RB's 300 Sec Podcast

Emmanuel Little, Ph.D., currently serves as director of training and DEI Initiatives at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Atlanta. He led the Call Me MISTER (Mentors Instructing Students Toward Effective Role models) program at Georgia College. He led several initiatives for young men of color in higher education and several committees focused on leadership for diversity issues. His research interests revolve around support for historically marginalized and underrepresented students in higher education, particularly concerning access and opportunity. Specifically, his scholarship focuses on expanding the knowledge base that informs his work with these communities. Emmanuel also thrives as a voice-over artist (aka “MannyVoices“) and podcaster (via The No Wednesday Podcast). He has also been known to dabble in poetry and rap music in his spare time as a creative outlet for his passions. He earned his Bachelors in mass communication and Masters in public administration at Georgia College, and a Ph.D., in Higher Education from The University of Georgia. Learn more about Emmanuel by logging on to https://emmanuellittle.com/.

Shani Lenore is currently the Vice President of Enrollment at Maryville University. Her 24-year career has included admission/enrollment positions at Columbia College (Columbia, MO), Southeast Missouri State University, and Saint Louis University. During Ms. Lenore's tenure at Maryville, she developed and implemented multi-dimensional recruitment/marketing/enrollment campaigns informed by market and geo-demographic analysis, oversaw the implementation and effective use of numerous recruitment CRM's, and employed financial aid leveraging strategies resulting in record freshmen classes while maintaining academic quality and increasing geographic and ethnic diversity. Shani has served as Past-President of the Missouri Association for College Admission Counseling, served as a delegate to the National Association for College Admission Counseling, and held the Past-Chair position on the Missouri ACT State Organization. Shani also served as a Senior Consultant with AACRAO Consulting. She has been significantly involved in other regional and national professional organizations, presenting on various enrollment management topics regionally and nationally.

Dr. Brandon W. Jones is a speaker, lecturer, student affairs practitioner, husband, father, and minister. He serves as Associate Director for Student Learning and Development in Housing and Dining at the University of Texas at Austin. Brandon is very passionate about helping students realize their purpose and make the most of their college experience. He specializes in student-athlete development, student success, minority student achievement, academic support programs, and curriculum development. He holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Graphic Design and a Master's Degree in Higher Education from Abilene Christian University. He also earned his Ph.D. in Educational Leadership & Policy Studies from the University of Texas at Arlington in 2015. Brandon and his wife, Melissa, have been married since 2011 and have 2 kids (Alissa and Brandon II).

Bo Cobb was born and raised in St. Louis, Mo., and graduated from Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville with a Bachelor of Science in Theatre-Performance. After graduating, he understood the value of developing relationships and mentorship and began working in the non-profit sector, managing group homes, and serving as a youth pastor. Bo also wrote and directed several plays geared toward praising the Lord while uplifting the youth and families. He is a big advocate for mental health and healing. Bo understands how recovery leads to freedom, a fresh start, and a re-connection. "Cooking with Bo: Unique & Delicious Plant-Based Meals" is available at most major retailers, including Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Walmart.

Charleese Hasan was raised in St. Louis, MO. She holds a B.S. in Biology and Chemistry from St. Louis University, an MBA from Webster University, and a Ph.D. in Strategic Intelligence from Harvard University. She is an active-duty Navy Captain, business owner, and founder of Eboni Eyes' non-profit education foundation. CAPT Hasan has served as an active duty Intelligence Officer for over 24 years. She is the Prospective Commanding Officer of Brooks Center for Maritime Engagement in Suitland, MD. Hasan is co-owner of OH Charlie LLC, a commercial real estate investment company specializing in acquiring and managing retail strip malls. She also specializes in the acquisition and management of vacation rentals. The Eboni Eyes Foundation conducts financial literacy and entrepreneurship programs and provides college scholarships to St. Louis area students. To learn more visit http://www.ebonieyes.org.

