Board Members
Tyler Ambrose (Col class of ’18)
Tyler Ambrose was a Flagship Ridley Scholar and Echols Scholar at the University of Virginia. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Politics Honors and a minor in History. While at the University, Tyler was Co-Chair of the Housing and Residence Life Program, President of the Black Male Initiative, and King of the IMP Society. Following graduation, Tyler worked as Assistant to the Dean for Special Projects at UVA’s School of Law and joined the Gamma Alpha Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. After working, he earned his Juris Doctor from Harvard Law School, where he served as Chair of the Social and Cultural Affairs Committee of the Black Law Students Association. Currently, Tyler is a general corporate associate at Kirkland & Ellis, LLP in Houston, TX.
Eugene L. Anderson (Arch class of ’98, Educ class of ’01)
Eugene L. Anderson, Ph.D., earned his doctorate in Education Policy from UVA in 2001. He also holds a Master’s degree in Urban and Environmental Planning from UVA’s School of Architecture (1998). While at UVA, Eugene worked as a mentor with UVA’s Athletic Department’s Academic Affairs office and was a leader in what is now known as the Black Graduate and Professional Student Organization (BGPSO). Eugene was also a volunteer mentor and coach with the Charlottesville High School Football team. Eugene currently works at Columbia University in the Office of Alumni and Development as the first Assistant Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer. This new role provides leadership across the university’s alumni and development staff. His focus is working internally to increase staff diversity at all levels and make the Alumni and Development teams across Columbia more inclusive for persons from all backgrounds.
Prior to joining Columbia, Eugene served as the first Director of Development for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in University Advancement at the University of Virginia. Before his time at UVA, he spent twenty years as a leader and researcher in several higher education associations, including Vice President for External Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities (APLU). There, he led APLU’s efforts to engage and support 230 big public research universities in all aspects of diversity, equity, and inclusion. At APLU, he also worked closely with presidents and chancellors of the nineteen historically Black land-grant universities. Prior to that, Eugene held leadership positions with the American Dental Education Association and the American Council on Education.
He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Pennsylvania and is married to Gasa (Grimes) Anderson, a 1997 and 1998 graduate of UVA, College and School of Education.
Dr. Paula Anderson (Col class of ’94)
Dr. Anderson currently serves as the Founder, President & CEO of PACE Consulting (PACE). PACE is an award-winning Behavioral Health Counseling and Organizational Development Consulting firm headquartered in the Washington DC area. As an Organizational Psychologist/Therapist, and Consultant, Dr. Anderson provides clinical counseling services; and consults in the areas of workplace wellness, stress management, organizational culture, change management, and diversity, equity, and inclusion. Dr. Anderson and her team also facilitate team retreats for organizations looking to build team well-being and cohesion.
Dr. Anderson most recently served as a Board member and Chair of the DEIB Committee at The Field School in Washington DC. She currently serves as the Vice President and Board member at The Renew and Revitalize Marriage and Family Institute and serves as a Board member for the DEIB Alumnae Board at the Convent of the Sacred Heart in New York City. She is also an active member of the Iota Gamma Omega chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated.
Dr. Anderson lives in Maryland and enjoys spending time with her husband and two sons.
Miles Braxton (Col class of ’18)
Miles Braxton is a clean energy enthusiast with over 5 years of professional experience working in solar development and asset management. He currently serves as the Director of Risk Management at Summit Ridge Energy, managing the company’s insurance program and analyzing corporate and solar asset risks. Miles is formerly an associate at Goldman Sachs Renewable Power and Sol Systems, where he cemented his passion for equitable clean energy distribution. He started his sustainability career formulating energy mass balance equations/stoichiometry and managing project milestones to convert chicken manure into electricity through anaerobic digestion.
