We Are Morehouse Monthly: December 2017

WE ARE MOREHOUSE A Monthly Newsletter from the Morehouse College Young Alumni Engagement Program

Poised.

Prepared.

Passionate.

How the Interim Presidency of Harold Martin, Jr. ’02 energized alumni around the world

December 2017

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WE ARE MOREHOUSE DECEMBER 2017

4 Poised.

Prepared.

Passionate.

Discover how the interim presidency of Harold Martin, Jr. ’02 energized alumni around the world.

14 Turning "Gumbo" into Grammys Meet Grammy award winning musician PJ Morton ’03, and learn how his latest album earned critical success and Grammy nominations

DEPARTMENTS 3 FROM THE EDITOR 6 ATHLETICS 8 VOWS 10 BUSINESS 12 CLERGY 14 CREATORS 16 EDUCATION 17 HEALTH & SCIENCE 18 LAW 19 PUBLIC SERVICE 20 TECH 22 ARRIVALS 24 FARE THEE WELL 28 "AND IN ALL THINGS THAT WE DO"

ON THE COVER Harold L. Martin, Jr. ’02, interim president of Morehouse College. Harold assumed the role on June 19th, 2017 and his term will commence on December 31, 2017.

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FROM THE EDITOR >

T

here are several ways to define a Morehouse Man. Morehouse's graduates are doing work in countless fields, attending nearly every graduate school, and have careers in almost any area imaginable.

From Grammy award winning musicians to educators, attorneys, ministers, entrepreneurs, well respected physicians, football coaches to public servants, 1st Lieutenants in the US Army and so many others, young alumni are achieving in countless ways.

This month's edition is dedicated to our Interim President, Harold L. Martin, Jr. '02. Harold is the epitome of so many things, but chief among the attributes that I could use to describe him is that he's always been focused, driven, and he possesses a penchant for the hard work necessary to yield great success. It's my hope that the students who've had the opportunity to interact with him have truly observed and learned from his commitment to excellence.

This month's issue of We Are Morehouse Monthly is probably the hardest, because there are so many stories to share, and in the months ahead, more will be covered. To share what you've been up to or your recent accomplishments, please email me (joseph. carlos@morehouse.edu).

I hope that you enjoy this issue, and I pray that you and your family have a safe and enjoyable holiday season; Merry Christmas, Happy Kwanzaa and Happy New Year.

True Forever, Joe Carlos ’04 Program Manager Young Alumni Engagement Program http://www.wearemorehouse.com

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WE ARE MOREHOUSE > Visionary

Poised, Prepared, Passionate: Interim President Harold L. Martin ’02 energizes alumni This past June, Harold L. Martin, Jr. ’02, businessman, husband, father of twins, became the interim president of Morehouse College. At the time, he was 36 years old. President and valedictorian of his class at Morehouse, Harold earned graduate degrees from Harvard Business School and Yale Law School. He has been a successful professional, working for McKinsey & Co. as an associate partner and as a leader in the firm’s Higher Education Practice. Since leaving McKinsey, he has built a successful independent consulting practice and private investment firm in Atlanta.

A member of the Morehouse Board of Trustees since 2017, he has served as a member of the Board’s finance, trusteeship and governance committees and this past April he was elected secretary of the board.

As Interim President, Martin’s impact has been profoundly evident. In addition to the energy and positivity that he’s brought to the office, he instituted a focus on highlighting the accomplishments and achievements of Morehouse’s more recent or young alumni and he called it “We Are Morehouse.” The phrase became synonymous with young alumni achievement and the hashtag #wearemorehouse has gone viral.

“In my GroupMes, when I’m talking with friends here in New York, frat brothers, Spelman grads… everyone is talking about We Are Morehouse and angling on how they can do something to be recognized.” said Lonnie Washington ’17.

As Martin stated, “There is no collection of black men in the country that can rival the depth and breadth of Morehouse Men. Period.”

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The movement to acknowledge young alumni has been the hallmark of his term in office.

“The energy and enthusiasm he engendered particularly around alumni under forty has been amazing. The reaction to the stories and features and the website…it’s so telling how hungry we were to hear more about what recent grads have been doing. The energy is infectious.

You’ve got to energize before you can engage.” said John J. Cox ’03.

In addition to the social media efforts, Martin traveled the country to meet with alumni to share his message about engagement, responsibility and support.

