Our Education Ambassadors

Leaving no one behind, our group of phenomenal Education ambassadors ensure our students are equitably recognized, included and mentored from early childhood education thru graduate school.

- Dr. Jarilyn Conner
Committee Chair, Education

Featured Educational Lecturers

 
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Dr. Nalo Hamilton

Nalo Hamilton, PhD, MSN, APRN-BC is an associate professor with the UCLA School of Nursing. While earning her Ph.D. in Biochemistry, she studied factors controlling the regulation of BRCA1 and BRCA2, which are genes associated with inherited breast cancer. Dr. Hamilton then obtained a Master’s in Nursing, and became a nurse practitioner dually certified in adult and women’s health. At UCLA, Dr. Hamilton is investigating the regulatory effects of the insulin-like growth factor-II (IGF-2) signaling pathway on triple-negative breast cancer development, progression, metastasis and invasion. Dr. Hamilton’s research is readily adapted to clinical-translation and is closely related to the overall goals of translational research and patient care in breast cancer. Her unique background in biochemistry and molecular biology coupled with her clinical expertise as a nurse practitioner positions her to investigate questions related to women’s health and health disparities in breast cancer.

 

Education Ambassadors

The Healthy Heart Nation Ambassadors, promote, contribute, and represent Healthy Heart Nation in the community and work to advance the mission.

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Aleasha Stevens, M.Ed.

With over 23 years of education and training experience, a knack for building relationships, enrolling contribution and tailoring communication to diverse audiences, Aleasha Stevens knows how to command a room, connect with a crowd and convey complex concepts in ways that help people take their careers – and themselves – to unprecedented levels.

  • A learning and development leader, Aleasha works with individuals and organizations to amplify their learning and leadership success so they can make a measurable impact on the world around them. She trains with enthusiasm and expertise, effectively guiding her clients to elevate their skills to new heights. ​Audiences love her practical strategies and often describe her passion and energy as infectious.

    Aleasha’s down-to-earth humor and personal anecdotes foster a relaxed atmosphere where participants are encouraged to laugh while they learn. ​ ​She engages groups from the moment she steps in front of them and leaves them with empowering tools and techniques that they will use long after the session is complete.

Diane Payton

Diane has served the greater Long Beach, Wilmington and San Pedro communities for over 28 years with over 34 years of experience in the field of Early Care and Education.



  • Diane Payton is the Program Director at Child Lane. Diane has served the greater Long Beach, Wilmington and San Pedro communities for over 28 years with over 34 years of experience in the field of Early Care and Education. Diane has years of experience of both teaching and administrative experience. She is instrumental in providing high-quality education and care for children ages 4 months of age to Kindergarten in a variety of settings including licensed centers and licensed family child care homes.

    Diane is involved in the organization EveryChild California that provide and develop leadership and education opportunities that support publicly funded early care and education programs for children. Her expertise is used in teacher training and professional development workshops and is a member of the National Association for the Education of Young Children.

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Nicole Hardy, M.Ed.

Supporting students, staff and families with Special Education needs, Nicole Hardy is a believer in asset based education.   Ms. Hardy is passionate about equitable, accessible high quality education for ALL students abled and differently abled.  

  • Her focus is helping the most at risk and vulnerable children and is a driving factor of what she does.   Ms. Hardy is currently an Adjunct Professor at La Sierra University and a Vice Principal in the Moreno Valley Unified School District where she practices diversity and inclusion daily.   Ms. Hardy’s work does not stop there, she has volunteered to be education project manager for non-profits, sat on multicultural city council task forces and the former Chairperson of H3 Missions, a non-profit dedicated to saving people in impoverished nations dying from otherwise treatable medical conditions.

    Ms. Hardy is a multiple awardee of the prestigious “Teacher of the Year” award, a recognition for her efforts to ensure each student is provided equitable education. Ms. Hardy holds a BBA degree in International Business, Marketing from Howard University, a Master’s Degree in Education from California State University and is currently working on her dissertation “Perspective on Special Education Students and the Digital Divide” for her Ph.D. in Education.

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Tracey White

Tracey White is a high school mathematics teacher and has taught at Redlands High School for 16 years.





