Joel Boyd is a television writer, and producer dedicated to delivering innovation and creating a positive production environment. He is known for his work on The Many Saints of Newark (2021), History of Swear Words (2021) and Hot Date (2017). Now with the Walt Disney Company, he has also had stints at Netflix, HBO Max, Disney+ and Jim Henson Studios

Mr. Boyd previously performed as a stand-up comedian, with sketch and improv comedy performances at venues including The Laugh Factory, Second City, Zanies, The Comedy Bar, iO Theater, and The Annoyance Theatre.

A graduate of Columbia University, Mr. Boyd received a bachelor's degree in Telecommunications Management.

East Oakland native Devin Cunningham will play Jeremiah Brooks, the inspirational and religious mentor of Michaela Holloway in Reckless Behavior The Series. Cunningham recently worked with Pear Theatre in Mountain View on Lynn Nottage’s Sweat. He described the experience as a fun and intense play to work on. Earlier this year, he worked with the African American Shakespeare Company on their production of Leslie Lee’s Black Eagles. It was a privilege for Cunningham to honor the Tuskeegee Airman through this work. He labeled it as one of his favorite projects he’s worked on outside of Reckless Behavior.

Mr. Cunningham was inspired to act from watching red carpets as a kid. When he was about seven or eight, he would watch award shows and see how beautiful and elegant the men and women were and from that he concluded that he wanted to be an actor. In elementary school he participated in the same play every year, the Joy Story. In 7th grade he got the lead and it was everything to him. According to Cunningham “I didn’t pick up acting again until I was 18 at Chabot College and discovered there that this was the career path I wanted to take for my life. It felt like the right choice then and hasn’t felt wrong since.”

Aurelia Michael was born and raised in the Bronx, New York, where she began her artistic training at the Dance Theatre of Harlem. She continued studying dance throughout college, earning Dance and Business Management degrees from the University of Maryland, College Park, as well as attending the Fashion Institute of Technology for a Certification in Image Consulting.

Jumping right into the professional dance world after college, her credits include The Hunger Games: Mocking Jay, Netflix, GAP, Smirnoff, BET's Black Girls Rock with Janelle Monae, The Today Show, and the international tour “Every Little Step”. In 2018, Ms. Michael also ventured into the world of musical theater, and her credits now include Legally Blonde: The Musical, Ghost: The Musical, In The Heights, and the Original Broadway Cast of SUMMER: The Donna Summer Musical. Most recently, she was the Associate Choreographer for the Miami New Drama's "A Wonderful World," a world-premiere musical about jazz legend and singular American icon Louis Armstrong.

Since 2011, Ms. Michael has been the Founder and Lead Coach for Aurelia Michael Living. Through AML, she focuses on helping people in the entertainment industry gain and sustain confidence to produce continuous results. She loves to work with clients and companies via private coaching, group workshops, and seminars.

Ms. Michael is an artist who prides herself on valuing versatility, professionalism, and genuine respect for all facets of the arts. She loves to help people of all ages pursue their dreams and accomplish their goals.

Andia Winslow is an Emmy, Telly and Society of Voice Arts and Sciences award-winning voiceover actor whose credits include documentary films, animated movies, televised award shows, museum exhibitions, international advocacy campaigns, video games, audio books, promos and commercials. In 2021, she was named "Voice Artist of the Year" by One Voice. She is the host of Doc World on World Channel (PBS) and a voice of NASA.

A Jackie Robinson Foundation / Bill Dickey Scholarship Association scholar raised in Seattle and educated at Yale University, Ms. Winslow dedicated time as a professional golfer, TV personality and fitness industry thought leader before rocking the mic full time. She was the first African American female varsity golfer to compete in the Ivy League and, in 2006, became the fourth African American to ever compete in LPGA Tour history. An elite athlete, Ms. Winslow trained with Olympic Hall of Fame Track & Field Coach Brooks Johnson and was invited to join the USA Bobsled and Skeleton Federation in preparation for the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia.