"One of GLAMAA's biggest hurdles has been connectivity. Being so far away from teh college, the Alumni Chapter leadership has quite and undertaking in staying connected. President Martin's visit to Los Angeles in July 2017 was very well received. Along with other senior college leadership, President Martin dialoguing with the GLAMAA leadership team and then making himself available to the Greater Los Angeles Morehouse alumni base was invigorating. There were of course some frank discussions, but President Martin was poised, prepared and transparent. That energy led to several Morehouse alums in the Los Angeles area to recommitting to the alumni chapter and the college." said Ronald Caishe Falls ’00.

Martin's availability, selflessness, leadership style and example as well as his willingness to listen and learn what issues are greatly concerning alumni, yielded instant buy-in from alumni, and moreover young alumni throoughout the country. His tenure will always be known as a time of great excitement, energy, anticipation and an enduring point of pride.

Photos by Phil McCollum and Manhattan Alumni

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WE ARE MOREHOUSE > Athletics

Rev. Thomas Settles ’03, UGA Athletics Chaplain prepares Bulldogs for the College Football Playoffs On New Year’s Day when the University of Georgia football team suits up to play the Oklahoma Sooners in the Rose Bowl/College Football Playoffs, Morehouse Man Rev. Thomas Settles ’03, will be helping to prepare their minds for battle spiritually. The former Morehouse football player delivered his first sermon while still a student at Morehouse, and was licensed to preach on January 9, 2002. After Morehouse, Thomas enrolled at Beeson Divinity School of Samford University, earning his M.Div. He accepted a position as chaplain to the athletic community at the University of Georgia and considers his current position as a tremendous privilege because it affords him the opportunity to partake in the ministry of presence, prayer and preaching within the athletic community of UGA. The former Bonner Scholar and E.B. Williams honoree is also the senior pastor of Calvary Bible Church in Athens, GA. Morehouse graduate played four seasons for the Maroon Tigers was voted team captain.

Before coaching at A&T, Thomas successfully coached defense and special teams at Slippery Rock University, Lincoln University and Findlay University. In 2012, Thomas had the opportunity to participate in the 2012 NFL/NCAA Coaches Academy. He was one of 60 coaches chosen to attend a three-day program that provided former NFL players and current NCAA college coaches with skills and networking opportunities to further their careers in the coaching profession.

Thomas Howard ’03 making waves coaching in his second Celebration Bowl Thomas Howard ’03, Inside Linebackers coach for the North Carolina A&T State University Bulldogs recently coached in his second Celebration Bowl in three years. The cum laude

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Thomas’s undefeated Bulldogs capped off their undefeated season by beating the Grambling State Tigers in the 2017 Celebration Bowl, 21-14. Thomas’s defense came into the game ranked #1 in the Mideastern Athletic Conference in Scoring Defense, Total Defense, Rushing Defense, Pass Defense Efficiency and Sacks (25).

Bobby Height ’00 stepped out on faith to follow his dreams to become a sports agent Former Morehouse football standout and class of 2000 graduate Bobby Height was working for IBM in their Accounting division while pursuing his MBA from American InterContinental University.

Bobby always had a career goal of working in the sports management and marketing industry, and after earning his degree in Global Business Management, he “stepped out on faith” and pursued an internship at CSE Talent.

CSE Talent’s capabilities span across the sports and media landscape by representing top coaches, management, athletes and journalists. In addition to its impressive representation groups, CSE Talent boasts industry-leading services for their clients through the involvement of professionals in the marketing, digital and analytics, contract negotiation services, social media and public relations companies. Bobby’s internship at CSE Talent lasted approximately a year and a half before he was hired full-time as an Account Coordinator.

While ascending from several positions spanning from Experiential to Corporate Marketing, the Charlotte native transitioned to becoming an agent representing professional coaches and front office management executives along with NCAA coaches in 2008. Overall, he has been working at CSE Talent for a total of 13 years.

CSE Talent’s clients include: Tyronn Lue, head coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers, Doc Rivers, head coach of the Los Angeles Clippers, Frank Vogel, head coach of the Orlando Magic, Clark Kellogg of CBS Sports, Ernie Johnson, Jr. or Turner Sports, Marc Spears of ESPN’s The Undefeated as well as College Basketball Hall of Famer Christian Laettner.

Most recently, one of Bobby’s clients, all-time Morehouse basketball great Harold Ellis ’92, was named Director of Player Personnel for the New York Knicks.

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WE ARE MOREHOUSE > Vows

"James DeLano Ford ’01 married Michelle Edwina Wonsley on October 5, 2017 at 632 Hudson, an event space in Manhattan.