  • Tracey previously was a teacher's assistant at The Ohio State University while a graduate student and taught remedial math undergraduate courses. She also taught discussion sessions in the math department at the University of California Riverside for a year before being hired by Redlands Unified School District. Tracey received a B.S. in Math Education from Oakwood College in Huntsville, AL in 1996.

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Richard J. Lawrence, M.A.

Richard J. Lawrence is currently a popular adjunct professor in the Human Communication Department at California State University Fullerton and in the Humanities Department at El Camino College Compton Center where he teaches courses in public speaking, critical thinking/debate, interpersonal, and intercultural communication.

  • He has also recently become sought after as a public speaking consultant, bringing his relaxed and easy going teaching methods to groups and individuals, helping them to overcome what is arguably people’s biggest fear: speaking in public. Prior to his work in higher education, Richard held various positions in the retail, telecommunication, and automotive sectors before returning to school to earn a BA in mass communication from California State University Dominguez Hills and an MA in communication management as well as completing doctoral studies coursework in communication with an emphasis in rhetoric and culture from the USC Annenberg School for Communication in Los Angeles.

 
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Morgan McGhee, M.P.H.

Morgan McGhee is a public health dietitian who has worked in school nutrition in Texas, California and Virginia.

  • She is a strong advocate for a nation where all children have access to sustainable healthy food that links the cafeteria to the classroom. She passionately believes that a school nutrition department can be a change agent in the community when innovative partnerships are coupled with dynamic leadership. McGhee currently works at FoodCorps as the Director of School Nutrition Leadership, collaborating with partners across the national AmeriCorps service program to move school food systems change forward. 

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Angela Davis, M.Ed.

Angela Davis has spent over 24 years in elementary education.  She received her Bachelor of Science in Education degree from Oakwood University and her Master’s in Educational Administration from Tennessee State University.  

  • She began her career in the private school setting and after seven years, transitioned to the public-school sector.  Once there, she participated many professional learnings that helped prepare her for the various populations that she serves.

    Ms. Davis left the classroom after 16 years to advance to the role of school administrator.   She currently serves as the assistant principal in one of the most diverse communities in Nashville, TN.  Her school enrolls students in Pre-K through fourth grade and over 19 languages are represented.  Her roles as an administrator have included; 504 Coordinator, School Improvement Lead, HERO Liaison, and coordinator for state testing. Recent trainings include; Civil Rights, Title IX, English Language Learner Classroom Strategies, Jason Foundation Suicide Prevention, DCS Reporting, and Emergency Crisis Planning.

    Her passion as an administrator is mentoring teachers and ensuring families and student have educational access.  Known throughout the community to do “drive-bys.” Ms. Davis has visited students’ homes as a welcome to the school year and rides the school bus regularly and knows the names of about 70 percent of her 673 students.  Ultimately her desire is to help each child progress through their academic, social, and emotional development.

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Eugene Hamilton

Eugene is a leading motivational speaker and consultant in the educational arena. He is a certified DISC facilitator and CEO of The Eugene Hamilton Group, an educational consulting firm that partners with school districts to improve culture, performance and outcomes for students, teachers and administrators.

  • With nearly 16 years of organizational leadership experience, Eugene knows what truly drives understanding, connection and relationships that have lasting impact. He believes that your ability to empathize with others is the foundation of healthy, high-performing environments.

    In addition to his extensive leadership experience, Eugene is in high demand to inspire, change and ignite passion within the lives of students and teachers through life-changing keynotes and engaging presentations. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Southwestern Adventist University and a masters degree from Oakwood University.

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Cynthia Briscoe, M.S.W.

Cynthia Fenison Briscoe is CEO of The Camry Home for Boys, Inc., which is a non profit servicing adolescent boys ages 13-18.

  • Camry Homes for Boys services the need of the youth and their families, including those from different backgrounds or experience, including race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity or youth who are non-conforming. Cynthia has been in the Social Services field for 25 years. She received her BSW from Oakwood University and MSW from University of Southern California and is an Associate Clinical Social Worker. Cynthia is experienced in evidence-based treatment.

    Her professional life includes a commitment to serving the needs of the adolescents,  family members, staff members and community. Her background enables her to be an effective CEO/administrator and is comfortable overseeing a diverse group of people.