In 2018, Nite Owl won a song contest with the St. Louis Cardinals that is now featured as their theme song called "Cardinal Nation: Hearts Are Pumpin!" Nite Owl's music continues to be discovered and rapidly consumed through sync licensing placements worldwide. From Mexico to London to Japan to the Middle East, he learns of new fans hearing his sound for the first time. Ultimately, you will want to cheer for this St. Louis talent extraordinaire, as he's created a sweet blend of musical styles. His style embodies the integrity of Underground lyrical Hip Hop music, paired with the characteristics of mass commercial appeal. Nite Owl has written, recorded, and released 23 independent albums throughout his music career. He refuses to be outworked in the studio and on stage. His fans and critics often compare him to Jay-Z, Nas, Kanye West, and Common. Nite Owl performs Hip Hop music alongside a live band and DJ during his live performances, making his shows exciting and new. His performances are innumerable but include being the show opener for The Roots, Talib Kweli & Little Brother, and Waka Flocka Flame. Nite Owl took 1st place in the HOT 104.1FM Koch Madness Competition after competing with 208 other St. Louis Hip Hop artists. And he has been booked to perform more than any other Hip Hop artist or group in the St. Louis area. Nite Owl proves that he only gets better with time and has outlasted many other indie artists in his region. He is proud to be a Hip Hop artist who is unsigned, authentic, and timeless.'

Dr. Brian L. English was born and raised in Dallas, TX, and attended grade school in the Dallas Independent School District. He received his undergraduate degree in marketing and MBA from Texas A&M University-Commerce.  Additionally, Brian graduated with a Ph.D. from The University of Texas at Arlington's Educational Leadership and Policy Studies program. After a short stint working in corporate America, Brian worked for Education is Freedom as a college advisor and executive coordinator at Concord Church. He focused mainly on community engagement.  He recently served as the Executive Director of the UT Youth Engagement Center - Dallas within The University of Texas at Austin's Division of Diversity and Community Engagement. In this role, he oversaw the Dallas outreach programs for UT Austin and developed/implemented innovative pathways to success for high school students, college students, and graduates in the Dallas area. He now serves as Director of Community Relations for Dallas College. Brian has been married to Dr. Ashley English since December of 2012. They have three beautiful children (Joseph, Joshua, and Faith).

Rachel McCoy lived most of her life in the Atlanta, Georgia area. She graduated cum laude from Wofford College in South Carolina, where she earned a bachelor's degree in Psychology. She also holds a master's degree in Educational Psychology from the University of Texas – Austin and an Education Specialist degree in School Counseling from Georgia State University. Rachel is passionate about public education and connecting students to postsecondary opportunities. She was a public-school counselor in Georgia for fourteen years, often called upon to lend her voice as an advocate for both students and professionals. Later, Rachel obtained her Education Leadership certification and LPC (Licensed Professional Counselor) and National Certified Counselor (NCC) credentials. Rachel has presented at numerous regional and national conferences on various school counseling and college access initiatives throughout her career. For the last eight years, Rachel has worked for national nonprofit organizations working directly with educators, school districts, and state agencies to expand access to postsecondary opportunities on a larger scale.

In this short episode, Pastor Nate offers a special short prayer for our Podcast, our Leaders, and our Country.

Pastor Nate Stewart is a native of Macon, Georgia. Immediately after high school, Pastor Nate attended college on a football scholarship. His dream was to play for the NFL, but those plans were halted after he suffered a major knee injury during his freshman year. At this time, Pastor Nate began to really pray and seek God about his life and his future. In 1997 Pastor Nate accepted his call to full-time ministry, and the journey began at The Florida School of Preaching. He moved on to Christian Bible College, where he received his Bachelor of Theology Degree and Master of Ministry Degree in Christian Counseling. He served in Little Rock, Ark, Cleveland, Ohio, Atlanta, GA, and Macon, GA, where I paths crossed as he served as Executive Pastor at The House of Hope Atlanta and The House of Hope Macon, under the direction of his spiritual father and mentor, Dr. E. Dewey Smith, Jr. In 2017, Pastor Nate received an unexpected call from the Lord to serve as the Senior Pastor of Greater Life Church. After much hesitation and prayer, he accepted the offer and moved his family to San Diego, California, to serve as the 3rd Pastor in the church's 45-year history.

