2020 Forty Under 40 Society Program

2020 Class Recognition Ceremony of The Hampton University

FORTY UNDER 40

SOCIETY

The Hampton University Office of Alumni Affairs SATURDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2020 • 10:00 A.M. HAMPTON UNIVERSITY HAMPTON, VIRGINIA 23668

The Hampton University

FORTY UNDER 40 SOCIETY

Dear Hampton University

FORTY UNDER 40 HONOREES, Congratulations on being named to the 2020 Class of the Hampton University Forty Under 40 Society! You are a part of a dynamic group of high-achieving young Hampton alumni whose commitment to excellence is reflected in your drive for professional success and personal growth. This prestigious group represents the top forty young alumni who are continuing to share with the world what is so special about our ‘Home by the Sea.’ You are a testament to why we say Hampton University brings the best and the brightest to our nation’s communities. Through your constant dedication to achieving high standards, and through an active pursuit of advancement and commitment to your educational home, you are our young alumni to watch!

This is another momentous year as you are our fifth Class for our Forty Under 40, and that will forever be a rare honor. Although we are honoring you from afar, our excitement remains the same. We are pleased to celebrate you and the five-year anniversary of this great society. We thank you for your deep commitment to your alma mater, to the legacy and traditions it upholds, and to being our next generation of Hampton leaders and achievers.

I am so pleased to be in this moment with each of you, sharing in this special achievement. More importantly, I am excited about the next steps in your journey as leaders in your communities and as Hampton alumni. I look forward to the legacy you will build for the next young honorees, and where we will go, together, in strengthening and growing our great institution.

Thank you again for you commitment to the Hampton ‘Standard of Excellence’ and a heartfelt congratulations on such an amazing achievement.

IN THE HAMPTON SPIRIT, Brint M. Martin, MBA Assistant Vice President of Alumni Affairs

The Hampton University

FORTY UNDER 40 SOCIETY

GREETINGS 2020 FORTY UNDER 40 HONOREES, It is a great honor to congratulate each of you on your most recent Hamptonian accomplishment! I bring you greetings on behalf of the Office of Alumni Affairs and as a fellow alumnus sharing in this moment of your great achievements.

Our nation, families, and the university continue to push through these uncertain times we are facing in this pandemic, and it has shown us our strengths and given us new found waves of creativity. In spite of what is going on around us, we still deem it necessary to recognize our exceptional young alumni who are achieving great success in their professional and personal endeavors. You all are leading the way in business, leadership, community, educational and/or philanthropic endeavors, and each of you are an important part of the 153-year educational heritage of Hampton [Institute] University. Our goal is to continue to strengthen our heritage by recognizing our remarkable alumni.

It has been a privilege and an honor to be a part of such a prestigious occasion. The planning phase this year has been challenging, yet rewarding and gratifying. Your many accomplishments, your journeys, and your achievements over the years have been most inspiring to me. So many of your accomplishments and testimonies have encouraged me in a great way. The power that you all have as individuals and together as a class is nothing short of amazing!

Remember that happiness and success are always a pursuit. You have to keep working toward them. I encourage you to continue to make your families, yourselves, and even your Hampton University family proud. No matter how hard the test, fight a good fight, stay the course, and keep the faith. Never give up. Continue to persevere, be strong, motivate others, and forever let your lives do the singing.

IN THE HAMPTON SPIRIT, Pattie W. Bolton '02, M.B.A. Assistant Director of Alumni Affairs Forty Under 40 Society Program Director

THE IMPACT AWARD RECIPIENT Ms. Denise Griffin

Denise Griffin (Ms. G.) has served the Hampton University community for over 25 years. A native of Cleveland, Ohio, Ms. G., as her students affectionately call her, has served in the role of Assistant Sports Information Director in Athletics and currently holds the positions of Area Director in the Office of Residence Life/Housing and as the Department’s Certified Mediator. Along with these duties at Hampton she has been an Instructor for 10 years in the University 101 program and an Instructor for the Honors College under the leadership of Dr. Freddye Davy. Her connection with her students and residents continues long after they have left Hampton where she continues to guide, love, and also serve them in the role as a life coach. Within her positions at Hampton, Ms. Griffin created family bonds with her students and helped prepare them for adulthood and life after college.

During her time at Hampton, her connection with students led to her becoming the Host of 88.1WHOV’s relationship talk show “He Said, She Said” and she served as host for six years.

A dual graduate of the University of Cincinnati, Ms. G. holds degrees in Marketing and Real Estate and while an undergrad at UC worked her way through college and served her alma mater in several full-time positions as Resident Manager for Athletics and served as the interim Housing and Assignments Officer in Residence Life. It was at Cincinnati where she became a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. (Zeta Chapter) in which she held several offices.

Considering herself a Renaissance Woman Ms. G. believes in pursuing your passions and became a Certified Massage Therapist and continues to study ways of healing the body naturally. Her other interests include photography, cooking, music, acquiring art for her collection, sports, counseling and being open and available for anyone in need.

Through her interaction with students, Ms. G. states, “Being at Hampton I have learned so much from my students and have always been grateful they feel comfortable to come to me with ANY concerns and these relationships have blessed my life. I consider myself a Student Advocate and my love for Hampton continues to grow as I meet, guide and continue to love my students.”

2020 HONOREE CLASS ORDER OF CEREMONY Welcome Ms. Courtney Gousman Forty Under 40 Chairperson 2018 Class of Forty Under 40 Hampton University Class of 2004 Opening Ceremony Dr. William R. Harvey President of Hampton University Invocation Dr. Brennetta C. Williams, Sr. Pastor The Impact Worship Center International Chesapeake, VA

Five Years & Growing Stronger Ms. Brint Martin Special Presentation Forty Under 40 Visionary Anniversary Remarks Assistant Vice President of Alumni Affairs

Hampton University Class of 1999, 2007 Congratulatory Message Recognition of Impact Award Recipient Ms. Courtney Martin, Class of 2003 & Scholarship Presentation Ms. Jacquelyn Horton, Class of 2001 Forty Under 40 Class of 2018 2020 Impact Award Recipient Ms. Denise Griffin Area Director in Office of Residents Life/Housing Recognition of Mentors of the Year & Ms. Sophia Harrison Recognition of Forty Under 40 Honorees Forty Under 40 Class of 2018 Hampton University Class of 2003 Forty Under 40 Society Oath Ms. Pattie Bolton & Conferral of Honorees Forty Under 40 Program Director Asst. Director of Alumni Affairs Hampton University Class of 2002 Forty Under 40 Class Toast Mr. Daniel Wilson Forty Under 40 Co-Chairperson Inaugural Class of Forty Under 40 Hampton University Class of 1999 Charge from the Mentors 2020 Forty Under 40 Mentors of the Year Quarter Million Dollar Campaign Rev. Teddy Reeves and Mrs. Briana Gibson Reeves Forty Under 40 Class of 2018 and 2019 Hampton University Class of 2008 Class Check Presentations Closing Remarks Ms. Brint Martin Assistant Vice President of Alumni Affairs

The Hampton University

FORTY UNDER 40 SOCIETY Attorney Khelin Eure Aiken, Class of 2007 Legal Khelin Nicole (Eure) Aiken is a lawyer, mother of Kai Aiken and wife of attorney, Justin Aiken.

Khelin was born in Los Angeles, California and spent her formative years there. Subsequently, her family relocated to Northern Virginia where she graduated from high school. Khelin received a Presidential Scholarship from Hampton University where she studied Finance and English and graduated magna cum laude. At Hampton, Khelin was a member of the Student Recruitment Team and The Gamma Theta Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Khelin received a Presidential Merit Scholarship to attend law school in DC at The George Washington University Law School. After graduating from GW Law School, where she met her husband, she served as a law clerk in the Arlington County Circuit Court. Khelin began her legal practice in litigation with a national law firm in McLean, Virginia, and eventually transitioned into a regulatory role with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (US FDA). After a few years, Khelin accepted an opportunity with the global law firm, Baker McKenzie, in their DC office as a Partner in their North America Food and Drug Practice.

Khelin leverages her deep understanding of the U.S. Food Drug & Cosmetic Act and the Public Health Services Act and their implementing regulations along with prior experience at the US FDA to help clients develop and achieve their strategic business objectives. She leads and counsels life sciences companies from product development through the product life cycle, with a particular focus on therapeutic product development plans and marketing applications

for prescription drugs, including therapeutic biologics and generics. She advises clients on strategies for addressing critical regulatory matters, including inspection observations, untitled letters, warning letters and dispute resolution issues. She also provides guidance on drug advertising requirements, FDA import alerts and import for export requirements and performs in-depth assessments of the regulatory compliance status of target companies involved in commercial transactions and advises clients on pathways to mitigate risk, understand liabilities, and substantiate asset purchase agreements.

As a young person, Khelin consistently demonstrated a desire to help others. Community service and commitment to effecting change has been at the core of her endeavors as she has evolved into the individual she is today. Friends describe her as diligent, loyal and passionate about education, opportunity and family. To further these efforts, Khelin has committed her time to the Thurgood Marshall Academy in DC, Alfred Street Baptist Church Tutorial Ministry in Alexandria, Virginia, and the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Zeta Chi Omega Chapter in Arlington/Alexandria, Virginia. Khelin currently serves on the Judicial Selection Committee for the Arlington Bar Association and she is a Fellow with the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity.

Ms. Stephanie Amoh, Class of 2004 Engineering, Agriculture & Design Stephanie Amoh is an electrical engineer with 14 years of experience and demonstrated skills in design and construction administration in the architectural/ engineering consulting industry. Upon obtaining her Bachelor of

Science degree in Electrical Engineering from Hampton University, Ms. Amoh began her career at GEA Consulting Engineers where she obtained her knowledge of the industry.

In 2010, she accepted a position as an Engineering Specialist at STV Inc. Her skills include designing power distribution systems and performing quality control for system drawings. She has provided her services for a wide range of healthcare, educational, and transportation projects throughout the New York City metropolitan area, including flood resiliency projects for the New York City Transit Authority and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. Other notable projects include the Bronx Mental Health Redevelopment, the Davis Barracks in West Point, NY, and most recently, the design of the new terminal (Terminal One) at Newark Liberty International Airport. Ms. Amoh is a Women Builders Council (WBC) 2019 Outstanding Women Award recipient.

Outside of the office, Ms. Amoh has been heavily involved in her community. As a Bronx native, Ms. Amoh started and led the Co-op City Black Girls Run! group to promote physical fitness and pushing yourself to accomplish goals. She has also volunteered as a choreographer for the Impact Repertory Theater Performance Company and taught free dance classes at Minisink Townhouse for the children of Harlem. Ms. Amoh has raised funds to provide Christmas gifts to children living in a Brooklyn shelter and has donated her money to various organizations such as I Am CULTURED and Mind Builders Creative Arts Center. In her spare time, Ms. Amoh enjoys traveling the world and sharing her experiences through her travel blog, DestinationRaven.com.

Dr. Whitney Phillips Arjun, Class of 2007 Youth & Education Dr. Whitney Arjun is a dynamic and passionate educator with over 12 years of experience in higher education admission at historically black colleges and universities, predominately white institutions, and community colleges.

After graduating from Hampton University, Dr. Arjun earned a Master of Science (M.S.) in Strategic Public Relations from Virginia Commonwealth University. She went on to receive a Doctorate of Education (Ed.D.) in Education Leadership with a focus in Higher Education Administration from Northeastern University, where she researched intersectionality, self-definition, and identity negotiation among Black women mid-level administrators at predominately white institutions. In her current role, Dr. Arjun serves as Director of Enrollment Management and Retention at Penn State Abington. As part of the college’s senior administrative team, she provides counsel to the Chancellor around strategic initiatives as it pertains to recruitment, enrollment, and retention in an effort to safeguard the overall sustainability of the institution. Dr. Arjun is a native of Philadelphia and currently resides just outside of the city with her husband and son.

The Hampton University

FORTY UNDER 40 SOCIETY Dr. Brittany Blackmon-Harper, Class of 2003 Medicine, Healthcare & Life Sciences Dr. Brittany Blackmon-Harper, affectionately known as, “Dr. B,” is a licensed Clinical Psychologist with over 15 years of valuable experience in the mental health field. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Hampton University in 2003. Following her graduation from Hampton University, she studied Clinical & Community Psychology, earning a Master of Arts degree from Norfolk State University. Dr. B has a passion for helping individuals develop realistic, balanced, sustainable life skills for healing and recovery. As such, she decided to pursue a doctoral degree, subsequently earning her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Fielding University in Santa Barbara, California.

Dr. B received her doctoral residency training from the U. S. Department of Justice- Federal Bureau of Prisons- Tallahassee, FL and Post-doctoral Fellowship training at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs- Central Alabama Veterans Health Care System (CAVHCS). She currently serves as the Advanced Care Level Psychologist in the Secure Mental Health- Step Down Program, U. S. Department of Justice-Federal Bureau of Prisons. Dr. B is an integral part of a multidisciplinary treatment team, which provides direct clinical services for serious mentally ill, maximum security federal inmates in the U.S. Penitentiary.