As an artist inspired by movement and kinetic storytelling, her innovative wellness efforts have been recognized globally with features by the New York Times, SXSW, CNN, and Golf Digest with Forbes calling her work the “Smartest, Sexiest Workout Videos Ever." She makes her feature film debut as golf pioneer Ann Gregory in "Playing Through" (2022) and her live-action TV debut in the Sony and Amazon Pictures reboot of the baseball classic movie "A League of Their Own" (2022).

Gabrielle Madison is the Director of Community Relations for Thomson Reuters. In her role she has responsibility over various community partnerships for the Dallas office of Thomson Reuters. She engages the Thomson Reuters team in various industry associations, charitable organizations, civic groups and other organizations to develop community engagement strategies that make have a positive impact on the community, the team and build brand awareness.

Over the last ten years besides working in Community Relations, Ms. Madison has worked in HR with Thomson Reuters.

Her passion for creating better communities is also found in the areas where she serves. She currently serves in her fourth year as the Southwest Region Board Member for the American Heart Association and is the chair of their Health Equity Committee helping to drive health care access to those that have been neglected. She is the Vice-Chair on the Trusted World Organization’s Board, the Vice Chair of the Education and Talent Workforce Council for the Dallas Regional Chamber, member of the P-TECH Impact Board for Dallas ISD, and the new Board Chair for Bonton Farms.

Ms. Madison has also been fortunate to be honored in various ways including being named “40 under 40” by the Dallas Business Journal, a member of the Dallas Regional Chamber’s Leadership Class of 2019 and was recently honored as a Dallas 500 for the second year. Another organization that is near to her heart is the Jackie Robinson Foundation, which provides scholarship and premier leadership development for minority college students.

She graduated from Baylor University with a B.B.A. in Marketing, and currently lives in Frisco.

Vince Stewart is an operations management professional with over a decade of experience helping numerous billion-dollar enterprises improve processes and eliminate costs throughout supply chains. His work has always been centered on creating excellent customer experiences. He holds two business degrees: an undergraduate degree from The Wharton School of The University of Pennsylvania and an MBA from the Stern School of Business at New York University.

Mr. Stewart's career has taken a winding path through the various disciplines of the wide world of operations management. He began his career as a rotational merchandising trainee at Dick's Sporting Goods learning the ins and outs of how to get products from the conceptual stage and onto store shelves. He parlayed that experience into a 7-year stint primarily as a warehouse operations manager at McMaster-Carr Supply Company, an independent industrial supply company, through which he gained a world-class education on how to drive customer-centered operational efficiency. After McMaster-Carr, Mr. Stewart spent two years running the Rides businesses in Uber's Florida, Louisiana, Tennessee, and other southeastern US markets - a role that was still very much about logistics, but focused on moving people instead of warehouse boxes. Finally, he bridged his operational experience and his love of marketing and branding to become Harry's Senior Brand Operations Manager, his current role. In this role, Mr. Stewart is responsible for helping the 80+ employee Harry's US marketing team to work more efficiently and effectively together via communications and process audits, and creating tools and other infrastructure to aid in information flow. He also serves as a key cross-functional partner between the Harry's US team and the rest of the Harry's organization, helping to quarterback company-wide projects to drive process efficiency throughout the organization. In addition to his frontline responsibilities, Mr. Stewart serves as a co-lead for African Ancestry Collective, the Harry's ERG focused on those who identify as having heritage from the African diaspora, as well as a member of the company's D&I Council.

Mr. Stewart recently resettled in Pennsylvania and purchased his first home in Phoenixville with his beautiful wife and rescue pup named Scooby. In his spare time he enjoys learning the ropes of homeownership, spending time with his family and friends, and chatting about the Philadelphia Eagles and other Philly sports teams. He also enjoys eating great food and playing volleyball, a sport he played on a club level throughout undergrad; he hopes to find an adult league to play in with his twin brother who lives nearby.

