2027 Candidate Slate

I am honored to be considered for service on the Alfred Street Baptist Church Council. My commitment to the church, combined with my professional leadership and program management experience, has equipped me with the skills to contribute thoughtfully and effectively to the Council’s work.

Throughout my years of church service at Alfred Street, I’ve had the opportunity to serve in various leadership and ministry roles including; Discipleship Group President, Village Facilitator, Tutorial Ministry President, Crossover and Awana Volunteer. These experiences have strengthened my understanding of ministry, collaboration, stewardship, and the importance of serving others while remaining focused on the mission and vision of the church.  As a previous DG7 president, I ensured members were informed of church resources, increased communication and organized ministry events.  Since the beta beginning of the Village ministry, I’ve served as a facilitator who loves setting an atmosphere for great discussions, strengthening relationships and ensuring everyone feels included.  My origins with the tutorial ministry began with serving as a math tutor.  In 2025, I transitioned into the role of ministry president where I’m responsible for ensuring programming meets the academic needs of our students.  My heart for children also lead me to align with both the Awana and Crossover ministries where I served as a teacher, general volunteer and worship coordinator of the first Crossover service.

Professionally, I bring extensive experience as a Quality Assurance Manager, Group Supervisor, Class Instructor, and Program Manager. In each of these roles, I have been responsible for leading people, managing programs, developing and implementing processes, evaluating outcomes, and ensuring organizational goals are achieved. My experience has required me to analyze information for locations across the United States, make informed decisions about program changes, communicate effectively with diverse groups, and advise top executives.

As a leader, I value inclusion, collaboration, transparency, strategic thinking, and continuous improvement. I understand the importance of establishing policies and practices that are relevant beyond a season, aligning resources with organizational priorities, and evaluating programs against established goals and objectives. My professional experience has also strengthened my ability to approach complex issues objectively, identify opportunities for improvement, and develop practical solutions.

I welcome the opportunity to bring my leadership experience, professional knowledge, and commitment to service to the ASBC Church Council. I am committed to supporting the church’s leadership, contributing to sound governance, and helping advance the strategic vision of the church. Above all, I desire to serve with integrity, humility, and a spirit of collaboration.

Jasmine Miles is an experienced project management and human resources technology professional with a broad track record in enterprise governance, organizational strategy, and process optimization. Throughout her career spanning corporate, government, and consulting sectors, she has specialized in building governance frameworks, implementing enterprise systems, and advising executive leadership on complex operational and compliance initiatives.

Jasmine has held key leadership and advisory roles across major organizations, including serving as a strategic advisor to executive leadership on HR Information System modernizations and modernizing risk and compliance reporting infrastructure for financial institutions like JPMorgan Chase. In addition to enterprise project delivery, Jasmine has chaired cross-functional Change Advisory Boards spanning IT, Finance, HR, and Procurement, establishing governing policies, conducting impact assessments, and ensuring rigorous oversight across critical business operations.

Experienced in leveraging data analytics and enterprise software (such as Tableau, Workday, Salesforce, and Jira), Jasmine focuses on turning high-level strategic goals into measurable, actionable outcomes. She brings a strong commitment to organizational integrity, fiscal and administrative accountability, and collaborative board-level leadership.

Keith A. Sutton is Director of the Department of Systemwide Equity for Montgomery County Public Schools in Rockville, Maryland, where he leads the district’s equity strategy across one of the nation’s largest and most diverse school systems. His work sits at the intersection of policy, legal compliance, and institutional accountability — building the frameworks, governance structures, and reporting systems that turn stated commitments into measurable practice.

A passionate educator, innovator, and change agent with more than 23 years of experience, Keith has spent his career designing models, programs, and processes that improve outcomes for learners. He previously served as Superintendent of Warren County Schools, a diverse rural district in North Carolina, where he provided executive leadership across curriculum and instruction, student support services, operations, and finance. During his tenure he cultivated the partnerships and stakeholder engagement that secured more than $42 million in funding for capital improvements, and he established a district-wide culture of instructional coaching to strengthen leadership capacity at every level.

Keith served twelve years as an elected member of the Wake County Public School System Board of Education — the largest district in North Carolina and 15th largest in the nation, serving 160,000 students with a $2 billion budget — including terms as Vice Chair and Chair. In that role he functioned as the Board’s official spokesperson, guided the system through the COVID-19 pandemic, and advocated for policies grounded in inclusivity, equity, and access. That experience shaped his conviction that effective governance is collaborative, transparent, and accountable to the people it serves.

His earlier career reflects a sustained commitment to community and public service. He served as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Triangle Urban League, Executive Director of the North Carolina NAACP, and founder of FocusED, an education innovation consultancy. In state government, he developed reentry programming for formerly incarcerated individuals with the North Carolina Department of Public Safety and served as a Victim Advocate Coordinator, representing the Governor’s Crime Commission to victims and service providers. He also directed programs at BEST NC, a business coalition advancing educational transformation, and served as a Partnership Specialist with the U.S. Census Bureau.

Keith holds a Master of Science in Education Entrepreneurship from the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education and a Bachelor of Arts in Industrial Relations from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He is a graduate of the Urban Superintendents Academy at AASA/Howard University.

He currently serves as Vice Chair of the North Carolina Black Alliance and previously served on the Board of Directors of the American Cancer Society, Central/Eastern North Carolina, and the Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce.

A native of Rocky Mount, North Carolina, Keith brings to this role a steward’s understanding of fiduciary responsibility, a practitioner’s grasp of organizational health, and a deep belief that institutions are strongest when every member has a genuine place at the table.

I am a Colonel in the United States Space Force, currently serving as Deputy Director for Regional Affairs in the Department of the Air Force’s International Affairs office at the Pentagon. Over more than 33 years of military service, I have led organizations ranging from 170 to 550 personnel, overseen annual operating budgets and contracts exceeding $89 million, and directed the safeguarding of national assets valued at more than $46 billion. Most recently, I served as Deputy Commander of a multinational Space Task Force forward-deployed to Qatar, where I helped safeguard U.S. and allied personnel across a five-nation coalition during combat operations.

I hold a Doctor of Public Administration from the University of Baltimore, a Master of Public Management with a graduate certificate in Public Sector Finance and Acquisition from the University of Maryland, College Park, and a Master of Business Administration from Saint Leo University, along with a Project Management Professional (PMP) certification. My doctoral research and career have centered on the responsible stewardship of public resources — a focus that has shaped my approach to budgeting, accountability, and transparent decision-making at every level of leadership.

I am deeply committed to service and to using my God-given talents to help others. In seeking a position on the Church Council, my intent is to continue that service — applying my experience to support Alfred Street’s work of blessing our members and our community. This application is an extension of my commitment to serve Alfred Street through the Church Council’s Finance and Budget Committee, bringing the same integrity, discipline, and financial stewardship that have guided my 33-year military career to the stewardship of the church’s resources.