Born in Cincinnati, OH, Dorian Brown grew up in East St. Louis, IL. As an undergraduate, he attended the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Dorian began as an engineer ended with a BA in history and a minor in mathematics. He received a Master's in History with an emphasis in African American History from Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville. He pledged Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc through the vessel of the Iota Pi Chapter. He currently is ABD in pursuit of a Ph.D. in History at Saint Louis University. His research interests include African American history and African history. Dorian served as a Professor of History at St. Louis Community College at Forest Park for 19 years before joining the African American Studies Faculty at City College of San Franciso, where he currently serves.

With over fifteen years of experience in university admission and independent school settings, Jessica Sant was recently named Chief Engagement Officer at The Lovett School in Atlanta, GA. Before her current role, she served as Lovett's Director of College Counseling and worked as an undergraduate admission officer at both the University of Georgia and Emory University. She was named President of the Southern Association for College Admission Counseling (SACAC) in 2018 and is a current Dickinson College's Counselor Advisory Board member. She earned her undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of Georgia and is completing a Certificate in School Management and Leadership through the Harvard Business School and Graduate School of Education. Jessica is the recipient of Lovett's Surdyk Award, SACAC's Rising Star Award, and NACAC's Excellence in Government Relations Award. She's married to Tyler Sant, who happens to be the Head of College Counseling at the Atlanta International School, and is the very proud mom to Josie Jaret Sant, who will turn 1 in October!

Stacey R. Cleveland is a wife, mother, leader, author, and forever learner who lives by the mantra - Grace. Grind. Gratitude. God's Grace is sufficient. Activate your Grind daily. Be thankful with love and Gratitude. In her professional life, Stacey has worked in diversity, equity, and inclusion in university, non-profit and technical sectors for fifteen years. She is currently the Director, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Salesforce where she is charged with implementing equitable and inclusive diversity strategies to drive transformational hiring, attrition, and belonging outcomes for underrepresented groups. Prior to Salesforce, Stacey was a diversity lead, instrumental in building the operational strategy for the retention and progression team at Google. Stacey is a certified career coach and training facilitator who has led professional development training for seasoned executive leaders and young professionals. The scope of her work and diversity expertise has afforded Stacey the opportunity to speak at various national conferences such as the National MBA Association, National Conference on Race and Ethnicity, Junior Achievement, Thurgood Marshall College Fund, and the United Negro College Fund. Stacey is a graduate of the University of Missouri with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism. She completed a dual Master of Arts degree in Human Resources Development and Communication Management at Webster University. Stacey is a published author and a proud member of Delta Sigma ThetaSorority, Inc. Stacey was born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri and still considers it home. She currently resides in Austin, Texas with her husband and teenage son. Learn more at: www.lovenotesbyrobbirenee.com

Lori Patton Davis, Ph.D.is one of the most highly respected, accomplished, and influential scholars in the field of higher education. She is a tenured full professor of Higher Education and Student Affairs at The Ohio State University and Chair of the Department of Educational Studies. Patton Davis is also past president of the Association for the Study of Higher Education. She is best known for her important cross-cutting work on African Americans in higher education, critical race theory, diversity initiatives on college campuses, girls and women of color in educational and social contexts, and college student development and graduate preparation. She is the author of numerous peer-reviewed journal articles, book chapters, and other academic publications appearing in highly-regarded venues such as The Journal of Higher Education, Teachers College Record, Journal of College Student Development, Urban Education, and International Journal of Qualitative Studies in Education (QSE). Her research has been cited in multiple publications and funded by grants from the Spencer Foundation, Lumina Foundation, American Psychological Foundation, and an array of other entities. She has served on seven editorial boards for journals in education and was previously associate editor of QSE. She was the American Educational Research Association (AERA) Division J Equity and Inclusion Officer for six years. The American College Personnel Association (ACPA) members elected her to a two-year term as the inaugural Director of Equity and Inclusion on the Association's national governing board. She has received many national awards for her scholarly contributions and was recently recognized in the Edu-Scholar Rankings among the top 200 educators in the US. She is a frequently sought-after expert on a wide range of education topics. The Chronicle of Higher Education, Inside Higher Ed, Huffington Post, Diverse Issues in Higher Education, and dozens of other media outlets have quoted her and featured her research. She has also advised university presidents and other senior administrators, philanthropic foundation executives, culture center directors, and educators in urban K-12 schools.