Dr. B’s work in the field of psychology has afforded her experience with rigorous methods of empirical research and evidence-based treatment. Dr. B has studied the broader elements of community and clinical psychology and notably co-authored a journal publication on the evaluation of a tertiary prevention program with the National Center for State Courts. She also authored and co-authored qualitative/quantitative studies on culturally informed theories and interventions for African American women. Dr. B’s research publications have earned their way into the Library of Congress and the Journal of Cultural and Ethnic Minority Psychology.

Dr. B is a member of the American Psychological Association and an ad hoc peer reviewer for the Journal of Black Psychology.

Additionally, Dr. B is also the founder of Dr. B Cares, LLC, an empowerment- based mental health consulting agency, located in the Atlanta metro area. Dr. B is passionate about helping individuals and organizations prioritize mental wellness. She recognizes the value of every person and is guided by commitments to fairness, cultural competence, and compassion. Dr. B advocates for the mental health and emotional well-being of traditionally underserved populations, more specifically LGBTQ people of color and their allies. In order to continue to fulfill the mission of Dr. B. Cares, LLC, the organization established a relationship with Doctor on Demand, providing telepsychology services to rural areas.

Dr. B resides in Atlanta, GA with her wife, Ty. She is a dog lover, avid reader, travel enthusiast and mental health advocate.

Attorney Paul Bromley, Class of 2005 Legal Paul A. Bromley, Esq. is a crisis manager, attorney, writer and cultural commentator.

Currently, Paul is the Communications Sr. Manager-Issues Management for PepsiCo, Inc. In this capacity, Paul supports PepsiCo’s issues management and brand protection efforts including fielding media inquiries, creating media statements/talking points and developing executive level briefings and communications.

As a writer and cultural commentator, Paul’s work focuses on the intersection of pop-culture, race, gender, humor and politics. Paul has been featured nationally and internationally with the Huffington Post, Vibe.com, The Root, Very Smart Brothas, and was named one of 2016’s Top Writers of Color on Medium. com. Paul is also a recurring guest host on WJMS’s, “According to RP” talk radio show.

Prior to joining PepsiCo, Paul was a member of the NYC Department of Education Office of General Counsel. Here, Paul represented the country’s largest public-school system by investigating and litigating matters against tenured educators engaged in professional misconduct and also handled matters to ensure that NYC public schools acted in compliance with federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (“IDEA”) legislation. Paul also served as an Administrative Hearing Officer with the NYC DOE’s Office of Safety and Youth Development Division of Student Suspensions, presiding over school suspension hearings. Paul was also a member of the DOE’s COVID-19 response team, ensuring students had access to remote learning and providing support to NYC students and families during the global pandemic. Further, Paul was selected as a member of the 2020

NYC DOE LEAD Cohort, a highly selective executive leadership training and cultivation program for individuals identified as future leaders within the DOE. Paul began his career as an Assistant District Attorney in the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office, one of the country’s largest and most progressive DA’s offices. As a member of the Investigations Unit, Paul conducted long term investigations involving police brutality and misconduct, organized crime, and hate crimes; including a large cross borough vehicular stripping enterprise, several gun trafficking rings, a credit card skimming scheme that plagued a national bank franchise, an anti-Semitic vandalism spree, and a targeted homophobic gang assault. As a prosecutor, Paul understood that his job was not to seek a conviction, but to seek justice and fight to combat the tragic impact systemic racism in the criminal justice system has on Black and Latinx communities.

Paul served as Vice-President of the Sterling Johnson Chapter of the National Black Prosecutor’s Association and President of the Hofstra University Black Law Student’s Association. Striving to give back to his community, he serves as a high school mock trial coach, participated in the Kings County DA’s Office’s Legal Lives initiative (a partnership to ensure Brooklyn citizens understand their rights regarding the criminal justice system) and is a recurring guest lecturer with the Colgate-Palmolive Summer Law Institute at Fordham University School of Law. At Hampton University, Paul was a member of the Student Leadership Program, Student Government Association, and was elected Mr. Sophomore and Mr. Junior Class (Onyx 6).

Paul graduated with honors in 2005 with a BA in Political Science. In 2009, he earned the Juris Doctorate from Hofstra University School of Law. Paul’s greatest accomplishment is his family.

He is married to Mrs. Danielle Pezzella-Bromley,’05. They currently reside in Bergen

The Hampton University

FORTY UNDER 40 SOCIETY County, New Jersey with their 4-year-old son Keston Cole and 2-year old daughter Yara Simone.

Mr. Olukoya Davis, Class of 2003 Marketing, Advertising & Public Relations Olukoya Davis is a Cause Marketing thought leader who has spent 16+ years across the Non-profit and Entertainment landscape working at Vevo (Universal Music + Sony Music), Roc Nation, Complex Networks, NBC Sports, ABC-Disney, and Warner Bros.

In addition to his entertainment affiliations, Olu has always been committed to his community having served on the Executive Board of the LA Junior Chamber of Commerce and Chair of Community Engagement for the LA Watts Summer Games.

Through his various roles, Olu has created marketing programs for fortune 500 brands, negotiated Super Bowl partnerships, Athlete & Talent Endorsements, developed Branded Content, and worked on Culture Marketing tent-poles such as ComplexCon and Made in America Festival.

Olu’s passion for both non-profit work coupled with business led him to found The Entersection Group, a collective focused on aligning Non-Profits with Brands and Talent to create authentic Cause Marketing programs.

With no slowing down in site, Olu’s latest venture has led him into the Food Sciences world as Chief Marketing and Cause Officer of Misa’s Kind Foods, a Plant Based Food & Lifestyle company.

Olukoya is a member of Omega Pshi Phi Fraternity (Gamma Epsilon) and 100 Black Men LA, an organization that focuses on Mentorship, Economic Empowerment, and Leadership for under-served youth.

Mr. Davis, a Los Angeles native attended Hampton University, completing his BS and MBA through Hampton’s 5-Year MBA program.

On the weekends, you can find Olu spending time with his son Olukoya Davis II, and frequenting Museums and Art Galleries in the LA Area.

Ms. Tahlia Gray, Class of 2003 Government & Public Affairs Tahlia Gray is a South Florida native and supply chain/procurement professional who obtained her bachelor’s degree in Business Management from Hampton University and her MBA in International Management from Nova Southeastern University. She began her career in the aerospace industry and has since worked in hospitality and government.

Tahlia is currently a Procurement Analyst for the City of Miami. A dedicated civic servant, Tahlia also serves on the boards of the South Florida Chapter and South East Region of the National Hampton Alumni Association, the South Florida Chapter of the National Black MBA Association, Inc., the Urban League of Broward County Young Professional Network, and is the co-founder of the Miami HBCU Alumni Alliance, an organization created to promote and celebrate Historically Black Colleges and Universities and their alumni. In her free time, Tahlia enjoys reading, music, trying new restaurants around town, and volunteering her time to underserved youth of color.

Ms. Nineveh Haysbert, Class of 2004 Medicine, Healthcare & Life Sciences Nineveh Haysbert, also known by her friends and colleagues as “Nina”, is a native of Hampton, Virginia. During the early years of her career, Ms. Haysbert worked as a mentor, counselor, and psychiatric specialist in private agencies, and psychiatric residential settings like Riverside Behavioral Health Center for at risk youth and adults. She earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology in 2004 at Hampton University and a Master of Science degree in Rehabilitation Counseling at Langston University in 2007.

Ms. Haysbert’s involvement with other organizations that supports the rehabilitation and integration of individuals with disabilities is broad-based. She sat on executive boards as the youngest and often only minority representative. Such Board memberships included the Oklahoma Rehabilitation Association (ORA), and Oklahoma Association for Persons in Supported Employment (OK-APSE), for which she chaired the 22nd Annual Statewide Conference in 2009 titled “Bridging People and Opportunities”.

During her extensive career, Ms. Haysbert worked with community and governmental agencies as well as in clinical and educational settings. Specifically, for the Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services (OKDRS) she served as a vocational counselor, evaluator, and SSA benefits planner for individuals with disabilities for over five years. She also engaged in research initiatives which led to authoring publications, managing privately funded grants and various instrumental roles for a National Institute of Mental Health Disparities (NIMHD) Grant for over 4-years.

Currently, Ms. Haysbert has returned to her “Home By the Sea” to pursue a doctoral degree in Counseling Education and Supervision. She continues to give back to the community in her private practice, Stepping Stones of LIFE, LLC and as a Military and Family Life Counselor (MFLC) for the armed forces. Ms. Haysbert is a registered Play Therapy Supervisor (RPT-S) and holds four (4) state endorsements as a licensed mental health supervisor and substance abuse clinician and counselor with approximately 16 years of experience. Her focus is therapy for domestic violence, crisis intervention, sexual trauma among individuals, groups. couples, and families, ages 3 and up.

Ms. Haysbert’s passion and dream to help others is on-going as she continues to participate in philanthropic missions to help charities, the homeless, motivate change, and instill hope for the hopeless. Her mission to impart knowledge, promote awareness, and pave the way for those who need a stepping stone and a hand in recovery has not faltered.

Ms. Haysbert is determined to reach the masses wherever they are. Her belief is -- in all of your doing, make a difference, be the change you want to see and let your work speak for you.

She is a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha, Inc., and trustee of the Rhonda K. Hutson Triple Negative Breast Cancer Foundation (RKH). Her favorite hobbies are shopping, singing, churching and listening to Jazz.

The Hampton University

FORTY UNDER 40 SOCIETY Dr. Elijah Heyward, Class of 2005 Arts, Media, and Entertainment

Ms. Shawntá Hooks, Class of 2003 Technology & Sciences

Elijah Heyward III is a native of Beaufort, South Carolina, and a Hampton University graduate.

He is a founder of the Bigger’s Circle, an initiative focused on supporting the Hampton University Museum. Elijah is also a graduate of Yale Divinity School and the recipient of the Yale President’s Public Service fellowship.

The fellowship supported the development of the Youth Scholar Academy, a nationwide college access program he founded focused on preparing young men from under-resourced communities to thrive in high school, college, and beyond.

Shawntà is a passionate, dynamic leader in her organization and community. She serves as VP, Transformation Leader for Synchrony, a leading financial services firm. In her role, she leads automation and technology initiatives that reduce cost, and drive effective risk management. Through robotic process automation and machine learning, she transforms processes by automating manual tasks, thereby enabling employees to be effective risk managers and consultants to their business partners. Her projects transform the way people work. She is passionate about ensuring that women and people of color see the importance of emerging technology and have a seat at the table in delivering on these initiatives. She has a unique background in risk, audit, accounting, and compliance that she combines with her technology expertise. This enables her to speak the many languages necessary to deliver results using emerging automation technology. Her work provides other employees with new experiences in innovation and technology which also sharpens their critical thinking skills, thereby preparing them for more advanced jobs.

Elijah is the first African American to earn a Ph.D. in American Studies from UNC-Chapel Hill where he curated the show “Beyond Walls: Designs for 20th Century Murals at the Ackland Art Museum” and contributed to a traveling exhibition focused on the work of artist Ronald Lockett.

He has published and presented on his various research interests, which include African American history, popular culture, religion, and contemporary Gullah/Geechee culture.

His background includes varied experiences in fundraising, arts production and management, and collaborative projects focused on cultural retentions and preservation.

Elijah joined the International African American Museum in August 2018 as the Chief Operating Officer.

Shawntà is also a leader in a variety of Synchrony engagement activities. She has served in leadership roles within Synchrony’s corporate health platform, responsible for coordinating a variety of unique events focused on health and wellness. She is a firm believer in wellness and holistic lifestyle habits.

For example, she facilitated a five-day Zen Fair for employees, which included a free Tai Chi class to promote alternative stress management techniques for a predominately black demographic. Her passion for wellness

Dr. Ashley Harris Hudson, Class of 2007 Military Defense

has enabled her to also create and facilitate strategic programming designed to help Synchrony leaders learn how to use mindfulness techniques to unlock innovation and enable ideation. She also serves as a pillar leader for Synchrony’s African American Network, focused on campus recruiting and financial literacy for HBCU students. Specifically, she leads campus and outreach efforts between Synchrony and Clark Atlanta University.

She’s constantly tapped to deliver employee talks on career development, networking, and race relations in the workplace. She has been recognized for her thought leadership via awards and selection into nomination based training experiences, including recognition with the Chief Operating Officer’s Core Values Award in 2019.

Prosthodontist, Major in the United States Air Force, entrepreneur, community activist and influencer, breaker of glass ceilings, wife, mother; Dr. Ashley Harris Hudson truly epitomizes what is to be The Standard of Excellence.

Shawntà understands the importance of investing her time in her local community.

She has a passion for Habitat for Humanity, participating in several builds throughout her professional career. She also regularly volunteers for Rise Against Hunger, Junior Achievement, Tour de Cure (American Diabetes Association), and the Boys and Girls Club. Her greatest passion, however, is her three-year-old son, Amir. She uses her skillset as an innovator to ensure he is raised in an environment that encourages creativity and critical thinking. Originally from Detroit, Shawntà resides in Atlanta, GA. In addition to raising her son, she enjoys writing, yoga, fitness, and discovering new music.