Dr. Stephen Andrew Lee, MD, MBA, DHSM, is an executive public health leader and strategist with expertise spanning HIV clinical care, global development, public policy, and large-scale program management. With a career defined by bridging public and private sector health initiatives, Dr. Lee specializes in scaling delivery networks through public-private partnerships, mobilizing complex resources, and applying data analytics to drive operational efficiency and social impact. 

 From February 2020 through March 2026, Dr. Lee served as the Executive Director of the National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors (NASTAD). NASTAD is the premier non-partisan non-profit representing public health officials who administer HIV and viral hepatitis programs across the United States and globally. Under his leadership, Dr. Lee spearheaded the development of NASTAD’s first organization-wide strategic plan and oversaw a transformation that tripled the organization’s operating budget and doubled its staff size. He guided the board and membership in updating organizational governance to deeply embed racial, health, and social justice equity principles across all programs. His duties included driving federal legislative strategy, engaging with administration officials and Congress, and managing complex fiscal and operational resources. 

 Prior to leading NASTAD, Dr. Lee spent over a decade in global leadership roles at the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation (EGPAF) in Washington, D.C.. As Vice President of Program Implementation and Country Management from 2014 to 2020, he provided executive direction, technical support, and strategic oversight for multi-million-dollar health intervention programs operating in 14 countries. In earlier roles as Senior Director and Program Director, he directly managed country portfolios across Southern Africa and South Asia—including India, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Eswatini, Zambia, and Zimbabwe—overseeing budgets exceeding $60 million. His work at EGPAF centered on scaling up evidence-based technical assistance for HIV prevention, care, and treatment, leading major proposal efforts for USAID and the CDC, and advising host-country governments and international donors. 

 Dr. Lee holds a Doctor of Medicine (MD), a Master of Business Administration (MBA), and a Diploma in Health Systems Management (DHSM). His clinical background in HIV management, combined with executive-level expertise in fiscal oversight, workforce planning, and public advocacy, positions him as a leading authority in sustainable health systems strengthening and population-level health equity. 

Accomplished corporate finance executive, university finance professor, and governance leader with over two decades of expertise spanning capital budgeting, financial planning and analysis (FP&A), strategic investments, and institutional fiduciary oversight. Incumbent member of the Alfred Street Baptist Church Finance and Budget Investment Sub-Committee, combining rigorous financial acumen, public board service, and disciplined military leadership to advance Christian financial stewardship, resource accountability, and institutional growth. 

General Spencer serves as president for the Armed Forces Benefit Association (AFBA) and 5Star Life Insurance Company (5Star Life). AFBA provides survivor benefits and other benefits to those who serve this great nation, including members of the uniformed services, first responders, government employees, and their families. 5Star Life is the primary underwriter of the AFBA member policies and is a growing provider of group and worksite insurance products.

Retiring as a four-star general, Spencer spent over 40 years in the Air Force. His last military assignment was as the Vice Chief of Staff of the US Air Force, Washington, DC. In this capacity, Spencer was the second highest-ranking military member in the Air Force. He presided over the Air Staff and assisted the Chief of Staff of the Air Force with organizing, training, and equipping 690,000 active-duty, Guard, Reserve, and civilian forces serving in the United States and overseas.

Spencer began his career in the enlisted ranks and rose to become a four-star general. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in industrial engineering technology from Southern Illinois University (SIU), Carbondale. Spencer was commissioned through Officer Training School in 1980 as a distinguished graduate. He has commanded a squadron, group and wing, and he was Vice Commander of the Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center. He was also the first Air Force officer to serve as the Assistant Chief of Staff in the White House Military Office. He served as the Chief Financial Officer and then Director of Mission Support at a major command; and held positions within the Air Staff and Secretariat. Prior to his assignment as Vice Chief of Staff, the general was Director, Force Structure, Resources and Assessment, Joint Staff, the Pentagon, Washington, DC reporting directly to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

General Spencer participated in contingency Operations Desert Shield/Storm, Desert Thunder, Desert Fox, Allied Force, and Iraqi Freedom.

Spencer has two Master of Science degrees in business management from Webster College and industrial resource strategy from the National Defense University. He also completed post-graduate courses at Harvard University, and the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill and was awarded an Honorary Doctorate Degree from SIU.

General Spencer has two named awards: The Air Force General Larry Spencer Innovation Award and the Air Force General Larry Spencer Special Acts and Services Award. General Spencer is the author of two books, Dark Horse: General Larry O. Spencer and His Journey from the Horseshoe to the Pentagon, published in 2021 and The Green Eyeshades of War, a historical review of financial management during war, published in 2016.

General Spencer has served on the corporate boards of Whirlpool Corporation, The Triumph Group & Haynes International.

Robert Blanchard Stone III is a public finance executive who currently serves as the Associate Budget Director for the District of Columbia, overseeing the formulation and strategic execution of the city’s $21 billion operating budget. In this role, he advises Mayor Muriel Bowser’s senior leadership team on resource allocation, fiscal policy, and financial management to drive impactful outcomes for Washingtonians.

Before joining District government, Rob provided years of oversight for federal healthcare spending as a Medicare Program Examiner at the White House Office of Management and Budget during the Biden–Harris Administration. Prior to this, he was a Supervising Budget Analyst in the New York City Mayor’s Office of Management and Budget, advising Mayor Bill de Blasio’s senior team on major health policy initiatives across the city, after early public service as a Health Educator in Newark, New Jersey.

In addition to his civilian career in large-scale budget planning and governance, Rob is a Major in the United States Army Reserve. He is currently assigned to the Pentagon as a Strategic Planner for the Joint Staff. His military background spans tactical, operational, and strategic assignments including service as the Deputy Director for Information Operations for a Special Operations Task Force.

A proud graduate of Howard University with a B.S. in Community Health, Rob is currently an Executive Master of Public Administration candidate at Cornell University’s Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy.

As I continually ask God to order my steps in every aspect of my life, I have been led to apply for the Financial Secretary position.

I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to serve as a volunteer with Brothers Keeper. In the past, I volunteered with the Tutorial Ministry and as the Lord leads and guides me, I hope to return soon.

I have over 20 years professional experience in local, state, and federal government, corporate, and I am a United States Air Force veteran. I have worked as a High School Mathematics Teacher, a Statistician, a Financial Institution Specialist, and a Policy Data Analyst. I have analyzed data across several sectors including the banking, energy, and housing finance industries. I have collected and analyzed large data sets in a purely statistical environment as it relates to the American Community Survey (ACS) which replaced the long form of the Census in 2005.

I am blessed to have attained a skillset that I believe will be valuable to assist and support the Finance and Budget Committee. I have advanced qualitative and quantitative analysis experience that can be used to assist with financial budget optimization and financial forecasting. My mathematical training with large data sets can support breaking down massive amounts of financial data into useful business insights. The techniques I have learned from operations research can directly support budget optimization and mitigate or possibly eliminate discrepancies using financial constraints.

I hold a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Mathematics and a Master of Science Degree in Operations Research. I am a south Georgia native and currently reside in Alexandria, VA.

