HAMPTON UNIVERSITY - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- First Vice Chairman
- First Vice Chairman / Eustis, Florida
- Member of Several Public Company
Andrea M. Weiss has had a thirty-year career in senior leadership with some of the world's foremost retailers. She is the founder of The O Alliance, LLC and CEO of Retail Consulting Inc., a global consulting practice focused on the retail, e-commerce and consumer sectors.
As part of her practice work, Mrs. Weiss has provided both consulting services, operating expertise, and her unique ability to step into a business as a "C-level" executive. Current and past clients include leading private equity firms such as BlackRock, CVC, Softbank and L Catterton. In this role, she led as CEO, the turnaround of a Canadian retailer and was chairman of Grupo Cortefiel, (Madrid, Spain), which operates retail stores, e-commerce and franchises, in more than 70 countries. Ms. Weiss is a senior advisor to Latin America's leading luxury retailer, El Palacio de Hierro and luxury silver firm, TANE. In addition, Ms. Weiss served as Chairman of the Board of Red Apple Stores, a general merchandise retailer based in Toronto, Canada. Ms. Weiss has been a senior advisor to technology firms, such as SAP, Zebra Technologies, Treasure Data and TYCO Retail Solutions.
Prior to establishing her own consulting business, Mrs. Weiss was President of the publically traded multi-channel teen retailer, dELiA*s, President of GUESS, Executive Vice President, and Chief Stores Officer of L Brands, the parent of leading brands such as Victoria's Secret, Bath and Body Works and Abercrombie and Fitch. Previously, she was Senior Vice President of ANN TAYLOR and Director of Merchandising for The Walt Disney Company.
Mrs. Weiss holds a Masters of Administrative Science from The Johns Hopkins University and a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Virginia Commonwealth University. She also completed post-graduate studies at Harvard Business School and The Kellogg School at Northwestern University.
In addition to serving on the Hampton University Board of Trustees, Mrs. Weiss is a member of several public company boards including: Bed Bath & Beyond, Cracker Barrel Restaurant, O'Reilly Auto Parts, and RPT Realty. She also serves on the Board of The Fischer Company, a private real estate services and technology firm, and is a member of the Dean's Advisory Board at the Carey Business School at Johns Hopkins University. As a philanthropist, Ms. Weiss is the Chair of Delivering Good, a 501(c) 3 charity, listed as #83 on the Forbes Top 100 non-profits in the United States.
Mrs. Weiss has been a frequent speaker for the National Retail Federation, World Retail Congress, Shop.org, International Council of Shopping Centers, Internet Retailer Conference, ShopTalk, Retail Marketing Society and at major consumer investment conferences. Ms. Weiss was honored by Crain's New York as one of "40 Under 40" at age 37 and was named by the National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD) as one of America's top 50 public company directors in 2017. She is a Leadership Fellow of NACD.
Mrs. Weiss lives in Florida and Massachusetts with her husband, Richard, who is a thoroughbred horse breeder and CEO of Sorrento Oaks Farm.
Throughout his career, Attorney David has gained appellate experience having handled appeals in the United States Supreme Court, the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, and the Supreme Court of Virginia.
Conducting sophisticated estate planning/estate administration in his practice, Attorney David's emphasis is on asset protection and planning through trusts, including multi-generational planning, in addition to the reduction of estate tax liability.
Attorney David is a native of Newport News, Virginia having graduated from Newport News High School in 1961. He graduated with high honors from the University of Virginia in 1965 with a major in political science. While enrolled, he was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society, and in 1966 he went on to earn a Master's degree in government. He is a 1969 graduate of the University of Virginia Law School. In 1984, Attorney David was nominated to become a United States District Court Judge. He is a permanent member of the Fourth Circuit Judicial Conference.
Attorney David is a servant of his community. He is a member of the Hampton University Board of Trustees, where he serves as the Finance Committee chair; president of the Endowment of the United Jewish Community of the Virginia Peninsula, Inc.; secretary-treasurer of the Achievable Dream Endowment, Inc.; and former advisor to Leapfrog Investments, an impact investment fund investing in businesses in emerging Asian and African markets. He has also served as president of the Christopher Newport University Educational Foundation; president of the Christopher Newport University Real Estate Foundation; and president of Rodef Sholom Temple. Attorney David was the recipient of the Hampton University President's Citizenship Award in 2011 and the National Conference for Community and Justice Humanitarian Award in 2003. He and his wife Elizabeth ("Libby") have been married for 57 years and they have three sons and six grandchildren. All three sons are law school graduates and each is married to a fabulous daughter-in-law.