Elizabeth Gil, Ph.D. is an assistant professor and School Based Leadership Master’s Program Director in the Division of Educational Leadership, Administration, and Policy at Fordham University’s Graduate School of Education in New York City. She holds a Ph.D. in K–12 Educational Administration from Michigan State University, where she was named a King-Chávez-Parks Future Faculty Fellow. She has also earned a master's degree in Educational Leadership from the College of Saint Rose, a master's degree in Curriculum and Teaching from Michigan State University, and a bachelor's degree in History from New York University.

Her community-engaged perspective stems from her experiences in New York City Public Schools for over ten years, where she worked with students, teachers, and families as a teacher, professional developer, mentor, and data specialist. She has also served as residential faculty and curriculum co-coordinator in the Institute for Recruitment of Teachers Summer Workshop, which helps prepare college students for the graduate school application process. Her research interests include understanding the experiences of diverse families in schools and leadership and teaching for serving culturally and linguistically diverse student populations. Dr. Gil’s publications include peer-reviewed articles in Journal of School Leadership, Urban Education, International Journal of Leadership in Education, and International Journal of Mentoring and Coaching in Education and several book chapters.

Spencer Lightsy, born and raised in New York, attended New Rochelle High School, and went on to attend college at the University of Houston where he was a member of the track & field and cross country teams and earned a degree in political science.

Mr. Lightsy is currently the Associate Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations at the University of Houston. The University of Houston is a public, urban university committed to providing quality academic programs that serve the needs of the multicultural population of Houston and surrounding communities. As an urban university, UHD has a special responsibility to provide educational access to those who have not had access in the past.

Prior to joining UHD in 2006, Mr. Lightsy worked at Merrill Lynch, the Mayor’s Anti-Gang Office (Lee P. Brown), in the Office of Council Member Orlando Sanchez (Legislative Affairs), The University of Houston, Pulte Homes, and with The Texas Diversity Council. Upon returning to the field of higher education, he has been instrumental in helping UHD fulfill the university’s mission to provide access to those who have not had access in the past, by implementing strategies that he encountered in the private sector.

Tasha Philpot has spent over 15 years in academia as an award-winning author, advisor, and educator. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Marquette University, and a Master of Public Policy and Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Michigan. Additionally, she’s completed certificates in Sports Industry Essentials, Life Coaching, and Professional Coaching. Currently,Dr. Philpot is a Professor of Government at the University of Texas at Austin, where she is also affiliated with the Center for African and African American Studies and the Center for Women’s and Gender Studies. Dr. Philpot’s research focuses on the conditions that enable marginalized groups in American society to function in a more democratic system. Her work has been supported by the National Science Foundation and published in her discipline’s top peer-reviewed journals.

She has also authored three books, the most recent of which is Conservative But Not Republican: The Paradox of Party Identification and Ideology among African Americans (2017, Cambridge University Press). Additionally, Dr. Philpot found Philpot Consulting, a company dedicated to coaching and mentoring aspiring professionals looking to improve their academic preparation, leadership skills, and workplace acumen. As a dynamic and engaging speaker, Dr. Philpot has presented to a wide range of groups—from athletic teams to political activists—across the United States. Transparent, direct, and compassionate, she is dedicated to helping individuals and groups tap into their inner strengths to achieve their greatest potential.

Keith Webb is an Associate Director/Career Advisor for the Office of Alumni & Career Services at the University of Richmond. He is a strategically focused professional with expertise in student professional development, talent acquisition, relationship management, program and retention management, and diversity & inclusion. Prior to joining Richmond, Mr. Webb worked at Spelman College for eight years, leading the Office of Cooperative Education & Special Programs. Additionally, he was a valued employee of Merrill Lynch & Co., for 28 years. Currently, Mr. Webb works collaboratively with staff and faculty to optimize the student professional development experience. He also participates on various committees, and serves as a mentor to Spiders.

Mr. Webb holds a Master of Science degree in Human Resource Development, and a Bachelor of Science in Organizational Management, from Manhattanville College, in Purchase, NY. He has also completed a Master’s Certification in Human Resource Management from Villanova University.