Currently living in Alaska, her time in the Air Force continues to move her and her family around the country. Nonetheless, wherever she’s lived, she has always left her mark. Some examples of this include:

Ashley graduated from Hampton University in 2007 with a bachelor’s degree in Chemistry. She went on to UNC Chapel Hill to obtain her Doctorate in Dentistry and later obtained a Biomedical Sciences Master’s degree, specializing in Prosthodontics. While obtaining her graduate degrees and completing her residency, Ashley has also served our country as a proud member of the United States Air Force.

Mentoring other young black dental students; Founding a non-profit organization, Corinthians 13, that serves our often underserved elderly population; Leading an international network of Christian women bloggers (designed to equip one another with the tools needed to inspire and encourage growth).

Serving as a Board Member for Moms Who Lead With Love, an organization dedicated to bringing moms of all races, cultures and backgrounds together to drive social justice and awareness.

The Hampton University

FORTY UNDER 40 SOCIETY It’s because of Ashley’s selflessness and her desire to edify those around her that she has been able to positively impact whatever community and setting she’s a part of.

Ms. Candacé Jackson, Class of 2006 Entrepreneurship & Startup

In order to truly understand Ashley’s professional accomplishments, one must understand that only 3% of dentists in the United States are black, with even less black individuals specializing in Prosthodontics.

Ashley’s matriculation and completion of the Air Force’s Prosthodontics Residency Distiguished her as the first African American to Graduate from the Program.

Candacé McGill Jackson, J.D. is the daughter of the Rev. Dr. Deborah McGill Jackson and the late Mr. Leslie A. Jackson, Jr. She is a native of Virginia. A proud 2006 graduate of Hampton University, Ms. Jackson received her Bachelors of Arts in Political Science. At Hampton, Candacé was an active member of The WEB DuBois Honors College, The Greer Dawson Wilson Student Leadership Program, Chamber Orchestra, Psalms 149 Liturgical Dance Ensemble, The Hampton Script, and The Student Government Association. After matriculating at Hampton, Candacé pursued her legal education at The State University of New York at Buffalo, graduating in 2009 with her Juris Doctorate.

During law school, Candacé was a Regional Officer of The Black Law Students Association and a Board Member of The Student Bar Association. She also participated in Frederick Douglass Moot Court. For her work, Candacé received recognition from the Western New York Black Bar Association Graduation Award, The University at Buffalo Law Dale S. Margulis Community Service Award, and The Rochester Black Bar Association’s Clyde E. Bailey Sr. Legal Scholarship.

Ashley has always found ways to intertwine her passion with her purpose, allowing her to continuously and confidently ‘break glass ceilings’ within her profession. The Air Force and other prominent national professional organizations continue to recognize her year after year. Ashley has been the recipient of the following accolades: 2017 Dentist of the Year, Air Education Training and Command (one of the U.S. Air Force’s nine major commands); Company Grade Officer of the Year, 81st Dental Squadron (2016); Women of Achievement, Young Careerist (2016).

Ashley has continued to raise the bar both in her professional and in her personal life.

She has created a path for other minorities to follow. Ashley is not only influential, but a change agent - exceeding normalcy in all avenues of her life. From disrupting the status quo in her career to fostering future generations in her community, all while promising her willingness to sacrifice her life for our country.

Ashley’s guiding principle in life is inspired

by Psalm 121:1-2, “I lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from?

My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.” With faith as her guide Ashley’s most precious legacy is the one she is building in her home with her husband and two children.

Professionally, Candacé’s work within PricewaterhouseCoopers’ Fraud and Global Investigations Division focuses on victims’ compensation funds and fraud investigations.

Candacé worked as an assistant professor at Hampton University and as an adjunct professor at Delaware State University and The Graduate School USA. As the CEO of CMJ Management, Candacé is a social engineer, advisory consultant, and client advocate. Her ability to engage and encourage

others comes naturally, which inspired her to become a manager of talent. Her passion for pushing others to share their stories and to pursue their dreams is what keeps her clients focused, engaged, and effective. Candacé uses her experience in the hospitality, legal, education, and performing arts industries to help her clients succeed.

In the community, Candacé serves as the 1st Vice President of Xi Zeta Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated ®, where she implements over 40 programs annually on issues related to Historically Black Colleges and Universities, women’s healthcare, the arts, economic empowerment, and refugee resettlement. She has been honored through her sorority chapter with the Unsung Soror, Soror of the Year, Doctorate of Documents, Soror of the Month, and Chapter Growth Awards.

Candacé is the Director of Community Relations for Goal Grinders, Inc., an organization dedicated to bringing S.T.E.A.M. opportunities to young women of color. Her community involvement includes working with the National Council of Negro Women, The Trinity Choir and The Sanctified Symphony Orchestra of Alfred Street Baptist Church, and The Ivy Foundation, Inc. She is also the Deputy Campaign Manager for the Dr. Carlene D. Reid for D.C. State Board of Education campaign. Candacé has held several national and international pageant titles, including Ms. Grand International, Ms. International Maryland, and Ms. United Continents US. For her pageant platform dealing with cultural diversity and education, she received Pageantry Magazine’s “Spirit Award.” Candacé was also a contributing writer to “Go, Tell Michelle: African American Women Write to the New First Lady.”

Mr. Frank Christopher Lee, Class of 2010 Government & Public Affairs Frank Christopher (Chris) Lee, II, is a 2010 graduate of Hampton University and is currently serving his second term on the City Council of his historic hometown of Tuskegee, Alabama.

He was the youngest ever elected official in the City’s history back in 2012 when he was first elected at age 24. Lee also serves as Vice Chair of the Utilities Board of Tuskegee, which regulates power services and is the primary driver of economic development for the City. In his role as city councilman, Chris was Instrumental in reestablishing the city’s parks and Rec department (was defunct prior) and he even served as local youth volunteer football coach. In 2019 Lee established the recognition of Indigenous Peoples Day Holiday in the city to replace Columbus Day. Prior to moving back to serve his local community, Lee served as a White House Intern under the Obama Administration in the Office of Presidential Correspondence, and he also advocated on behalf of HBCUs (including Hampton) on Capitol Hill while working at the National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education (NAFEO). After returning back home to focus on building his own community, Lee attended and graduated from Faulkner Law School earning his Juris Doctorate. In addition to serving on the City Council, he is an Entrepreneur: Owner and Co-Founder of TheTicketPlug.com, KL Media Group LLC, Big Easy Billboards, and most recently, ACE Mobile Billboards.

Economic Empowerment, Entrepreneurship, Investing and Public Service are his passions.

At Hampton Chris was a Spring 2008 Initiate of the Beta Chi Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Incorporated. He also

The Hampton University

FORTY UNDER 40 SOCIETY was a member of the William R. Harvey Leadership Institute and returned to give the keynote address at their induction ceremony in January of 2018. Chris came back that same year to speak to the Hampton Men’s Caucus.

Attorney Ashley McFarland, Class of 2006 Legal Ashley Elaina McFarland, Esq. is Associate General Counsel with the District of Columbia Housing Authority. In her current role, Ashley manages Legal Fellows, the agency’s internal hearing process, provides training opportunities, provides supervision of the senior paralegals and serves as a civil litigation attorney.

Ashley has been a practicing attorney in the greater Washington, D.C. area for over a decade. Throughout her career, Ashley has been dedicated to public service in representing children in foster care, individuals in criminal cases, and the community in criminal matters. She has also spent countless hours serving as a volunteer in expungement clinics, community legal events, and providing pro bono assistance to senior citizens and low income individuals throughout Maryland. In 2017, Ashley was awarded the Maryland State Bar Association Young Lawyer Section’s Young Lawyer of the year for Community and Public Service.

Outside of work, Ashley has ensured that she lets her life “do the singing” by being heavily involved in the community. Ashley has served as a soccer and cheerleading coach for young and adolescent girls. Ashley volunteers with a group of women attorneys at a youth juvenile facility. Ashley serves on the board of various organizations, including the GWAC

Foundation, Inc., which provides scholarships to law school students, and previously with the J. Franklyn Bourne Bar Association’s Women’s Committee which hosts an annual scholarship tea that provides scholarships for women law students of color. Ashley also has served as a speaker for panels at various high schools, elementary schools, and at her “Home by the Sea”, Hampton University.

Further, Ashley serves as a resource for young attorneys, law school students, and college students interested in pursuing law degrees.

In 2019, Ashley was named a Forty under Forty for Prince George’s County, Maryland for her public service and involvement. Ashley credits her parents and the other adults in her life for providing her with the tools, guidance, and encouragement to become the person that she is today. She also recognizes the pivotal role that Hampton University has played in her life as far as giving her a focus on community involvement and molding her continued drive to give back.

Ashley is originally from Cincinnati, Ohio, yet, embraces her family’s southern roots which tie her to Louisiana. She is a proud member of the Hampton University class of 2006, Ogre Phi Ogre XII, where she has served as Alumni class co-leader since graduation. At Hampton, some of Ashley’s activities included Honors College, the Student Leadership Program, and senior class Vice-President. After Hampton, Ashley attended The Ohio State University - Moritz College of Law, graduating with her Juris Doctor in 2009. She is licensed to practice law in the Federal and State Courts in the District of Columbia and Maryland. Ashley enjoys playing soccer, traveling domestically and internationally, gardening and cooking in her free time.

Dr. Zakia Woods McManus, Class of 2007 Medicine, Healthcare & Life Sciences Dr. Zakia Woods McManus is the Head Clinical Coordinator and Diabetes Educator at the Diabetes Institute of Virginia, located in Norfolk, Virginia. Zakia works collaboratively with physician groups around the Hampton Roads area to educate patients on diabetes and how to maintain a healthy lifestyle while staying within their glycemic goals. She is also a Certified Pump Trainer for Tandem and OmniPod insulin pump systems, training patients on their new equipment while implementing the core concepts of diabetes education.

Dr. McManus also manages multiple grants under the St. Columba and Ryan White programs, conducted in partnership with Eastern Virginia Medical School, LGBT Life Center, and St Columba Church, totaling over $100,000. This funding, the only of its kind in the Hampton Roads area, provides medication and nutritional services for the homeless as well as uninsured and underinsured HIV patients.

Once she returned to the area, immediately wanting to give back to her Home by the Sea, she reached out to the School of Pharmacy to become an Ambulatory Care preceptor for pharmacy students. Zakia, with her passion for advancing the pharmacy profession, was chosen to become the first National President of the Minority Women Pharmacists Association, a 501(c)3 organization with an online community of over 6,000 women pharmacists. Since taking office, Zakia has focused on tackling current events and the direct impact on the pharmacy profession, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. She also volunteers at the Western Tidewater Free Clinic in Suffolk, Virginia, assisting in medication counseling.

Dr. McManus is a proud 2007 graduate of Hampton University School of Pharmacy, following in the footsteps of her great aunt (School of Nursing) and her sister (B.S. in Biology). During her tenure at Hampton, Zakia was involved in student government as a member of the Executive Council for her undergraduate class, Quintessence V, and was also a resident advisor from Queen Street Hall from 2002-2003. While in the pharmacy program, Zakia served as President-Elect and Chapter President for 2 student organizations: the Academy of Student Pharmacists, and Student National Pharmacists Association. She represented Hampton University as a national competitor in two major competitions: the National Patient Counseling Competition for the American Pharmacists Association in Orlando, Florida (2005), and the National Clinical Skills Competition for the American Society of Health Systems Pharmacists in Anaheim, California (2006). In 2019, Zakia took an unorthodox step in her career and became a Post Graduate Year 1 Community Pharmacy Resident based in Benson, North Carolina. As a resident, Zakia fine-tuned her clinical skills in Diabetes Education and initiated multiple clinical services for the practice, including becoming the only primary care facility in America to use specialty treatments for patients with major depressive disorder. Her hard work ethic, leadership and organizational skills did not go unnoticed. Before she completed her residency program, Zakia was approached to become the Program Director of the residency after graduation, and she accepted. Zakia currently resides in Suffolk, Virginia with her greatest gift, her 4-year-old son Myles.

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FORTY UNDER 40 SOCIETY Mr. James Yancy Merchant, Class of 2005 Entrepreneurship & Startup

series.

Meet James Yancy Merchant, Jr., the owner of New Face Management, LLC, creator of Success Without Limitations, Inc and Author of the THIS IS WHY you go to college

Originally from Queens, New York, Yancy was a scholar student and talented athlete.

His childhood and adolescent years would provide a series of opportunities to gain interest in both the business and event planning industry. Upon graduation from Half Hollow Hills HS West, he and his best friend Sean Washington committed to attending a historically black college noting its prominence in academia and culture would introduce these young men to a new world of possibilities.

Both young men were accepted into the prestigious institution of Hampton University with the intention of developing into young, successful entrepreneurs within the Hampton Roads area. As thriving, full-time students in exceptional academic standing, Merchant and Washington soon befriended fellow scholar Dr. Howard Crumpton and the three would establish the promotional company Straightface Entertainment and also created the historical “12-2” on the campus of Hampton University. In 2005, Mr. Merchant became the sole owner of the company known as New Face Entertainment, Inc. New Face became more than a profitable company; it evolved into a movement. As their network increased in size and quality, New Face hosted more than on and off-campus events. As a company, New Face empowered college students and alumni socially, professionally, emotionally and

mentally. New Face provided over $10,000 in scholarships and donations towards student organizations, created numerous internship opportunities for students in their respective fields, sponsored athletic events, hosted mental health seminars, initiated beautification projects, offered tutoring services, donated food and clothing to homeless shelters and so much more.