Miles is a co-founder of the BlackOak Collective, a network of Black professionals and students dedicated to sustainability. He served as BlackOak’s Director of Partnerships until the end of 2022 and launched the Green Gateways Initiative in which BlackOak representatives go into universities and HBCUs to speak to Black students about how to launch their environmental careers. The GG Fund allows partnership capital injection to help build the pipeline of Black students from universities and HBCUs into the environmental workforce.
Miles graduated from the University of Virginia in 2018 with a B.S. in Environmental Science as a Rodman Scholar, minoring in Technology Leadership. Miles now sits on BlackOak’s Advisory Board while leading another entrepreneurial team in the clean energy space. The Richmond, Virginia native has been awarded several accolades for his work, including: GreenBiz 30 Under 30, Rising Star: Gold (Cleanie Awards), Leadership in Green Power Education (EPA and CRS), and JEDI Champion (CELI).
Megan Cosby (Col class of ’92)
Megan Cosby is Senior Legal Counsel at lululemon athletica inc. Megan provides general counsel to lululemon Studio (a streaming fitness platform and membership program) across a wide range of practice areas. She also leads a team of lawyers providing counsel to lululemon’s marketing, product, sustainability, and innovations teams and supports partnerships with the Canadian Olympic Committee (Team Canada). U.S. Open, and Peloton. Prior to her current role, she built a career as a secondment attorney, providing in- house transactional legal services to Fortune 500 companies and national brands, including Meta, Nike, The Walt Disney Co., and Amazon Studios. Megan began her career as an in-house attorney at EMI-Capitol Music Group. She earned her law degree at the University of Southern California, completed undergraduate studies at the University of Virginia, and is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Megan is from Alexandria, Virginia, and resides in Los Angeles, California.
Tony Covington (Col class of ’90)
Tony Covington graduated from the University of Virginia with a Bachelor of Arts degree in rhetoric and communications studies. While at Virginia, he earned All-Conference and Honorable Mention All-American Honors in football. After college, Tony was drafted by the National Football League’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers where he earned All-Rookie Honors in his first season. He played for the Buccaneers for four seasons before finishing his NFL career with the Seattle Seahawks.
Tony has spent the last 23+ years affecting change with established non-profit organizations such as the American Heart Association, Special Olympics, the United Negro College Fund, the NAACP. Tony has authored a book entitled, I AM UNDERDOG, A Journey of Adversity and Blessings and has started his own non-profit that services the life skill development and life planning of student-athletes. Tony is a mentor, an international motivational speaker and a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. Tony is a proud husband and father and currently resides in Maryland.
Corey Ealons
Corey Ealons is a senior communications advisor engaged in corporate communications, reputation management, crisis response, and inclusion initiatives. He has spent the breadth of his career advising leaders and their teams on the principles and virtues of communications in building connections, enhancing their reputation, and making an impact. Corey is currently a senior partner with VOX Global, a public affairs and strategic communications firm based in Washington, DC. His public sector career includes service as a director and spokesperson with The White House Office of Communications supporting President Barack Obama and Senior Administration Officials. He also served in the U.S. House of Representatives supporting Alabama’s 7th Congressional District, which includes Birmingham, Tuscaloosa and Selma – the soul of the Civil Rights Movement. Corey began his career with the 3rd United States Infantry (The Old Guard), the U.S. Army Ceremonial Honor Guard for the President of the United States which conducts funerals and guards the Tomb of the Unknown in Arlington National Cemetery.
He is a graduate of the University of Alabama earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in Public Relations and Political Communications. He also holds a certification in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion from Cornell University and received journalism, broadcast and public relations training from the Defense Information School for the U.S. Department of Defense.
Corey’s active philanthropic contributions include service as a board member for Charter Board Partners, an organization that supports identifying and placing talented individuals on charter school boards. He later served as the board chair for Mundo Verde Public Charter School in Washington, DC.
Chris Ford (Engr class of ’87)
Chair & Ridley Representative to the UVA Alumni Association Board of Managers
Chris Ford graduated from the University of Virginia in 1987 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Systems Engineering. While at UVA, Chris was an active member of the Eta Sigma Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc, the Black Engineering Society and Air Force ROTC. After working for a few years on Wall Street, Chris returned to school and received his Doctor of Laws from Emory University School of Law.