Kevin was born and raised in northwestern Kansas. He graduated with a Bachelor's degree from Fort Hays State University and a Master's degree from Washburn University. His first life goal was to be a broadcast journalist. Throughout college, he worked as a reporter and substitute anchor at KSNC-TV in Great Bend, Kansas. After college graduation, he worked for one year as a general assignment reporter for KTKA-TV in Topeka, Kansas. For the past 20 years, he worked in higher education enrollment, first at Washburn University and then at Saint Louis University. Nine years ago, he started his current role as Vice President for Enrollment Management and University Communications at Oklahoma City University. Kevin and his wife, Mindy, have been married for 20 years. They live in Edmond, Oklahoma, with their two sons, Spencer and Aidan.

Rico Gonzalez, M.Ed. (he/him/el), is originally from Houston, TX, and has lived, studied, and worked in various higher education spaces. He attended Oberlin College in Ohio for his undergraduate degree in Politics and Texas State University for his Masters's in Student Affairs in Higher Education. For nearly eight years, he was the program coordinator and then director of the CSTEP New York State education grant program at Cornell University's Office of Academic Diversity Initiatives. During his time at Cornell, he successfully co-led the writing team to bring a McNair Scholars program, renewed the CSTEP grant two times, and co-founded the Graduate Students Mentoring Undergraduates (GSMU) program. Before his new role with Project MALES, he earned his master's degree in Student Affairs and worked with the PACE Peer Mentoring Program. Rico's research interests include mentoring, Hispanic/Latino/Latinx identity, and social justice issues. Rico currently lives in Austin, TX, with his wife.

Chalonda Goodman was an All-American student-athlete on the track and field team at The University of Texas at Austin. She competed at the 2012 Olympic trials in the 100 and 200 meters and was a semi-finalist in the 200 meters. In 2019, she was inducted into the Georgia Track and Field Hall of Fame to recognize her stellar athletic career. After graduating with honors from The University of Texas at Austin McCombs School of Business with a BBA in Marketing, she began her career at Texas Instruments. In her current role as a Worldwide Digital Marketing Program Manager, she manages the development and execution of worldwide digital marketing programs. Chalonda is a firm believer in pursuing all your passions. She is currently serving her community as Ms. Black Texas USA in 2021.

Mo Smith was hired as the 19th head women's basketball coach at Flagler College on June 9, 2019. Smith coached Georgia College to three Peach Belt Conference Tournament championship games. The Bobcats won the title in his first season (2010-11) and appeared in the NCAA Division II Southeast Regional the same year. Georgia College knocked off the host school, USC Aiken, to win the tournament championship that year. Smith's coaching resume includes 131 wins in his nine seasons at Georgia College, second-most of any women's basketball coach in the program's history. The College Park, Georgia native, spent 18 years at Georgia College. He arrived as a student-athlete in 1999 after spending two years at Wallace Community College in Dothan, Alabama. He earned second-team all-conference honors in 2001. The year prior, Smith played on one of the best teams in the program's history as he was the sixth-man on the 1999-2000 elite eight squad. Smith married the former Martine Thomas, also a Georgia College alum, and they have two daughters.

Kenneth Rozier is from Macon, GA. He's married to Jamila Rozier, his wife of 11 years. They share 3 beautiful children, Nailah, Hadiyah, and Kenneth III. He's a navy veteran who currently works in higher education. He has a bachelor's in public service from Middle Georgia State and a Master's in Education in Instructional Technology from Georgia College. He recently completed a Master's of Divinity from the Candler School of Theology at Emory University.

Kimberly Ray Redus is a woman after God's own heart, a wife, a mother of four phenomenal daughters, and a grandmother to an amazing 3-year-old boy. She has a B.S.N. from Webster University and is a semi-retired Healthcare and Human Resource professional. Kimberly spent 8 years in the Missouri Air National Guard as a radar technician, 10 years as a Registered Nurse & Manager (Oncology and Med/Surg), and 16 years in various HR roles such as Recruiter, Manager, and Director of Talent Acquisition. She has also held positions as Office Manager of a dance studio and Director of Children's Church. Kimberly has been blessed with the opportunity to temporarily step away from corporate leadership to work as an independent contractor providing consultative human resource services and she also provides daytime care and education for her grandson.