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Roosemary Spragins, M.Ed.

Roosemary Spragins has spent her life positively impacting the lives of children through mentoring and tutoring.

  • With years of experience in social service and the education fields she has been successful in helping children become global learners. Her prior work experience includes: serving as a Child Welfare Social Worker for the Department of Human Resources, Mentoring Program Coordinator, and Certified Elementary School Teacher. She currently works at Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University.

    During the COVID-19 pandemic, Roosemary was able to support students with her in-home and virtual tutoring services. Her rigorous tutoring program not only educates students in grade school, but also reaches those at the college level. The tutoring program has been successful as she uses research based practices and hands-on learning activities to activate students’ critical thinking skills. In addition, she helps parents and guardians interpret reading and math data reports for their child. Rather than just focusing on the deficiency students have, Roosemary also provides above grade level strategies for students to academically soar past their current grade level. Students’ academic performance and self-esteem have shown a significant growth increase with Roosemary’s tutoring program. She believes “no one student learns the same; differentiation is key for students to become global competitive scholars”. She hopes one day her tutoring program will reach students across the nation. Roosemary will always have a passion for tutoring students; she views students as an investment. Investing in our future leaders of the world.

    Roosemary received her education at Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University with a Bachelors of Art in Social Work and a Master’s in Elementary Education(K-6). She is currently pursuing a Master’s in Business Administration with a dual concentration in Supply Chain Management and Human Resources.

Erin Kimble, MS

Erin Kimble recently completed her Master of Science degree in Counseling, option in School Psychology, from California State University - Los Angeles.

  • Erin Kimble is from Los Angles, CA. She graduated with a B.A. in Psychology from Spelman College in 2019. Recently, she completed her Master of Science degree in Counseling, option in School Psychology from California State University - Los Angeles. Erin is passionate about supporting minority students and aims to advocate for all students to ensure they receive the necessary supports that are specific to their needs. Through her new role as a School Psychologist, Erin hopes to foster resiliency and a willingness to grow in the students that she works with. In her free time, Erin enjoys exploring new restaurants and locations in LA, journaling, and catching up on her favorite television shows.

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Brandi Day, M.B.A

Brandi Day founder of iD.A.Y.dream, born in Monterey, CA and raised in Seattle, WA.

  • Upon graduating in 2000 Brandi didn’t realize that her denial into Washington State University would be the kick starter into the masterclass of her future that was to become. It was through the appeal process where she needed to face the realities of her past growing up. She navigated the appeal process on her own and had an opportunity to share her situation as to why she would be a great addition to the institution. Eventually, everything worked out and she became the first person in her family to attend and graduate from college. Earning her B.A. in Management from Washington State University and M.B.A. from City University in Change Management.

    Though this carried a lot of pressure, it was a task that she was built for. The pressure to succeed, persevere and pave the way for her younger siblings and now sons and daughter.

    Brandi has always had a nurturing and serving spirit which has led her to be involved in many community centered opportunities, events and becoming a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

    Currently, Brandi is known for motivating future leaders, igniting passion to succeed and instilling the courage to keep going.  Brandi strives to empower, inspire and encourage youth to achieve their dreams.

    She is committed to helping other students, especially first-generation college students to do the same. Her experience ranges from leading afterschool programs, mentoring/coaching 1-1, college and career guidance counseling across middle/high schools and she’s just getting started.

    Brandi Day is a devoted wife and super mom to three wonderful kids.

    This is her dream, to inspire youth to dream out loud!

Tamari Jenkins, M.A.

Tamari Jenkins has worked as a world-language educator for over 27 years.

  • Tamari Jenkins has worked as a world-language educator for over 27 years. She has mainly taught Spanish language and literature courses and is a tenured member of the faculty at Chaffey College in Rancho Cucamonga, CA where she has been employed since 2002. Prior to her position at Chaffey, Tamari taught at other area community colleges in the Inland Empire such as Riverside Community College, San Bernardino Valley College and in the private college sector at Claremont McKenna College and at the University of Redlands. She is a graduate of Pacific Union College where she received her B.A. degree in Spanish and she attended the University of California Riverside, where she received her M.A. degree in Spanish linguistics with an emphasis in dialectology.

