service.

S. Todd Yeary is Principal of The Yeary Firm, a Maryland-based litigation and government relations firm and also serves as Senior Pastor of the Douglas Memorial Community Church of Baltimore and Affiliates. Dr. Yeary is the former Chief Executive Officer of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition.

Dr. Yeary’s social justice work includes having served on the national board of the National Action Network from 2015-2021, past Political Action Chair for the Maryland State Conference NAACP, as co-founding principal of Community Churches for Community Development, Inc., and as the founding principal of SALT (Strategic Advocacy and Legislative Thinktank), a faith-based public policy collaborative that works on regional and national empowerment strategies impacting disaffected communities. 

Dr. Yeary exemplifies his community commitment through public participation. He is the current chair of the Community Relations Commission of Baltimore City, and co-chair of the Center Steering Committee for the Flint Center for Health Equity Solutions at Michigan State University, an institutional public health research collaborative established to help in the response to the ongoing Flint water crisis.

Yeary is a member of the 2012 class of the Board of Preachers of the Martin Luther King, Jr. College of Preachers and Laity of Morehouse College.

Dr. Yeary holds a bachelor’s degree in Management from National-Louis University, a Master of Divinity Degree from Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, a Graduate Certificate in African Studies from Northwestern University, a Ph.D in Religion in Society and Personality from Northwestern University, and a JD from the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law.