Please enjoy my conversation with Pastor Justin Anderson. He is a native of Saint Louis, Missouri and he was educated in the Saint Louis Public School System. He earned an Associates of Applied Science and a Bachelor of Science from Saint Louis Christian College. He completed both a Bachelor of Arts in Pastoral Theology & Care and a Bachelor of Christian Education from the Historic Western Baptist Bible College. He has also completed a Master of Theology from The Anchor Theological Seminary, and a Certificate of Ministry Studies from Central Baptist Theological Seminary. He has the distinction and honor of being the first African American Alumni of the Year at Central Baptist Theological Seminary. Anderson has served various churches in both Missouri and New York.

Alerica Anderson is a consummate singer, songwriter, composer, producer and director. Alerica serves as Composer and Music Director for Rivers of Women, which featured the literary works of Shirley Bradley LeFlore and directed by her daughter, award-winning author Lyah Beth LeFlore. He has also written and produced songs for various gospel and secular recordings, including the Edwin and Walter Hawkins Music and Arts Seminar Mass Choir. He recently completed his debut worship album, Alerica Anderson and The Voices of Jesus Christ, entitled I Love You Lord. Alerica's production credits also include “PeaceFest”, an outdoor concert event held annually in St. Louis, Missouri. Known for his artist development skills, he has worked with hundreds of artists in all genres of music and serves as a consultant/advisor for several artist management companies and arts organizations both locally and nationally.

Peniel E. Joseph, Ph.D is the Barbara Jordan Chair in Ethics and Political Values at the LBJ School of Public Affairs and professor of history and the founding director of the Center for the study of race and democracy at the University of Texas at Austin. He is the author of numerous books. His latest, The Sword and the Shield: The Revolutionary Lives of Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. was named one of Time Magazine's 100 must reads of 2020. Race and Democracy Podcast.

Ya'Ke Smith, known for his unflinching and veracious style of storytelling, is a rising voice in independent cinema. His films have received world-wide acclaim, screening and winning awards at over 100 film festivals. The Director's Guild of America, the Student Academy Awards, HBO, Showtime, the City of Buffalo, NY, which proclaimed February 23, 2013 as Ya'Ke Smith Day and the city of Cincinnati, OH which proclaimed October 6, 2019 as Ya'Ke Smith Day, have honored him. He has been featured on NPR, CNN, HLN, Ebony Online, Indiewire, Filmmaker Magazine and Shadow & Act. Ya'Ke graduated with his B.A. from the Communication Arts Department at the University of The Incarnate Word, where he later became the youngest recipient of the Alumni of Distinction for Professional Achievement award. He received his M.F.A. from the University of Texas at Austin's film program, where he is currently an Associate Professor of film and the Associate Dean of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the Moody College of Communication. Variety magazine named him one of the best film educators “from across the globe.” Learn more about Ya'Ke by visiting: https://exodusfilmworks.com/

Dr. Angel B. Pérez is CEO of the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC). In this role, he represents more than 23,000 admission and counseling professionals worldwide committed to postsecondary access and success. He is the primary voice of the association to government, media, and global partners. Pérez is recognized as a national thought leader and is a sought-after speaker on issues of educational equity, access, and success in American education. Prior to his arrival at NACAC, he served for 22 years as a leader in higher education where his work was described as transformative. He most recently served as vice president for enrollment and student success at Trinity College (CT), where he also taught in the educational studies department. Pérez is passionate about public policy as a platform for change. During his tenure in higher ed, the governor of Connecticut appointed him to the New England Board of Higher Education, and he was chosen by the Gates Foundation to serve on Forward50, a group of leaders presenting higher ed solutions to Congress. In 2019, a Forbes article named him the greatest influencer in college admission. Dr. Pérez's work has been featured in many media outlets including The New York Times, The Washington Post, NPR, and CBS Evening News.