Ms. Wonsley-Ford is the senior vice president for people operations at DonorsChoose.org, a Manhattan group that connects teachers with people who want to provide financial support for classroom and learning resources. She graduated from Spelman College and

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received both a master's degree in industrial and labor relations and an M.B.A. from Cornell University.

Mr. Ford is the executive director of the Teach for America program in Atlanta and its metropolitan area.

He graduated from Morehouse College and received an M.B.A. from Cornell." - New York Times

Dontavious Taylor ’13 married Ariel Hayes on July 8, 2017 at The Country Club of the South in Alpharetta, GA. The ceremony was officiated by Rev. Dr. Alduan Tartt ’96. The wedding party included Devaughn Swanson ’12 and Taylor McCleod ’13.

Several Morehouse Men were among the well-wishers in attendance: Eugean Moore ’13, Greg Griffin ’13, James Wilford ’13, Jason Gaines ’13, Jonathan Hall ’13, Joshua

Izuegbu ’13, Marcus Canady ’13, Richard Taylor ’15, Jonathan Marchel ’15, Herberto Horne ’15 and Charles Brooks ’15.

Dontavious is the Associate Director of Recruitment at Uncommon Schools in New York. After Morehouse, he joined Automatic Data Processing, LLC as a Human Capital Management Consultant, before venturing into the education field as a Teach for America corps member.

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WE ARE MOREHOUSE > Business

Aty Biswese ’02 on rigors, joy of entrepreneurial life "Aty Biswese 14WEMBA began his journey into entrepreneurship at age 25. The Morehouse grad was enjoying his work as a consultant in Chicago, with his first nice apartment in the South Loop area, when divine intervention altered his path.

“There was a gas leak in my apartment building in November, and all the tenants were evacuated to a nearby hotel until the problem was resolved,” he says. “But the leak never got fixed. Everyone received their money back, and I found myself with nowhere to live. I felt homeless during the holiday season.”

That’s when he realized the power of real estate and the importance of home ownership. As a Christmas gift, he purchased his first condo and never looked back.

“I wanted to harness that overwhelming feeling of joy and relief at having a home into something more, towards a passion,” he says. “That experience taught me that the business of real estate is very emotional. And for me, it’s a personal calling that became a business in 2005.”

Nearly 13 years later, Biswese owns two companies. The first, the NID Group, is a full-service, boutique real estate brokerage firm with headquarters in Washington, DC. NID (or “nest” in French) represents buyers, sellers, and developers in the purchase of homes or acquisition of land, among other services.

Then in 2014, he started Third Story Capital, a real estate private equity and community development firm, focusing on niche real estate investments and distressed assets that suffer from curable flaws in management, market position, physical attributes, tenancy, or capital structure.

“This is the contracting side of the business. We have investors, and we help people build a real estate investment

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portfolio or to build or customize their dream home.”

His road to creating Third Story was equally providential.

“During the real estate downturn, I realized the need to make myself better than the competition, better than anybody else,” he recalls. “It was time to reinvest in myself. And the best way to reinvest in myself was to go back for the MBA. And for me, location was very important.”

Chicago was on the list, but Biswese considered Atlanta his US home. After all, he had immigrated to America from Africa by way of Europe in the late ’90s with plans to study engineering at Georgia Tech and hopes of becoming a basketball star.

Instead, he would learn about Morehouse and turn his attention to business. When it came time to choose a school for his MBA, he wanted the same type of experience.

“I wanted to fall in love with my business school, the same way I fell in love with Morehouse,” he says.

“During my visit to the Emory campus, I felt welcome.

That was big for me. I didn’t feel like a number; I felt like I was treated as part of the family.”

His coursework in private investment, finance, and leadership would shape the way he structured Third Story.

“At Goizueta, I learned hands-on how to put together venture and financial deals. This is the type of knowledge I learned in the classroom and was able to apply day one,” he says. “As a matter of fact, Third Story Capital was put together a week before I graduated from business school. Goizueta definitely gave me the tools to take it to the next level.”

WE ARE MOREHOUSE > Business

Today, Biswese is preparing to open NID’s fifth office, in Virginia—the others include Illinois; Georgia; Washington, DC; and Maryland. As his businesses grow, Biswese is learning to delegate, which allows him to commit more to gym workouts and family time, but he remains active in the day-to-day operations, from hiring and training staff and agents to brokering deals and showing houses.