    In 2005, Tamari co-founded a networking organization called African American Linguists and she has been continuously active in efforts to create a sense of community for other African American educators and students who are highly underrepresented in her field. She has facilitated and presented at dozens of professional conferences on equity, diversity, and inclusion as it relates to the world-language field and to higher-ed administration. She recently co-authored an article that was published in The Language Educator magazine entitled, “Increasing Black Representation in Languages: Lessons from the Past and Present.” Tamari is deeply honored to be a Healthy Heart Nation Ambassador as she has the utmost respect for the leadership, mission, and vision behind this movement.

Dr. Jacquelin Marshall

Dr. Marshall’s focuses on supporting students academically in math and reading in the Bowie area.

  • Dr. Jacqueline Marshall was born in Washington DC. She is a product of Prince George's County Public School System. Dr. Ms. Marshall was born and raised in Prince George's County where she attended and graduated from Prince George’s County Public Schools having attended Kettering Elementary and Kettering Middle School before graduating from Largo High School in 1994.

    Dr. Marshall went on to the University of MD College Park where she graduated in 1998 and received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications. From there she obtained a Masters of Arts in Reading Education from Bowie State in 2006, and a Masters of Science in Administration and Leadership from Trinity University, also in 2006. Jacqueline most recently received her Doctorate Degree in Leadership and Policy from the University of Maryland College Park in 2017. She has worked in Prince George's County School system for 19 years. After leaving the school system she founded Bold Beautiful Brilliant Girls Youth Empowerment Group, which currently serves 20 girls between the ages of 8-18 years of age. Bold Beautiful Brilliant Girls Youth Empowerment Group is a 501c3 Nonprofit Organization founded to empower young ladies to be change agents in society. We are born with the innate ability to explore, learn and create. We want young ladies to be empowered to dream big and be the change that they want to see in the world. We want them to identify the needs in their community and provide learning opportunities for them to discover and create resources that address that specific need.

    She is also currently working on an Anti-Racist Innovation Team that serves System Partners throughout the United States in creating anti-racist organizations. She works to ensure that schools systems create systems and structures that are equitable and anti-racist.

    Dr. Marshall most recently purchased her first franchise, Kumon under her own LLC., H.E.A.L. Healthy Energetic Active Lifestyle. Dr. Marshall’s focuses on supporting students academically in math and reading in the Bowie area.

    Dr. Marshall also has two children and lives in Upper Marlboro, Maryland.

Dr. Tasheka L. Green

From her love for God and people to her integrity, creative teaching, coaching, inspiring, and leadership skills, Dr. Tasheka L. Green works tirelessly to ensure that everyone she meets reaches their maximum potential.

  • From her love for God and people to her integrity, creative teaching, coaching, inspiring, and leadership skills, Dr. Tasheka L. Green works tirelessly to ensure that everyone she meets reaches their maximum potential.

    Dr. Tasheka L. Green is a transformational servant leader who leads with the heart of a servant but the mind of a leader. Dr. Tasheka L. Green is a wife, mother of three, influential educator, transformational coach, thought-provoking speaker, visionary, 15-time best-selling author, philanthropist, and the 2022 Maryland Mother of the Year for American Mothers, Inc. American Mothers, Inc. is a national 501c3 nonprofit organization founded in 1935 on the principles of honoring and helping the 85 million mothers in America today by working to educate, inspire, and recognize mothers through programs that empower them to impact their families and communities positively.

    Dr. Green is the founder and host of two talk shows, “Reflect, Assess, and Adjust” and “Moms, We See You.” Dr. Tasheka L. Green leaves her audiences transformed, inspired, energized, and renewed. Her competency in education, servant leadership, and transformational coaching influences personal, professional, leadership, and educational development in the individuals she meets, teaches, and reaches. Because of her competency in bringing coherence to improving people, culture, systems, and structures, Dr. Green is sought after by many.