While managing New Face, Merchant created the community-based component of the company, Success Without Limitations which in 2007 as a graduate student at ODU created the student organization SWL. Presently, He expanded SWL into the Success Without Limitations, Inc a 501C3 NON PROFIT community-based organization. He also rebranded the company now known as New Face to New Face Management, LLC doing management consulting and mentoring young professionals. He is also the creator, director and producer of This is Why a series documenting a historical reflection of college life outside the classroom and beyond available now on his YouTube page (@newfaceceo) and www.instagram. com/thisiswhydoc.

Never a dull moment, Merchant is also a proud father of 5, working for the city of New York and also developing a series of memoirs on the breadth, journey, and lessons learned from his life and experience in the entertainment business. “This is Why you go to college...A how-to guide to successfully graduate outside the classroom” and This is how you prepare for college...how to choose a school that works for YOU! Available at www. thisiswhydoc.com.

Mrs. Kristen Rogers Pope, Class of 2004 Entrepreneurship & Startup

inspiration from lessons learned in motherhood, Kristen founded Mom Life Streets - an authentic conversation for women and mothers.

Kristen L. Pope is multi-hyphenate visionary. She is a Founder, Speaker, Award-Winning TV Journalist, and a multi-media strategist who runs her own digital content production company, Pope Productions Inc.

When Kristen’s not working, she invests time with her husband Richard and Lily and serves as an advisory council member, praise team leader at her church and in other community service organizations in the community.

Pope Productions, Inc. produces culture-shaping content for clients like Wellesley College. Through her company, Kristen created and produced the variety talk show, “The Positive Controversy with Kristen Pope,” to amplify voices not often heard in the media.

Through Pope Productions, Kristen has packaged her decade of expertise as a television news broadcaster in places including: NBC Boston and ABC News9, into her online course, the “On-Air Academy,” – that has helped dozens secure a job in media.

Prior to creating transformational master class, Kristen won several awards including: a documentary award from the New York Association of Black Journalists; A Woman in Media Award and has also been listed as a Woman to Watch.

In addition to her love for media, Kristen has a passionate heart for women. That fire lead her to create, The King’s Daughters, Inc in 2008 - a community for women to anchor their identity in Christ and grow through personal and spiritual development. As an in-demand speaker and mistress of ceremony, Kristen is known for her natural wit which led her to complete almost two dozen standup comedy performances in the Boston area where she resides.

Kristen credits her greatest treasure as mom to her toddler Lily Leigh Pope. Through

Kristen is a proud graduate of The Scripps Howard School of Journalism and Communications at Hampton University, and an active member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated.

Ms. Elise Preston, Class of 2008 Arts, Media, and Entertainment Elise Preston is an Emmy-nominated journalist based in New York City. Prior to joining CBS Newspath in February 2020, Elise worked as a weekday anchor in Milwaukee. Elise also worked at CBS affiliates WREG in Memphis and KFDA in Amarillo, Texas. Elise started her career as an assignment editor in Norfolk, VA. A Columbus, Ohio native, Elise is a proud graduate of the Scripps Howard School of Journalism and Communications at Hampton University. She is a member of the National Association of Black Journalists and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated.

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FORTY UNDER 40 SOCIETY Mr. Allister Primo, Class of 2006 Financial & Insurance Services

For additional information and for a personalized insurance quote, please visit http://www. insuringdmv.com.

Allister Primo is a State Farm Insurance Agent based in Washington, D.C., where he and his staff specialize exclusively in providing insurance and financial services that will help clients preserve personal wealth for future generations.

Ms. Kiley Relf, Class of 2013 Military Defense

A native to Guyana, Allister’s family moved to Brooklyn, New York in his early childhood.

Throughout his youth he aspired to owning a business that would positively impact his community.

Growing up Allister loved music and the performing arts. As a musician, Allister attended New York’s prestigious Firella H. LaGuardia High School of the Performing Arts where he excelled in playing the trumpet.

Following high school, Allister graduated from Hampton University, where he received a B.A. in Computer/Electrical Engineering. While in school he was an active member of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, band, and various other social and academic clubs.

After graduation, he began his career as a patent examiner with the United States Patent and Trademark Office. In 2015, Allister joined the State Farm team as an Insurance Agent for the D.C., Maryland, and Virginia area.

As a licensed State Farm Insurance Agent, Allister’s focus is helping customers identify the insurance coverage that best fits their needs.

This process is straightforward and personalized to help navigate the insurance selection process. Allister Primo has the knowledge and experience to help customers better understand their coverage options--whether that’s auto, home, renters, business insurance and more.

Kiley Relf graduated from Hampton University in 2013 with a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education.

Upon graduating she was accepted into the United States Coast Guard’s College Student Pre-Commissioning Initiative program. She commissioned as an officer in the spring of 2014 and was assigned to the Coast Guard’s largest operational unit in New York as an Apprentice Marine Inspector. In 2017, she was assigned as the chief of Waterways Management in Philadelphia.

Kiley is presently the Protocol Officer to the Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard; the first African American female to ever hold the position.

Kiley’s role as an Apprentice Marine Inspector consisted of inspecting foreign and domestic vessels to ensure U.S. laws and regulations while operating in the navigable waters of the U.S. She has inspected over 400 vessels and has prohibited nearly 100 vessels from entering and leaving the port due to failure of compliance with the Code of Federal Regulations. As the chief of the Waterways Management division, Kiley was a direct representative of the Captain of the Port; a federally designated title with significant regulatory authority. She provided oversight to 300 yearly marine events and managed 1,400 Coast Guard aids to navigation fixtures that serviced 3,000 commercial vessel arrivals within three states. She led a multimillion-dollar project involving the exportation of Liquefied Natural Gas

and created three new offshore anchorage grounds within the Delaware River and Bay. As the Protocol Officer to the Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard, Kiley provides guidance on matters relating to customs and regulations governing diplomatic formality, precedence and etiquette.

Kiley received recognition as the lead project officer for a building dedication and 100th birthday celebration in honor of the first African American female to join the Coast Guard, Dr. Olivia Hooker. After years of establishing a great rapport with Dr. Olivia Hooker, Kiley represented the Lieutenant rank in an all-female cordon at her funeral service.

Kiley exudes pride and professionalism. She was featured in a nationally syndicated Coast Guard commercial that was aired at movie theaters during the previews for the 2018 American superhero film, Black Panther.

The commercial was to highlight women balancing a positive home and work life while proudly serving in the U.S. military.

In February 2018, Kiley was chosen to speak on Capitol Hill to State Senators and staffers for a diversity initiative on the importance of Historically Black Colleges. In November 2018 and September 2019, Kiley was selected as a panel member for the Coast Guard’s first ever HBCU training and leadership summits. The summits included university Presidents and Vice Presidents from Hampton, Elizabeth City State, Norfolk State and Virginia State along with senior Coast Guard officers.

Outside of the Coast Guard Kiley has a passion and dedication for working with children. Her involvement in the community is interminable, she is an active member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated.

Kiley is a leading connecting of people; communities and causes through volunteerism and service to her country.

Ms. Shanitra Sanders, Class of 2003 Government & Public Affairs Shanitra Sanders is a Capture Manager for the International Business Development team at Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company in Marietta, GA. She is responsible for C-130J aircraft orders in Asia, Africa, Europe, and South America and has traveled to eleven countries. She regularly interacts with senior level military officers and civilians from foreign governments including Deputy Prime Ministers, Ambassadors, and Air Force Generals. Shanitra has 15 years of experience in the aerospace/defense industry; she joined Lockheed Martin (LM) Space Systems as a Manufacturing Engineer on the Space Shuttle program in New Orleans before gaining acceptance into the Operations Leadership Development Program (OLDP). Shanitra relocated to Atlanta after Hurricane Katrina; upon OLDP graduation, she found her niche in Business Development.

She is a Toastmasters Competent Communicator and Leader and serves as an advocate in leading cultural transformation efforts at LM. Shanitra has received various company Special Recognition awards and has held various VP positions within Toastmasters International and the Lockheed Martin Leadership Association.

Shanitra holds an LM21 Lean/Six Sigma Black Belt certification. Through facilitating structured improvement activities, she identified $400K in company savings and mentored eleven employees to achieve Green Belt certification.

The avid traveler is passionate about giving and serving her community including her alma mater; she supports causes related to STEM, health and fitness, and financial

The Hampton University

FORTY UNDER 40 SOCIETY empowerment. Shanitra serves as a Brand Ambassador for Just Strong, a lifestyle brand to motivate strong women to overcome their adversaries and embrace their physical and mental strength. She is a Founding Board Member for Another Level of Excellence, a non-profit organization focused on career exploration for youth in STEM. She diligently serves on the Steward Board and the Women’s Missionary Society at Turner Chapel AME Church in Marietta. Last year’s highlights included going on a mission trip to Trinidad and volunteering on the Atlanta Super Bowl Host Committee. She is an avid runner and supports organizations such as the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (top Team in Training fundraiser for the Publix half marathon), the American Cancer Society, the American Heart Association, Susan G. Komen for the Cure, and March of Dimes.

With legacy creation and philanthropy in mind, she founded a financial empowerment group to encourage women to save, invest, and give back. She also recently founded a math enrichment program for 5th and 6th graders to hone courage, confidence, and compassion while relating math to the real world. Shanitra leads by example and established the “Shanitra Sanders- Pay it Forward Scholarship” in 2019 to encourage Hampton University (HU) women of color to pursue STEM and business careers and hone a culture of paying it forward. She is active in the HU Atlanta alumni chapter, the HU Mommies Group, and participates in the annual HBCU 5K fundraiser.

Shanitra is a native of New Orleans, LA. She graduated from Hampton University with a BS in Chemical Engineering, and Mercer University- Atlanta with an MBA. She is the privileged mother of a vivacious, talented, and beautiful eleven-year-old daughter (her proudest accomplishment to date).

Ms. Stacey Scott, Class of 2004 Medicine, Healthcare & Life Sciences Stacey Scott, Class of 2004, serves as the Vice of Operations for the Indiana Department of Corrections offender Health Services contract as well as Operations Consultant for contractual services held by Wexford Health Sources, Inc. nationwide.

The daughter of high school sweethearts, COL(R) Artice and Denise Scott, this Mississippi native/military brat, after traveling worldwide for primary and secondary schooling chose Hampton University. Stacey earned her Bachelor of Science in Molecular Biology and began working on her MBA soon after, concentrating in healthcare administration. While continuing a remote MBA program, Stacey relocated to Mississippi, where she began working in correctional healthcare as the statewide Grievance Specialist for Correctional Medical Services (CMS).

The position allowed Stacey to complete her studies, gain experience and give back by helping to ensure access to healthcare for incarcerated individuals without bias of guilt or innocence. After a year, Stacey relocated to Maryland to serve as the statewide clinical data analyst for CMS. While in this role, Stacey helped site level managers improve their delivery of healthcare services by tracking trends and developing improvement plans for healthcare delivery to incarcerated persons under custodianship of the state of Maryland’s Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services (MD DPSCS).

In 2007, Stacey was promoted to Health Services Administrator for Maryland Correctional Institute in Jessup overseeing the health care delivery there as well as 3 smaller

satellite facilities nearby. In 2008, Stacey became a certified correctional professional through the National Commission on Correctional Standards and a mentor for newly hired Health Services Administrators.

In 2009, Stacey served as health administrator for the Baltimore Central Booking and Intake Center, then, the 3rd largest intake institution in the country. While in this role, Stacey helped develop an Alcohol Detox Unit and Opioid Treatment Program recognized by the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. The program was certified and accredited in 2009 and remains active today. While in this role, Stacey spearheaded several projects improving delivery and quality of care. In 2012, Stacey was promoted to Regional Director of health services and transitioned to working for Wexford Health Sources, Inc (WHS).

She implemented a telehealth program for offenders providing access to specialty health services, while preserving public safety and saving the state over $1.2 million the first year with over $5 million saved to date. She received the R.A.I.S.E. in 2013 for leadership and service. In 2017, Stacey accepted a new role as Operations Consultant and began traveling across the country working with different health service delivery contracts held by Wexford with a recent appointment to Vice President of Operations for Indiana.

Stacey is the 2020-2021 Tampa HU Alumni Chapter Treasurer, has volunteered with the Sickle Cell Foundation of Georgia, the Casey Cares Foundation, and Women in Unity for Christ. Stacey started a scholarship fund through Women in Unity for private primary and secondary school education in low performing school districts. Since 2007, Stacey continues to mentor on life-skills and tutors primary and secondary level students in-person and remotely.