Calvin L. Butts, Jr. is a General Partner in the private equity firm East Chop Capital (ECC) where he provides the opportunity to build wealth and multiple revenue streams through curated and vetted investments across real estate, hospitality, travel, technology, financial services, media, and sports.
D'Souza, Kelwyn A., Maheshwari, Sharad K (2012) "Improving performance of public transit buses by minimizing driver distraction". Proceedings of Conference on Urban Transportation, 2012. May 2012, A Coruña, Spain. (Presenter Kelwyn D'Souza).
Hampton University President Darrell K. Williams announced the appointment of Robert Pompey, CPA, as its new Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and Senior Vice President for Business and Finance. Pompey will report directly to the president, overseeing all personnel and functions within the Office of Business Affairs & Finance.
Hampton University President Darrell K. Williams announced the appointment of Phillip D. Jones to the position of Vice President for Institutional Effectiveness and Strategic Planning, where he will lead the execution of the college's strategic plan and support institutional growth and efficiency goals. In this new role, Jones will coordinate both the long-term and short-term initiatives across academic and administrative disciplines and help implement best practices to enhance the experience of students, faculty, and staff.
"We are delighted to welcome Phillip Jones to the Hampton Family," said President Darrell K. Williams. "Today's organizational announcement is another building block in our transformational journey. We are moving quickly to position the institution for faster growth and responsiveness. Phillip is a highly capable strategic thinker, and I look forward to using his unique set of skills towards delivering the #1 student experience in America."
Darrell K. Williams, a retired U.S. Army three-star General, took office as the 13 th President of Hampton University on Friday, July 1, 2022, 39 years after graduating from this Historically Black University with a bachelor's degree.
President Williams comes to Hampton from Fortune 250 technology company Leidos, where he served as the global organization's United Kingdom vice president and managing director of the U.K. Ministry of Defence Logistics Commodities and Services Transformation (LCST) programme, providing global logistical support to U.K. military forces.
After 37 years of service, President Williams retired from the U.S. Army in 2020. His last leadership position was as the 1 st Black and 19 th Director of the Department of Defense's Defense Logistics Agency (DLA). He oversaw a global workforce of over 26,000 civilian and military professionals.
From 2015 to 2017, President Williams led the Army Combined Arms Support Command and the Fort Lee, Virginia, military installation. In that role, he was responsible for Army Logistics University and the Professional Military Education and the training of thousands of Army logistics junior officer, warrant officer and non-commissioned officer students. Additionally, he led the installation's strategic engagement with the Richmond, Petersburg, Hopewell, and Colonial Heights communities, and he assured the welfare and safety of the over 25,000 students, staff and faculty, families, and support organizations.
Early in his career he served as a leadership and logistics instructor at Fort Lee and was named as an Army instructor of the year, one of his many awards.
President Williams is a business leader and educator with non-profit development experience, whose focus for Hampton is creating an unparalleled higher education experience for students that includes excellent academics, support for strong physical, emotional, and mental health, and access to cutting-edge technology, research opportunities and innovative studies.
With the continuing support of its exceptional faculty, staff, and alumni, President Williams sees a bold, bright future for Hampton University. He loves Hampton and the opportunities it provided for him here. He stands firm on the University's values and standard of excellence will not change. As the new president, his priority will be providing Hampton's students with a robust experience that is second to none and prepares them for life after graduation.
President Williams and his wife, First Lady Myra Richardson Williams met while attending Hampton, married in 1987 and are the first president and first lady to both hold Hampton University degrees.
While a student, President Williams was Mister Freshman 1979, a three-year Reserve Officer Training (ROTC) scholarship cadet, a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., and senior class president. First Lady Myra Williams was a four-year member of the Hampton concert choir and a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
President Williams, a native of West Palm Beach, Florida, holds three graduate school degrees: a Master's Degree in Business Administration from Pennsylvania State University; a Master's Degree in Military Art and Science from the Army Combined and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas; and a Master's Degree in National Security Strategy (distinguished graduate) from the National War College, Fort McNair, Washington, D.C.