Kimberly Dowdell collaborates with other members of the leadership team in HOK’s Chicago studio on strategic business development and marketing initiatives. In addition to cultivating and maintaining relationships with clients and partners, she is a frequent speaker at industry conferences and events and a mentor to HOK’s emerging leaders. She is a co-chair of HOK’s Diversity Advisory Council.

In 2021, Ms. Dowdell joined the board of directors of the Architects Foundation, the philanthropic partner of the American Institute of Architects (AIA). She also joined the board of the Chicago Area Central Committee (CCAC), which works to shape the city’s growth, equity and quality of place. She is a board member of Ingenuity Chicago, which increases arts education access, equity and quality.

Ms. Dowdell is the past president (2019-2020) of the National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA) and a member of the National Organization of Minority Architects Council (NOMAC), which is the organization’s highest level of recognition.

She was a 2020 AIA Young Architects Award recipient and was recognized for her activism efforts by Architectural Record’s 2020 Women in Architecture Awards program.

Kimberly Dowdell is a member of the Urban Land Institute. She initiated the concept behind Social Economic Environmental Design, an organization that she co-founded in 2005, and was a “40 Under 40” honoree in both Crain’s Chicago Business and Crain’s Detroit Business. In 2019, she delivered the 19th Annual Dunlop Lecture at the Harvard Graduate School of Design.

Chalmus English, Jr. is a Project Software Test Engineer for the Electrical Systems Department’s Software Quality Control Group of Progress Rail, a Caterpillar Company. Progress Rail is one of the largest integrated diversified providers of rolling stock and infrastructure solutions and technologies for the global rail industry. He currently leads the Software/ Hardware Integration Team, dedicated to ensuring customer requirements are met through testing newly developed software products and their interfaces for the locomotive control system. Mr. English has acquired over 20 years of software testing experience, ranging from traction control, air brake, database, and third-party systems to creating/ developing process test documentation, training new engineering hires, as well as participating in the talent recruitment and interview process. He has received the Quality Recognition Award for software testing and believes that teamwork and the contribution of your various talents greatly improves the positive impact on the life you lead and the lives you touch.

A native of Chicago and graduate of the De La Salle Institute, Mr. English was awarded the JRF/GE Foundation scholarship in 1995 and received a BS in electrical engineering from Purdue University. At Purdue, he was a member of the National Society of Black Engineers, the Purdue Black Voices of Inspiration, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity and a tutor for Purdue’s Minority Engineering Program. He was awarded the African Male Image Award and a Certificate of Meritorious Service from Purdue’s Black Cultural Center.

A dedicated JRF Alumnus, Mr. Chalmus’ extensive training as a vocalist led him to co-found the Jackie Robinson Voices of Foundation Choir, which specialized in cultural, gospel, and inspirational music and performed during the JRF’s Mentoring and Leadership Conference and the Annual Awards Dinner. He has served as a JRF Regional Coordinator for Chicago, mentor of numerous JRF Scholars throughout the Jackie Robinson Foundation, and currently serves on the Central Region Selection Advisory Committee.

Mr. English resides in Hammond, Indiana with his wife Tiffani Tyler-English and two daughters, Ava Carrington and Elise Monroe.

Akintunde Ahmad is a writer, podcaster, and filmmaker from Oakland, CA. He has also been an educator with the Oakland Unified School District’s African American Male Achievement Program. He is currently the co-host of the podcast series Viewers Like Us, and an associate producer for Proximity Media’s non fiction department.

Hector Castillo Carvajal, Founder of Don Carvajal Cafe, offers a sustainable approach to the coffee industry by using exclusively compostable materials, contracting directly with farmers that Hector personally vets, and implementing new processes that help to protect the environment while roasting the beans to perfection. Hector was inspired to start Don Carvajal Cafe while he was still a student at the University of Rochester. One summer Mr. Carvajal met a coffee importer who was impressed by his business-savvy and drive. After learning about the coffee industry, he then returned to campus in the fall and created a business plan for Don Carvajal Cafe. Since then, Mr. Carvajal has continued to learn everything he can about the coffee industry through mentors and networking to build his business from the ground up.