“As the managing broker and the president, I still sign off on most of the deals. This protects the company, but I also like to stay involved,” he adds. “I still like to be on the field because it keeps me on top of my game. I don’t want to be just a figurehead. I love being hands-on. I love being out on the field.”

- Nicole Golston - Emory Business Magazine

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WE ARE MOREHOUSE > Clergy

Julian DeShazier ’05 featured as a '40 under 40' by Crain's Chicago Business Magazine "A South Side adult trauma center long sought by activists is set to open at UChicago Medicine in May, thanks in part to the diplomacy of the Rev. Julian DeShazier. “I want the church to be part of the most important conversations in the community,” says the pastor, whose University Church of Chicago is steps from the university campus. “If we’re not at the table, we’re doing something wrong.”

album (DeShazier also is a rapper; stage name: J.Kwest). In 2010 he graduated from the University of Chicago Divinity School, and at 27 was installed at University Church.

in Longwood Manor on the South Side.

As the trauma center project culminates, UChicago Medicine has created a community advisory DeShazier has since built a repu- council to provide input on protation for communicating “across grams needed for the surrounding generations and other divides, impoverished neighborhoods—inwhether they are social, economic cluding ones to prevent gun vioor racial, and helping people see lence in the first place. The council’s common ground,” says the Rev. leader? DeShazier."

The need for the center, equipped to Otis Moss III, senior pastor at - Kristen Schorsch for Crain's provide specialized care to often-un- Trinity United Church of Christ insured and poor victims of traumatic injury and gun violence, was plain.

Such centers can be money-losers for hospitals—UChicago's had been closed for decades—but community leaders figured the health system, which had $2.01 billion in operating revenue in fiscal 2017, could afford it. DeShazier brokered meetings at his church with activists and officials from the university and its health system. By late 2015, UChicago announced plans to reopen the trauma center on its Hyde Park campus as part of a nearly $270 million expansion and makeover.

DeShazier grew up attending a south suburban Matteson church, where community service was as important as the Sunday experience. After studying sociology and child development at Atlanta’s Morehouse College, he spent two years promoting a hip-hop

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WE ARE MOREHOUSE > Clergy

Rev. Willie Dwayne Francois, III, M.Div. ’09 Senior Pastor, Mount Zion Baptist Church of Pleasantville, NJ "We are a revolutionary family of faith, imagination and compassion, created by God to live lives of wholeness and authenticity, called by God to embody the mind and ministry of Jesus, and commanded by God to liberate the world through love for all."

SERVICE TIMES: SUNDAYS AT 8:00 AM & 11:00 AM 353 S. New Road, Pleasantville NJ 08232 www.mountzionclc.org

Rev. E. Shon Hagwood, M.Div. ’97 Senior Pastor, First Mount Zion Baptist Church of Charlotte, NC "Exalting Christ, to restore, renew, and rebuild people to serve the Kingdom of God! Being a church that lives out the truth of the Holy Bible, sincere and consistent in prayer, effectively teaching and preaching the timeless Word of God. A community of faith called to render witness of the life, ministry, and mission of Jesus Christ our Lord."

SERVICE TIMES: SUNDAYS AT 10 AM 1515 Remount Road Charlotte, NC 28208 www.firstmtzion.com

Rev. Timothy Sloan, D. Min. ’91 Senior Pastor, St. Luke Missionary Baptist Church of Humble, TX "The LUKE WAY: Building Bridges for Future Generations 1. Experience: Worship Experiences 2. Connect: Become a member of The Luke 3. Grow: Participate in Discipleship Courses 4. Serve: Utilize your gifts and join a ministry. Volunteer for events and outreach 5. Go: Be a witness for Christ based on 4 Pillars (Spiritual Development, Economic Empowerment, Social Witness, Health Awareness)" SERVICE TIMES: SUNDAYS AT 8:00 AM & 10:00 AM 2380 S. Houston Ave. Humble, TX 77396 www.theluke.org

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WE ARE MOREHOUSE > Creators

"GUMBO" garners Grammy gold attention Grammy award winning performer PJ Morton ’03's latest release "GUMBO" earns multiple Grammy nominations PJ Morton ’03 received two Grammy nominations for Best R&B Album (Gumbo) and Best R&B Song (“First Began”).

Gumbo is the fourth and first self-released studio album by Morton and was released on April 21, 2017, by Morton Records, as the follow-up to his third studio album New Orleans. Relocating from Los Angeles to his hometown of New Orleans in 2016, PJ was able to write the entire Gumbo album from home, a task he had never been able to accomplish before.