Since graduating from law school, Chris has practiced as a commercial transactions lawyer, representing some of the world’s largest companies in their business-critical technology, financial services and sourcing deals. A partner in major law firms since 2001, Chris has been consistently ranked by such organizations as Best Lawyers, Chambers USA, Chambers Global and Legal 500.
Married to a UVA alumna and the father of three (one a 2015 UVA grad), Chris is active in a number of community and professional organizations and his church, where he serves as a Bible teacher.
Kiera Givens (Col class of ’17)
Kiera Givens was a Ridley Holland Blackburn Scholar and Echols Scholar at UVA. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science and Anthropology.
During her time at the University, she gave tours and served as Outreach Chair for the University Guide Service, played for Hydra – UVA’s Nationally Ranked Women’s Club Ultimate Frisbee, served as a Peer Advisor for the Office of African American Affairs, conducted research in the Environmental Science Department, and was a Lawn Resident.
Now in Atlanta, Kiera works in Revenue Management at Delta Air Lines and is completing a leadership development rotational program. Prior to Delta, Kiera spent several years working in environmental policy consulting and ocean conservation in Washington, DC. During that time, she also co-founded and served as Executive Director for BlackOak Collective, a networking organization for Black professionals and students dedicated to sustainability.
Kiera holds an MBA from Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business, where she was a Keller Scholar. In her free time, she enjoys playing music, hiking, and traveling.
Sharon Goodwyn (Law class of ’88)
For 36 years, Sharon Goodwyn practiced as a management-side employment lawyer at Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP, helping clients comply with federal and state employment laws and representing them in both administrative and legal proceedings. During her legal career, Sharon earned recognition in The Best Lawyers in America® (Labor/Employment
Law) from 2008 until her retirement in 2024 and was recognized for five of those years as a Norfolk “Lawyer of the Year” in several practice areas. Virginia Business magazine listed her among its Legal Elite in Labor/Employment Law in 2020 and 2024. In June 1994, Sharon took a yearlong sabbatical from Hunton to serve as Special Assistant to the Dean at the University of Virginia School of Law.
Sharon has served as Board Chair for the Hampton Roads Community Foundation, the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore, and St. Mary’s Home. She sits on the boards of the University of Virginia Law School Foundation, Virginia Wesleyan University, ACCESS College Foundation, and serves on the University of Virginia Walentas Scholars Tidewater Selection Committee. Sharon is a YWCA of South Hampton Roads Woman of Distinction (2016, Law), Humanitarian Award recipient (2020) from the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities and was featured in Virginia Business magazine’s 100 People to Meet (2023) and the Inside Business Power List (2023–2025). Sharon earned her undergraduate degree in Economics, graduating magna cum laude from Harvard University, and went on to receive her law degree from the University of Virginia School of Law. She is married to the Honorable S. Bernard Goodwyn, a retired Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Virginia and fellow UVA Law graduate, and both of their children attended UVA as undergraduates, graduating in 2014 and 2017.
Shavonne Gordon (Engr class of ’95)
Shavonne Gordon graduated from the University of Virginia (UVA) with a BS in Systems Engineering. She started her career as a Computer Systems Analyst, working in manufacturing for 5 years before joining Capital One, where she worked for 21 years. She spent much of her career in Technology before joining HR in 2014 to follow her passion for recruiting and supporting diverse talent. In June of 2022, Shavonne joined Morgan Stanley as the Global Head of Diversity for the Company and Infrastructure divisions, continuing to focus on the diversity work that is both her passion and purpose.
In 2019, Shavonne was recognized by Savoy magazine as one of the Most Influential Women in Corporate America, and again in 2023 as one of the Most Influential Executives in Diversity and Inclusion. Shavonne sits on the board for the CALIBR Global Leadership Network and the Advisory Board for the Ron Brown Scholars Program. She resides in Glen Allen, VA with her 15-year-old daughter, Simone, and her 20-year-old daughter, Kennedy, who is a member of UVA’s Class of 2026!