Deacon Warren Sutton is a dedicated servant-leader who has faithfully served Alfred Street Baptist Church in a variety of ministry and administrative roles. He currently serves as Financial Secretary and as a member of the Finance and Budget Committee. Through these responsibilities, Warren has gained a strong understanding of the importance of accuracy, accountability, confidentiality, and transparency in the stewardship of the financial resources entrusted to the church.

In addition to his financial service, Warren is actively involved in several areas of ministry. He facilitates the Grab and Hold to God Village, where he helps create an environment for spiritual growth, fellowship, prayer, and meaningful discussion. He has also devoted many years to ASBC’s Scouting ministries, including approximately ten years of service as a Cubmaster and continued service as Treasurer. Warren also serves as a Deacon, providing spiritual care and support to members of the congregation. These experiences have strengthened his commitment to servant leadership and allowed him to build relationships across multiple generations and ministries within ASBC.

Professionally, Warren is a Principal Research Scientist at CNA, a nonprofit research and analysis organization. In this role, he uses quantitative and qualitative methods to help senior military leaders address complex organizational, workforce, and resource-management challenges. His work requires careful analysis, sound judgment, attention to detail, and the ability to communicate complicated information clearly to decision-makers. He holds a Ph.D. in Industrial Engineering from the University of Michigan and brings extensive experience in research, analytics, strategic planning, and organizational decision-making.

Warren believes that church finances represent more than numbers on a report—they reflect the faithful giving, sacrifice, and trust of the congregation. He approaches the position of Financial Secretary with prayerfulness, integrity, and a commitment to ensuring that the church’s financial processes are collected and distributed responsibly. He values collaboration with the church financial staff, church officers, ministry leaders, and members of the Finance and Budget Committee to support accurate reporting and sound financial stewardship.

Warren considers it a privilege to use his professional experience, spiritual gifts, and passion for service to support the ministry and mission of ASBC. If elected to continue serving as Financial Secretary, he will remain committed to maintaining the trust of the congregation and helping ensure that ASBC’s financial resources are managed with excellence, accountability, and faithfulness.

Clermon E. Acklin III is an attorney with a wealth of professional experience. He currently counsels and advises clients navigating complex civil disputes. Prior to his current work, Clermon gained years of experience in public service advising a non-profit organization and state government agencies on legal and policy matters in environmental law, administrative law, and constitutional law, among others. In the private sector, he has counseled and advised clients navigating complex labor and employment law matters. He has helped numerous clients obtain substantial recoveries through settlement. Before becoming an attorney, Clermon worked on Capitol Hill as a U.S. Senate staffer for nearly six years. He has been a member of Alfred Street for more than 14 years. 

Brian O. Edmonds is an attorney, educator, leadership coach, and former pastor with more than 30 years of experience in law, public policy, regulatory affairs, governance, and organizational leadership. He currently serves as an Attorney Advisor with the Public Service Commission of the District of Columbia, where he provides legal and regulatory counsel, drafts Commission decisions and other legal documents, and represents the Commission in judicial and regulatory proceedings.  

Previously, Brian served with the Office of the People’s Counsel for the District of Columbia as Assistant People’s Counsel and Policy Director and later as Associate People’s Counsel and Director of Operations. His responsibilities included legal and policy advice, litigation, contract review, organizational operations, human resources, strategic planning, and development of policies and procedures.  

Brian also maintained a private law practice and served as Of Counsel to Warner and Washington, L.L.P., advising clients on business formation, employment practices, litigation prevention, commercial contracts, and other business matters. Earlier in his career, he litigated employment discrimination matters before state and federal administrative agencies and courts.  

Since 2006, Brian has served on the faculty of the University of Maryland Global Campus, teaching courses in business law, employment law, business ethics, management, organizational leadership, and related subjects. He holds a Juris Doctor from Georgetown University Law Center and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from UMGC.  

Brian is also an experienced ministry leader, having served as Founding and Lead Pastor of Zion Church in Woodbridge, Virginia. He is a member of Alfred Street Baptist Church and served as a facilitator for the Mighty Men of God Village, helping men grow in faith, fellowship, leadership, and service. 

He is also a member of the Omicron Zeta Sigma Chapter of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., where he serves on the Membership Committee and chairs the Investment Committee, supporting member engagement and the chapter’s long-term financial stewardship. 

Carolyn Fleming-Williams, a graduate of Princeton University and the Georgetown University Law School, is a seasoned attorney with over 35 years of experience.  She started her career as an Honors Attorney with the United States Department of the Treasury, worked as an associate with a national law firm, and then became an Executive with the Federal government.  She was honored to serve under President Obama as a White House Leadership Fellow. In addition, she has served as Chair of the Board of several non-profit organizations, including DC Habitat For Humanity, the Family Crisis Center, a shelter for domestic violence survivors, and The Training Source, Inc., an organization that helps prepare high schoolers for college, provides scholarships, and trains both youth and adults for economic mobility. Currently, she serves as General Counsel of the Federal Executive Institute. Carolyn is married to Tony Williams and they have one son, Chase David Fleming-Williams.

Greetings to you my Brothers and Sisters in Christ. My name is Leshia Lee-Dixon. I present my application to serve on the Governance and Legal Committee. I have been a member of Alfred Street since 2016 where I have served with Sunday School – Deep Roots Bearing Fruit – as an Editor, the Legal Resources Committee, and the ASBC Scholarship Committee. Serving on these committees and attending Village have allowed me to not only grow in fellowship with members of Alfred Street but more importantly, it has allowed me to grow in faith and in my daily walk with God. I have been blessed by God with talents. I am so thankful that He has allowed me to use these talents to advance the mission of the church and help to grow the kingdom of God.

Before coming to Alfred Street, I was a member of Calvary Baptist Church in Salt Lake City, Utah, where my Pastor was the Rev. Dr. France A. Davis. I served on the Trustee Board where I advised on the purchase of property, copyright issues, created policy for the use of the church property, revised documents for church operations, and interacted with outside legal counsel on matters related to the church. As a member of the Missions Committee, I served as a leader of the Junior Red Circle where I enjoyed working with young girls, and at times side by side the Mission Committee of the church, to prepare various projects for local and global outreach.

I have a strong litigation background in both civil and criminal law. My legal experience includes drafting policy, reviewing legal documents and binding agreements, and advising agency leaders to ensure compliance with regulations. In addition, as a life-long member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., I have served in many capacities in service to others. As a President of a local Chapter I have reviewed and drafted by-laws and worked to make sure that the activities of the sorority complied with national standards. As the day to day operations of the chapter are also important, I often consulted with the Regional Director to make sure projects and community outreach projects met the needs of our community while staying in compliance with national directives.

I believe that God has truly blessed me to use my talents as a lawyer to further the work of His Kingdom. I enjoy the challenge that often comes with making sure that everything is completed in a manner that is pleasing to Him but also reflects the way Jesus wants us to work with others. I believe that my Christian experience and my talents make me a strong candidate for the Governance and Legal Committee. I thank you for your support.