Evoking heroes such as Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye and Al Green, Morton enlisted a rotating musical cast of longtime friends and collaborators to join him in creating Gumbo such as Mutemath’s Darren King [drums], Keyon Harrold [trumpet], Chris Payton [guitar], DJ Raymond [bass], Brian Cockerham [bass], Matt Jones [arranger], and Big Ed Clark [drums].

PJ debuted on six different Billboard sales charts with his brilliant fourth album, "Gumbo" (Morton Records/Empire). The project reached No. 10 on the Heatseekers Albums chart. - an astounding feat for an indie album without major radio airplay support. It also peaked at No. 5 and No. 9 respectively

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on the Heatseekers-South Atlantic and Heatseekers-South Central charts. The set rose to No. 16 on the R&B Album sales chart, No. 28 on the Independent Albums chart and No. 30 on the R&B/Hip-Hop Album chart. The set features cameos by singer BJ the Chicago Kid, rapper Pell and R&B singer Anthony Hamilton's back-up group, The HamilTones.

The album has won a plethora of praise. Producer Warryn Campbell (Kanye West, Alicia Keys) posted on his Instagram page that "Gumbo" is the "album of the decade." Legendary Pop music critic Keith Spera wrote in The Advocate daily newspaper that the new album, "expands Morton's songwriting range beyond love and relationships" to include issues of the world at large. L. Michael Gipson of Soul Tracks writes that the set is, "Perhaps Morton's most grown and fulfilling in years." In short, Hip Hop producer, 9th Wonder, posted to his IG account that Gumbo is, "refreshing...this album is jamming."

The Grammy® Award winning singer, songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist had lived in Los Angeles for the last few years since officially joining one of the world's top bands, Maroon 5, in 2012. However, Morton returned to his hometown of New Orleans last year and began

laying the musical foundation for Gumbo -- the first album he's ever recorded in the city. Morton wrote the majority of the songs such as the Jazzy "Claustrophic" and the retro funky "Sticking To My Guns" but also includes a very satisfying and upbeat take on the Bee Gees' 1977 classic, "How Deep Is Your Love."

Morton released his first indie album Emotions in 2005 - without major label support and promotion - and attracted an underground following of eclectic fans that have followed his every musical move over the years. Morton's 2013 album New Orleans features Stevie Wonder playing harmonica on the track "Only One" which earned a Grammy® Award nomination for best R&B song. He has also collaborated with Busta Rhymes, India.Arie, Jazmine Sullivan, Faith Evans, Musiq Soulchild, Lil Wayne, and Monica. He served as music director for Solange during the promotional tour for her breakthrough album, A Seat at the Table.

To follow PJ's Grammy Journey please follow him on Instagram by clicking here: http://www.instagram.com/pjmorton.

- BWW Music World - WhereYaAt.com

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WE ARE MOREHOUSE > Educators

Hakim Lucas ’99 leads Virginia Union University in a bright and exciting chapter in school history On September 1, 2017, Hakim Lucas ’99 began his tenure as the 13th president and chief executive officer of Virginia Union University. For the last five years, he served as vice president for institutional advancement at Bethune-Cookman University.

During his tenure at Bethune-Cookman, the endowment increased by 53 percent.

Hakim earned a masters of divinity from Union Theological Seminary and a doctorate in education from Fordham University.

During his opening convocation, Hakim mentioned “It’s all about academic excellence. We are building an intellectual community that’s centered on innovation and creativity. VUU will empower entrepreneurship by revitalizing the black community by being an economic center.”

- Ronald Carrington, Richmond Free Press

Willie Thompson ’16 receives prestigious Schwarzman Scholars Program recognition "Morehouse College alumnus Willie Thompson ’16 will be studying in China next year as a Schwarzman Scholar, a prestigious recognition that gives the world’s best and brightest an opportunity to get a first-hand, in-depth understanding of China that will be critically important in the 21st century.

Thompson joins 142 Schwarzman Scholars from 39 countries and 97 universities worldwide chosen to study in the master’s degree program at Tsinghua University in Beijing, China beginning in August 2018.

Thompson, a native of Griffin, Ga., majored in economics and minored in Chinese Studies while at Morehouse. He was part of a trio of students to make history as valedictorians of the Class of 2016 at the 132nd Commencement ceremony. It was the first time Morehouse had three valedictorians."