Derek Green (Col class of ’92)
Derek S. Green, Esquire serves as Of Counsel at the law firm of Obermayer, Rebmann, Maxwell & Hippel, LLP. Additionally, he serves as Special Counsel at Bellevue Strategies, a full-service government relations and advocacy communications firm.
First elected in 2015, Derek served as a Councilmember At-Large in the Philadelphia City Council. In this capacity, he chaired the Finance and Disabilities Committees and was the Vice Chair of the Aging and Law & Government Committees. Derek was the Chair of the Philadelphia Gas Commission, National President of the Democratic Municipal Officials, and President of the Pennsylvania Municipal League. He served on the Boards of the Philadelphia Cultural Fund, Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau, and National Black Caucus of Local Elected Officials. Further, he served on the Executive Committees of the Democratic National Committee and National League of Cities.
Currently, he serves on the Boards of Bancroft, City Trusts, Girard College, and Krimson PAC. He is an Advisory Board member of LiveWork Philadelphia and serves on the Philadelphia Tax Reform Commission. He is also a panelist on “Inside Story,” WPVI 6ABC’s weekly political roundtable, and a contributor on “The Frankie Darcell Show” on WDAS-FM 105.3 and 20 additional stations nationwide.
Colette Gresham (Col class of ’93)
Colette R. Gresham graduated from UVA with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and a minor in Government. While at the University, Colette was an active member of the Theta Kappa Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, Alpha Kappa Psi Business Fraternity, the Black Student Alliance, and a Peer Advisor for the Office of African-American Affairs’ Peer Advisor Program. After graduation, she earned her Juris Doctor from William and Mary School of Law.
Currently, Colette is the Deputy Council Administrator for the Prince George’s County Council in Maryland. She began her legal career as a Judicial Law Clerk for the Honorable Sheila R. Tillerson Adams, Prince George’s County Circuit Court, 7th Judicial Circuit and later served as Assistant Legal Counsel to Maryland Governor Parris N. Glendening in the Office of Legal Counsel and Regulatory Affairs. Dedicated to community service, Colette served on the Board of Directors for Imagine Foundations Public Charter Schools from 2013-2016 and is currently on the Board of Directors for Ardmore Enterprises, Incorporated. She is an active member of the Iota Gamma Omega Chapter, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, the National Harbor Chapter of Jack and Jill of America, Incorporated, the Willow Oak (MD) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated, and Leadership Greater Washington. Born and raised in Hampton, Virginia, Colette has been a resident of Prince George’s County, Maryland since 1996. She currently resides in Upper Marlboro with her husband, Dr. Doran V. Gresham (Col class of ’94), and their two daughters, Madison and Nina.
Zeke James (Col class of ’92)
Zeke James is the National Head of Advisor Acquisition and Development at Fidelity Charitable®, an independent 501(c)(3) public charity that has helped donors support more than 461,000 nonprofit organizations across all 50 states and around the world with nearly $118 billion in grants. In this role, Zeke leads a national team of charitable planning consultants who serve as trusted subject-matter experts to financial, legal, and tax professionals.
Together, they help simplify clients’ philanthropic strategies through the use of Donor-Advised Funds while also expanding access to innovative forms of giving, including private equity, alternative investments, and corporate charitable vehicles. Before joining Fidelity Charitable, Zeke built a diverse career across wealth management, institutional trading, and retirement solutions. Most recently, he served as a Defined Contribution Sales Executive in Vanguard’s Institutional Retirement Division, where he worked closely with many of the nation’s largest 401(k) plans. Earlier in his career, he held leadership and advisory roles at Wells Fargo Investments, JPMorgan Chase, and Merrill Lynch. Zeke earned his Master of Business Administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and his Bachelor of Arts from the University of Virginia. He also holds a Business Analytics Certificate from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business. A lifelong advocate for education and the arts, Zeke currently serves on the Board of the Children’s Scholarship Fund of Philadelphia (CSFP) and the St. Peter’s Preparatory School Board of Trustees. He also previously served on the board of Mural Arts Philadelphia. He continues to support the National Dance Institute (NDI) in New York City and A Better Chance (ABC) Program in Ardmore, PA. Zeke is also a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. Originally from Jersey City, NJ and having spent a decade in Los Angeles, Zeke now resides in Lower Merion, Pennsylvania, with his wife and their two daughters.