Charlene Proctor retired from a federal executive Senior Counsel position with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in 2023. She retired with thirty-five years of federal service, including management positions, deciding and overseeing the processing of federal sector equal employment opportunity complaints and federal personnel law cases before the U.S. Department of Justice; U.S. Merit Systems Protection Board; U.S. Transportation Security Administration; and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Charlene balanced her career by volunteering her talents for fifteen plus years. As president or chair, she led Maryland non-profit boards and community service organizations, and a Prince George’s County commission to achieve and exceed mission goals. Those organizations include the Prince George’s County (MD) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated, White Rose Foundation, Inc., Delta Foundation, Inc., and the Prince George’s County Human Rights Commission. As a Registered Parliamentarian with the National Association of Parliamentarians, Charlene has contributed her expertise in parliamentary procedure to assist organizations with conducting effective meetings, protecting members’ rights, and implementing governing documents to drive organizational effectiveness. Currently, she is the Co-Chair of the National Constitution and Bylaws Committee of The Links, Incorporated and The Links Foundation, Incorporated.

Charlene has been a certified mediator since 2002 and continues to serve as a pro bono mediator for federal sector and private sector employment discrimination cases before the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. She has served in officer positions in homeowner associations wherever she has lived and is currently the Secretary of the Potomac Overlook Association, VII. Charlene is a proud member of the Prince George’s County Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, where she has served as chapter parliamentarian and acquired a MD Voter Registration Distributor certification to support the sorority’s national social action initiatives. Leveraging her conflict resolution expertise, Charlene has served as a Conflict Resolution Coach for the Eastern Region of the sorority. Charlene was appointed by Maryland Governor Wes Moore to serve a four year term as Member of the African American Museum Corporation Board of Directors for the Reginald F. Lewis Museum in Baltimore, Maryland.

Charlene received a J.D., from Howard University School of Law in Washington, DC and a B.A., in Economics from Hampton University, Hampton, VA. She is a long time resident of Prince George’s County and was married to Martin V. Proctor, Jr. (deceased). Charlene considers herself rooted: full of humor and humility, a Member of the Alfred Street Baptist Church (DG 40), a mother, a mother-in-law, a grandmother, a travel fanatic, an ancestral history buff and an aspiring golfer.

Crystal Chavis is a strategic talent management and human resources executive whose career and community work reflect a commitment to developing people and strengthening organizational effectiveness. With more than 25 years of experience, she has led human resources initiatives within global corporations and mission-driven organizations, building leadership pipelines and guiding organizations through change while connecting talent priorities to evolving business needs.

She currently serves as Assistant Vice President of Talent and Performance Management at Jefferson, a $16 billion academic health system with more than 65,000 employees. In this role, she leads the development of enterprise talent solutions and advises senior leaders on strategies that strengthen leadership capability and organizational performance. Before joining Jefferson, Crystal held senior talent management and human resources roles with Public Broadcasting Service, DuPont Corporation, Bayer Corporation, and the Mars Petcare division. Across these roles, she was regularly brought in to align talent strategy with organizations undergoing growth or change.

Crystal earned a Doctor of Philosophy in Conflict Analysis and Resolution from Nova Southeastern University, a Master of Arts in Human Resources Development from Bowie State University, and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Morgan State University. She holds a number of professional certifications, including certification as a Court Mediator, and has successfully mediated workplace conflicts. She has also ruled on consumer disputes as a former arbitrator for the Better Business Bureau of Maryland.

Beyond her professional work, Crystal maintains a strong commitment to service. She serves on the Human Resources Committee for Health Care for the Homeless, supporting an organization that serves individuals experiencing homelessness in Baltimore City. She also serves on the Human Resources Committee and the Constitution and Bylaws Committee at Alfred Street Baptist Church.

Crystal’s passion projects center on environmental justice and the advancement of women and girls. She is the author of A Toxic Divide: The Hidden Toll of Environmental Racism in America, which examines environmental racism and the unequal conditions that affect the health of marginalized communities. Her related interests include climate education, peace, and human security, with particular attention to equitable access to food and water and the long-term sustainability of these resources.

Her focus on human development is also evident in her work with young people and emerging leaders. Crystal founded The Whole Woman, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing women and girls. Through its programs and scholarship opportunities, the organization helps participants pursue their professional and educational goals. This commitment to mentorship has taken many forms throughout her life. She previously served as a Court Appointed Special Advocate for at-risk children in the Howard County court system and led a mentoring program for girls at Wilde Lake Middle School. Her dedication to service is also reflected in her decades as a Life Member of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc., where she also served as Basileus of its Howard County alumnae chapter.

Whether leading talent strategy for a major health system or mentoring young girls, Crystal consistently brings together her professional expertise and her passion for service to help others access new opportunities and achieve lasting growth.

I am a Human Resources Executive with 25 years of experience leading talent strategy, organizational development, and workforce management across a range of industries, most recently serving as Chief Administrative and Human Resources Officer for a healthcare company with over 1,000 employees.. I currently serve as Principal Consultant of Journey HR Consulting, where I partner with organizations to build sound HR infrastructure, strengthen policy and compliance, and cultivate healthy, high-performing workplace cultures.

I hold an MBA and the SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP) credential, reflecting my mastery of strategic human resources practice at the highest level. Over the course of my career, I have built deep expertise in employee relations, total rewards, talent acquisition, performance management, and leadership development, while serving as a strategic advisor to leadership teams navigating organizational growth and change. I bring this experience with both professional rigor and a heart for service.

As a dedicated member of Alfred Street Baptist Church, I am honored to offer my HR experience and servant leadership to the role of HR Committee Chair, helping ensure our church’s staff and volunteer structures operate with excellence, integrity, and care for our people.

A senior human resources executive, board leader and trusted adviser, Deidre brings more than 20 years of experience helping organizations strengthen people practices, leadership and governance. She has served as Chief Human Resources Officer, Chief People Officer, Managing Director and senior Human Resources Business Partner across organizations including WTW, Capital One and Ally Bank.

As an HR practitioner, Deidre’s experience spans human resources governance and compliance, policy development, employee relations and workplace investigations, executive succession, leadership development and performance management. Her experience also includes compensation analysis and market pricing, benefits administration and provider oversight, talent acquisition and job architecture. Within these areas, she has led benefit-plan changes that reduced costs by 15 percent, built compensation and career structures, strengthened recruiting and onboarding processes, and developed employee-relations, investigation and performance-management standards.

Governance has been a consistent thread throughout Deidre’s career. Her board-related roles have included serving as Vice Chair of the Bennett College Board of Trustees and Chair of its Investment Committee, acting as executive liaison to Leafly’s People and Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors, and currently serving on the Board of Community Reach of Montgomery County.