- by Add Seymour, Jr. and D. Aileen Dodd To read the full story, please click here

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WE ARE MOREHOUSE > Healthcare and Science

Italo Brown, M.D., M.P.H. ’06 and Darrell Gray, M.D., M.P.H. ’02 selected as NMQF 40 Under 40 Leaders in Health Awardees Sacramento, CA native Italo M. Brown ’06 is a Resident Physician in Emergency Medicine Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Jacobi Medical Center. Previously, Italo held a clinical research position with Boston Medical Center, although his passion for advocacy and health equity led him to Meharry Medical College. At Meharry, Italo’s scholarship, leadership, and advocacy work garnered various distinctions, including TEDMED Front Line Scholar, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Health Policy Scholar, and the National Medical Fellowships Primary Care Leadership Program. He was ultimately named one of 20 Physicians of Tomorrow by the American Medical Association Foundation.

A former board member of the Tennessee Health Care Campaign, Italo coordinated statewide lobbying and enrollment efforts in support of the Affordable Care Act. Currently, Italo works closely with state-based and specialty-specific task forces (ACEP, AAEM/RSA) to challenge and dismantle harmful legislation.

Dr. Darrell Gray, II ’02 is a gastroenterologist at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and the Deputy Director of the Center for Cancer Health Equity within The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center. Dr. Gray engineered the Provider and Community Engagement (PACE) Program, an initiative that has provided low-to-no cost colonoscopies and patient navigation services for uninsured and underinsured patients, novel educational experiences for community members and health care providers, and a local media campaign on colorectal cancer prevention. He also serves as an advisor for the implementation of Health Sciences Academies in Columbus City Schools, board member for Ethiopian Tewahedo Social Services, clinical advisor in the Ohio Governor’s Office of Health Transformation, and public speaker. Yet, Dr. Gray is most proud of his roles as husband to wife Brittney and father to daughters Harper and Ella.

Darrell earned his medical degree from Howard University College of Medicine and completed both an Internal Medicine residency at Duke University Medical Center and Gastroenterology fellowship at Washington University in St. Louis. He subsequently earned a Master of Public Health degree from Harvard University during his tenure in the Commonwealth Fund Mongan Fellowship in Minority Health Policy.

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WE ARE MOREHOUSE > Law

Joshua Hill ’97 is a leader in San Francisco at Morrison Forrester

Leland Shelton ’13 is making strides at Venables, LLP in Baltimore

Jimmie Strong ’10 making a sudden impact at Nashville's Baker Donelson

Joshua Hill ’97, a former federal prosecutor, is a trial lawyer focusing on white collar defense, government enforcement investigations, and complex commercial litigation.

Mr. Hill leads the firm’s white collar defense practice in San Francisco and has particular experience representing clients within the pharmaceutical, medical device, life sciences, and energy industries. He also has significant trial experience, trying seven federal cases to jury verdict to date.

Leland Shelton ’13 is an associate in Venable's Products Liability & Mass Torts practice.

Jimmie Strong ’10's practice areas include securities, corporate governance and emerging companies.

His securities experience includes ensuring clients are compliant with the SEC, NYSE, NASDAQ, and state securities laws and regulations for real estate investment trusts (REITs), oil and gas companies and banks.

The former Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Northern District of California earned an M.A. from Johns Hopkins and a J.D. from Yale Law School.

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Since coming to Venable, Leland has researched the legislative history of the Maryland General Corporation Law; researched and compiled dossiers on potential candidates for the board of directors of a publicly traded REIT; researched and analyzed case law related to the adequacy of FDA boxed warnings; researched and analyzed case law, administrative guidance, and citizen petitions related to the FDA's adequate and well-controlled trial requirement for New Drug Applications.

Leland earned his J.D. from Harvard Law School.

His mergers and acquisitions experience includes drafting, deal-structuring, due diligence and other business advisory services in connection with domestic and cross-border asset purchase and stock purchase transactions.

Jimmie earned his J.D. from Harvard Law School.

WE ARE MOREHOUSE > Public Service

Randall Woodfin's ’03 Mayoral Inauguration in Birmingham Marks New Day and Chapter for the city "New Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin said the city will address crime differently under his leadership.

He will start by getting more uniformed officers on the streets, he said.

"The way we will address crime will have an impact on decreasing crime in this city," he said in an interview pri-

or to today's inauguration. "The reason we have to do that is because we have to declare it a state of emergency -- that gun violence in the city of Birmingham has become an epidemic and a crisis. And when you have an epidemic and a crisis in any situation, you do any and all things necessary to stop it."

Woodfin said more resources will be put on the table to fight crime. "We will do what is necessary to reduce crime in the city of Birmingham," he said.