Job Titles:
- Executive
- Trustee
- Financial Leader With Wall Street
- Head of Middle Market Leveraged Finance at Bank of America Securities
David B. Stith, A seasoned financial leader with Wall Street expertise, David B. Stith brings decades of experience in investment banking, capital markets, and corporate finance.
As Head of Middle Market Leveraged Finance at Bank of America Securities, Stith leads a team of professionals managing complex financial transactions ranging from $500 million to over $2 billion. Overseeing a multi-million dollar budget, he provides strategic leadership in financial structuring and economic growth initiatives.
A Hampton University alumnus and MBA graduate from Harvard Business School, Stith's deep knowledge of financial markets, investment strategy, and economic development will fortify Hampton's fiscal strength and long-term sustainability. He graduated from Hampton University in 1980 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance.
Derek R. Lewis is President, Multicultural Business and Equity Development, PepsiCo Beverages North America (PBNA). In this role since February 2022, Lewis is the first president of PepsiCo's new Multicultural Business and Equity Development Organization. He is responsible for accelerating retailer business development in multicultural communities; expanding existing successful programming, including Pepsi Dig In and the Black Restaurant Accelerator Program, all aimed at supporting Black and Hispanic communities and leveraging the scale of PepsiCo to drive investment in and support of diverse suppliers and partners. The equity focus of the organization will include rebranding and national expansion of the successful Pepsi Stronger Together community engagement program; elevating PepsiCo's efforts to be an employer of choice for diverse cohorts, and supporting the company's employee resource groups to build a unified company that celebrates and thrives on the diversity of each employee.
Prior to this position, Mr. Lewis, a 30+year PepsiCo beverages veteran, has held numerous leadership positions across the organization, including South Division President, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Field Operations; and Vice President, Consumer and Category Insights.
In addition to serving on the Hampton University Board of Trustees, Mr. Lewis serves on the Board of Directors for YMCA of Central Florida, the Orlando Magic Youth Foundation, the American Beverage Association and Lake Highland Preparatory School. In addition, he is a member of the Executive Leadership Council, National Black MBA Association, and Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.
Mr. Lewis holds a Bachelor of Science degree in business management from Hampton University and an Executive Master of Business Administration degree from Xavier University in Ohio.
Job Titles:
- Vice President for Information Technology
Job Titles:
- Graduate Program Coordinator, James T. George School of Business
Job Titles:
- Vice President for Student Success and Enrollment Management
Job Titles:
- Executive Vice President
- Executive Vice President and Provost
Job Titles:
- Dean Emeritus of the Penn State Smeal College of Business
- Trustee / Dean Emeritus of the Penn State Smeal College of Business
Charles H. Whiteman, Ph.D., dean emeritus of Penn State Smeal College of Business, brings over a decade of leadership in higher education and economics. During his tenure as dean from 2012 to 2024, he elevated Smeal College's standing for academic rigor and innovation, overseeing the development of one of the nation's largest professional graduate business programs. Dr. Whiteman's deep expertise in economics and business strategy will be pivotal as Hampton expands its academic programs, drives innovation, and strengthens its position as a leader in higher education. His appointment underscores Hampton's commitment to preparing students for leadership in a fast-evolving global economy.
Dr. Whiteman earned his Ph.D. in economics from the University of Minnesota and his bachelor's degree from the University of Kansas. His extensive research has garnered support from the National Science Foundation, and he has served as a visiting scholar at multiple Federal Reserve Banks.
Job Titles:
- Business Administration Dept
Job Titles:
- Director, William R. Harvey Leadership Institute, Leadership Institute
Job Titles:
- Assistant Professor
- Finance
Job Titles:
- Assistant Professor, Management
Job Titles:
- Chairman & Associate Professor, Management Dept
Job Titles:
- Faculty Representative
- Faculty Representative / Student
Dr. Karen Ward - Dr. Ward has more than 30 years of experience in writing, directing, acting and producing in area of theatre. She has acted on professional stages across the country and has wriiten songs from various musical genres. She has published in the area of communication and written plays for local and national arenas. She cooridinates the major ceremonies for the University and serves as a dramatic and political critic.