Enjoy this conversation I had with Traci Moore, entrepreneur, stylist, artist, and chef. Traci credits her great-grandmother, grandmothers, aunts, and mother for her love of cooking. Growing up the majority of time was spent with grandparents, parents, and siblings all under one roof, where everyone cooked, except the "youngins". Traci would often secure her spot in the dining room peeking through the kitchen door watching everything come together and getting an ear full of everybody's business from the family, neighborhood and church. She maintains the belief that all the conversations contributed to the seasonings of the food. At 8 years old she was finally allowed to become part of the production stepping into the kitchen, first learning how to make cornbread from scratch. Based in Dallas, Texas Traci runs one of the most well-known catering businesses in the DFW and has started Moore Twisted Berries, a successful chocolate-based dessert company. Most recently Traci started the Dinner Clique, a private dinner club that hosts dinners 6 times a year. With her Creative sleek plating and palate pleasing cuisine, she leaves her clients craving more. Even though she loves cooking, she believes the true gift is bringing people, who would never speak in passing, together over food and realizing we all have more in common than we realize.

Please enjoy some words of inspiration from Vecente' L. Coatney, II. Coatney serves as the “Pastor of University Ministries and Assimilation” at the Greater Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Austin, TX where Pastor Gaylon Clark is Lead Pastor, providing leadership to the increasing millennial and Gen Z demographic, which includes students from The University of Texas at Austin, Texas State University, Huston-Tillotson University, St. Edwards University and Austin Community College. He is a graduate of Texas State University, where he became an initiate of the Lambda Theta Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi, Fraternity, Inc. and obtained a Bachelor's of Arts degree in Communication Studies. He also holds a Masters of Arts in Theological Studies degree from Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary. His greatest joy and accomplishment in life is being married the love of his life, Lady Joanna Daniels Coatney. Together, they are the proud parents to one son, Vecente', III. His favorite scripture: Ephesians 3:20 "Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us".

Enjoy some words of inspiration from my friend Kelly Holloway Ph.D. Kelly serves as the Asst VP for Enrollment Management at Mercer University. Dr. Holloway is a higher education professional with a Ph.D. and over 10 years of experience in admissions, recruitment, instruction, retention, and policy research. She cares about students and has progressive experience across traditional undergraduate, post-traditional (adult learners), and graduate student populations with a focus on service, student experience, and innovative solutions in a results-driven culture. Dr. Holloway attended Edinboro of Pennsylvania, where she earned a Bachelors in Communications, and Masters in Integrated Marketing Communications. She earned a Ph.D. in Higher Education Leadership from Mercer University.

Hosted by Ramon Blakley, this podcast is educational, thought-provoking, spiritual, and entertaining. This show is meant to be around 300 seconds/5 minutes of inspiration that you can catch while in the car, while working out, or while preparing dinner for the kids.

Born in Athens, Georgia. Bernard Young received a bachelor's degree in finance from Clark Atlanta University. Bernard later obtained a master's and specialist degree in education leadership from Georgia College and State University. Upon graduation from undergrad Bernard spent 5 years as a Branch Manager at a subsidiary of Citibank and later BB&T bank. Currently Bernard Young serves as an Assistant Principal at Southwest High School, in Macon, Georgia. Prior to becoming an administrator, Bernard taught high school mathematics, coached football, basketball, and soccer, and served as an instructional & academic coach for several years. Bernard has held several leadership positions in various professional organizations and organization boards, and he also serves as an Assistant Scoutmaster for Boy Scouts of America Troop 1220. Bernard is the proud husband of Mrs. Chéferre Young, and the father of two boys, Ian Jackson and Aidan Grey.

Please enjoy this conversation with Lyndenise Berdecía as she plants some semillas (seeds) of inspiration. As Founder of Berdhaus, Lyndenise (she/hers/ella) brings experience in career coaching, creative strategy, digital marketing, and higher education. With a passion to help others realize their true potential, Lyndenise has created a space to share resources and tools for success with high school students, recent graduates, veterans and young professionals. In addition to supporting underserved communities, Lyndenise serves as Lead Digital Strategist at a higher education research firm. In that role, Lyndenise brings her digital expertise to institutions as they look to connect with prospective students. Lyndenise is a proud graduate of North Carolina State University with a BS in Business Management and Marketing. She also earned an MA in International Political Economy from the University of Miami. During her free time, you can find Lyndenise drinking a cup of coffee at a local bookstore or dancing at a record shop.