Andrea Johnson (Col class of ’92)
Andrea Johnson is a strategic leader with extensive business consulting experience helping public and private sector organizations navigate growth, transformation, and organizational change. Throughout her career with IBM Consulting and MITRE, she has partnered with executive leaders to strengthen operations, align teams, and build organizational cultures that support long-term success and innovation. Andrea is known for her collaborative leadership style, thoughtful problem-solving, and ability to bring people together around meaningful change.
Andrea graduated from University of Virginia with a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish and later earned her MBA in Marketing from Clark Atlanta University. During her time at UVA, she served as a Madison House volunteer and was a member of the Kappa Rho Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., reflecting her longstanding commitment to service and leadership.
She currently resides in Washington, D.C., where she remains actively engaged in the community and volunteers throughout the area, continuing her dedication to service, mentorship, and civic engagement.
Sundi Lofty (Col class of ’99)
Sundi Lofty is an award winning Creative Director, Writer and Producer with eighteen years experience in TV, Film, and new media production. She holds a B.A. in English and a Master of Teaching (Secondary English Education) from the University of Virginia as well as a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from New York University. She has created content for Paramount / MTV Entertainment Studios, E! Entertainment, YouTube Originals, History Channel, Refinery29, Oxygen Media, Fuse Media, BET, Food Network, TLC, Travel Channel, Retired Living, AsPire, and TV One. Her work includes documentary, docu-drama, docu-reality, news/info and entertainment, on-air promos, interstitials, integrated marketing, digital and social spots.
Rooted in a family legacy of Christian faith and social activism, Sundi lives by the principle that “to whom much is given, much is required.” Based in NYC, she cherishes quality time with her family and friends.
Dr. Dexter Love (Col class of ’97)
Dexter Love was a Jerome Holland Scholar at the University of Virginia. He was elected to Phi Beta Kappa and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Biology with Highest Distinction. Dexter was also a Distinguished Military Graduate of the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps and received the commission of Second Lieutenant.
Dexter earned the Doctor of Medicine from The Johns Hopkins University and completed a residency program in orthopedic surgery at Atrium Health Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte, NC. He entered active duty in the United States Air Force and was stationed at Joint Base Andrews, MD. In 2008 he deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom where he was awarded the Army Commendation Medal. He was promoted to the rank of Major and served as a White House Military Social Aide in support of the Obama Administration while continuing to practice medicine.
In 2011, Dexter left military service and now practices medicine at Colquitt Regional Medical Center in Moultrie, GA. He remains a strong supporter of Virginia Women’s Soccer and Softball.
Rashida MacMurray-Abdullah (Arch class of ’95, Engr class of ’97)
Rashida MacMurray-Abdullah earned her Bachelor of Science in Architecture and a Master of Engineering in Civil Engineering from UVA. During her time at the University, she was a member of the Women’s Track and Field Team, served as a peer advisor for the Office of African-American Affairs, and a member of the Kappa Rho Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
She obtained her Juris Doctor from Rutgers University and Certificate with Distinction from Harvard Business Analytics Program. Rashida is Wiley Rein LLP’s first Chief Diversity Officer is responsible for translating diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) strategies into pragmatic plans and initiatives to achieve the firm’s strategic goals She leverages over two decades of client service experience leading engagements related to global corporate investigations, regulatory compliance, capital projects assessments, and risk mitigation. She has advised both law firm and senior legal executives in implementing innovative legal business operations, designing and measuring key DEI metrics as well as the strategic procurement of legal services. In addition to her service to Ridley, she serves as the Chair of National Bar Association Commercial Law Section and the Secretary for the Board of Directors for the Campaign for Fair Sentencing of Youth. Rashida resides in Washington, D.C. with her husband, Chafula, and their miniature poodle, Clicquot.