Dr. Nandi Shareef, Class of 2007 Entrepreneurship & Startup Dr. Nandi Shareef is an award-winning transformational trainer and coach. As founder and CEO of The Shareef Group, a boutique speaking and coaching firm that ignites the gifts and talents of global leaders to create a transformed world, she’s helped clients increase their income and savings by millions of dollars, establish themselves as executives and entrepreneurs, and give back hundreds of thousands of dollars in funds and in-kind donations to community organizations. In the corporate world, she facilitates internal career and leadership coaching development and trains and coaches high-tech and nonprofit leaders on change, transformation, executive presence, and communications. Some of her corporate clients include Genentech, Own the Room, Airbnb, Facebook, Google, and the Antirecidivism Coalition. In the process of stepping out on her own as an entrepreneur, Dr. Nandi discovered what it takes to live life on her own terms, and she encourages others to do the same in her forthcoming book, Impostor No More: How to Tell the Truth and Start Living Authentically.

Before life as a full-time entrepreneur and author, Dr. Nandi served as Head of the People Development Center of Excellence at Uber Technologies, once the world’s largest tech unicorn, where she co-led efforts to transform a group of L&D professionals into a world-class product organization, pioneered the tech giant’s first internal coaching system, and spearheaded the company’s inaugural manager onboarding program. She previously worked as People & Change Advisory Manager and Senior Consultant for KPMG US, as the Learning & Development Manager for The Landings Club, and as

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FORTY UNDER 40 SOCIETY the Director of Huntington Learning Centers.

Dr. Nandi is a proud member of many professional and social associations including the International Coach Federation, OD Network, Association for Talent Development, and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated. She is a celebrated speaker and certified speaking coach who has delivered keynotes, workshops, and retreats on every continent except Antarctica, and who has graced the stage of the International Association for Talent Development Conference, Corporate Learning Week, Future Workplace Summit, and the Columbia Coaching Conference.

As a passionate advocate for humanity, Dr. Nandi delivers women’s leadership retreats in Africa and travels there each year to support women and teenage girls in embracing their authentic selves through Jelani Women and the Jelani Girls foundation. In addition, she leads large- and small-group transformational coaching experiences for community leaders across the San Francisco Bay Area as a volunteer with Aiming High Inc. She is a member of The Millennial 100 and is featured in NYT bestseller Dan Schawbel’s book, Back to Human. In 2013, she received the first-ever “One to Watch” Award from the International Association for Talent Development.

After graduating high school at 16, Dr. Nandi received her Bachelor and Master of Business Administration from Hampton University’s 5 Year MBA program. While at Hampton, she served as SGA Vice President, Chair of the Black Heritage Extravaganza for the Greer Dawson Wilson Student Leadership Program, and President of the Michigan Pre-Alumni Association. Dr. Nandi also earned a Ph.D. in Organization Development from Benedictine University, authoring a dissertation on how gifted adults survive in today’s workplace. She is also a professional certified coach who received her training from Fielding Graduate University’s evidence-based coaching certification program.

To learn more about Dr. Nandi, visit www. nandishareef.com.

Hon. Kristen Gary Simmons, Class of 2003 Government & Public Affairs The Honorable Judge Kristen D. Simmons was appointed by Governor Gretchen Whitmer to serve the 54-a District Court of Lansing, MI, in September 2019. She is presently the youngest judge in her county and her appointment made history for the 54-a District Court by creating for the first time ever, an all women bench. Judge Simmons earned her Juris Doctor from Western Michigan University and her Bachelor of Arts from Hampton University, Class of 2003.

Judge Simmons, originally from Boston, MA, has been a member of the Lansing, MI community since 2009. Prior to taking the bench, Judge Simmons was the Litigation Manager for the Michigan Department of Corrections- Office of Legal Affairs. She previously served as an Assistant Attorney General in the Civil Litigation, Elections and Employment Law Division. Preceding her role with the Office of the Attorney General, she served as an Assistant City Attorney for the City of Lansing, where she was a district court prosecutor and held the position as Legal Advisor for the Lansing Police Department and Police Board of Commissioners.

Judge Simmons has served Ingham County as a public defender while also working as an adjunct professor for Lansing Community College (LCC), where she instructed Legal Writing, Business Law and helped to spearhead LCC’s Law Clinic in conjunction with Legal Services of South Central Michigan.

Judge Simmons is an avid contributor to her community. She serves tirelessly on various boards and committees, including both the Diversity & Inclusion and the Awards committees for her state bar; she is a past-presi-

dent of the Davis-Dunnings Bar Association; former parliamentarian for her local chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.; she is presently the financial secretary for the Lansing/East Lansing Chapter of the Links, Inc.; she is a Cohort VIII Scott-Hawkins Leadership Fellow for the Links, Inc.; she serves as a Board member for Grit, Glam, Guts ©; and she is the Director of the Tabernacle of David Youth Choir. She is a member of the National Bar Association, Ingham County Bar Association, Michigan Association of Black Judges, Women Lawyer’s Association of MI, and the Association of District Judges. Judge Simmons was named Top 5 Under 35 in 2017 by the Ingham County Bar and named as the Rising Star Attorney in 2015 by the Davis-Dunnings Bar Association. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with family and friends and she is a certified Zumba Instructor.

Dr. Lori Singleton, Class of 2006 Medicine, Healthcare & Life Sciences Dr. Lori Singleton is an Associate Professor in the department of Pediatrics at Morehouse School of Medicine and a pediatric hospitalist at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.

She is dedicated to the improving care for hospitalized patients and educating future physicians. A native of Savannah, Georgia, she attended Hampton University as a Presidential Scholar. During her matriculation at Hampton she was a member of Honors College, Student Recruitment Team, and Gamma Theta Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. After graduating summa cum laude with a B.S. in Biology from Hampton University, she earned her medical degree

from Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. Dr. Singleton completed her pediatric residency at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center in Cincinnati, Ohio followed by a pediatric hospital medicine fellowship with Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta, Georgia.

Dr. Singleton is passionate about improving patient health outcomes. She has been a campus site leader for both local and national quality improvement projects and serves on hospital clinical guideline committees. In 2016 she was appointed Chief of Patient Safety and Quality for Morehouse at Grady Memorial Hospital. As a quality leader for Grady Memorial Hospital, she serves on the hospital’s Medical Executive Committee and is the co-chair of its Quality subcommittee.

Dr. Singleton works with hospital service line leaders on initiatives to improve patient throughput in the hospital and decrease hospital acquired conditions. She also serves on Morehouse’s Institutional Effectiveness Committee. Dr. Singleton has given multiple grand rounds presentations on reducing harm in the hospital and evaluating medical errors. As a member of Children’s Injury Prevention Program Save Babies Task Force, she planned a Safe Sleep Carnival at the hospital which provided infant safe sleep education to families and staff members and pack-n-plays to families unable to provide a safe sleep space for their infant.

In addition to being a physician leader, she is a medical educator. Dr. Singleton serves as her department’s clinical scholar for the 3rd year medical students and oversees their inpatient clinical skills training. She is the pediatric residency quality improvement course director. Under her guidance, pediatric residents have led projects related to improving adherence to well-child visit guidelines, improving asthma education upon discharge from the hospital, and increasing infant safe sleep practices during hospitalizations. In 2019, she was selected as an American Medical Association

The Hampton University

FORTY UNDER 40 SOCIETY Health Systems Science Scholar. Her scholar project focuses on patient safety and quality improvement education for medical students during their clinical years.

Dr. Singleton is a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics and Council on Medical Student Education in Pediatrics. She currently resides in Peachtree City, Georgia with her husband Kwane and son Carson.

When she is away from work, Dr. Singleton enjoys spending time outdoors with her family, running 5k races, and giving back to the community through her involvement with Phi Pi Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated.

Mr. Nikkolas Smith, Class of 2008 Arts, Media and Entertainment Nikkolas Smith, a native of Houston, Texas, is a Master of Architecture recipient from Hampton University. After designing theme parks at Walt Disney Imagineering for 11 years, he is now an ARTivist, Concept artist, Children’s Books Author, Film Illustrator and Movie poster designer (Black Panther, Beale Street, Southside With You, Dear White People, Stranger Fruit).

He is the author/illustrator of the picture books “The Golden Girls of Rio” (nominated for an NAACP Image Award) and My Hair Is Poofy And That’s Okay. The latest children’s book he has illustrated, World Cup Women features the World Champion USWNT. He is a proud 2016 White House Innovators of Color fellow. His most famous and recognized works focus on Artivism. As an illustrator of color, Nikkolas creates captivating art that can spark important conversations around social justice in today’s world and inspire meaningful change. Many of his viral

and globally published sketches are included in his latest book Sunday Sketch: The Art of Nikkolas, a visual journey on life and a collection of more than 100 sketches he has done in the last five years. His works have been featured on TIME Magazine, The New York Times, The Washington Post, CNN, Buzzfeed, the Academy of Motion Pictures, The Guardian, ABC, NBC, KCET and many more. His art has been shared on social media by Michelle Obama, Van Jones, Shaun King, Rihanna, Colin Kaepernick, Janet Jackson, Viola Davis, Jamie Foxx, Erykah Badu, Lupita Nyong’o, Kendrick Lamar, Tracee Ellis Ross, Ava Duvernay, Common, Simone Biles, Miley Cirus, Mark Ruffalo, Amy Schumer and many others.

Nikkolas also talks at conferences (TEDxWatts) and schools all over the country, and leads workshops in digital painting character and movie poster and design. He lives in Los Angeles, California. Nikkolas Website: https:// nikkolas.art Instagram: @nikkolas_smith Twitter @4NIKKOLAS FB: https://www.facebook. com/nikksmith

Dr. Erica Taylor Southerland, Class of 2005 Marketing, Advertising & Public Relations Erica C. (Taylor) Southerland, Ph.D. (@ docsoutherland) is a creative and tactical marketing and communications leader, brand storyteller, writer and educator with more than 15 years of experience across multimedia and diverse industries including non-profit, higher education, government and healthcare.

She is an accredited public relations practitioner with a proven ability to plan, implement and evaluate strategic communications plans successful around the globe. Currently, she serves as Director, Marketing and

Communications for the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, Inc. She also serves an adjunct lecturer at Georgetown University.

Dr. Southerland has published peer-reviewed research in public affairs; crisis communication; and social media theory and best practices. For her doctoral dissertation, she developed a crisis communication model for HBCUs, and she has since examined strategic communications and social media management among HBCUs. Her research, writing and on-the-record statements have been featured in outlets including the U.S. House Committee on the Judiciary, the Harvard Journal of African American Public Policy, the Public Relations Society of America Diversity Study, the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, the National Press Club, Bloomberg News and The Washington Post. In 2005, she was featured in The Daily Press “10 Under 30.”

She earned a BA in public relations from Hampton University where she was a Presidential Scholar, a graduate of the Honors College and a proud member of the Gamma Theta chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and the Marching F.O.R.C.E., where she is currently an active member of the Alumni Band. She has also earned a MA in English with a concentration in professional writing from Old Dominion University; and a Ph.D. in media and public affairs from Louisiana State University. She began her collegiate teaching career in the Scripps Howard School of Journalism and Communications at Hampton University, where she also worked in the Office of University Relations. To date, Dr. Southerland has taught undergraduate through doctoral students at eight universities across four states and the District of Columbia, including three HBCUs and one Predominantly Black Institution.

She has a keen focus on supporting organizations who are committed to pursuing social justice and racial equity. Her passion for using her professional skill set to serve her

community is proven through her philanthropy and leadership roles with the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, the HBCU Digest, the Black Millennial Political Convention and the National Urban League.

Dr. Southerland is a native of St. Louis, MO, and she currently resides in Prince George’s County, MD. She is the daughter and only child of Michael R. and Rhonda D. Taylor who currently resides in Atlanta, GA. She loves music and all things New Orleans, where she wed fellow Hamptonian Cedric C. Southerland, an urban planner in Arlington, VA. They are parents to an exuberant young son, Christopher J.T. Southerland who they hope is a future Hamptonian.

Ms. Rachel Spivey, Class of 2009 Technology & Sciences Rachel Spivey has worked at Google for the last ten years, promoting various dimensions of diversity, equity and inclusion. She is currently the Head of Retention - Equity Programs, focused on ensuring retention rates are at parity across race and gender lines throughout the company. Prior to this role, she was the Global Black & Latino Community Engagement Lead where she served as the Diversity Team liaison for the Black and Hispanic Employee Resource Groups.

During her time at Google, she has worked on a variety of diversity initiatives including project managing Google’s race initiatives, launching a diversity engagement platform and advancing the company’s investment in Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). The highlight of her career has been elevating Google’s racial justice agenda by organizing a Hoodie March for Trayvon Martin, Day of Support for the victims of

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FORTY UNDER 40 SOCIETY Charleston shooting and vigils for Alton Sterling and Philando Castile.

Prior to Google, Rachel worked as a Business Banker at PNC Bank. Rachel graduated magna cum laude with a B.S. in Marketing from Hampton University.

Dr. Julia Stevenson, Class of 2003 Medicine, Healthcare & Life Sciences Dr. Julia C. Stevenson is a board certified Plastic & Reconstructive Surgeon who was born and reared in Columbus, OH. She is grateful for the unique educational foundation she received from the Columbus Public Schools and the Columbus School for Girls. She graduated Summa Cum Laude from Hampton University with a degree in Biology and is also a graduate of the Freddye T. Davy Honors College. Following her academic career at Hampton, she earned her medical doctorate at the Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine in Hershey, PA then completed a rigorous 7-year plastic surgery residency at Penn State Hershey. In 2014, she was the first African-American to graduate from the distinguished residency program.