In this episode we hear from David Burge, Vice President for Enrollment Management at George Mason University, a public comprehensive university of 39,000 students in Fairfax, VA. David grew up in Wichita, Kansas – a blue collar community of 300,000 near the Oklahoma border. David is a two-time graduate of the University of Kansas, Bachelors and Masters. After graduating the University of Kansas, he spent two years traveling around to rural and inner-city schools to perform live theater. David also held leadership roles at KU, the University of Nebraska, and Arizona State University.

In this episode, we have a conversation with Charmin Greene! Reigning from Houston, TX, Charmin is an American Jazz Saxophonist who is recognized as an important and influential jazz musician. At the age of 12, she further honed her musical skills and developed her passion under the tutelage of the late Richard Thomas of The Sesame Street Jazz Band, as well as being influenced by greats such as, Kirk Whalum and Joshua Redman. Charmin's sound was destined to pull on the souls of people. Expanding her palette of world music colors considerably, she draws on years of experience of working with the artist in the genres of Pop, R&B, Gospel and of course Jazz. She's since shared the stage and opened for notable musicians such as Norman Brown and Richard Elliot, as well as vocalists Pam Hart, Ali Woodson of the Temptations, Carl Thomas, Howard Hewitt, LeToya Luckett, Tank, and Brandy. Over the years, Greene has performed for audiences into Nicaragua, South Africa, Costa Rica and the Virgin Islands.

Enjoy this great conversation with Dr. Mordecai Brownlee. Dr. Brownlee currently serves as the Vice President for Student Success at St. Philip's College, the only college in the nation federally-designated as both a historically Black college (HBCU) and a Hispanic-serving institution (HSI), located in San Antonio, Texas. During his tenure as vice president, Dr. Brownlee has led St. Philip's to record enrollment of over 13,500 students and the college's four largest degree and certificate awarding classes in its 122-year history. Dr. Brownlee earned a Doctorate of Education in Educational Leadership and a Specialization in Higher Education at Lamar University (Beaumont, Texas) where he was awarded the Outstanding Doctoral Student Award for his research regarding legislative impacts on community colleges in the state of Texas. He attended Houston Baptist University where he earned a Master of Science Degree in Human Resource Management and a Bachelor of Art Degree in Mass Communication & Political Science. An advocate for Community Colleges, Brownlee earned an Associates of Arts Degree in Liberal Arts from what is now known as Lone Star College) in Kingwood, TX. Dr. Mordecai Ian Brownlee currently resides in San Antonio, Texas with his wife of 14 years, Daphne, their son, Mordecai Jr., and their daughter, Lauren Machelle.

What a great conversation with Nancy! Nancy Beane grew up in Kingsport, Tennessee. She has a B.A. with Honors from Agnes Scott College, an M.A.T. in History from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and an Ed.S. in Social Studies from Georgia State University. After teaching for fifteen years in elementary and secondary public schools, she moved to The Westminster Schools in 1989, taught history there for many years and became one of their college counselors in 1992, a position she held until she retired in June of 2020. While at Westminster, she was actively involved in College Board, The Southern Association for College Admission Counseling , the National Association for College Admission Counseling, Association of College Counselors in Independent Schools, and The Georgia Independent Colleges Association. She was SACAC President from 2004-2005, served on the NACAC Board from 2008-2011, was a member of the ACCIS Board of Trustees from 2012 to 2015, and was again a member of the NACAC Board from 2015-2018 during which she served as president in 2016-2017. Married to John Beane, a retired attorney, she and her husband have one fabulous daughter, Kathryn, and one precious dog, Wyatt.

In this episode we hear from Stefan Bradley, Ph.D. Reared in Yakima, Washington, Dr. Bradley is currently the inaugural associate dean of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Initiatives in the Bellarmine College of Liberal Arts and Professor of African American Studies at Loyola Marymount University. Bradley received his Ph.D. in 20th Century US History with an Emphasis on the Black Experience from the University of Missouri-Columbia; an M.A. in the same from Washington State University; and, a B.A. in History from Gonzaga University. An educator at heart, Bradley's life ambition is to personally teach/mentor/inspire the young people who change the world for the better. He is authored several award-winning books including Upending the Ivory Tower, Harlem vs. Columbia University, and Alpha Phi Alpha: A Legacy of Greatness, The Demands of Transcendence. Generous with his time, Bradley frequently volunteers on and off campus. In the wake of the tragic events in Ferguson and St. Louis, he engaged in discussions with representatives from the US Department of Justice, Civil Rights Commission, and Department of Education. As a voice from the community, Bradley has appeared on BET, MSNBC, CNN, BBC, Al Jazeera, and in the New York Times. Dr. Bradley is an overall good brother. I have worked with him on in a professional since and when I lured away from St. Louis, Dr. Bradley was among a group of good friends that threw a send-off that will always be near and dear to my heart. If you would please help me welcome this giant in the academy.