Service to the church is part of Deidre’s family legacy. Her father devoted 35 years to ministry, and her mother served for more than 20 years in Ministers’ Wives and Widows, including as International Vice President, and remains a member today. Growing up, Deidre sang in the choir, served on the usher board, made church announcements, helped clean the church, supported children’s Easter activities and served as Sunday school secretary. Those experiences taught her that ministry extends beyond the pulpit and that the work of the church belongs to all of us.

Deidre has attended Alfred Street Baptist Church since 2014. She and her son formally joined in 2021, when he was baptized, and she completed the new members class and received the Right Hand of Fellowship in May 2026. With her son beginning graduate school and her family circumstances changing, she feels called to return fully to active service in the church. She is also pursuing church-administration study through Duke Divinity School to deepen her understanding of how sound practices support the distinctive mission of the church.

The Parable of the Talents guides her: faithfulness is measured not by how much we are given, but by what we do with it. Believing God has entrusted her with decades of experience in human resources, organizational leadership and governance, Deidre wants to offer that experience in service to Alfred Street, applying it with wisdom and humanity to multiply its value for the church, its employees, and its congregation.

Deidre holds an MBA from the University of Michigan and a Bachelor of Science in Finance from Hampton University. She is also a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, and an Associate Jewel of Jack and Jill of America, Incorporated.

Tia Plunkett-McQueen, MA, SHRM-CP, PHR, is an accomplished nonprofit executive, strategic advisor, and consultant whose career reflects a sustained commitment to strengthening mission-driven organizations, developing people, and building the organizational capacity necessary for long-term impact. Her experience spans affordable housing, higher education and workforce advancement, municipal advocacy, civic engagement, human rights, and national membership organizations.

Throughout her career, Tia has held increasingly senior leadership roles, including Chief Human Resources Officer at Achieving the Dream, Senior Executive and Director of Human Resources at the National League of Cities (NLC), and currently Vice President of Human Resources at National Housing Compliance (NHC). Across these organizations, she has partnered with CEOs, executive teams, and boards to translate organizational priorities into effective people, culture, talent, and operational strategies.

At Achieving the Dream, a national nonprofit focused on community college transformation and student success, Tia served as Chief Human Resources Officer and a member of the senior leadership team. During her tenure, the organization operated at approximately $19–23 million in annual revenue, reflecting the scale and complexity of the national organization she helped support. She provided leadership across talent strategy, organizational effectiveness, leadership development, employee engagement, workforce planning, and organizational change.

At the National League of Cities, Tia served as Senior Executive and Director of Human Resources, providing senior-level people leadership within one of the nation’s leading organizations representing cities, towns, and villages. NLC’s broader consolidated operations have grown to approximately $50 million in annual revenue, reflecting the significant national platform and organizational complexity in which she served. Tia helped align workforce strategy, organizational structure, talent management, leadership development, culture, and HR operations with strategic priorities while supporting an organization serving thousands of municipalities and mayor and city council leaders nationwide.

Today, as Vice President of Human Resources at National Housing Compliance, Tia provides executive HR leadership for a nonprofit affordable housing organization with approximately $32 million in annual revenue, while supporting an affiliated operation representing approximately $7 million in additional annual revenue. Her leadership spans a growing multi-state workforce and supports organizational growth, geographic expansion, leadership development, and infrastructure within the highly regulated affordable housing industry.

Tia’s impact extends beyond her formal executive roles. As a strategic advisor and consultant, she has provided expertise to organizations including the National Business Aviation Association, League of Women Voters, Democratic National Committee, and Global Rights, applying her experience in human capital strategy, organizational effectiveness, talent management, and leadership across diverse organizational environments.

Collectively, Tia has contributed to organizational transformation, workforce and succession planning, leadership development, organizational design, executive compensation, governance, compliance, culture, and change management. Her ability to connect people strategy with mission, operations, and organizational sustainability has established her as a trusted executive advisor during periods of growth, change, and transition.

A seasoned Human Resources leader with over 20 years of progressive experience, Theodore Sapp specializes in aligning people strategies with organizational objectives to drive growth and performance. Having served in roles from Specialist to Director, Theodore brings expertise across the full HR spectrum—including Talent Acquisition, Compensation & Benefits, Learning & Development, Employee & Labor Relations, Compliance, and Organizational Development. Theodore has led high-performing teams and supported scalable growth through both organic expansion and mergers & acquisitions. With a strong track record in managing complex employment matters—successfully resolving EEOC and NLRB cases—Theodore combines strategic insight with legal and regulatory acumen. Theodore’s academic background and professional certifications further equip him to deliver mission-driven, results-oriented HR solutions.

Beyond the workplace, Theodore is deeply committed to the health, growth, and spiritual vitality of the church. Theodore remains actively involved through faithful tithing and dedicated service in multiple ministries. Over the years, Theodore has contributed to the Music Worship & Arts Ministry— by serving on various Choirs, the CAYA Praise Team, and Drama —as well as served on the Nominating Committee in roles such as Secretary and Vice Chair. Additionally, Theodore has supported impactful outreach initiatives like Feed the 5000 and Brother’s Keeper, reflecting his heart for service and community.

Theodore’s combined professional expertise and longstanding ministry involvement reflect a deep commitment to organizational excellence and spiritual stewardship. Whether in the boardroom or the sanctuary, Theodore strives to use his gifts to support environments where people can grow, thrive, and fulfill their purpose.

She serves as a Foreign Service Officer with the United States Department of State where she completed tours in Chiang Mai, Thailand, Lagos Nigeria, Algiers, Algeria, and Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Ms. Gaither completed temporary assignments in Afghanistan, Niamey, Abidjan, Bamako, Dar El Salaam, Abuja, Nigeria, Addis Ababa, Sao Paulo, Port au Prince, Honduras, Panama City and Kingston, Jamaica.

Foreign Service Officers, also known as Diplomats, help manage political and economic relations with a specific country. Most recently, Yvette served as the Executive Communications Support officer to the Presidential Daily Briefer for Former President Biden and Former Vice-President Kamala Harris. Yvette also served on the POTUS transition team to support executive daily briefers.

Ms. Gaither graduated from Mathews High School and holds an MBA and MISM from the University of Phoenix and a Bachelor of Science degree from Old Dominion University. Ms. Gaither is a Life Member of the NAACP and an active member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc.
Yvette is an avid reader and hosts a weekly book club via zoom on race relations in America. Yvette has an adult son, Rashaan, who currently works as a Clinical Data Manager for Merck Pharmaceuticals in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and is the daughter of Raymond and the late Arma Willis.