I​ n 2017, she moved back to the Hampton Roads community to open her medical practice, Cardinal Plastic Surgery. She spent the next year building the practice from the ground up and finally opened its doors in December 2018. In a world where people look to others to define what is accepted and “good”, she envisioned a practice where people saw themselves as being the standard of beauty. Dr. Stevenson is committed to empowering patients through effective advocacy, education and the delivery of first-class care.

In addition to her surgical practice, Dr. Stevenson has a passion for community outreach.

She is an active member of the Norfolk Section of the National Council of Negro Women, where she joins local organizations uplift the community through initiatives, scholarships drives and entrepreneurial workshops.

She has been a member of the EVMS-Sentara Community Advisory Board to address health inequities in Hampton Roads and has volunteered her services as a surgeon through medical mission work in Ghana with Anidaso Health and its affiliate, Salormey Volunteers Group. Understanding the need for representation of African-American physicians within the healthcare system, she has devoted time to mentorship and educational presentations to Hampton undergraduate and graduate students as well as local Student National Medical Association programs.

Though not every mentee or student will go into medicine or even the specialty of Plastic Surgery, Dr. Stevenson’s ultimate goal is to inspire a generation to know they are capable of doing anything for which they have a passion.

If God has shown her anything thus far, it is that with Him, all things are possible.

Mr. DeShaun Thompson, Class of 2003 Arts, Media, and Entertainment

BET.

DeShaun Thompson is a silent force in the entertainment industry and has over 15 years of experience working in broadcast media and entertainment for outlets such as ABC, NBC, and

Presently, DeShaun is a producer, and the Scripted Development Coordinator at Jesse Collins Entertainment- an LA-based production company best known for producing the comedic TV series Real Husbands of Holly-

wood starring Kevin Hart, The New Edition Story TV-movie, and the annual BET Awards.

DeShaun works with a team of producers to source and develop projects from script to screen for our collective entertainment consumption. Projects he has supported include, The Bobby Brown Story TV-movie, Rhythm + Flow (on Netflix), and two seasons of American Soul- a one-hour drama focusing on the untold story of the launch of the first nationally syndicated Black music show, Soul Train- for which singer/actress Kelly Rowland recently won an NAACP Image Award for her portrayal of R&B/soul legend Gladys Knight.

Post USC, DeShaun has held positions at a major talent agency and movie studio, and has produced a weekly health and wellness, lifestyle docuseries targeting Black women for The Africa Channel. Additionally, DeShaun created a bi-weekly screenwriters’ group to facilitate creativity, support, and networking among the next generation of talent in Black Hollywood, and to produce stories about life through the culture and experiences of African Americans, and people of the African diaspora. In his spare time, DeShaun enjoys working to run a 5K in under 30 minutes simply to stay fit, and to unwind.

DeShaun began his career in entertainment by way of the National Broadcasting Company’s highly competitive NBC Page program wherein he hosted tours of the studio’s historical soundstages and backlot, including the sets for Access Hollywood and Days of Our Lives.

DeShaun also worked as an audience coordinator for The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.

DeShaun was born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In May of 2003, he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Mass Communications at Hampton University at the newly founded Scripps Howard School of Journalism and Communications, and was one the inaugural recipients of the Scripps Howard Foundation Scholarship.

DeShaun earned a Master of Fine Arts from the University of Southern California’s prestigious School of Cinematic Arts, which is repeatedly lauded by many publications and trade magazines as the number-one film school in the world, with an estimated 2–3% acceptance rate among its thousands of global applicants. While enrolled at USC, the School awarded him The Dale C. Olson Scholarship in Honor of Jack Oakie—a prestigious endowed scholarship bestowed for excellence in writing or directing comedy.

Additionally, DeShaun produced and directed a short documentary film abroad in Beijing, China, and worked as the 1st Assistant Director on a student-produced television pilot that won the inaugural Caucus for Producers, Writers, & Directors Television/New Media Award, and established support of the Caucus’s larger objective. That is: to promote diversity in the entertainment industry in terms of both content and personnel behind the camera.

Mr. Brandon Tilghman, Class of 2005 Youth & Education Brandon L. Tilghman (Class of 2005), is a native of Baltimore, Maryland, and leverages his talents, knowledge, and time to assist and empower our next generation of leaders.

He currently serves as the Director of Enrollment, Choice, and Transfers for the Baltimore City Public School System. In this capacity, he leads the operation and coordination of enrollment programs and services for approximately 75,000 students in 170 schools and programs. Brandon is responsible for providing leadership, vision, and advocacy to ensure that the children of Baltimore City have equitable access to safe and supportive learning environments.

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FORTY UNDER 40 SOCIETY Brandon and his team are committed to positioning students for academic and social success; and ultimately, enabling them to lead and thrive in college, their career, and communities.

Prior to his current role, Brandon served as the Manager of Whole Child Services & Support, leading strategic planning, professional development, resource creation, and policy and compliance efforts. In this transformative role, he led and championed initiatives related to student wholeness, school climate, mental health and wellness, wrap-around services, and enrichment opportunities to meet the holistic needs of students and families. Additionally, he has over seven years of experience in higher education administration, working to secure and manage funding from public and private sources as the Associate Director of Foundation Relations at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC).

Brandon is a proud member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc – currently serving as a Campus Advisor and Area Director for Baltimore and Howard Counties. He is also a past recipient of the prestigious “Brother of the Year Award” from the Mid-Atlantic Association of Alpha Phi Alpha Chapters.

Additionally, Brandon serves as the Vice President of the NPHC of Howard County, Maryland; Chairman of the Board of Trustees & Finance for his beloved church, and as a member of the National Hampton Alumni Association, Inc. He attributes his passion and inspiration for community and civic involvement to his time spent at his Home by the Sea. While matriculating, Brandon was involved in numerous initiatives including serving as the Editor of the Hamptonian Yearbook, Student Government Association’s Organizational Affairs Coordinator, Onyx VI Executive Council Member, Campus Life Board Member, and as a Student Leadership Program Facilitator – eventually earning an award that was named in his honor recognizing the Student Leader of the Year.

Brandon passionately believes that “to whom much has been given, much will be required; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.” It is this philosophy that guides him as he allows his life to do the singing in service to God and our nation! He is a proud alumnus and past Presidential Scholar of Hampton University’s Class of 2005, graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management and minor concentration in Finance. He has also obtained a Master’s degree in Education Administration from the Peabody College of Education at Vanderbilt University (Nashville, TN), and a Master’s degree in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Baltimore (Baltimore, MD).

Ms. Kanasha Trent, Class of 2003 Financial & Insurance Services Kanasha Trent is a professional Financial Consultant, Certified QuickBooks Advisor, and Certified Bookkeeper with well over 15 years of accounting experience.

Ms. Trent’s professional career has provided her with unique skills that she has incorporated, not only within her current position as a Full Charge Bookkeeper for Solutions Shared Services managing and balancing over 500 million in assets for an oil and gas conglomerate, but also in her own entrepreneurial endeavors. In 2008, Ms. Trent, affectionately known as Kay, started Kay’s Bookkeeping and Financial Services (KBFS) to aid clients with varying budgets and resources. While in this capacity, she has had the opportunity to work within several industries including healthcare, education, entertainment, marketing, retail, and sports. Due to her experiences with these clients, Kanasha noticed the need for

financial literacy education for individuals starting businesses and nonprofits. In 2018, the Common Cents Bookkeeping Program (CCB) was created to fill this void. The goal of the program was to ensure that all participants would have a clear understanding of their finances and importance of maintaining accurate accounting tasks. She believes that with this understanding, participants would be empowered to make the best-informed decisions for their respective businesses and mitigate the risks associated with mismanaged funds, an item that is crucial to any business’s success.

In addition to her professional career, Ms. Trent is heavily involved in her community.

“To move forward, you must give back” is a recurring theme in her life, and she refuses to allow a day to be wasted. For over 20 years, Kanasha has been mentoring and coaching young girls/women (ages 10-18) through volleyball. She is an active member of Junior League of San Antonio as well as a Fellow Mentor for nXu Education Fellowship, a program whose mission is to catalyze and equip youth and adults to explore, articulate, and pursue their purpose. In addition to these programs, Ms. Trent currently serves on the board of two nonprofits, Art in the Park Houston – a free art event for families in the Greater Houston area and Y-knot, Inc. – a nonprofit designed to support, nurture, and foster empowering environments for youth who are struggling in schools, facing social issues, and/ or entangled in the juvenile court system. Despite all the professional and communal responsibilities Ms. Trent maintains, she remains heavily involved in activities surrounding her alma mater, The Illustrious Hampton University. Not only active in the local National Alumni Association chapter, but also taking on the selfless role of Class Leader since 2013 for Ogre Phi Ogre XI.

Ms. Tiffany D. Tucker, Class of 2017 Sports, Wellness & Fitness Tiffany D. Tucker is a graduate of Hampton University with a Masters of Science in Sport Administration with a specific interest in Organizational and Sport Business Leadership.

In her second year at the University of North Carolina Wilmington as the Senior Associate Athletics Director and Senior Woman Administrator, she serves as the second in command and is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the department and functions as the department liaison for Admissions, Dean of Students Office, General Counsel, Financial Aid, Student Affairs, Title IX & Clery Compliance. Tiffany serves as sport administrator while providing leadership to the department’s management team and sport administrator council.

In October 2019, Tiffany was selected by the University of North Carolina Athletics and The Rams Club to serve as an ambassador for the FORevHER Tar Heels Campaign, the $100 million initiative is the first of its kind in the country, building upon Carolina’s legacy as a pioneer in women’s athletics and emphasizing its long-time continued commitment to create and enhance opportunities for female student-athletes.

Tucker joined the South Carolina State University Athletics Department in August of 2017 as the Deputy Director of Athletics and Senior Woman Administrator. She served as the athletics chief operations officer and sport supervisor to eleven sports. Tucker managed all of the internal and external units. She also assisted in the successful development and launch of the University’s first Major Gift Initiative for athletics in conjunction with the J.F. Smith Group ($1.75 million).

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FORTY UNDER 40 SOCIETY Tiffany transitioned to South Carolina State from Hampton as the Director for Sponsorships and Governance. In her tenure, responsibilities included the sales of Hampton athletics sponsorships and developing new business opportunities in the Hampton Roads market. Most notably, Tiffany helped Hampton Athletics through the conference realignment decision to join the Big South Conference starting with the 2018-19 season.

Prior to Hampton, Tucker served in various coaching and/or administrative roles at Elizabeth City State University, Claflin University, Francis Marion University, Radford University, and Allegheny College.

As a lifelong learner and educator, Tucker is a proud Virginia native and graduate of Matoaca High School. She was inducted on September 22, 2017, into the Matoaca High School Hall of Fame. She received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Philosophy from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Tiffany was a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference championship teams in 2004 and 2005 and played on squads that advanced to the NCAA Tournament all four years. The 2004 team reached the Sweet Sixteen and the 2005 Tar Heels soared to the Elite Eight. Tucker has participated in the Collegiate Athletic Leadership Symposium (CALS) and is a graduate of the NCAA Dr. Charles Whitcomb Leadership Institute, NACWAA/HERS Institute for Administrative Advancement and Women Leaders Leadership Enhancement Institute.

Tiffany holds professional credentials from the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA), Minority Opportunities Athletics Association (MOAA), and Women Leaders in College Sports. She currently serves on the Minority Opportunities Athletic Association Membership Committee and as the Chair of the Women Leaders in College Sports

Professional Development and Continuing Education Committee. She has served as a keynote speaker, panelist, and/or mentor for the Head Coach Training Center, Women’s Coaches NEXT UP, Coaches Inc., Women Leaders IAA, NACDA, MOAA, WBCA, and the NABC.

Ms. Shiona Turini, Class of 2003 Arts, Media, and Entertainment Shiona Turini is a fashion consultant, stylist, and costume designer. In her decade-long career, Shiona has solidified herself as one of the industry’s leading experts, both behind and in front of the camera, and has been commended for her work product and personal style.

Born and raised on the island of Bermuda, Shiona began her career at luxury fashion house Yves Saint Laurent as the Public Relations Coordinator. After three years of working at the house, Shiona was inspired to make the switch to editorial and accepted the position as Accessories Editor at W Magazine. From there she moved to Teen Vogue as Accessories Director before moving on to work with top stylist and former Vogue Paris editor-in-chief Carine Roitfeld to launch the eponymously titled CR Fashion Book.

Shiona’s last full-time editorial position was as Fashion Director of Cosmopolitan, the largest women’s publication in the world, as part of a repositioning of the title.

After years in fashion editorial, Shiona launched a freelance career focusing on editorial and commercial styling, music videos and red carpet. She collaborated with Solange Knowles on her stunning visual projects, ‘Don’t Touch My Hair’ and ‘Cranes in the Sky’

and also served as a stylist on Beyoncé’s ‘Formation’ music video. Alongside, she served as a contributing editor for New York Magazine’s The Cut while also consulting and styling for brands such as Bermuda Tourism Authority, Stuart Weitzman, Christian Dior and Elle.com.