Dezell Lathon is the mastermind of the production company Deeply Rooted Pictures, with the mission to diversify mainstream media through distinct diverse voices. He intends to cultivate a network of collaborators who seek to share stories from underrepresented communities to foster a change and provide a voice to the unheard. Mr. Lathon has worked in the creative space at Abbott Entertainment, The Old Globe, and HBO. He is earning his Master of Fine Arts – MFA in Film/ Television Production. He currently has several projects in development for Deeply Rooted Pictures’ upcoming slate including an interview series, The Spotlight Series, that highlights up and coming marginalized voices in entertainment (writers, directors, producers) and uncovers the tricky navigation of a marginalized creative in Hollywood.

Ayanna Kemp Cameron currently serves as a Director and AMLRO Designate responsible for BMO New York Branch, BMO Capital Markets Corp., and BMO Houston Agency. She is also the Head of Controls and Reporting where she manages the Policies and Procedures, Operations and Management Information Systems functions for the Office of the Capital Markets AMLRO. Based in New York, Ms. Cameron has more than 15 years of legal, regulatory, and anti-money laundering experience. She has worked for Citigroup, Morgan Stanley, Morgan Stanley Fund Services, and Calyon (now Credit Agricole) in a legal counsel, compliance officer, or anti-money laundering subject matter expert capacity.

In her previous roles she was charged with drafting anti-money laundering and terrorist financing prevention policies, procedures, training modules, and risk assessments pursuant to United States, Cayman Island, Irish, and Bermudan anti-money laundering laws, regulations and guidance notes; regulatory interpretation; anti-money laundering training; and contract negotiation.

Ms. Cameron has a Juris Doctorate from Brooklyn Law School and a Bachelors of Arts from The American University in Washington, D.C. She is presently a member of the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (SIFMA), Anti Money Laundering and Financial Crimes Committee; the Association of Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialists; the Financial Women’s Association (FWA) and has a leadership position within the New York Chapter of BMO’s Alliance for Women (A4W).

Justin Matthews is a Managing Director and an Associate Director in Equity Research. He has over 20 years of Retail and Financial Services experience, working primarily in Equities. He joined Cowen in 2019 from Wells Fargo Securities, where he worked in both Equity Research and Equity Research Sales. Prior to joining Wells, Justin worked in Research roles at Nomura and UBS. Mr. Matthews began his career in the fashion industry, working as a buyer at Abercrombie & Fitch and Saks Fifth Avenue, before joining Standard & Poors’ Vista Research (now d/b/a Guidepoint Global) as Associate Director of Retail and Hospitality Research.

At Cowen, he leads strategic efforts around staffing, training, and development of Equity Research Associates and VPs. He is a founding member of the Cowen Black Network, serving on the Steering Committee and as Co-Chair of the Recruitment Subcommittee.

Mr. Matthews earned his MBA from New York University’s Leonard N. Stern School of Business (’11) and his B.A. from Cornell University (’00) in Industrial and Labor Relations.

Sobani Warner heads the equity department of Siebert Williams Shank & Co., an independent non-bank financial services firm serving the needs of institutional investors, corporations, and governments. Siebert Williams Shank was formed in 2019 by the merger of Siebert Cisneros Shank and The Williams Capital Group and is a majority women-owned firm. As a veteran of Wall Street with over 20 years of experience, Ms. Warner has held various positions within Williams Capital since her joining in 2000, including Head of Equity Research and Senior Industry Advisor, Corporate Finance. Prior to joining Williams Capital, she was Senior Managing Director, Senior Equity Analyst at Bear Stearns covering Latin American cement and construction stocks and was ranked First Team by Institutional Investor. She started her career at J.P. Morgan as a corporate finance analyst. Ms. Warner has a B.A. in Economics from Stanford University. She is a JRF alumna and current member of the JRF Alumni Association.

Shylene Mata is an Analyst at the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO), a non-partisan federal agency that works for Congress. GAO provides Congress, the heads of executive agencies, and the public with fact-based information to improve government programs and ensure efficient use of taxpayer dollars.