I am committed to serving Alfred Street Baptist Church through active participation, collaboration, and a willingness to recognize needs and step forward to help. Over the years, I have had the privilege of volunteering with several church initiatives, including Feed the 5000, Brother’s Keeper, and the HBCU Festival, serving in a variety of roles that have allowed me to support members, guests, volunteers, and the broader community. I also serve as an Inclusion Specialist for Vacation Bible School, helping ensure that every child has an opportunity to participate, feel welcomed, and be included. Within DG14, I have served on the Communications Committee, supporting efforts to keep members informed, engaged, and connected. I currently serve as Vice President of the Marriage Ministry, where I have embraced the opportunity to serve, collaborate with others, and help advance the ministry’s work. I was also recommended by ASBC’s Chief Operating Officer and IT Director to serve on an IT Think Tank focused on bringing together ideas, expertise, and practical solutions to support the church’s technology needs. Through these experiences, I have learned the importance of listening carefully, recognizing the gifts and strengths in others, building relationships, and connecting people with meaningful opportunities to serve. I believe these qualities, along with my professional experience in evaluating and developing talent, would allow me to make a thoughtful and meaningful contribution to the Nominating Committee.

Carol Holland, PE, CCM, LEED AP, brings more than 25 years of engineering, construction, and facilities leadership experience to her service on Alfred Street Baptist Church’s Property and Facility Committee.

A licensed Professional Engineer, Certified Construction Manager, and LEED Accredited Professional, Carol has spent her career managing large-scale capital programs and facility portfolios for some of the nation’s most complex institutions. She began her career as a Civil Engineer Corps Officer in the United States Navy, where she led construction project management, public works, and contingency operations totaling over $1 billion in facilities responsibility. She went on to serve as Construction Manager and Deputy Program Manager for the Pentagon Renovation Program, overseeing more than $600 million in occupied renovation work while maintaining full building operations and security. She later served as Deputy Director of the International Monetary Fund’s $400 million headquarters renewal project, managing a phased, occupied renovation of a 1.9-million-square-foot facility from design through construction with zero audit deficiencies.

Carol’s facilities leadership also includes serving as Director of Facilities Planning for the U.S. Department of Labor’s Job Corps Program, where she oversaw planning and a $100 million annual construction budget across 124 centers totaling 15 million square feet nationwide. Most recently, she served as Vice President and Maryland Operations Unit Manager for Dewberry Engineers, and as Executive Vice President for Delon Hampton and Associates, leading multi-disciplinary engineering, construction management, and technology consulting teams and building client relationships with agencies including GSA, the Smithsonian, Naval Facilities Engineering Command, DC Water, and the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority.

Carol holds a Master of Science in Environmental Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley, and a Bachelor of Science in Systems Engineering from the United States Naval Academy. She is a licensed Professional Engineer in Maryland, Washington, D.C., Virginia, and California, and has served in board leadership with the Construction Management Association of America (CMAA), including as Board Chair.

Beyond her engineering career, Carol is co-owner of Haraka Run & Walk, the first specialty running store in Prince George’s County. She is deeply engaged in the Prince George’s County community, serving as Standards Committee Chair for the Iota Gamma Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., and as a partner in Ivy Community Charities of Prince George’s County’s Ivy Village Incubator project.

A 30-year member of Alfred Street Baptist Church, Carol is honored to continue offering her decades of hands-on experience managing occupied renovations, capital budgets, and facility operations in service to ASBC’s Property and Facility Committee, and respectfully seeks the congregation’s support for her renomination.

Vision-focused. Purpose-driven. Result-oriented. Shelly Jones is a seasoned architect and urban designer & planner with over 30 years of expertise in sustainable and high-performing design, construction, project management, campus master planning, risk management, resiliency, and historic preservation. Having worked in the private sector, federal and local government; and as an entrepreneur; Shelly understands the complexities and nuanced perspectives involved. Her clients and projects have benefited from that knowledge. Shelly has a proven track record of successfully leading and advising complex multimillion dollar projects from vision to completion. Shelly has served on the building and property committees of the churches she’s attended offering her talents and expertise. Shelly now seeks to lend her expertise to Alfred Street Baptist Church’s Facility & Property Committee.

Shelly is a licensed architect and certified planner (AICP) with an Architectural degree from Clemson University.

Jeanetta Taylor is a program and project management professional with more than 18 years of experience spanning property management, home renovation, interior design, capital-project oversight, procurement, contract administration, budgeting, and complex project delivery. She offers a practical, stewardship-focused perspective that combines hands-on residential property experience with senior-level leadership of large, highly accountable programs.

For more than 18 years, Jeanetta has personally managed residential properties and home-improvement projects. Her experience includes property maintenance and repair coordination, renovation planning, interior and space design, contractor and vendor selection and oversight, estimates, budgeting, material and finish selections, scheduling, and quality management. She approaches property decisions with attention to functionality, safety, aesthetics, lifecycle maintenance, cost control, asset preservation, and long-term value.

Professionally, Jeanetta has led complex, multimillion-dollar programs and projects for organizations including Cisco, BAE Systems, AT&T, Adobe, Deloitte, CACI, and the Federal Aviation Administration. Her responsibilities have included budget and P&L management, forecasting, cost estimating, schedule and resource planning, risk management, vendor and contractor coordination, contract execution, and executive stakeholder reporting. She has led multidisciplinary teams of more than 100 professionals and provided senior leaders with strategic, financial, and operational guidance on high-visibility initiatives ranging from millions to hundreds of millions of dollars.

Jeanetta also brings substantial acquisition, RFP, proposal, procurement, and contracting experience. She completed Defense Acquisition University coursework in Acquisition/Procurement, Contract Formation, Contract Administration, and Contracting Basics. As an Acquisition Specialist with the Federal Aviation Administration, she supported Requests for Proposals and conducted price analyses to inform contract awards. Throughout her career, she has applied these skills to evaluating scope, developing estimates, managing vendors and contractors, supporting proposal development, administering contracts, and delivering complex capital and infrastructure-related work within established budgets and timelines.

For more than 15 years, Jeanetta has supported the U.S. Intelligence Community while holding a high-level federal security clearance. This background reflects a consistent record of discretion, sound judgment, compliance, accountability, and responsible management of sensitive resources.

Jeanetta holds a Master in Information Technology Management from Georgetown University and a Bachelor of Business Administration in Management Information Systems from the University of Central Oklahoma. She is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) and Certified ScrumMaster (CSM). A member of Alfred Street Baptist Church since 2017 and baptized in 2018, she is committed to Christian service and responsible stewardship. She would bring to the Property and Facilities Committee sound property-management judgment, renovation and design insight, disciplined financial and contract oversight, and a collaborative approach to protecting and improving Church facilities and assets.

Nancy Frazier is the Chief Development Officer at Planned Parenthood of Metropolitan Washington (PPMW). In addition to fundraising, Nancy leads a team of nine staff focused on raising more than $10M annually. Since arriving in 2017, Nancy and the team have exceeded their annual fundraising goals by about $1M and raised 50-60% of the organization’s operating budget each year.

Before joining PPMW, Nancy served as Development Director at George Washington University (GWU), where she managed a regional portfolio of major gift prospects, secured 5- and 6-figure gifts in support of student programs and initiatives, and raised multi-million-dollar gifts annually. Her fundraising work helped raise the entrepreneurship competition’s stature from 7th to 2nd in the nation. Before GWU, Nancy served as Associate, Board Affairs and Stewardship for Georgetown University’s Board of Regents. In this role, Nancy orchestrated a synergistic effort between the 100-person cross-campus board, the President’s Office, and faculty and administrators. At Georgetown, Nancy’s work led to a multi-million-dollar gift that funded a new wing of the building.