Shiona now works with brands, personalities, and publishers alike to create dynamic content for the media landscape, and in film, television, and music on generational defining creative. Her clients are the who’s who of beauty, fashion, entertainment, and travel, including Christian Dior, Elle Magazine, HBO, Oscar de la Renta, Nike, Stuart Weitzman, and the New York Times.

As a costume designer, Shiona wardrobed seasons 3 of HBO’s popular ‘Insecure’— created

by Issa Rae (her work can be seen in episodes 1 and 3-8), the pilot for FX’s “Y” based on the graphic novel “Y The Last Man,” and most recently ‘Insecure’ Season 4. Costume designing her first feature film, Universal Pictures “Queen & Slim,” earned Shiona a Costume Designers Guild Award nomination in the Contemporary Costumes category. She is an active member of both New York’s United Scenic Artists (Local 829) and Los Angeles’ Costume Designer’s Guild (Local 892).

Shiona has also collaborated with brands including La Mer, Tods, Gucci, American Express, Calvin Klein, Kate Spade New York, MAC Cosmetics, Matchesfashion.com, and Tiffany & co.

Dr. Sarah Washington, Class of 2003 Medicine, Healthcare & Life Sciences Sarah Irene Washington, MD was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY. She is the younger of two children born to the union of Mary Webb-Washington and the late Robert Washington, Esq. Both of her parents are 1st generation HBCU graduates and her brother is also an HBCU graduate. Dr. Washington is the first of her family to attend Hampton University. While at Hampton, she was very active as a Presidential Scholar and an Honors College student. She was a Student Leader and a member of both the University Choir and His Chosen Sounds. She was also a biology laboratory assistant, Project Sonshine tutor, and a member of the Senior Executive Council. She was inducted into Golden Key International Honour Society, Beta Kappa Chi Scientific Honor Society, and Alpha Mu Gamma Foreign Language Honor Society. She graduated Cum Laude with Departmental Honors with a B.S. in Biological Sciences with a concentration in molecular biology in May 2003.

After graduation from Hampton, Sarah attended SUNY Downstate Medical Center.

While in medical school, she served as the Student National Medical Association Regional Parliamentarian as well as the Downstate chapter Political Action Liaison and Secretary. She was also the Admission Committee Student Representative, Operation Success Student Co-Director, Downstate Science Club Student Coordinator, and a histology tutor.

She received her Doctor of Medicine in May 2007. Following medical school, Dr. Washington completed her pediatrics residency at Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital at Westchester Medical Center in June 2010.

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FORTY UNDER 40 SOCIETY Dr. Washington has been working as a pediatric urgent care physician at PM Pediatrics for the past 9 years where she not only performs basic pediatric care, but she also supervises daily patient flow, stabilizes acutely ill pediatric patients, interprets x-rays, oversees splinting of patients, and performs both simple and intermediate laceration repairs. Dr. Washington precepts urgent care fellows, nurse practitioner fellows, and pediatrics residents.

She maintained the Mamaroneck office transfer log and created monthly presentations to display transfer statistics. She also contributed to the Mamaroneck office updates on the PM Pediatrics Facebook Fan Page.

Dr. Washington regularly serves as a PM Pediatrics outreach volunteer at sporting events, local fairs, and in Parent-Child Connection small groups at the White Plains Library. She also holds wellness conversations at public schools to discuss food allergy safety with middle school students and the importance of adolescent health with teenagers. Dr. Washington serves as an annual high school career day presenter where she discusses the importance of growing the number of minorities within the health care industry.

Finally, Dr. Washington is an active Hampton and SUNY Downstate alumnae. She served on the Ogre Phi Ogre XI 10 Year & 15 Year Reunion committees. In March 2019, Dr. Washington was the Freddye T. Davy Honors College Induction Ceremony Speaker. She was the SUNY Downstate Class of 2007 10 Year Reunion Class Chair and has served on the Alumni Association Board of Managers since 2017. She currently resides in White Plains, NY and frequently travels to Brooklyn to be a caregiver to her mother.

Ms. Marsha Wedderburn, Class of 2006 Youth & Education Marsha Joy-Rejean Wedderburn has served as a New York City Department of Education teacher for fourteen years. Marsha was born and raised in Long Island, New York, and is a product of the Uniondale Union Free School District. After graduating magna cum laude in 2006 with a B.S. in Management, she earned a Masters in Urban Education from Mercy College in 2008.

In 2006, she began her career as a special education teacher at Community School 55 in the Bronx. Within her first five years, Marsha developed school-wide curricula based on state and city standards. She conducted professional development sessions for her peers focusing on topics such as classroom technology, inquiry, and special education services & systems. She also spearheaded a committee that was centered around improving school culture. Under her leadership, the committee established several extracurricular clubs within the school.

In 2015, Marsha became the school’s data specialist and math coach. She created innovative ways to house and track the school’s assessment data in Google sheets. Marsha produced charts that made it easier for teachers to analyze their students as a class and as individual students. She led teachers through a process of inquiry in which they used the math data to modify the curriculum. As a coach, she provided timely and effective feedback to teachers to improve their teaching pedagogy. While serving in this role, the school made steady gains on the New York State Math exams from 2015 to 2017.

Recently, Marsha started working at The Young Women’s Leadership School of Brook-

lyn. Marsha is currently serving as co-leader of the 6th-grade team. She is also the point person for the Restorative Justice Team. Her focus this year has been collaborating with administration and her peers to create and sustain school-wide systems. Desiring to have greater influence in education, she is currently pursuing her school building and district leader certifications.

During her time at Hampton, Marsha joined the Honors College, Alpha Kappa Mu Honor Society, and the Golden Key Honor Society. She also served as a resident assistant before becoming the president of the Resident Assistant Association. In 2005, Marsha was initiated as a member of the Zeta Xi chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. She taught as an adjunct professor at Lehman College for three years.

She is the immediate past president of the Long Island Chapter of the NHAA, Inc. and the immediate past advisor to the Nu Tau chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. Marsha volunteers as a Sunday school teacher for high school students. Her philosophy is summarized in this quote by Marian Wright Edelman: “Service is the rent we pay for being. It is the very purpose of life, and not something you do in your spare time.”

Ms. Jamila White, Class of 2006 Government & Public Affairs Raised in Virginia and Southeast D.C., Jamila comes from a long line of powerful trailblazing women who instilled in her a deeply-rooted commitment to the wisdom, power, integrity, and the responsibility of community service and social justice. In 1961, Jamila’s Late Aunt Lula, then 22 years old, joined 300+ Freedom Riders who risked their lives riding public

transportation throughout the South to test the law integrating transportation facilities. She was arrested and sent to Mississippi’s notorious Parchman Prison. Jamila’s life’s work has been building upon those same values, often learned right around her grandmother’s kitchen table, to empower Black people at home and abroad.

Jamila’s awareness and activism started at a young age. At 19, Jamila discovered her love for Africa as an exchange student in Senegal, her first overseas experience. In Dakar, Jamila witnessed absolute poverty and absolute beauty for the first time - and both looked like her.

Senegal ignited a passion for poverty alleviation, equity and economic mobility.

Since then, Jamila has emerged as one of this generation’s bold leaders. In her current work as Senior Africa Representative for Mercy Corps, Jamila supports the organization’s Africa region, which includes 17 countries, in achieving their strategic goals and strengthening diverse partnerships. Throughout her career, Jamila spent nearly a decade living in working in West Africa and has raised and managed $100 million dollars and development funding, supported thousands of rural women farmers in improving their livelihoods, advocated to end genetical mutilation and allow pregnant teens to remain in school, and fought to end the worst public health crisis in our lifetime.

As an internationally recognized leader in international development, in every role, Jamila strives to open doors, create access, and support Black, indigenous and people of color.

Dedicated to mentoring and directly creating programs and practices that increase diversity, inclusion, and equity in both the business and non-profit sectors, Jamila serves her community in a variety of ways, including mentoring students through College Bound, volunteering with Martha’s Table, and supporting HBCUs. She is an active member of the National Black United Front’s DC chapter, which fights for social justice and Black liberation.

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FORTY UNDER 40 SOCIETY Jamila is the co-founder of the Geraldine N. Coleman “a Seat at the Kitchen Table” College Scholarship (a family scholarship she created to honor the legacy of her late grandmother who championed women’s rights, education, and economic freedom), Council on Foreign Relations Term Member, an alumni fellow with the Aspen Institute International Career Advancement Program (ICAP) and ICAP Alumnae Association Board Member, Advisor at the Africa Summit, Co-Chair of the Society for International Development’s Young Professional Network and Co-Chair of the Women of Color in Advancing Peace and Security (WCAPS) International Development Working Group where she uses her platform to increase the equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging in foreign affairs.

Before starting her career, Jamila obtained a bachelor’s degree in Business Management from Hampton University and a master’s degree in Public Administration from Indiana University. Jamila’s life - from her work to her community commitments - is guided by an underlying belief that all people deserve a dignified life and she has dedicated her life to uplifting mankind.

Mr. Jaylian Williamson, Class of 2016 Sports, Wellness & Fitness Jaylian Ja’Von Williamson also known as (JJ), is no stranger to athletics. He has a well-established background in athletics and is an avid sports researcher. He currently serves as the Player Engagement for the Los Angeles Rams. Prior to joining the LA Rams, Jaylian was an intern in the department of championship while assisting in the compliance department at the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC).

Mr. Williamson is a former graduate from Oscar Smith High School in Chesapeake, Virginia, where he was a standout quarterback on the football team. Jaylian earned the starting position his junior year and threw for 3,244 yards. Williamson currently holds the No. 5 position on the South Hampton Roads single season list with 36 touchdowns.

His senior year, he guided Oscar Smith to the Group AAA Division 6 state title championship in 2011. He threw for 3,062 yards and 39 touchdowns and was named Virginia State Player of the Year along with earning the Abe Goldblatt All-Tidewater Player of the Year in (2012).

Williamson earned an athletic scholarship to Hampton University, where he started his first three years before obtaining an injury that sidelined him his entire senior season. He would return his graduate year and earned the Third Team All-MEAC honors, along with the program’s comeback Player of the Year award.

In addition, Jaylian currently holds two school records at Hampton University: most passing yards in a game (407) yards against Old Dominion in 2014 and most completions in a game (32) against North Carolina A&T State in 2016.

Williamson earned his Bachelor’s degree in Sports Management (2016) and Master’s degree in Sports Administration (2018), both from Hampton University. Jaylian is the son of Julian and Kimberly Williamson and his brother, Korey Jones who was a former quarterback at Norfolk State University.

Mr. Jaylian Williamson currently resides in Los Angeles, California.

His affirmation: Proverbs 3: 5-6, Trust in the lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

Connect with Williamson: Linkedin.com/in/jaylianwilliamson

Mrs. Ondrea R. Willis, Class of 2003 Financial & Insurance Services Ondrea R. Willis is the Regional Credit Manager at Mercedes-Benz Financial Services USA LLC for the Daimler Truck Division in Fort Worth, Texas with responsibility for managing a multibillion credit portfolio of the largest commercial truck customers in the Southern and Western Regions of the USA. In this role, she is the first African American female to lead the region’s credit professionals who conduct financial and credit analysis, business risk mitigation, and the structure of complex wholesale capital loans, real estate loans and other financial products.

To compliment her business experience, Ondrea previously led a team of auditors as Dealer & Wholesale Audit Manager for passenger car and commercial dealerships, nationwide. She was also an Operations Auditor with Corporate Audit in Farmington Hills, Michigan. Later, she assumed increased responsibility, as Senior Accounting Auditor, conducting internal corporate audits in the USA and Global markets.

Ondrea’s financial experience spans over 17 years beginning with KPMG in Detroit, Michigan as an Audit Associate moving quickly to Senior Audit Associate for wholesale and manufacturing companies in the transportation industry.

Mrs. Willis’s leadership style is to “lead by example” with high integrity and a positive attitude. She has acquired a reputation of resilience and often seeks to engage in diversity initiatives. She was Co-Chair/ Founder of Ignite African American Business Resource Group at Mercedes-Benz Financial Services where she facilitated and help direct various

diversity and culture awareness programs for employees. In 2017, she organized the Fort Worth Police and Mercedes Benz open forum dialogue to strengthen and build relationships between police, community and business. Another notable collaboration is the Mercedes Benz financial literacy programs for students in conjunction with the Steve & Marjorie Harvey Foundation.

She is a member of Mercedes Benz Women’s Leadership Summit Committee.

As a community leader for many years, Ondrea is passionate about financial literacy, self-development and mentoring female students. Her former and/or current engagement with community and faith-based organizations include: New Hope Missionary Baptist Church, Hampton Alumni, National Association of Black Accountants, Black MBA’s and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Her dedication is exemplary. She has received numerous honors, over the years, and was recently recognized as “Who’s Who in Black Dallas”.