Job Titles:
- Assistant Professor, Economics
Job Titles:
- Chief Advancement Officer
Job Titles:
- Vice President for Research
- University Endowed Professor of Pharmacy
Dr. Neelam Azad, University Endowed Professor of Pharmacy, is the Vice President for Research at Hampton University (HU). Dr. Azad oversees HU's research enterprise and manages units responsible for administration of sponsored projects, for research and regulatory compliance, as well as for interdisciplinary academic research centers. The Office of the Vice President for Research acts as a liaison with all constituents on matters that relate to research and innovation at HU.
Dr. Azad joined HU in 2008 for her first academic appointment in the School of Pharmacy as an Assistant Professor and rose through the ranks to become a tenured professor in 2019. She possesses a wide range of experiences across many facets of the academic enterprise, having served as the Chair of the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences for eight years and briefly as the Assistant Vice President for Research and Director of the Cancer Research Center. Dr. Azad has secured funding for multiple investigator-initiated research projects, multidisciplinary grants, student training programs, and community outreach projects. Dr. Azad is well-published and has earned numerous honors and awards throughout her career.
Dr. Azad's focus is on the current and future health of the University's research enterprise. As part of her strategic initiatives portfolio, she organizes faculty teams on developing new ideas and works with them on securing funding. Dr. Azad is committed to developing interdisciplinary research initiatives and establishing core resources with the goal of strengthening and expanding the research capacity at Hampton University.
Job Titles:
- Assistant Professor, Entrepreneurship
Job Titles:
- Academic Coordinator, Leadership Institue
Job Titles:
- Interim Chair and Professor, Business Administration
- International Marketing Systems, a Case Study" 1996 INFORMS, October 1996.
Job Titles:
- Chairman & Associate Professor, Center for Entrepreneurship, Economics, Finance & Accounting
Job Titles:
- Assistant Dean, James T. George School of Business
Job Titles:
- Assistant Professor, Entrepreneurship
Job Titles:
- Chairman & Assistant Professor, Marketing Dept
The William R. Harvey Leadership Institute (WRHLI)-founded in Fall 2000-is the vision of Dr. William R. Harvey, Hampton University's President with the purpose of developing leaders who make a positive difference in society, whatever their chosen profession. He envisioned a program, "emphasizing integrity, honesty, respect for others, decency, dignity and responsibility." The objective is achieved through the use of Dr. Harvey's Ten Step Leadership Model.
Job Titles:
- Dean, James T. George School of Business
Job Titles:
- Secretary
- Vice President and General Counsel / Secretary to the Board of Trustees
Faye Hardy-Lucas is the Vice President and General Counsel/Secretary to the Board of Trustees at Hampton University. As Vice President and General Counsel, she serves as the chief legal officer for the University. This position is responsible for providing legal advice and counsel to the President, Board of Trustees, Administration and all other Departments and Divisions within the University. The General Counsel is also responsible for the selection and management of outside counsel when it is deemed appropriate to have additional expertise and representation. As Secretary to the Board of Trustees, Atty. Hardy-Lucas is responsible for coordinating the meetings of the Board and its committees, preparing and maintaining the minutes of those meetings and serving as the custodian of the University seal.
Atty. Hardy-Lucas began her legal career as an assistant attorney in the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Finance in Washington, DC where she assisted in the administration and issuance of general obligation bonds and tax revenue anticipation notes for the District of Columbia; collected, organized and wrote proposed regulations and various data regarding the policy and administrative matters of the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Finance; produced the monthly South Africa Prohibited Investment List; and performed research to ensure the District's compliance with South Africa divestiture legislation. In addition, Atty. Hardy-Lucas has served as an Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney for the City of Newport News, Virginia where she prosecuted a wide array of cases ranging from assault and battery to murder. While there, she also served as the chief prosecutor for child abuse cases.
Atty. Hardy-Lucas is a native of Surry, Virginia and was educated in the public schools there. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management from Hampton University and a Juris Doctorate degree from Howard University School of law. While at Hampton, she joined Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. During the summers while enrolled at Howard University School of Law, she interned with the Montgomery County Legal Aid Bureau in Langley Park, Maryland and The United States Army Judge Advocate General's (JAG) Corps, in Hanau, West Germany.
Atty. Hardy-Lucas has served on the boards of Hampton Roads Academy and the Virginia Peninsula Food Bank. She is a member of the Tidewater Chapter of National Smart Set and the NCAA General Counsel Advisory Board. She has been honored by Mount Nebo Baptist Church, Surry, Virginia with the Joseph Award and her home church, First Gravel Hill Baptist Church, Rushmere, Virginia for her service to the church and community. Atty. Hardy-Lucas has also received the Distinguished Alumni Award from Surry County High School.