    With over 20 years of experience as an educator and viewing leadership not as a title or position but as a calling with a greater purpose allowed Dr. Green to serve in several capacities: Classroom Teacher, Behavior Intervention Specialist, Accelerated Achievement Specialist, Professional Development Specialist, Assistant Principal, Principal, Director of School Improvement, Continuous Improvement Systemic Specialist, Regional Assistant Superintendent, and Educational Strategy Consultant/Coach.

    Dr. Green is the CEO, President, and Founder of To Everything There is a Season, Inc. To Everything There is a Season, Inc., where she is dedicated to providing personal, professional, leadership, and educational development to individuals and organizations through a blended coaching and consultation model that supports them in leveraging their talent, passion, and purpose to maximize their greatest potential. To Everything There is a Season, Inc. is built on four pillars: A Season to Grow, A Season to Learn, A Season to Serve, and A Season to Give. To Everything There is a Season, Inc. comprises the following: The Deborah C. Offer Bulgin Business and Leadership Development Institute, To Everything There Is a Season Publishing, The Deborah C. Offer Bulgin Memorial Foundation, Women of Virtue Walking in Excellence Awards, Signature by William Green, and I am a QT... Queen in Training. To Everything There is a Season, Inc. is committed to providing high-quality service built on excellence, professionalism, integrity, and a culture of change and improvement.

    The work of Dr. Green has been featured in the Harvard University Graduate School of Education, Harvard edX Course, Introduction to Data Wise: A Collaborative Process to Improve Learning & Teaching, among others. She serves with a focus on supporting individuals and organizations in identifying the gifts and talents within themselves and providing them with the systems, structures, and resources to fulfill their purpose.

    Dr. Green is a member of Sisters 4 Sisters Network Inc. The mission is to provide a platform that inspires, empowers, and promotes “Women Helping Women to Connect” through resources, people, networking, and programs that encourage entrepreneurship, healthy relationships, and positive outcomes in our communities.

    Dr. Green is a true worshiper who radiates with the love and joy of the Lord. She is a member of The Gathering in Forestville, MD, where she has served for 23 years under the leadership of the Honorable Bishop Donald A. Wright, Pastor, and Lady Dr. Nakia Wright. Dr. Green is married to William Green Sr., and they have three beautiful children: Marquis (24), Mikayla (11), and William Jr. (9). Overall, to meet the desire of “living a purposeful life,” Dr. Tasheka L. Green endeavors to walk in the ways of a virtuous woman (Proverbs 31:10-31), to be in the center of God’s will, to influence change, and to be an example of Christ in the earth.

    Dr. Green often shares, “Legacy is not what you accomplished, but what you have prepared others to do.” She is carrying out her mother’s life and legacy while building a legacy for others so they, too, can impact and influence the earth.

E. Dannyette Gadsden-Rouse

Born with a passion to help and an entrepreneurial spirit, I run two companies that specializes in helping others.

  • Born with a passion to help and an entrepreneurial spirit, I run two companies that specializes in helping others.

    At Gaiter and Gadsden, LLLP, I am Co-owner and Chief Operations Officer. We built a company that specializes in providing STEAM based education to students all over the country. We offer tutoring and enrichment sessions via after school and summer camp to students both virtually and in person with our CampAC! and CampLive!

    programs. As former educators we provide passionate teachers the perfect part-time job that is flexible fit their schedule and allows them to connect to their passions in education. Joy in a session translates to a WOW experience for students.

    At Elizabeth.Dannyette Meeting and Event Consultants, LLC clients receive help from, me, an experienced meeting and event consultant with over twenty years of experience of planning, executing and creating meeting, events, and programs in multiple industries. Various life circumstances have taken me throughout different industries, but in every job I have always been the creator of major events, tours, workshops and meetings.

    I have garnered a reputation for resolving problems, improving customer satisfaction, and driving overall operational improvements.

    I have created award winning initiatives and productions that helped expand the model on how a particular brand of schools implemented and used the industry in terms of technology, mentorship and job fairs. Consistently rewarded for success in planning and operational improvements.

    Naturally intuitive, I am a forward thinking visionary, that has a passion for designing events and solving problems that speak to my clients esthetic and the needs of my contractors. No detail is too small that does not receive focus and attention.

