ALUMNI NEWS Otha Thornton ‘89 was named to Ebony magazine’s Power 100 list of the nation’s most influential African Americans. He was recognized for his role as the first black male president of the National PTA. Donald M. Woodard ’89, partner for the law firm Gordon & Rees, LLP, was named among Georgia’s super lawyers. Woodard is a member of the firm’s Business Transactions Group and Sports, Media and Entertainment Group. He was recognized for his work as a transactional lawyer in the entertainment industry.
1990s Rodney McClendon ‘90 was appointed vice chancellor for business and administrative services at the University of California Riverside. He most recently served as vice president for administration at Texas A&M University. Kevin Dow ’91 has been named senior vice president for Impact and Innovation at United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey. In this role, he will develop and execute strategies that address critical needs in local communities and help to improve education, income and health in nine counties across the region.
Said Sewell ’92, assistant provost at Kent State University, has been selected as a protégé for the Class of 2014 Millennium Leadership Initiative Institute that is co-sponsored by the American Association of State Colleges and Universities and the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities. He will attend the institute June 7-10 in Washington, D.C. Warren N. Romine ’93 joined the firm FBR & Company, a leading investment bank serving the middle market, as managing director in the company’s Diversified Industrials Investment Banking Group. He will focus primarily on the continuing expansion of the Investment Bank’s advisory business. Saul Williams ’94 was chosen for the lead role in “Holler If You Hear Me,” a Tupac Shakurinspired Broadway musical that will be directed by Atlanta’s Kenny Leon. The musical is set to open June 19 at the Palace Theatre, 1564 Broadway at 47th Street in New York. Lamell McMorris ’95 was presented with the President’s Award for Career Achievement at the Washington Government Relations Group’s Tin Cup Awards. The honor is bestowed annually to individuals who have embodied excellence in leadership, service and professionalism
in the African American government affairs and political professional community. Ted Colbert III ’96 was named the chief information officer for the Boeing Company. As CIO, he will lead the Information Technology organization and be responsible for all IT strategy, systems, infrastructure, architecture, process and people across the Boeing enterprise. Ben Green ’97 has been named chair of Midlands Education and Business Alliance’s Board of Directors. Green is currently vice president for Teamstudio, a firm that provides enterprise-level software for 2,300 companies in 32 countries. Nathaniel Smith ’97, founder of the Partnership for Southern Equity, a nonprofit aimed at promoting equitable development and prosperity in metro Atlanta, authored an opinion piece for Creative Loafing showing that Atlanta is a hotbed for income inequities. Norm J. Jones ’98 has been appointed the associate chief diversity officer and deputy director in the Office of the Assistant to the President for Institutional
Diversity and Equity at Harvard University. In this newly created position, he will work closely with human resources and diversity officers campuswide to administer and foster diversity, inclusion and equal opportunity. He also will provide access to programs, as well as training and workshops across the university. David Gaither ’99 displayed his collection of paintings at the acclaimed Stuart McLean Gallery in Inman Park. His unique methods involve a fusion of light with chromatic experimentation, where colors and shapes complement and contrast one another to create beautiful experiences.”
2000s Brandon Dirden ’00 debuted as Martin Luther King Jr. in the American Repertory Theater’s “All the Way.” He also won Obie, AUDELCO and Theater World awards for his role in “The Piano Lesson.” J. DeLano Ford ’01 has accepted the position of executive director of Teach for America for Metro Atlanta. Prior to his appointment, he served as deputy superintendent for the Louisiana Recovery School District.
COMMEMORATIVE INAUGURATION INAUGURATION ISSUE ISSUE 2014 2014 COMMEMORATIVE
MOREHOUSE MAGAZINE MAGAZINE 47 MOREHOUSE