Beverly Mills (Col class of ’81)
Beverly Mills grew up in Richmond, VA and is a 1981 graduate from the University of Virginia’s College of Arts and Sciences, with majors in Psychology and Rhetoric & Communication Studies. She worked on the Corks and Curls’ Staff and was a member of the Kappa Rho Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority.
After graduation, Beverly worked as vice president, staffing manager in the Middle Market and Financial Services Group for Chemical Bank in New York for 12 years. She left Chemical bank in 1993 to raise her daughters and became an active volunteer in her New Jersey community.
Beverly was ordained an Elder and a Deacon for the Prospect Presbyterian Church in Maplewood, NJ, where she also served as a Sunday school teacher and chair of the Christian Education Committee. Beverly was a member of the Director of Christian Education’s Coaching Team and was a former board member of the Program for Parents in Newark, NJ.
In 2003, Beverly was elected to the Board of Trustees at Kent Place School, an independent, nonsectarian, college-preparatory day school for young women in Summit, NJ. She served as chair of the Committee on Trustees and on the Executive Committee as the Board Vice President. She was elected board President in 2011 and retired from the Board in 2014 after serving eleven years. She was appointed as an Honorary Trustee in 2017 and is currently serving in this capacity.
Beverly’s most recent board service came when she was elected to serve on the University of Virginia’s College of Arts and Sciences Foundation Board for two terms from 2017-2023. She was a member of the Committee on Trustees, the Development Committee and the Executive Committee.
Beverly currently lives in Boca Raton, Florida and New York City with her husband Steve. They have two daughters, Kristen and Danielle.
Dr. Francine Olds (Nurs class of ’79)
Dr. Francine Olds is a fellow of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, a member of the American Medical Association, the National Medical Association, the Virginia Beach Medical Society, and the Howard Kelly Society of the Johns Hopkins Hospital. Dr. Olds is commonly known as the “go-to” M.D. who makes each patient’s concerns a priority with the confidence and confidentiality of both a physician and “a girl’s best friend.”
She received the title of Doctor of Medicine from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and was awarded a coveted internship and residency in gynecology and obstetrics at the Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland.
Dr. Olds has lived most of her life in the Hampton Roads area of Virginia. After graduating from Indian River High School with the highest honors, she went on the earn a Bachelor of Science with distinction in nursing from the University of Virginia in 1979. She then worked for three years as a gynecologic oncology nurse and Duke University Hospital. It was there that she realized that her calling was to a higher and greater service as a physician and as an advocate and provider for women’s general and reproductive health.
Tony Parchment (Com class of ’90)
Tony Parchment earned his B.S. in Management Information Systems from UVA’s McIntire School of Commerce in 1990. While at UVA, he joined Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. in 1989, where he cultivated lifelong values of leadership, scholarship, and service.
Tony began his IT consulting career as a Senior Consultant with Price Waterhouse Coopers, then went on to hold technical roles at NeXT Computer and Apple, gaining deep expertise in client/server and web applications across commercial and federal sectors. In 1998, he co-founded Buchanan & Edwards, which became one of the region’s fastest-growing federal IT consultancies. As President until 2015, he helped shape the firm’s strategic vision and scale operations across both public and private sectors. He continues to serve as a board director and advisor, supporting ongoing growth and innovation.
With over 25 years in technology consulting, Tony has led enterprise-wide digital transformation projects and technology strategy engagements for government agencies and Fortune 100 organizations. He has also enhanced his leadership through executive education at UVA’s Darden School of Business, is a member of the Young Presidents’ Organization (since 2013), and graduated from Leadership Greater Washington in 2018.