As a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha (AKA) Sorority, Inc. she has served communities in Michigan and Texas, In 2008, Ondrea co-founded the “Ballers Club”, a financial literacy program for youth partnership with Junior Achievement and AKA Eta Iota Omega in Inkster, Michigan. She’s a member of AKA Xi Theta Omega Chapter in Arlington, Texas where she has participated in “Youth Education Summit” Y.E.S and Co-Chair of A.S.C.E.N.D Cultural Awareness youth enrichment program.

Mrs. Willis holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Hampton University and an MBA in International Business from Wayne State University. Ondrea is married to Allan Willis, Jr. She enjoys spending time with family, friends, and her dog Carter. Her favorite past time is global travel to experience the richness of other cultures.

The Hampton University

FORTY UNDER 40 SOCIETY Mrs. Jetaun Adkins Woodly, Class of 2004 Marketing, Advertising & Public Relations Jetaun Woodly is an award winning public relations and brand communications strategist with 15 years of experience. She has an unwavering passion and focus on working with individuals and companies to translate business goals and objectives into strategic communications plans and deliverables.

Jetaun started her career as a public relations coordinator for Novartis Pharmaceuticals’ philanthropy and community development division. She spent many years working in healthcare managing public relations for brands ranging from prescription drugs and FDA approvals, to eye care and over-thecounter products before moving to the non-profit sector. Currently, Jetaun serves as Director of Network Marketing & Communications for National Court Appointed Special Advocate/Guardian ad Litem (CASA/ GAL) Association for Children, a non-profit organization that supports and promotes court-appointed volunteer advocacy so every child who has experienced abuse or neglect can be safe, have a permanent home, and the opportunity to thrive. She is responsible for developing and executing the annual network marketing and communication strategy for the organization’s more than 900 local programs across the United States. She is also charged with National CASA/GAL’s social impact storytelling initiative that gives voice to the impactful work volunteers provide to children who have experienced abuse or neglect.

Following the birth of her son in 2015, Jetaun started HU Mommies Group - a support group for

Hampton University alumnae. The goal of the group is to share advice, empower Black women, and provide a listening ear as Hamptonians embrace and embark on their motherhood journey. With more than 800 members, the group has planned a number of volunteer efforts across the country, vision board meetups, kid-friendly outings, tailgates at homecoming and a host of other activities.

When Hurricane Harvey hit Houston in 2017, Jetaun coordinated a group donation to local organizations that support mothers and children. In 2019, the group collectively donated to Hampton University’s Marching Force for the 2020 Rome New Year’s Day Parade, and sent care packages to Freddye T. Davy Honors College scholars. In an effort to provide unique learning experiences for the children of alumnae during the nationwide shelter-in-place, Jetaun created virtual learning classes on a variety of subjects. In 2017, Jetaun was featured on Essence Magazine Online for her work with the group.

Jetaun served as a volunteer for the I Have a Dream Foundation - a mentor program in partnership with Ebenezer Baptist Church and St. Luke’s Church in the heart of Atlanta.

A native of New Jersey, Jetaun received a Bachelor of Arts in Public Relations from Hampton University’s Scripps Howard School of Journalism and Communications in 2004. While at Hampton, Jetaun was involved in Student Union Board and served as historian for the National Council of Negro Women. She also holds a Masters in Communication & Leadership from Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington. Jetaun resides in Metro Atlanta with her husband, Dr. Shaun Woodly (HU ’04), and their two children - Brayden and Brooklynn.

MENTORS OF THE YEAR

Ms. Kryste’l Jordan Hampton University, Class of 1999 Kryste’l A. Jordan is a 2019 Sorensen Political Leaders Fellow and a 2016 Virginia Governor’s Fellow who was raised entrenched in the world of public service. Growing up in a military family exposed Jordan to the issues of social change and government policy-making that shape this country.

Jordan is a native of Newport News, Denbigh High graduate and former Hampton University Track and Field stand-out. In addition to receiving the 2019 Hampton University Track and Field Outstanding Alumnus Award. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Health and Physical Education from Hampton University in 1999 and continues to serve there as an Adjunct Professor.

She received her Master of Business Administration from Saint Xavier University in 2007.

She joins The U.S. House of Representatives as an Outreach Coordinator for Member Elaine Luria VA-02. With an array of experiences in the education, nonprofit, sports and entertainment industries and having been a contracted print and runway model for Ebony Fashion Fair, Vogue Esquire and Ford Model Management in addition to working with both the Hampton University Athletic Department, NBA New York Knicks, WNBA Chicago Sky/ WNBA New York Liberty and NHL New York Rangers teams

in Marketing and Community Relations. She passionately works aimlessly for others.

Jordan is an active member of the League of Women Voters of Virginia and a Silver Life Member of the NAACP. She is active in her community as a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Jack and Jill of America, Inc., and the National Hampton Alumni Association. Continuing her service, she is the class leader for ONYX IV, 1999 and works with numerous projects in the communities as her aim is to help young people mature in ways that might seem to be unimaginable in what they see today for themselves. Achieving and believing in Self-Success, Ms. Jordan has managed to embrace the relationships of mentoring the youth of today which has come from the foundation from her mentors.

Her drive is from the support of her past, which has made her as to who she is today.

As Ms. Jordan seeks for happiness in the eyes of our young people today she is empowered by the quote: “If you reach for the stars and dream beyond the universe; just know that if you fall you will be always amongst the stars.”

The Hampton University

FORTY UNDER 40 SOCIETY

Mr. Crawford McGill Hampton University, Class of 1998 Crawford “Mickey” McGill is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ Practitioner (CFP®) and NFLPA Registered Player Financial Advisor. He focuses on wealth management for professional athletes, business owners, and corporate executives and takes a proactive approach to helping clients achieve their financial goals.

He’s experienced with helping clients increase, maintain, protect, and pass their wealth to the next generation in a tax efficient manner.

Mickey received his degree in Business Management from Hampton University, Orge Phi Orge 9. He would later attend Rice University and complete the CFP® Education Program.

Mickey also received three designations from the College for Financial Planning, CRPC®, AAMS®, and APMA®. In 2018, he became a NFLPA Registered Player Financial Advisor, the only program of its kind in professional sports.

The Financial Advisor Program came from the players themselves as an additional layer of protection – not just from poor financial advice, but also from outright fraud. Mickey’s very proud to be among one of the approximate 150 advisors across America.

While working at his current firm, Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc, he received the professional titles of Business Financial Advisor, Private Wealth Advisor, and Managing Director. Each title represents the highest level of accomplishment at the company. Mickey’s in his 22nd year in the financial services industry and proud to be the #1 African American financial advisor in the Ameriprise Advisor Group channel. Wanting to see other advisors become successful, he started a team practice inside the Fortune 500 company and his team,

Reveal Wealth Strategies, is the most diverse team at Ameriprise.

Mickey has been honored to be asked to join the NFLPA Strategic Planning Committee for advisors and recognized by his companies Circle of Success, Million Dollar Roundtable, Top 50 Black Professionals & Entrepreneurs in D-Mars Magazine, i10 Media’s 40 under 40 Influential Award, Excellence in Leadership Award, NAIFA National Quality Award, and the Five Star Wealth Manager Award announced in Forbes, Fortune, The Wall Street Journal, and Texas Monthly. He has also received numerous other awards from his tenure at Ameriprise.

Taking his passion for financial empowerment and mentorship, he decided to start working with professional athletes in 2017. He now works with over 20 current and retired NFL players. Recently, he received referrals to the NBA and MLB market from other professional athletes.

Giving back to the next generation, Mr. McGill mentors and teaches etiquette and personal hygiene to high school young men at a Boys Rites of Passage Program at his church. He’s also very proud to say that he has been the President of the Greater Houston Chapter of the NHAA, Inc. for the last 10 years and received the Chapter Merit Award from the alumni association in 2018. He also serves as a Senior Fellow with American Leadership Forum Class XLII, a non-profit organization that joins and strengthens diverse leaders to better serve the public good. All these wonderful achievements wouldn’t have been possible without the support of his lovely wife, Jaime, and their two beautiful daughters, Juliette and Genevieve.

MENTORS OF THE YEAR

Mr. Marcus Moore Hampton University, Class of 1999 Marcus T. Moore, a native of South Carolina, has called Los Angeles home for the past 10+ years. He is married, to fellow Hamptonian, Melanie (Martin) Moore from Class of 2001. Mr. Moore received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Sociology from Hampton University and a Master’s Degree in Urban Affairs and Planning from Virginia Tech.

After 3 years of serving as the Chief Operating Officer for another agency, in which he helped them to have record sales and growth, he decided to branch out on his own. In 2003, he founded and has continued to serve as the President/CEO of Genesis Professional Staffing, Inc. It is a 100% diverse-owned and operated human capital firm, specializing in the following fields of work: Administrative, Engineering, Entertainment, Finance, Government, IT, Light Industrial, and Marketing; while also offering payroll and consulting services. As of 2008, the company’s headquarters was relocated to Burbank, CA and the Greenville, SC office became the east coast hub.

Through his many years in the staffing industry, he has had the privilege of working with the following clients: BMW, Honda, Michelin North America, FOX, Johnson & Johnson, Firestone, Bausch & Lomb, AEG, and The Walt Disney Company. In 2011, Marcus

was among the first cohort in the nation to graduate from the prestigious Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Business Program in Los Angeles. In 2013, Genesis Professional Staffing was awarded the Blue-Ribbon Award for Small Business of the Year by the U.S Chamber of Commerce. From 2016-2018, he was a 3-time recipient of the Southern California Minority Business Supplier Development Council (SCMBDC) Diverse Supplier of the Year Winner’s Circle Award.

Mr. Moore has spent his time away from work mentoring his community on how to better position themselves to receive gainful employment, participating in workshops and training sessions throughout the U.S. He gives his time and resources to various charities, ranging from The Red Cross, City Year Los Angeles, and the Los Angeles Community College. After the passing of his mother is 2011, he cofounded with his two siblings, Dr. James L. Moore, III and Dr. Rochelle Sullivan (H.U. c/o 2006), The Edna Marie Memorial Scholarship Fund at his alma mater, Hampton University.

The Hampton University

FORTY UNDER 40 SOCIETY

Elizabeth R. Oates, DDS Hampton University, Class of 1996 Dr. Oates grew up Harford County, Maryland.

She is an honors graduate of Aberdeen High School. During her years at AHS she was co-captain of the volleyball and softball teams, a member of the newspaper and yearbook staffs, a member of the marching and concert bands and a participant in the BYA Debutante ball. In 1996 she received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology from Hampton University in Hampton, Virginia. While a student at the university, she participated in the Biology and Pre-Med clubs. She served as Miss Biology junior year and was the first runner-up in the inaugural Miss Hampton University Pageant (a component of The Miss America System) her senior year. She graduated from the University of Maryland Dental School in 2000 with a Doctorate of Dental Surgery, after which she relocated to the Navajo reservation in Arizona to complete a general practice residency at Sage Memorial Hospital (SMH). During her two-year tenure at SMH she became a member of the hospital staff where she spent time in the operating room treating Native American children with extensive needs. While in Arizona, she had the opportunity to work with the Inupiat Eskimos in Kotzebue, Alaska.

Post residency she worked in private practice and the public health system in Georgia, relocating back home in 2003 to serve the soldiers at Aberdeen Proving Grounds. From 20072010 spent much of her time as a business owner of a private practice. She decided to challenge herself and after selling her practice in December 2010, she did a direct commission into the Army and began serving as an active duty soldier in January 2011. She deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in 2012. LTC Oates completed the Army Bravo Residency Program and earned a Master of Science degree in June of 2020.

Dr. Oates is a published author and Amazon best seller, as a collaborator in, Thinking About Quitting Medicine vol.2. She is an active member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. She annually mentors undergraduate and graduate students from both her alma maters and beyond. In March of 2020, she established the We Are Here, Inc. non-profit organization to assist, coach and mentor minorities trying to obtain degrees in the healthcare fields. When Dr. Oates is not practicing letting her life do the singing, she enjoys traveling, and spending time with friends and family.

A SPECIAL THANK YOU The Forty Under 40 Society would like to thank all of our program participants, specials guests, 2020 honorees and mentors, family and friends, Office of Alumni Affairs, our Visionary and Program Director, Chairpersons, Executive Team members, and all University staff and vendors for their participation in making this year’s Forty Under 40 celebration a great success.

HAMPTON UNIVERSITY ALMA MATER O Hampton, a thought sent from Heaven above, To be a great soul’s inspiration; We sing thee the earnest of broad human love, The shrine of our heart’s adoration.

Thy foundation firm and thy roof tree out spread, And thy sacred altar-fires burning, The sea circling ‘round thee, soft skies overhead, Dear Hampton, the goal of our yearning!

Refrain O Hampton, we never can make thee a song Except as our lives do the singing, In service that will thy great spirit prolong, And send it through centuries ringing!

Kind mother, we’ll treasure the dear happy days We’ve spent here in life’s preparation, Yet go with brave hearts upon our chosen ways, Of service to God and our nation.

Still wearing thy colors, the blue and the white, As pledge that our fond hearts will cherish A love which for thee ever shines true and bright, A loyalty that ne’er can perish!

Words by: Sarah Collins Fernandis, 1882 Music by: Chauncey Northern, 1924