In this role, Lisa leads Georgia Power’s statewide external efforts to serve its 2.7 million customers by strategically partnering with local governments, development authorities, chambers of commerce, charitable entities, and other stakeholders across Georgia. She also is responsible for leading the company’s employee volunteer and giving efforts and fostering the company’s relationships in historically underserved communities.
Most recently, Lisa served as Vice President of Community and Economic Development for Georgia Power where she led a team responsible for recruiting new business to Georgia, as well as supporting community development and workforce development initiatives. Previously, as Vice President for the West Region for Georgia Power, Lisa was directly responsible for the company’s external activities for 550,000 customers across a 72‐county area for the west side of the state.
Lisa began her career at Mississippi Power as an engineer in 1993. She relocated to Georgia Power in 1997, where she has held positions of increasing responsibility in distribution, sales, region operations and as an area manager in Waynesboro and Newnan. Lisa also served as assistant to the Senior Vice President of the Metro Atlanta Region, where she was responsible for providing support for the company’s operations, sales, customer service, and external affairs activities for 1.2 million customers.
She serves on the boards of directors for the American Cancer Society and Georgia Humanities and is a member of the Leadership Council for Learn4Life. Lisa is executive champion for Georgia Power’s Alliance of Differently-Abled People. Previously, she held board positions for the Regional Business Coalition and Columbus Development Authority and was a trustee for the RiverCenter of the Performing Arts. Lisa has been named one of Engineering Georgia magazine’s 100 Most Influential Women, Profiles in Diversity Journal’s Women Worth Watching, and The Atlanta Business League’s Top 100 Black Women of Influence.
A native of Meridian, Mississippi, Lisa earned a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Mississippi State University and an MBA from Kennesaw State University. She has been married to Derick for 26 years and they have one son, Gabriel.
Dr. Kevin E. James, President Presiding
Prelude Dr. James Plenty
Processional
Chair - Department of Music
Dr. James Plenty
Chair - Department of Music
Hymn Mr. James Pullin, Jr., ‘23 "Great Is Thy Faithfulness"
Invocation Rev. Dr. Gregory V. Eason, Sr., ‘83 Senior Pastor, Flipper Temple AME Church
Greetings Dr. Kevin E. James President
Remarks Mayor Andre Dickens 61st Mayor of Atlanta, GA
On Behalf of the MBC Foundation, Inc. Board Andre Williams, ’01 Chairman
On Behalf of the Alumni
On Behalf of Turner Theological Seminary
On Behalf of the Faculty
On Behalf of the Students
Mr. Jethro Joseph, ’69 President, National Alumni Association
Dr. Ammie Davis President-Dean of Turner Theological Seminary
Dr Anthony B. Johnson
Provost & Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs
Mr. Julian Ross, ’23 President, SGA
Ms. Jarai Boykins, ’24 Miss MBC
Musical Selection "God Restores" Morris Brown College Choir
Speaker Mrs. Lisa Smith
Senior Vice President, Region External Affairs and Community Engagement
Financial Appeal
Alma Mater
Benediction
Recessional
Mr. Todd G. Blackburn, ’90, ‘17 Assistant Vice President for Institutional Advancement/Director of Alumni Affairs
Dr. James Plenty
Chair - Department of Music
Alma Mater, pride of earth, Gav’st to me another birth, Haven for all hungry souls, Feeding them shall be Thy goal,
Ever let thy banner be, Emblem of the brave and free, A welcome true to everyone, Until Thy work be done.
Hail to Thee, maker of men, Honor to Thee once again, Sacred truths on firmest ground, Hail to Thee. Dear Morris Brown.
To thy precepts praise accord. To them may we e’er be bound, And bow and thank, the gracious Lord, For dear ol’ Morris Brown.
Words by: Milton Randolph Music by: C. Waymon Hathcock
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Andre Williams, Chair, ’01
Miya Gray, Vice Chair
Steve Julal, CPA, Treasurer
Twanda Turner-Hill, Secretary
Sharon F. M. Bridges, Esq., ’87, Parliamentarian
Elizabeth “Liz” Broadway Brown, Esq., General Counsel
Dr. Kevin E. James, 19th President, Morris Brown College
Roderick Glass
Tene Taylor
Dr. LaGarrett J. King
Tanya Boyle, Esq.
Duwalu Khasu
Michelle Taylor-Willis
Mark Moore Jr.
(Honor bestowed on May 15, 2014)
01. Ms. Vera L. Benton, Associate Professor Emerita (Posthumously)
02. Dr. Joe B. Brown, Associate Professor Emeritus
03. Mr. Oscar Burnett, Associate Professor Emeritus (Posthumously)
04. Ms. Vista Hughley Bryant, Assistant Professor Emerita
05. Dr. Joan Ealey-Sawyer, Associate Professor Emerita
06. Dr. Leroy Frazier, Associate Professor Emeritus
07. Dr. Ruth Riley Glover, College Relations Emerita
08. Dr. Ruth Hall Hodges, Professor Emerita (Posthumously)
09. Ms. Victoria W. Jenkins, Associate Professor and Librarian Emerita
10. Mr. Cleopas Johnson, Assistant Professor and Director of Bands Emeritus (Posthumously)
11. Dr. Marvin R. King, Sr., Director of TRIO Programs Emeritus
12. Mrs. Merlissie R. Middleton, Professor Emerita (Posthumously)
13. Dr. Charles W. Moore, Vice President for Fiscal Affairs Emeritus
14. Dr. Beatriz Moralis Faba, Associate Professor Emerita
15. Dr. Tshilemalema L. Mukenge, Professor Emeritus
16. Dr. Willie F. Payne, Professor Emeritus (Deceased)
17. Dr. James H. Penn, Professor Emeritus (Posthumously)
18. Dr. Henry Porter, Assistant Professor Emeritus
19. Dr. Lee A. Ransaw, Professor Emeritus
20. Attorney William H. Sheppard, Associate Professor Emeritus
21. Dr. Jeanne M. Stahl, Professor and Director of Research Training Emerita
Mr. Todd G. Blackburn, ’90, ’17 – Co-Chair
Mr. Donovan McKelvey – Co-Chair
Dr. Shirley M. Barlow, ’73
Dr. James F. Allen
Ms. Nichelle Cook, Esq. Mrs. Stephanie Gunby
Ms. Parlar Halley
Dr. Anthony Johnson
Dr. James Plenty
Dr. Yaw Adoo
SPECIAL THANKS TO Dr. Jamal H. Bryant and
Mr. Devan Carter & New Birth Media Team
Saturday, March 18th at 12:00 PM – Women for MBC, Inc. – 39th Annual Scholarship Luncheon – Saint Philip AME Church
Saturday, April 15th at 4:00 PM – The MBC Alumni Focus Group & The Friends of Fountain Hall Restoration Committee –Spring Fling 2023 – MBC Campus Yard
Friday, April 28th at 10:00 AM – Morris Brown College Golf Classic & Ladies Clinic – Wolf Creek Golf Club
Saturday, April 29th at 1:00 PM – Morris Brown Cigars & Sundresses – Best End Brewery
Saturday, May 20th at 2:00 PM - Commencement - Big Bethel AME Church
Saturday, May 20th TBD “Morris Brown College National Alumni Association Annual Commencement Meeting”
Saturday, October 14th – MBC Homecoming on the Yard