During her time at GAO, she has audited government programs across diverse issue areas, ranging from physical infrastructure to defense capabilities and management. Ms. Mata currently works in the natural resources and environment portfolio on topics ranging from energy sector work to fisheries management. She is also active in the agency’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Access initiatives and in recruiting diverse candidates.

Prior to joining GAO, Ms. Mata worked at the Inter-American Development Bank in Washington, DC, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and with various non-profit/non-governmental organizations domestically and abroad. She has a Master’s in Public Administration (MPA) and a BS in Natural Resources Policy and Management from Cornell University. Born and raised in Queens, NY, she is a 2007 JRF alumna and an Extra Innings scholarship recipient.

Rayshon Payton serves as an Attorney Advisor in the Office of Legislative Affairs at the US Department of Justice. He previously worked for Senate Democratic Leader Charles Schumer of New York, for House Democratic Leader Harry Reid, (NV-1), and at the White House. Mr. Payton began his professional career at the Oklahoma County District Attorney’s Office

A native of Oklahoma City, he graduated from North East High School and attended Oklahoma City University, playing on their National Championship golf team. After completing his undergraduate studies, Mr. Payton attended the University Of Oklahoma College Of Law where he earned his Juris doctorate degree.

Dr. Temeka L. Johnson was born and raised in southwest Georgia. She graduated from Bainbridge High School with a 4.0 GPA and was voted “Most Likely to Succeed” by her senior class.

She received her BS degree in Biology from Albany State College in Albany, GA. There, she graduated Magna Cum Laude and went on to receive her M.D. degree from Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta, GA.

Dr. Johnson completed her OB-GYN residency at Wayne State University/Hutzel Women's Hospital in Detroit, Michigan. During residency, she received awards for best student educator. She resides in Brandon, MS with her husband Terance and their two children, Kamryn and Isaiah. She is a Christian and proudly testifies to the grace and mercy of her savior, Jesus Christ.

Dr. Johnson is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. She enjoys public speaking and often attends speaking engagements where she educates young girls and women of all ages about their bodies; sexual health and wellness; and health care.

Dr. Makeda Robinson studied public health as an undergraduate at Johns Hopkins University during her time as a Jackie Robinson Foundation Scholar. She went on to earn her MD and Ph.D. from Stanford University School of Medicine and is currently a faculty member at the University studying Infectious Diseases. Her research has taken her around the world where she studied malaria treatments in Ethiopia and Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine approaches in China. She is currently focused on understanding virus-host interactions in the setting of emerging viruses such as dengue and COVID-19. Dr. Robinson has been working to spread evidence-based information about the pandemic through her commentary on current issues surrounding the COVID-19 response in major media outlets including CNBC, USA Today, and The Huffington Post. She is also the co-founder of an angel investment company focused on supporting companies developing innovative diagnostic and AI approaches to improve the efficiency and safety of healthcare delivery.

Ashley Bailey-Chang focuses her practice in the area of corporate law, with an emphasis on cross-border transactions.

She assists clients with domestic and international transactions including mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, corporate restructurings, and other strategic business arrangements. In addition, she advises clients on general corporate matters, including corporate governance.

Ms. Bailey-Chang regularly works with multidisciplinary cross-border teams and is effective at coordinating large teams of attorneys and business advisors to assist clients in structuring, implementing, and closing global transactions.

Heather Cannady is Manager, Legal Recruiting & Firm-wide Lateral Efforts where she oversees lateral attorney recruitment process at the associate level in 11 offices worldwide as well as the comprehensive recruiting function for the nearly 300-attorney New York office. Prior to joining Ropes & Gray, Ms. Cannady was an Associate with Cravath Swaine & Moore LLP. She served as Law Clerk to the Honorable Joseph A. Greenaway, Jr. at United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit and as Law Clerk to the Honorable George B. Daniels at United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. Ms. Cannady received her B.A. in History and Politics from New York University, and earned her J.D. from Harvard Law School.