Starting today, he said all of the city will receive the same attention from that police department that assets like Railroad Park and Uptown have always enjoyed.

Woodfin was sworn in to office by Judge Nakita Blocton during a noon ceremony at Linn Park. The ceremony featured performances by the W.E. Putnam Middle School Band, Parker High School Choir and singer Sebastian Kole. It included words from the Rev. John Cantelow from Sixth Avenue Baptist Church and City Council President Valerie Abbott."

- by Erin Edgemon for Al.com

Meet Marqueece Harris-Dawson ’91, City Council Member of Los Angeles's 8th District Councilmember Marqueece Harris-Dawson ’91 was sworn into office on July 1, 2015 to represent the Eighth District. Within his first 18 months as a Councilmember, he authored Proposition HHH, a $1.2 billion bond for permanent supportive housing, the largest investment towards ending homelessness in the nation. The Councilmember has authorized more affordable housing than anywhere in the city in his first two years in office. On the City Council, Harris-Dawson is a supporter for equity issues like homelessness, jobs, clean streets, and community policing. As a long-time community organizer in South LA, Harris-Dawson relies on his deep roots and relationships. Click here to learn more.

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WE ARE MOREHOUSE > Public Service

Basheer Jones ’06 wins election and becomes first Muslim on the Cleveland City Council Cleveland activist Basheer Jones ’06 won election to represent Ward 7 on his hometown's City Council and became the first Muslim ever elected to City Council in Cleveland's 200 year history. The official count for the election results were 1,599 to 1586 - 50.2 percent to 49.8 percent.

A native of Cleveland's Hough neighborhood, he was assisted greatly by teachers, family and community leaders who helped him to graduate from high school and assisted him with his attendance at Morehouse. After graduation, he came back to Cleveland to work to change his community.

Basheer is well known in Cleveland for truly working to give a voice to the city's voiceless and he's known locally for his work on his radio show.

Hon. Marlon Kimpson ’91 earns respect and high praise as attorney and SC State Senator Attorney Marlon Kimpson ’91 represents victims of corporate malfeasance, from investors in securities fraud cases to people injured or killed in catastrophic incidents with Motley Rice, LLC. Marlon represents individuals, state and municipality pension funds, multi-employer plans, unions and other institutional investors in securities fraud class actions and mergers and acquisition cases to help recover assets and improve corporate governance.

Marlon currently serves as South Carolina State Senator of District 42, representing citizens of Charleston and Dorchester Counties. After five years in commercial banking, Marlon entered the field of law and served as a law clerk to Judge Matthew J. Perry of the U.S. District Court of South Carolina. Marlon is a graduate of the University of South Carolina School of Law, and he is a lifetime member of the NAACP and a member of Sigma Pi Phi Boulé and Omega Psi Phi fraternity.

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WE ARE MOREHOUSE > Tech

Brian Garrett ’10 leads Morehouse 'SMASH' an innovative STEM summer program Raleigh, NC native Brian Garrett, Ph.D. ’10 is a biochemist who heads the Level Playing Field Institute's Summer Math and Science Honors Academy (SMASH).

Brian Garrett, Ph.D., ’10 Site Director, SMASH Morehouse Ph.D., University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill B.S., Chemistry

SMASH is a free of cost, STEM-intensive college preparatory program for underrepresented high school students of color. SMASH boasts a rigorous 5-week, 3-year summer, fully residential STEM enrichment program which provides access to STEM coursework and access to mentors, role models, and support networks of students of color.

Each summer, SMASH scholars spend five weeks on a college campus immersed in STEM and live among other high-potential, underrepresented (African American, Latino/a, Native American, Southeast Asian or Pacific Islander, low-income, first-in-family to attend college) high school students.

In addition to their summer courses, SMASH scholars remain engaged during the school year through monthly STEM workshops and academic programming. This includes SAT prep, college counseling, financial aid workshops, and other activities to ensure continued academic success.

The program not only reinforces the students’ STEM academic identities, but also focuses on developing their critical thinking, civic awareness, leadership and sense of social responsibility.

After completing his doctorate, Dr. Garrett began working as a Research and Development Consultant for HyperLight, a biotech startup company in North Carolina’s Research Triangle Park. Prior to joining LPFI, Dr. Garrett worked as a Protein Analytical Chemist at Genentech where he earned an excellence award for his development of a quantitative method for analyzing antiviral molecules introduced during the drug development process. Relying on his first hand experience successfully navigating the STEM pipeline and his passion for developing and empowering young people and people of color, Dr. Garrett is determined to leave a lasting impact on the coming generation of diverse STEM professionals.