Atty. Hardy-Lucas is married to Elliott W. Lucas, Jr., M.D., a practicing obstetrician/gynecologist, and they have one daughter, Carmen, who is married to their son-in-law, Joshua Brooks.
Job Titles:
- Trustee
- EVP and President of Leidos Defense Group
- Executive Vice President and Chief Growth Officer at Leidos
- Executive Vice President and Chief Growth Officer, Leidos
- Visionary Leader
Gerard "Gerry" Fasano, A visionary leader in technology, business, and national security, Gerard Fasano serves as Executive Vice President and Chief Growth Officer at Leidos (NYSE: LDOS), overseeing the company's corporate strategy, business expansion, and customer engagement.
Previously, as EVP and President of Leidos Defense Group, Fasano led 13,000 employees and drove $4.5 billion in revenue, delivering 10% year-over-year growth, a $60 billion pipeline, and $50 billion in new business awards. His expertise in strategic innovation, defense solutions, and corporate expansion will be instrumental in Hampton's continued growth in STEM, business, and defense-related fields.
Fasano holds both a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Electrical Engineering from Villanova University.
Job Titles:
- Officer Training ( ROTC )
Job Titles:
- Trustee
- Founder and CEO, Management Support Technology, Inc. ( MSTI )
James T. George founded MSTI in 1990 after serving for 27 years as an active-duty Army officer. Retiring as a Colonel, he served in a variety of infantry and comptroller positions both overseas and in the United States, including two tours in Vietnam and tours in Korea and Germany. He concurrently served as a member of the board of directors of the Army and Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES) while serving as comptroller of Fort Devens, MA and while at the Pentagon. He retired from the Army in 1985 as Comptroller of the Army Military Personnel Center.
Mr. George established MSTI as a government and professional services company in 1990. Its focus is information technology solutions and management solutions with a concentration in program management support services. The company has grown from one person to its present strength of approximately one hundred employees. MSTI is ISO 9001:2015 registered for quality management and is also ISO 20000 registered in information technology service management. The company is service-disabled veteran-owned and Center for Veterans Enterprise (CVE) SDVOSB verified.
Mr. George chairs the MSTI board of directors as well as the RMOA Business Institute board which provides entrepreneurial training to veterans and other aspiring business owners. He also serves on the Board of Trustees of Hampton University, where its business school was named in his honor in 2019.
Mr. George is a past president of the RMOA Business Association (RBA), an association of former military personnel and other entrepreneurs who have established businesses or are top decision-makers in their companies. Its focus is networking and entrepreneurial training.
His associations include The ROCK's, RMOA Business Association, Northern Virginia Urban League board, Mid-tier Advocacy board, and Psi Alpha Alpha Chapter of Omega Psi Phi fraternity. He also chairs the Finance Committee of Westminster at Lake Ridge residential community.
He earned a BS in Biology from Hampton University, MBA from the University of Arizona, and completed the Advanced Management Program of Pennsylvania State University. He is also a graduate of the U.S. Armed Forces Staff College and the U.S. Army War College.
Mr. George and his wife, Juliette (a retired Fairfax County school teacher), have been married for over 50 years and have two children. Their son, Tom George, is a MSTI careerist and their daughter, Tracey George (Teasley), headed her own Public Relations business until she assumed the role of full time mother of two children, Elijah and Caleb.
Jessica Johnson, a rising Senior, Kinesiology major with a double minor in Spanish and Leadership Studies from Bowie, Maryland. She is a member of The Greer Dawson Wilson Student Leadership Program, Upward Bound, Resident Assistant Association, and the William R. Harvey Leadership Institute.
Job Titles:
- Trustee
- Partner at Ernst & Young
Leslie D.J. Patterson is a Partner at Ernst & Young, LLP (EY) and the EY Americas & US Diversity, Equity & Inclusiveness Leader. A member of the EY US Executive Committee (USEC), she also co-chairs the Americas Inclusiveness Advisory Council.
In her role, Mrs. Patterson is responsible for driving the diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) strategy. This includes maximizing the diversity of professionals across the Americas by enhancing the inclusive culture at EY and embedding equitable talent and business practices to create consistent experiences for all.