Joseph Fiorill advances the interests of property owners, developers, and others in disputes over delays and construction defects in large building projects. His understanding of construction and strong experience in strategizing how to resolve disputes put his clients in the best position to achieve a positive outcome. Knowing what really matters on a construction project and understanding where leverage lies help the team determine what claims to press and how to do it.

He has another valuable skill that is especially useful to French-speaking clients. Before his legal career, he taught French and worked as a translator. So he's able to help these clients — whether executives with client organizations or asylum seekers fleeing persecution in their homelands — in their own language.

Before joining Katten, Mr. Fiorill was a transactional real estate lawyer at another firm. He also served as a law clerk to the senior judges of the District of Columbia Court of Appeals. Before becoming a lawyer, Joe was a journalist covering international affairs. In law school, he was editor in chief of The Georgetown Journal of Gender and the Law.

Nneka Enurah is an award-winning creative who focuses on developing and producing multi-platform content. At Amazon, she develops creative solutions for advertisers and manages relationships globally.

She previously worked at REACT Media as the Head of Development & Partnerships; and at Reese Witherspoon's Hello Sunshine where she served as the Director of Digital Development & Production and led all in-house production efforts and oversaw the creative development of video content.

During Ms. Enurah’s tenure as the Vice President of Multi-platform Content and Partnerships at Authentic Entertainment, she shepherded new content series and branded projects for our clients. Among her biggest accomplishments was selling more than half a dozen premium series in less than 12 months of establishing the department and being named a 2017 Cynopsis Digital "It List" Award recipient, a 2018 "Top Woman In Digital" Honoree, and a 2018 Webby Nominee for "Breaking Bass".

In 2020, she became the first Black woman named Elon University's School of Communications "Alumna of the Year".

Tara Graham, MPH, is JDI’s National Program Director and is based in its Washington, D.C. office. She provides training and technical assistance to corrections agencies on preventing and responding to sexual abuse in detention. She has been working on the development and implementation of the Prison Rape Elimination Act standards for more than 15 years, including at the National PREA Resource Center. Ms. Graham’s research experience includes interviewing homeless and runaway youth and incarcerated women about issues including drug use, sexual behaviors, and experience with physical and sexual violence. Previously, she served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Tanzania working on HIV/AIDS prevention with an emphasis on women and youth.

Briana Marbury serves as Executive Director of the Interledger Foundation, which aims to build access to financial pathways around the world. She brings 15 years of non-profit experience and leadership to the role, as well as a passion for promoting financial inclusion for all. As Executive Director, Ms. Marbury’s goal is to educate and bring awareness around the Interledger protocol. She is dedicated to expanding the public’s understanding of the technology’s immense potential to improve lives.

Sharaé Moultrie is a JRF alumna, class of 2012. She currently serves as the Senior Manager of Foundation Relations at the Robin Hood Foundation. In this capacity, she helps to manage its poverty-fighting fundraising efforts, specifically to expand and deepen Robin Hood’s relationships with foundations and corporate funders.

Prior to joining Robin Hood, Ms. Moultrie worked in various positions within the Private Bank and Corporate & Investment Bank at JPMorgan Chase & Co. She is also an actor and singer, having performed on stages across the globe. Passionate about the transformative power of the arts, Ms. Moultrie is a board member of Rosie’s Theater Kids, an organization dedicated to enriching the lives of children through performing arts. She graduated from the University of South Carolina with a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance and International Business. She lives in Harlem, NY.

With a relentless dedication to improving the lives of others, Nichol Whiteman is the Chief Executive Officer of the award-winning Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation (LADF). Under her leadership, LADF tackles the most pressing problems facing Los Angeles with a mission to improve education, health care, homelessness and social justice for all Angelenos. During her tenure, LADF launched incredibly impactful programming including Dodgers RBI, a youth development initiative serving more than 10,000 youth today.