A passionate advocate for diversity and entrepreneurship, Tony co-founded and co-chairs the Montgomery County Black Business Council and serves on the planning committee for the McIntire Black Alumni Network. He also mentors early-stage tech founders through Upstart Connectors, Inc., offering insight into scaling and leadership.
Kazz Pinkard (Col class of ’00)
Kazz Alexander Pinkard is an experienced non-profit executive with a demonstrated history of enhancing programs and student experiences in the youth development sector, and in leading training and professional development for capacity building not-for-profits. Kazz has twenty years of experience as an educator in New York City, Newark, NJ, and Washington, DC. He currently serves as the Executive Director of Hit the Books, Harlem’s first non-profit dedicated to enhancing the experiences of youth by combining the pillars of mixed martial arts with academic enrichment.
Before joining Hit The Books, Kazz most recently served as the Chief Program Officer at The Boys’ Club of New York, and as Deputy Director at Ramapo For Children, where he has led over 100 training sessions for non-profit organizations, childcare centers and schools.
Kazz holds a B.A. in history from the University of Virginia, as well post-graduate certificates from Fordham University (Executive Education), Baruch College (Non-Profit Management) and NYU (Diversity and Inclusion). As an independent consultant, Kazz founded Teachable NYC, to help support the mission of creating diverse and inclusive programs for children, and specifically to help other non-profit professionals design safe spaces for boys of color. Kazz is a native New Yorker, member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, and also serves as the Community Relations Director and member of the Board of Directors at NYC Pride, advancing LBGTQIA+ community causes and organization partnerships throughout the New York metropolitan area.
While at the University of Virginia, Kazz served as the President of Black Student Alliance and as a weekly opinion columnist at the Cavalier Daily.
Dr. Michelle Samuels-Jones (Col class of ’94)
Dr. Michelle Samuels-Jones has been serving as a thought innovator and education champion in a career journey that spans 30 years. Currently, Michelle serves as the Senior Vice President for Equity and Engagement at the National Endowment for Financial Education (NEFE). In this capacity, Michelle provides leadership for NEFE’s Equity, Insights, Marketing, and Strategic Partnerships Teams in the design and delivery of initiatives that expand stakeholder awareness, knowledge, and activates the field to reimagine financial education systems and
approaches that work for all. Michelle also works closely with NEFE’s research and policy efforts and external partner organizations to sharpen practices that expand access, deepen impact, remove stigma and barriers, and improve the quality of financial education, especially for our most vulnerable communities. Michelle convenes stakeholders from across the financial ecosystem, hosts webinars, facilitates workshops, and is currently leading an initiative to design a culturally responsive financial education framework that has the potential to advance financial well-being among underserved communities.
Prior to joining NEFE, Michelle worked as a higher education consultant where she provided strategic direction and developed operational plans for over sixty institutions to advance student, family, and overall campus success. Michelle also held leadership roles on college and university campuses including, the University of Virginia, Lehigh University (PA), the University of Maryland Global Campus, and Fayetteville Technical Community College (NC). Michelle serves as a volunteer with the Special Olympics, as a youth mentor, and facilitates leadership workshops for youth empowerment programs.
Michelle earned her Doctor of Education from Northeastern University, and her master’s and bachelor’s degrees from the University of Virginia.
Dr. Barbara D. Savage (Col class of ’74)
Dr. Barbara Savage is a native Virginian and a member of the first class of women. She was a Resident Adviser, Student Council member, Lawn resident, and a spirited but mediocre trumpet player in the Pep Band, among other activities. After UVA, she received a J. D. from Georgetown (1977), and much later, a Ph. D. in history from Yale (1995). She was among the group of Black alumni who helped found the Ridley Fund and also spent two terms on the Alumni Association Board of Managers.