Nancy has also lent her fundraising talents to smaller nonprofits. At WomenHeart, the National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease, Nancy raised $3.8M through grants. Further, she negotiated a lead gift, the largest corporate gift in the organization’s history, from Burlington Coat Factory. Nancy also has extensive experience in the areas of communications, strategic planning, and customer relationship management and has worked at such leading corporate entities as Russell Reynolds Associates; Capital Cities/ABC, Inc.; The Dreyfus Corporation; The Estee Lauder Companies, and Manulife Financial, where she was responsible for the internal communications program and the execution of executive events and key initiatives for the U.S. Annuities Division.

Nancy holds a Bachelor of Science in Communications from St. John’s University. In 2011, Nancy attained a Master of Public Administration degree from the City University of New York at Baruch College through National Urban Fellows, a nationally competitive 14-month, fully funded master’s degree program. She has completed studies at Harvard University and Georgetown University and is a Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE), one of 7,500 credentialed fundraisers worldwide. Nancy earned a Master of Arts in Human and Organizational Development from George Washington University in 2025. Nancy currently serves as board chair for Real Dads Network. This nonprofit supports the institution of the family by empowering fathers. She has also been a proud member and volunteer at Alfred Street Baptist Church in Alexandria, VA, since 2022.

Gina E. Wood is a strategic executive leader, fundraising professional, and public servant with more than 15 years of experience mobilizing resources, building partnerships, strengthening organizations, and advancing mission-driven work. 

Gina has led complex fundraising and external engagement efforts at the intersection of strategy, relationships, and impact. Most recently, she served as Chief Development Officer at Rainforest Alliance, leading global fundraising across individual giving, institutional relations, strategic partnerships, annual giving, and revenue operations. Previously, she spent eight years at the Atlantic Council, serving as Senior Vice President for Global Partnerships and Impact, where she led a team that secured an eight-figure, multi-year philanthropic commitment. 

Her leadership experience also includes public service at the state and federal levels. As a member of the South Carolina Governor’s Cabinet and Director of the Department of Juvenile Justice, Gina oversaw a budget exceeding $100 million and more than 1,200 employees. Her career has given her extensive experience in financial stewardship, organizational leadership, strategic planning, relationship development, and accountability. 

Gina believes stewardship is about far more than fundraising. It is about cultivating a culture of generosity and gratitude, honoring the trust placed in an institution, communicating the impact of giving, and helping people see themselves as partners in a shared mission. She brings particular expertise in engaging donors and stakeholders, developing strategies that inspire investment, and building long-term relationships grounded in trust and mutual purpose. 

At Alfred Street Baptist Church, Gina has been actively engaged in the life and ministry of the church. Her involvement includes serving as former Treasurer of her Disciple Group (DG-2), attending periodic Church Council meetings and the Church’s Mid-Year and End-of-Year meetings, and supporting church outreach and community service initiatives, including Carpenter’s Shelter and the Hypothermia Program. Through DG-2, she has also supported fellowship and community-building activities, including its Summer Fling. More broadly, she regularly participates in church-wide worship, fellowship, programs, and special events, including Sisters at the Cross, March Gladness, and the Pastor’s Anniversary Celebration. 

Gina believes Alfred Street has an extraordinary opportunity to deepen its culture of generosity, gratitude, and shared responsibility. She would be honored to bring her professional experience, collaborative leadership, and commitment to Alfred Street to the role of Stewardship Committee Chair. 

Robin A. H. Ingram is a wife, mother, family member, friend, community organizer, and strategic leader who thrives on bringing people together, extending generosity, and turning meaningful ideas into action. She does this while infusing her faith in God and ensuring it shines through in each role.

Raised in Winston-Salem, NC, Robin hails from a family with deep spiritual roots. Her grandfather, father, and brother were all called to be pastors. Her grandmothers, mother, and aunts, who were active in multiple church organizations, created a blueprint for what it meant to be a servant leader and instilled in Robin a sense of responsibility and a desire to be meaningfully engaged beyond Sunday services.

Although faith was woven naturally into her upbringing, Robin’s own relationship with Christ developed personally and authentically. Through different seasons of life in Chapel Hill, NC, Rochester, MN, Baltimore, MD, and Washington, DC, Robin witnessed God fulfill countless promises.

As a member of Alfred Street Baptist Church since 2015, she has continued to grow in biblical knowledge and spiritual maturity. The weekly commute from Baltimore, MD, to Alexandria, has become ingrained in her family’s schedule and reflects their commitment to being actively engaged in the life of the church. Robin has volunteered with the HBCU Festival and with her husband, supports the church’s children’s ministries as an engaged parent, prioritizing her son’s consistent participation.

Personally, one of Robin’s most beloved projects is hosting her annual Birthday Service Project. For the past 10 years, in lieu of birthday parties, she financially sponsors supplies and bring friends and family together to support local initiatives. To date, more than 2,000 snack bags, meal kits, and meals have been donated and/or served. It has evolved to be a gathering of love, inspiration, and a reminder that we can always find time to help others. Yes, cake is served!

Professionally, Robin has been fortunate to experience working at world-renowned medical institutions: The Mayo Clinic and Johns Hopkins Medicine. As the Assistant Vice President at The Fund for Johns Hopkins Medicine (FJHM), she serves as a member of the FJHM Executive Leadership Team and the Johns Hopkins University Development and Alumni Relations Executive Team. In her work, she partners with high-functioning teams to ensure the organization thrives and continues to raise $350 million annually in support of research, education, and patient care.

She is a graduate of The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she earned her Bachelor of Science in Biology and Master of Health Administration.

Robin’s favorite titles are those connected to her family, especially wife and mother. She lives in Baltimore with her husband, James II, their son, James III, and their daughter Eliana. Experiences with them never fail to bring her joy and are a reminder of God’s faithfulness and care over our lives. Whether through family, church, community, or career, Robin strives to live a life grounded in gratitude, guided by faith, and committed to serving others well.

Ayanna is a strategic partnerships and nonprofit leader with extensive experience in fundraising, relationship development, revenue growth, and mission-driven programming. Known as “The Connector,” she has built her career bringing people and organizations together around shared goals and creating meaningful opportunities for engagement and impact. 

 As an Executive Vice President with the American Advertising Federation (AAF), Ayanna managed national programs that generated more than $5.5 million in revenue, cultivated relationships with leading corporate partners, and developed and fundraised for the AAF Mosaic Fund to support mission-driven initiatives. Ayanna was responsible for increasing the organization’s HBCU membership by 100%.  She also led national events supported by corporate sponsors and developed engagement strategies that strengthened relationships and demonstrated the impact of partner support. 