Most recently, Mrs. Patterson was US Talent Leader for Diversity & Inclusiveness, where she worked with talent teams and business leaders to consistently execute the EY DEI strategy. She also served as the Southeast Region Talent Leader, overseeing the development and strategic people processes for more than 6,000 professionals across 17 offices and the EY Caribbean practice.
Previous to these leadership roles, Mrs. Patterson helped to develop and implement programs and initiatives to promote a culture of inclusion across EY. Great emphasis was placed on awareness building, pipeline development and networking-which fully support the firm's culture and its commitment to creating lifelong relationships with its people by providing them with opportunities and tools needed to succeed within EY and beyond. She also supported the formation of the first EY employee resource groups for racially and ethnically diverse professionals and worked on the taskforce to create the EY LGBT+ professional network. Mrs. Patterson began her EY career as an assurance professional more than 29 years ago.
Mrs. Patterson received a Bachelor's degree in Accounting from Hampton University and a Master's degree in Business Administration from Emory University's Goizueta Business School with a concentration in Strategy & Organizational Behavior. She is a Certified Public Accountant, licensed in the state of Georgia.
Mrs. Patterson lives in Atlanta with her husband and three sons.
Job Titles:
- Management Education and Its Role in Society" Orientation Programme of School of Management, OPJU, Raigarh, India. Aug, 2016
Job Titles:
- Officer
- Chief Diversity
- Trustee ( Vice President of Googler Engagement )
- Vice President of Googler Engagement
Melonie D. Parker, a chief diversity officer at Google, is a trailblazer in fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion across global industries. Her role at Google has positioned her at the forefront of cultivating inclusive workplaces, championing underrepresented communities, and building equitable talent pipelines at one of the world's most powerful technology companies. Parker's expertise will be important to Hampton's efforts to create a more inclusive and excellent academic environment, helping the University's DEI strategies evolve to meet the needs of its diverse community. Her leadership will help enhance Hampton's reputation for delivering a premier student experience, preparing future leaders for a global, technology-driven, multicultural society.
Before her tenure at Google, Parker served as vice president for human resources and communications at Sandia National Laboratories, where she led strategic planning, executive communications, media relations, and community affairs. Sandia National Laboratories is a contractor for the U.S. Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) and supports numerous federal, state, and local government agencies, companies and organizations.
She holds an M.A. in Human Resources from Villanova University and a B.A. in Mass Communications from Hampton University.
Job Titles:
- Executive Vice President
- Second Vice Chairman
Michael D. Armstrong serves as Executive Vice President for Worldwide Television Licensing and Operations for ViacomCBS Global Distribution Group. In this position, he manages relationships with third-party studios and oversees the international sales teams for formats and the CBS Newspath service for the global content licensing team.
Previously, Mr. Armstrong served as General Manager of BET Networks. In this role, Armstrong drove strategy and operations, with direct oversight of Content Strategy & Multiplatform Scheduling, Marketing, Corporate Communications and Operations. He also liaised closely with teams across Viacom's Media Networks, including Strategy, Finance and Research & Audience Science.
Prior to that role, Mr. Armstrong was Executive Vice President and General Manager, Revenue and Emerging Brands, Viacom International Media Networks (VIMN). In this role, Armstrong managed the development and expansion of BET, Paramount Channel, and Spike internationally and oversaw International Program Sales, Affiliate Sales, and Viacom Velocity International, VIMN's ad sales division.
Mr. Armstrong has led many firsts for the company including the creation and launch of the Paramount Channel internationally in 2012, the largest ad-supported film channel in the world, available in almost 100 countries and 106 million homes outside the US. In 2016, Armstrong co-led the launch of BET Play, Viacom's first direct-to-consumer subscription video on demand offering for adult audiences. Under Armstrong's guidance, BET is now available internationally in more than 72 countries and 39 million homes. Armstrong has also been instrumental in growing Spike's distribution internationally, having worked with local market leadership to launch the first Spike channel outside the US in 2015 in the UK, followed by Benelux, the Middle East, Australia, Hungary and Russia.
Mr. Armstrong first joined the company in 1998 and held a variety of sales and affiliate marketing roles for brands including MTV, VH1, Nickelodeon, Comedy Central and CMT in both the New York and Chicago offices. He joined VIMN in 2011 as Senior Vice President and General Manager of BET International and Paramount Channel, having previously led BET International since May 2006.