As part of LADF’s commitment to Southern California communities, the Foundation completed its 50th Dodgers Dreamfield, created a benefit gala, and increased fundraising by 1,000% with Ms. Whiteman at the helm. Direct programming is only the beginning. she also advocates for LADF to be a strong charitable partner for nonprofits within the Los Angeles community through strategic grantmaking that builds capacity and reach. Collectively, Ms. Whiteman has cultivated partnerships that have resulted in more than $32 million in community investment in the form of direct programs and grant-making, impacting over 2.3 million children.

With a degree in Economics from Spelman College, she was the first in her family to graduate from college and has a passion for education, equity, and diversity. Her unwavering dedication resulted in positions in investment management and publishing before beginning a philanthropic career as VP, Western Region of the Jackie Robinson Foundation. As a child of Jamaican immigrants “in search of a dream," she frequently highlights the power of diversity in advocating for resources and opportunities for marginalized populations.

As a Black woman in Major League Baseball, Ms. Whiteman understands the importance of access. She uses her resources to open doors and opportunities for youth from all backgrounds. In addition to her professional achievements, she mentors countless men and women. With a mighty team that shares her commitment to advocacy, Whiteman aims to deepen the impact of LADF programs and enhance the Foundation’s visibility and philanthropic influence across Los Angeles.

Dr. Mark Lee is an associate professor in the biology department at Spelman and is committed to STEM education for underrepresented groups, especially women scientists. After earning a degree in chemistry from Morris Brown College, Lee attended Clark Atlanta University to complete his Ph.D. in biochemistry while conducting research at Morehouse School of Medicine. He continued his career as a scientist at Emory University School of Medicine in the Winship Cancer Center (1996-1999) before joining the research faculty in the pathology and laboratory medicine department (1999-2002) where his basic science research was funded by the National Institutes of Health and the National Cancer Institute.

Dr. Lee joined the Spelman biology department in 2002, and he served as chair from 2009 – 2016. In the science education community at large, Lee has collaborated with the Emory Fellowships in Research and Science Teaching (FIRST) Program, Albany State University, Michigan State University, Atlanta Public Schools, the American Association of Colleges and Universities (AAC&U), Project Kaleidoscope (PKAL), New York University Faculty Resource Network, Quality Education for Minorities (QEM) Network, Stanford Asilomar Conference for Online Education, and the National Academies Summer Institutes for Science Education. His science education research is currently funded by the National Science Foundation, and he is a member of the American Association of Physics Teachers, and the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.

In 2020, he joined the third class of the Partnership for Undergraduate Life Sciences Education fellowship. PULSE, which was launched in 2012 by the National Science Foundation, the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, and the National Institute for General Medical Sciences, works to help college professors improve the study of life sciences at colleges throughout the United States.

Angelia Gordon Neal currently serves as Senior Management Analyst and Chief of the Management Policy and Analysis Branch at the National Eye Institute, one of the 27 institutes and centers at the U.S. National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland. Her office is responsible for providing direction and oversight for performance management, standards of ethic conduct, and other administrative policy and compliance issues. Ms. Neal joined the National Institutes of Health as a United States Presidential Management Fellow in 2000. The highly competitive Presidential Management Fellows program was established by Executive Order in 1977 by President Jimmy Carter to attract to the Federal service outstanding individuals from a wide variety of academic disciplines that have an interest in, and commitment to, excellence in the leadership and management of public policies and programs.

Ms. Neal earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Southern University and A&M College and a Masters degree from Colorado State University. She is an active member of her church and several professional and civic organizations, including the Iota Gamma Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. She currently resides in Mitchellville, Maryland, with her husband Arthur Neal.

Tiffany Yizar is a senior manager in global skincare R&D for Unilever. She supports bringing to life new and improved products under the brands Dove and Simple. She has 15 years of experience in fast moving consumer goods, working for multinational food & beverage companies like General Mills and PepsiCo in research & development and factory engineering roles and now working in personal care R&D for Unilever. Ms. Yizar holds a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Chemical and Biochemical Engineering from Brown University and a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) from the UCLA Anderson School of Business.

She and her husband are proud spoilers of their dog, world travelers and foodies, she is also an avid gardener and aspires to achieve a zero waste-to-landfill household.