From 1995-2020, she was at the University of Pennsylvania where she was Geraldine R. Segal Professor of American Social Thought, specializing in twentieth century African American history. She also was Vyvyan Harmsworth Professor of American History at the University of Oxford (2018-2019). She has written three award-winning books [Merze Tate: the Global Odyssey of a Black Woman Scholar (Yale, 2023); Your Spirits Walk Beside Us: The Politics of Black Religion (Harvard, 2008); and Broadcasting Freedom: Radio, War, and the Politics of Race, 1938-1948 (UNC, 1999)]. She also co-edited two collaborative collections [Toward an Intellectual History of Black Women (UNC, 2015) and Women and Religion in the African Diaspora (Johns Hopkins, 2006)].
At Penn, she served as inaugural chair of the Department of Africana Studies and on many academic and service-related committees there and in the historical profession.
Quentin Washington (Engr class of ’04)
Quentin D. Washington is an award-winning engineer, media executive, and mentor with experience in the government, entertainment, and media industries. He is currently the Vice President of Product Management at Dotdash Meredith, where he leads product design and strategy for Consumer Products and Engagement. He also leads the company’s accessibility program, ensuring that its digital content and technology are accessible for people with all spectrums of ability.
Quentin began his career at Northrop Grumman as a mechanical design engineer, supporting the nuclear aircraft carrier program. He moved on to become a program manager at Comcast, which he managed the launch of Xfinity TV and the digital experience for the 2012 and 2014 Olympic Games. Before joining Dotdash, Quentin was the Head of Product Management at ESSENCE Magazine, where he successfully relaunched essence.com and developed a new digital product strategy for the magazine and the popular ESSENCE Festival, which is the largest music and culture event in the country.
Quentin received his Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering from the University of Virginia and his Master of Science in engineering management from The George Washington University. While at UVA, he was a member of Residence Staff and served in multiple leadership roles with the National Society of Black Engineers. After graduation, Quentin served on the Young Alumni Council and other committees that serve the wellbeing and progression of the UVA community.
Tahnee Jackson Whitlock (Col class of ’92)
Tahnee Jackson Whitlock graduated from the University of Virginia in 1992 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Foreign Affairs. During her time at the University, Tahnee was an active member of the Black Student Alliance. A lawn resident in her fourth year, Tahnee is also a member of the IMP society.
Tahnee spent six years at MBNA bank where she ultimately served as Vice President within MBNA Marketing Systems. Thereafter, she brought her direct-to-consumer experience into the pharmaceutical industry supporting relationship marketing, clinical trial recruitment, conversion research and professional sampling. In 2006, Tahnee founded Jackson Consultants, LLC, a boutique firm that offers clients a full range of call center and customer experience consulting services to support their marketing strategies.
Tahnee has served on the Jefferson Scholarship review committee for several years. She resides in St. Louis with her husband Cordell (Col class of ’92) and two daughters.
Ex Officio
Lily West (Darden class of ’12)
President and CEO, UVA Alumni Association
Lily has built a career scaling and repositioning organizations in both the public and private sectors. Prior to becoming the President/CEO the University of Virginia’s Alumni Association, Lily ran a national franchise and worked at Bain & Company, where she advised Fortune 500 companies. Lily started her career with the 2008 Obama campaign, where she delivered a historic victory in a battleground state before joining the Administration.
Lily received her B.A. from the University of North Carolina and her M.B.A from UVA’s Darden School of Business. She is a member of Phi Beta Kappa, UNC’s Order of The Golden Fleece, and UVA’s Raven Society. She is also a recipient of UNC’s Jane Craige Gray Memorial Award and Darden’s Michael Shermet Award and C. Sheppard Distinguished Service Award.
Honorary Board Members
- Dr. Walter N. Ridley (Educ class of ’53), 1910-1996
- John F. Merchant, Esq. (Law class of ’58), Founder, 1933-2020
- James M. Trice, Jr. (Engr class of ’63), Chairman Emeritus