Mr. Armstrong received a B.S. in marketing from Hampton University. He received an M.B.A. in strategy and marketing from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, where he was honored with the Distinguished Young Alumni Award in 2012.
In addition to serving on the Hampton University Board of Trustees, Mr. Armstrong serves on the boards of Canada Goose, Inspirato, and GLAZA (Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association). He is a member of the International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences and previously chaired the boards of NAMIC (National Association for Multi-Ethnicity in Communications) and Dance Theatre of Harlem.
Job Titles:
- Associate Vice President for Institutional Effectiveness and Strategic Planning
Job Titles:
- CFO
- Senior Vice President for Business Operations & Finance
As CFO, Pompey will oversee the university's financial operations, including budgeting, investments, financial reporting, and long-term fiscal strategy in addition to providing oversight over human resources, facilities, and public safety. His leadership will be crucial in strengthening financial sustainability, operational efficiency, and strategic expansion.
Job Titles:
- Administrative Assistant, James T. George School of Business
Job Titles:
- Chief of Staff
- Vice President
Job Titles:
- Administrative Assistant, Marketing
Job Titles:
- Administrative Assistant, Management Dept
Job Titles:
- Vice President for Strategic Communications and Marketing
RICHELLE D. PAYNE is an award-winning communicator and expert in brand transformation, recently honored by Ragan Communications for her outstanding contributions to the industry. Her career arc spans reputation management and revenue growth, redefining the narratives for CEOs in higher education, supply chain, financial services and nonprofits, driving innovation, and elevating standards across the communications field.
As the inaugural Vice President for Strategic Communications and Marketing at Hampton University, Richelle spearheads strategies to amplify the institution's global presence, reinforcing its reputation as one of the world's leading universities. She is the visionary behind Hampton's most compelling narratives, showcasing interdisciplinary solutions to society's biggest challenges and spotlighting the work of distinguished scholars and researchers. Her efforts emphasize the transformative student experience that sets Hampton apart.
With over 30 years of expertise, Richelle has excelled in agency leadership, corporate communications, and entrepreneurship. She has guided higher education executives through pivotal moments of brand transformation and helped startups and global enterprises navigate cultural shifts, safeguard relevancy, and manage crises with precision.
As a sought-after consultant and coach, she has influenced iconic brands and organizations like the Philadelphia Eagles, Verizon Enterprise Solutions, the Obama Foundation, and LPL Financial. Before joining Hampton, she was a partner at Ascendant Group, where she drove U.S. expansion and helped the firm achieve seven-figure growth-a rare milestone for Black-owned businesses.
Richelle's insights on diversity in public relations, media representation, business ethics, and social justice have been featured in PR Week, WHYY-FM, and WURD-FM, where she is a recurring co-host of a weekly talk radio show. Her expertise has earned her numerous accolades, including the Top Woman in PR-Change Maker award from PR News, and the 2024 Salute to Excellence award from the National Association of Black Journalists, reflecting her lifelong commitment to driving innovation and excellence in the field. She is also recognized as a Philadelphia Titan 100 and has earned accolades in social media, digital, and content marketing.
Beyond her professional achievements, Richelle dedicates her time to philanthropy. She is President Emeritus of the National Black Public Relations Society, a board member of the Diversity Action Alliance, and an adviser to the Public Relations Society of America. She holds a B.A. in English from Hampton University and an M.A. in Corporate Communication from Duquesne University. Her career is further distinguished by her Certified Communications Professional (CCP) designation from the AWC Matrix Foundation, marking her as a trusted leader in the evolving communications landscape.
Job Titles:
- Administrative Assistant, Business Administration
Job Titles:
- Administrative Assistant, Center for Entrepreneurship, Economics, Finance & Accounting
Job Titles:
- Trustee
- Head, New York Private Wealth Management ( PWM ) Sports and Entertainment Solutions ( SES ) Goldman Sachs & Company, LLC
- Region Head of the New York Private Wealth Management ( PWM ) Business
Nicole Pullen Ross is region head of the New York Private Wealth Management (PWM) business at Goldman Sachs and also leads the PWM Sports and Entertainment Solutions (SES) offering, which her team launched in 2018. She serves as Americas head of the Firmwide Black Network and is a member of Americas Inclusion and Diversity Council (IDC), as well as co-head of the Consumer and Wealth Management IDC.