In this episode we talk fatherhood, legacy, and impact with Mr. Alan Ware. Alan Ware is a native of Kansas City, Missouri and the youngest of 5 children to born to a single parent household. After graduating from a local high school he received a Bachelors of Science degree in Gerontology, from Missouri State University and a Masters in Healthcare Administration from Webster University. Alan began his career in healthcare, specifically the senior care industry, in 2006 as a licensed nursing home administrator. As an operator in the senior care industry, Alan, managed several senior care communities that ranged from 172 beds skilled nursing community to smaller Assisted Living and Dementia Care communities. During Alan's leadership as an administrator he achieved several deficiency free surveys ensuring the delivery of quality care to the residents in the communities he served. Approximately 4 years ago, along with a childhood friend, Alan took the knowledge that he learned as an operator in the senior care industry and started an agency which provides care for those with physical and intellectual disabilities. Their agency employs over 35 associates with 6 sites and server 12 consumers. Alan has been married to his loving wife Latoya for 12 years. He and his wife share 5 children who's ages range from 9 to 21 years of age. Alan believes being a father is one of the most important roles that he has the privilege of holding. Coming from a single parent household, his vow to be a good father continually guides his path.

In this episode I have a conversation with Dr. Miguel Wasielewski, Ph.D. a seasoned higher education administrator with extensive experience in financial aid, admissions, and enrollment management. Miguel is committed to higher education as a means to improve society and in this episode he talks about internal battles that may hold us back from reaching our full potential.

For over 20-years, Joseph Montgomery has been a noteworthy leader in the college admissions/enrollment space. He has experience with admission work at HBCUs and Private Selective Colleges throughout the United States southeastern region. Before joining Tuskegee University, he spent 6-years at the College Board as Director, Higher Education Services advising chief enrollment officers at universities throughout the south on matters relating to admissions, financial aid, registration, and student success indicators. Beyond servicing as the Vice President of Enrollment Management and Student Success at Tuskegee University, he serves on the Education Finance Institute Advisory Board that focuses on strengthen mission-focused colleges and universities that primarily serve low-income, first-generation, and minority students. Lastly, he was selected to serve on the National Association College Admissions Counseling – Commission on Redesigning the College Admission and Financial Aid Through a Racial Equity Lens. The panel will examine the college entrance pipeline, postsecondary financial aid requirements, and the role of racial equity in postsecondary enrollment. He holds Bachelors Degree from Voorhees College (HBCU) and a Masters Degree from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University (HBCU) and currently resides in Blacksburg, VA and Tuskegee, AL.

For my first episode, I interviewed my friend and big sister, Dr. Chajuana Trawick. Trawick is the first African American Endowed Chair in the School of AMC at Lindenwood University, where she is also an Associate Professor and head of the Fashion Business and Design Program. Dr. Trawick is also the owner and co-owner of The International Fashion and Beauty Historical Society Featuring Noire Doll Chateau Inc., a nonprofit organization for educating, enriching and empowering the lives of underrepresented children and young adults through books, dolls, fashion and beauty. Dr. Trawick recently co-authored five Children's Books inspired by the life and legacy of Annie Malone, noted First Woman Millionaire in St. Louis, MO. Dr. Trawick has a Doctorate of Philosophy (PhD) degree in Textile and Apparel Management. She has a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree, 22-hours towards a Master of Family and Consumer Secondary Education (MFACS), and she is currently, working on a Doctorate of Education in Higher Education Administration (Ed.D). Dr. Chajuana V. Trawick is an Author, Educator, Entrepreneur, and life-long learner.