Soror Spotlight

Dorothya P. Nero

Each year the Claflin University Office of Alumni Relations recognizes outstanding alumni graduates who are leaders in their professions and communities. Dorothya Nero was recognized as a member of the inaugural Claflin University Outstanding Leaders Under 40 Class of 2020. Dorothya collaborates with the Office of Admissions to recruit students for Claflin University. She serves and continues to mentor former students as they matriculate through Claflin. She is a 2006 Magna Cum Laude honor graduate of the Alice Carson Tisdale Honors College at Claflin University, receiving a Bachelor of Arts in English. She is a 2004 initiate of the Gamma Chi Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta. She earned a Master of Education degree in Counselor Education and an Educational Specialist degree in Educational Leadership from South Carolina State University. She is currently employed as Director of School Counseling at Irmo High School.

DeVonne Smalls was honored by being named RCA’s 2020 Delta of the Year. DeVonne, affectionately known as Vonnie, is a charter member of RCA. She was initiated December 2,1983 through the Gamma Upsilon Chapter at Benedict College. She is an adjunct instructor at USC and the owner/CEO of Smalls Educational Coaching and Consulting, LLC.

DeVonne Risher Smalls

Dr. Nikita Pete

Nikita Pete, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC recently received her Doctorate of Nursing Practice from the University of South Carolina in May of 2020. Nikita is a Family Nurse Practitioner who practices in Columbia, SC. She is passionate about caring for others and continues to work hard to break the barriers within healthcare for equality for all, especially African Americans. Nikita was initiated through the Xi Iota City-Wide Chapter at USC Upstate in the Spring of 2011.

Dr. Erica Hart Rice is being honored for 20 years of service with Richland County School District One. Her years of service and dedication include serving as the first Montessori upper elementary teacher at two school sites, curriculum resource teacher, and Montessori coordinator. She is currently employed as a Montessori program consultant.

Dr. Erica Hart Rice

Etta Linen

The Director’s Award is the Department of Health and Environmental Control’s most prestigious award program and recognizes an employee’s commitment to supporting DHEC’s core values. Etta Linen is the recipient of the 2020 Director’s Award. Etta serves as the Assistant General Counsel for DHEC and received the award for her participation as a member of The Able Response Team.

Premier Counseling, LLC, just celebrated 4 years in business. Janay Price celebrates 4 years as the Founder/CEO of Premier Counseling, LLC. She leads her team of clinically licensed therapists and nurse practitioners as they provide mental health counseling and psychotropic prescriptive treatment to senior citizens throughout South Carolina.

Janay Price

Jocelyn Jacobs received her Master of Business Administration degree from Columbia College on December 11, 2020. She is currently employed with the Federal Government and was initiated Fall 2020 with RCA.

Jocelyn Jacobs

Salandra Bowman is the 2020-2021 Julia Bumry Jones Scholarship recipient. In her dissertation, she and Black girl stakeholders created Crescent, a series of learning media centering around a revolutionary Black girl from South Carolina. Salandra is a student in Education Foundations at UofSC and Director of Training & Research at SCETV Education.

Salandra Bowman

Crystal Pee Tart

In August 2020, Crystal Tart was selected to participate in Dominion Energy’s Emerging Leaders Program. The Emerging Leaders Program recognizes leaders within the Dominion Energy. With over 80 interested applicants, Crystal was one of twenty-four selected for this program, and one of two selected to represent Dominion Energy South Carolina. This program provides additional leadership training in areas such as: strategic mindset, selfdevelopment, nimble learning, valuing differences and alignment with Dominion Energy's values. The intensive eight month program began September 2020 and concludes in April 2021.

In 2020 Tacara LaStacia Carpenter launched 20XXtheMagazine (www.20xxthemagazine.com), a National publication and premiere source for today's Black woman. Though she was fortunate to interview heavy hitters such as CeeLo Green, Jazzy Pha, Coach Dawn Staley, and Chef Dorian Hunter to name a few, Tacara repeatedly states that 20XXtheMagazine is not about providing another stage for celebrities but more so shining a spotlight on the movers and shakers in our communities.