Mrs. Ross is also one of the partners leading Goldman Sach's initiative focused on delivering OneGS to Financial Sponsors clients of the firm. She is a co-chair of the Steering Committee for One Million Black Women, a $10 billion investing initiative focused on narrowing opportunity gaps for one million Black women.
Prior to her current role, Mrs. Ross was head of the Mid-Atlantic PWM business. She joined Goldman Sachs in 1999 as an associate in PWM in New York and was named managing director in 2011 and partner in 2020. Prior to joining the firm, Nicole worked at JP Morgan in New York.
In addition to serving on the Hampton University Board of Trustees, Mrs. Ross serves on the Board of Trustees of the Brookings Institute and the United Negro College Fund. She also serves as a member of the Investment Committee for each organization.
Mrs. Ross earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Hampton University and an MBA from Columbia Business School.
Job Titles:
- Visiting Professor, Business Administration
Rashida Jones, A trailblazer in journalism and media, Rashida Jones made history as the first Black woman to lead a major cable news network as President of MSNBC. With an extensive career at NBCUniversal, The Weather Channel, and local news networks, Jones is a pioneering force in media, communications, and leadership.
At MSNBC, she managed $800 million in annual operating cash flow, led a team of 800 employees, and drove groundbreaking news coverage. A Hampton University graduate (Mass Media Arts '02), Jones has also served as Chairperson of the Scripps Howard School of Journalism Advisory Board, demonstrating her commitment to the next generation of journalists.
Having recently attained her Master of Business Administration in Marketing at Hampton University in December, Jones' expertise in storytelling, brand strategy, and media influence continues to inspire media professionals and will help elevate Hampton's national and global presence.
Sashi B. Brown, Esq., a longtime sports executive, became the Baltimore Ravens National Football League (NFL) team's President on April 1, 2022, succeeding Dick Cass, who retired after 18 years with the organization. In this position, Mr. Brown is responsible in overseeing all business areas of the organization, including finances, budgeting, non-football personnel, corporate sales, operations, stadium activities, as well as communications and business ventures.
Prior to joining the Baltimore Ravens NFL, Mr. Brown worked for three years (2019 - 2021), at Monumental Sports & Entertainment, last serving as President of Monumental Basketball (Wizards, Mystics and Go-Go) and as a Special Advisor to the Chief Executive Officer. There he oversaw various operations for the Washington Wizards National Basketball Association (NBA), Washington Mystics Women's NBA, and Capital City Go-Go American minority basketball team in the NBA G League (an affiliate of the Washington Wizards), including research and information systems, technology, equipment, communications, finance, facilities, security and player engagement. Mr. Brown also previously accrued 13 years of NFL experience, including five seasons (2013 - 2017) with the Cleveland Browns NFL, where he served two years (2016 - 2017) as Executive Vice president of football operations. Prior to that, he spent eight years (2005 - 2012) with the Jacksonville Jaguars NFL, last serving as Senior Vice President and General Counsel.
Mr. Brown began his career as an attorney at the Washington, D.C. based law firm WilmerHale and in 2015 was named to the Sports Business Journal's "Forty Under 40" list. He has a longstanding history of civic involvement, having served on the boards of directors for the Cleveland Browns Foundation, Cleveland Development Advisors, Jacksonville Housing Authority, Jacksonville Museum of Science and History and the MaliVai Washington Kids Foundation. In addition to serving on the Board of Trustees at Hampton University, he serves on the Board of Directors of Delivering Good, Inc., a non-profit organization that supports people affected by poverty and tragedy, and is Chairman of the Ravens Foundation, Inc.
Mr. Brown was born in Boston but grew up in Middletown, Connecticut. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mass Media from Hampton University and a Juris Doctorate degree from Harvard Law School. At Hampton University, he spent time as a radio play-by-play announcer and analyst for the football and basketball teams. He also hosted a radio show focused on jazz music, which he remains passionate about today.
Mr. Brown and his wife, Paige, have two sons (Robeson and Ellison) and two daughters (Zora and Ananda).
Job Titles:
- Chairman ( Legal Services )
Job Titles:
- President and Chief Executive Officer EboxSecure Logistics Group