We Are Morehouse Monthly|Page 21

WE ARE MOREHOUSE > Arrivals Cruz Dalton Allen

Katherine Isabella Franklin

Ebbon Allen '04 and his wife Giselle are the proud parents of a son, Cruz Dalton Allen, born on November 23, 2017.

Howard Franklin '01 and his wife Shani are the proud parents of a daughter, Katherine Isabella "Baby Bella", born on March 19, 2017.

Felicity-Rose Garland Sterling

Chandler Allen Hughes

Voltaire Sterling '02 and his wife Megan Garland Sterling are the proud parents of a daughter, Felicity-Rose, born on November 27, 2017.

David C. Hughes '11 and his wife Angelique are the proud parents of a son, Chandler Allen, born on December 2, 2017, weighing 7 lbs and measured 20 inches.

Logan Christian Jemison

Samuel Otis Lyons, IV

Aaron Jemison '04 and his wife Brandy are the proud parents of a son, Logan Christian, born on June 28, 2017.

Samuel O. Lyons, III '04 and his wife Rachel are the proud parents of a son, Samuel Otis, IV, born on November 15, 2017.

Leroux Alexander Miller

Avery Elizabeth Poindexter

Chealon Miller '02 and his wife Taniqua are the proud parents of another son, Leroux Alexander, born on March 23, 2017.

Charles Poindexter '14 and his fiancee Lauren Tabron are the proud parents of a daughter, Avery Elizabeth, born on October 6, 2017.

Please send pictures and information about your newborns to joseph.carlos@morehouse.edu

We Are Morehouse Monthly|Page 22

REMAIN ENGAGED. REMAIN INFORMED. JOIN WWW.CONNECT.MOREHOUSE.EDU TODAY! • GROUPS • EVENTS • JOBS • VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES MAROON TIGERS REMAINING SCHEDULE 1/1 1/4 1/6 1/13 1/15 1/20 1/22 1/27 2/2 2/5 2/8 2/13 2/17 2/19 2/22

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November 2017|We Are Morehouse Monthly|Page 25

FARE THEE WELL > Quinten T. Barlow ’03 - 1981-2017

Pastor Quinten T. Barlow '03, of Mempis, TN. passed away November 22, 2017. He was Pastor of Faith Covenant Church of Memphis, Co-owner of Barlow Funeral Home and Co-owner of MITI Kids Childcare Learning Center International.

He leaves his wife Danielle McGhee Barlow, three sons, Peyton K. Barlow, Quincy P. Barlow, Quinten T. Barlow, Jr. (Preston), one sister, Brittney J. Barlow, Parents, Dr. Linda Chism, mother and Shelia G. Barlow (father's widow), grandparent, Dorothy Chism-Joyner. He was preceded in death by his father late Pastor Quincy S. Barlow, grandparents, Rev. Ray Chism, Sr., V.B. Barlow, Sr. and Marjorie W. Barlow.

We Are Morehouse Monthly|Page 24

FARE THEE WELL > Charles McLien, III ’97 - 1974-2017

2015 Alumnus of the Year, Charles McLien, III '97 of Sydney, Australia. transitioned on October 1, 2017. Charles was the General Manager of the University of Washington's SP Jain School of Public Management in Sydney, Australia. He was responsible for developing and managing marketing & recruitment initiatives for postgraduate programs in the Australia and New Zealand markets. After Morehouse, Charles earned his M.B.A. from Harvard Business School.

In an effort to honor his memory and carry forward his charge, his friends of Morehouse and Spelman Class of 1997 have established a literary fund to raise donations towards an annual book scholarship for deserving Morehouse College students. To honor Charles's legacy of giving, please consider donating to his book fund by clicking here: Charles McLien III Book Scholarship

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Make your gift by 12/31 at giving.morehouse.edu/thehouse

PREMIERES JANUARY 3rd on TRUTv Co-Creator, Director, Executive Producer Jamal Dedeaux '02

"AND IN ALL THINGS THAT WE DO"

1LT Ephesian L. Poinsette ’14 displays Alumni pride overseas in Kuwait while supporting Operation Spartan Shield in Camp Buehring, Kuwait. He serves as the TF SWORD, 548 CSSB Current Operations Officer and Battle Captain and is stationed at Fort Drum, NY stateside.

CLICK HERE TO GIVE TODAY