Mya Hamilton

A native of Baltimore Maryland, Mrs. Hamilton is a free-lance performer, licensed ZUMBA Instructor, certified Xtreme Hip-Hop Instructor, liturgical dance minister, educator and blessed to be able to share this gift with the world given to her by God.

  • MYA HAMILTON, a native of Baltimore, Maryland, began dancing at the young age of five. She studied at The Ailey School, Dance Theatre of Harlem, Debbie Allen Dance Academy, The Peabody Conservatory, and The Washington School of Ballet. She is a Baltimore School for the Arts Alumna, cum laude graduate of Towson University with a BFA in Dance Performance and graduate of Purchase College, SUNY with a MFA in Performance/Teaching. Upon graduating from High School, Mrs. Hamilton was proclaimed the Maryland Distinguished Scholar and Silver Medalist in the ACT-SO Performing Arts competition. With faith being the head of her moral compass, she joined the National Homeless Tour as a liturgical dancer with Harpist Jeff Majors in 2011. Her first professional assignment in the industry, however, was with Royal Caribbean Cruise Line in 2013. Her experience with the intense rehearsal process, work ethic and immense love for the craft has been shared with her students of The Empowerment Academy Charter School since joining in 2013 until 2018. She has created an after-school program along with hosting three summer dance intensives at the school which allowed the students to perform at Artscape and Light City Baltimore. She held the role of chapter sponsor of the Honor Society for Dance Arts through National Dance Education Organization (NDEO) which nurtures and preserves dance education in the 21st century and beyond. She accepted and maintained the role of adjudicator for the Artist Merit, Leadership, and Academic Achievement Award for high school students for three years. In 2014, she was recognized as an awardee for the Women in the Arts program apart of The Links Foundation which promotes educational, civic and inter-cultural activities to enrich the lives of members of the African-American community. She graciously accepted the role of dancer in the “Oh Gospel” televised event in 2015 with live accompaniment from Dr. Kenneth M. Dean from the Masters Trio. Her choreography has been presented by Prophetic Praise Liturgical Dance Ministry at New Psalmist Baptist Church in Baltimore, MD and local dance studios. She has been fortunate to dance works by: the late Fabian Barnes, Nai-Ni Chen, Linda-Denise Fisher-Harrell, Chris Michael, Keith Thomas, Dion Wilson, Jawole Willa Jo Zollar and performed with the Stephanie Powell Dance Ensemble, Vincent Thomas of VTDance along with Dance & Bmore under the direction of CJay Phillips. Aside from movement, curriculum writing has become a new passion. She has written for her current assignment in BCPS (Baltimore County Public Schools) and immensely enjoys researching, coordinating, and creating lessons/units that promotes community and inclusion. In her spare time, you can find her dancing with her five year old daughter and watching movies with her husband on the weekends. Mrs. Hamilton is a free-lance performer, licensed ZUMBA Instructor, certified Xtreme Hip-Hop Instructor, liturgical dance minister, educator and blessed to be able to share this gift with the world given to her by God.

Dr. Nichole Taylor

Dr. Nichole Taylor is a seasoned educator with years of experience working in early, elementary, and higher education.

  • Dr. Nichole Taylor is a seasoned educator with years of experience working in early, elementary, and higher education. Previously, she served as an administrator in higher education as a Director of Adult Education. Dr. Taylor has taught undergraduate and nontraditional students. Some of her courses taught are; critical reading, early literacy strategies, curriculum & instruction in primary reading, parent-child relations, and early childhood education and many other educational courses.

    She is an experienced educational program leader with a demonstrated history of working in the higher education industry. Dr. Taylor is skilled in early childhood development, elementary education, literacy, educational facilitator/presenter, educational training, curriculum design, adult education, and program management.

    Her commitment is to continue supporting early literacy, non-traditional programs, continuing education, and creating opportunity for every individual to have equitable access to education. Dr. Taylor volunteers and serves as a board member of a local nonprofit organization in Huntsville, AL. She also enjoys mentoring young women and works with a mentoring program.

    Dr. Taylor is a first generation student, earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work from Alabama A&M University; her Master's Degree in Education from Alabama A&M University; her Educational Specialist Degree from Alabama A&M University; and her Doctor of Philosophy Degree (PhD) in Reading Literacy.