 Drawing on more than 20 years of experience across nonprofit, media, and advertising organizations, Ayanna brings a strong foundation in fundraising, financial stewardship, communications, events, and relationship management. She is passionate about using these experiences in service to Alfred Street Baptist Church to help inspire generosity, express gratitude, and connect members’ giving to the church’s mission and ministry. 

Dr. Arica L. Coleman is an award-winning American Studies historian and independent scholar. Her research concentrates on racial formation and identity. Her expertise includes interracial relationships/mixed-race identity; intersections of race and gender/sexuality; the politics of race and science; religion (Womanist/Black Liberation Theologies); and popular culture.  

Coleman earned her doctorate in American Studies from the Union Institute and University (2005). She completed a Postdoctoral Fellowship in Scholarly Information Resources and Africana Studies at Johns Hopkins University (2006-2007) and was a Mellon Futures of Minority Studies Fellow at Cornell University (2009 – 2011). 

Coleman has held faculty appointments in Africana Studies at Widener University, University of Delaware, and Johns Hopkins University (2007-2014). 

As a nationally recognized scholar, Coleman has lent her expertise on matters of race and identity to the Virginia General Assembly House Rules Committee, BET, NPR (Boston and Arizona), History News Network, L.A. Progressive News Blog, The Washington Post, Time Magazine, The North Star News Blog, Vox Independent News, iHeart Podcast, Atlantic Live, Cheddar TV Business and Financial News, and CTV News (Canada). 

The New York Times, The Root, and MadameNoire cited her groundbreaking work on the 1967 Loving v. Virginia Supreme Court decision that declared proscriptions against interracial marriage unconstitutional. Her article “Mildred Loving: The Extraordinary Life of an Ordinary Woman” was a finalist for the 2016 Gloria Anzaldúa Award by the American Studies Association Committee on Gender and Sexuality Studies. 

Coleman’s first book, That the Blood Stay Pure: African Americans, Native Americans and the Predicament of Race, and Identity in Virginia (Indiana University Press, 2013), was a Choice Outstanding Academic Title for 2014, a prestigious book award given by the American Library Association. The book traces the history and legacy of Virginia’s effort to maintain racial purity and the consequences of this almost four-hundred-year effort on African American – Native American relations and kinship bonds in the Commonwealth. This work includes a biography of Andrew Warren Adkins, the sixth pastor of Alfred Street Baptist Church.  That the Blood Stay Pure continues to enjoy wide circulation. It is in two thousand libraries worldwide. 

Coleman’s second book, the critically acclaimed In the Matter of Black Lives: Womanist Prose (SistahGurl Books, 2021), is a collection of previously published essays from 2000-2020 that provides historical context for current events in politics, science, religion, and popular culture. 

Her current project, “Of Waterways, Slaves, and Runaways: A Story of Black Lives in the United States and Canada, 1796-1965,” centers Coleman’s family history within the larger context of United States and Canadian political history to demonstrate how race and place are like a reflecting pool, a metaphor for the racialized politics prevalent in both countries. This project is forthcoming from Palgrave Macmillan (2029).  

Coleman is, first and foremost, a wife, mother, and glam-mom.  She and her husband Tracy have been married for almost forty years. They have two beautiful children, Julienne, Harvard College ’12, and Ira “Manny,” American School for the Deaf (deaf/autistic program) ’15, and are grandparents to Stephen (6) and Bryan (4). 

Daviana Fraser is a doctoral researcher and public-humanities scholar from Jacksonville, North Carolina. Raised in Deliverance Evangelistic Temple, a church with a tiny but mighty congregation, and now a proud member of ASBC DG 37, Daviana values the role faith communities play in sustaining collective memory and carrying spiritual and cultural traditions across generations. She is a Ph.D. candidate in Communication Studies at the University of Maryland, College Park where she studies Black American rhetorical history and culture. She is also a Smithsonian Institution volunteer for the National Museum of African Art and serves as Historian for her Family Reunion Planning Committee. 

Her dissertation examines the rhetorical legacy of Amy James Mallard, a Black Georgia educator and activist connected to the Civil Rights Congress’s 1951 appeal to the United Nations, We Charge Genocide. Through this work, Daviana studies how political and institutional conditions shape the creation, circulation, preservation, description, accessibility, and absence of historical materials. Her research draws on archival, bibliographic, legal, organizational, newspaper, and primary-source materials, and it emphasizes responsible interpretation when records are fragmented or incomplete. 

As Secretary of the National Communication Association Black Caucus, she maintains official records, meeting minutes, correspondence, and organizational documentation. As the former Graduate Assistant for the Mark and Heather Rosenker Center for Political Communication and Civic Leadership, Daviana has supported archival research and scholarship for a public digital repository of lesser-known speeches in American history, known as the Recovering Democracy Archives: Speech Recovery Project. She has mentored undergraduate researchers as they helped recover, authenticate, transcribe, contextualize, and share historical materials for digital publication.  

She seeks to bring her background in archival research, records stewardship, and public history work to the ASBC Historical Society. 

Riss Robinson is an educator, school leader, husband, father, and servant leader who believes that leadership is most meaningful when it is rooted in service, integrity, faith, and a commitment to helping others reach their full potential.

With more than a decade of experience in education, Riss has served students, families, and communities as a classroom teacher, department chair, teacher leader, assistant principal, and principal. He currently serves as a middle school educator and grade-level team leader in Prince George’s County Public Schools in Maryland, where he works with a diverse population of students and families, including multilingual learners from around the world.

Riss previously served as principal of Crownpoint Elementary School in Crownpoint, New Mexico, located within the Navajo Nation. In this role, he led a school community of approximately 300 students and 50 staff members, focusing on academic achievement, teacher development, family engagement, and creating a positive school culture. He has also served as an assistant principal with Montgomery County Public Schools in Maryland.

A lifelong learner, Riss earned a Bachelor of Arts in History from Albany State University, a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction from Columbus State University, and an Education Specialist degree in Educational Leadership from Northwest Missouri State University. His professional journey has allowed him to serve communities across several states and alongside families from a wide range of cultural, linguistic, and socioeconomic backgrounds. These experiences have strengthened his belief in the dignity of every person and the importance of meeting people where they are while encouraging them toward where God has called them to be.

Beyond his professional responsibilities, Riss values family, community, mentorship, and service. He is a devoted husband and father who recognizes his family as an important foundation in his life and leadership. He is especially passionate about developing others, building relationships across generations, preserving family and community history, and creating opportunities for young people to recognize their gifts and potential.

Riss approaches service within the church with humility and a desire to contribute his gifts in leadership, teaching, organization, communication, and community building. He believes the church has an important responsibility not only to nurture spiritual growth but also to strengthen families, develop future leaders, serve the community, and create spaces where every generation knows that it belongs.

Guided by faith and a commitment to servant leadership, Riss seeks to use his professional experiences and God-given gifts in service to others. His desire is simple: to serve faithfully, lead purposefully, encourage others, and leave every community stronger than he found it.