BENNETT - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Professor of Law, University of South Carolina School of Law
- South Carolina Law As a Professor of Law
Cassandra Jones Havard joined South Carolina Law as a professor of law in Fall 2022 after serving on the faculties of the Temple University Beasley School of Law and the University of Baltimore School of Law. She teaches courses in banking, financial services regulation, entrepreneurship, venture capital financing, corporate, and commercial law. Her current scholarship focuses on the intersection of financial services regulation, systemic risk, and consumer welfare and race. She has written numerous articles and book chapters on these topics and others.
At the University of Baltimore, Jones Havard was the director of the Charles Hamilton Houston Scholars Program, a pipeline program for undergraduates who are members of under-represented groups in the legal profession. She received the Saul Ewing Excellence in Transactional Teaching Award in 2015 and 2020; a University of Iowa Innovation, Business, & Law Prize in 2020; and she was recognized as one of Maryland's Top 100 Women in 2018.
Job Titles:
- Director of Community Engagement, Blue Cross NC
Cheryl Parquet is the Director of Community Engagement. She is responsible for the development and implementation of all corporate-based philanthropic initiatives including community investments and outreach programs, employee volunteerism, and major community initiatives and strategic partnerships to help improve the health and wellness of North Carolinians.
Job Titles:
- Secretary
- Associate Vice President for Community Health, Duke Health President, TEQuity
I am a strategic planning, analytics, and management executive with a passion to advance equity. My 30+ years of experience includes work in the health, education, economic development, and technology sectors.
Job Titles:
- Assistant Professor, Curriculum & Instruction, Bennett College Faculty Senate President
Dr. Annie Harrison's career began in K-12 education, where she worked as an elementary and middle school teacher at several schools in North Carolina. She worked to improve each school community for all of its members, including leading professional development and coaching sessions for teachers and staff. When the COVID-19 pandemic struck and schools closed, Harrison worked to support her colleagues and students as they learned new methods in online/hybrid instruction; ultimately, her interest in teacher training and professional learning would lead her to Bennett and a new path in supporting bright, talented future educators.
Dr. Harrison completed her BA in English at Johns Hopkins University, followed by a Masters in Teaching from the University of North Carolina-Greensboro. She completed her Doctorate in 2020 at Vanderbilt University's Peabody College of Education, and she continues to collaborate with researchers from that program. She also serves as a UNCF Faculty Fellow and guest speaker, a member of the NYU panel on Digital Transformation in Education, and a lead faculty member for the NC10 Teacher Residency program.
Job Titles:
- President
- Anesthesiologist, Anesthesiology Consultants of NC
- Member of the National Medical Association
- Practice Anesthesiologist
- President of the Old North State Medical Society
Dr. Charlene Green is a private practice anesthesiologist and the current President of the Old North State Medical Society.
Dr. Charlene Green is the President of the Old North State Medical Society and Chief of Anesthesia at Cone Health in Greensboro, NC. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Chemistry from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and her Doctor of Medicine from the University of Maryland. Dr. Green completed her medical internship CA-1 year at Sinai Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland, her anesthesiology residency at Duke University Medical Center, and a Pain Medicine Fellowship at Duke University Medical Center.
She is a Diplomat of the American Board of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine. Dr. Green is a member of the National Medical Association, the First Vice Chair of the North Carolina Legislative Black Caucus Foundation, and a Past President of the North Carolina Society of Anesthesiologists. As President of Old North State Medical Society, she has led statewide efforts to educate communities and advocate for vulnerable patients, particularly during the current COVID-19 pandemic.
Job Titles:
- Vice President, Academic Affairs
Dr. Mark David Milliron is an award-winning leader, author, speaker, and consultant, who works with universities, community colleges, K-12 schools, foundations, corporations, associations, and government agencies across the country and around the world. Effective October 1, 2022, Dr. Milliron will begin service as President and CEO of National University, a San Diego-based nonprofit institution focused on working learners. He previously served as Western Governors University (WGU) Senior Vice President and Executive Dean of the School of Education. Mark also serves on the boards of the Trellis Foundation, Bennett College, the Global Online Academy, the Hope Center for College, Community & Justice, ISKME/OERcommons, and Civitas Learning. He holds an appointment as a Professor of Practice in The University of Texas at Austin's College of Education, teaching in the education leadership doctoral program.
Job Titles:
- Ex Officio / Voting Representative of the United Women in Faith
Dr. Melba Goode McCallum, Deaconess of the North Carolina United Methodist Church, spent over thirty years in education and retired as Vice President of the North Carolina Community College System. After retiring in 2005, Partners In Ministry was born from a vision of service. She recognized the need to connect many of the local churches with individuals and families to help address the issues of poverty in the surrounding communities. Dr. McCallum had a vision and Partners In Ministry was created in her home living room in 2007. Now, Partners In Ministry is a growing and thriving ministry that serves Richmond, Robeson, and Scotland Counties, where the goal is to offer a hand up and not a hand out.
Job Titles:
- Chairman - Elect
- Founder and CEO of Torch Enterprises Inc
Dr. Pamela Jolly is a graduate of Hampton University, the Wharton School of Business, Boston University School of Theology, and Graduate Theological Foundation.
Job Titles:
- Executive
- President & CEO of Carter & Associates
Ronald Carter's expertise spans leadership development, executive coaching, team building, scenario planning, institutional development, and civic engagement.
Job Titles:
- Chief Financial Officer and Vice President of Business and Finance
Job Titles:
- Interim Chief Financial Officer
Job Titles:
- Assistant Director of Advancement Services
Job Titles:
- Student Success Coach / Student Success and Retention
Job Titles:
- Leader
- Strategist, Entrepreneur, Philanthropist
A proven business leader with experience running both corporate entities and international nonprofit organizations. Skilled at navigating complex legal issues and policies from contract negotiations to immigration and worker's compensation.
Madieu Williams is a leader that is constantly seeking ways to improve and to raise standards. Prior to Visa, his career included roles as Managing Partner in a private equity growth company and Director of Operations of a medical center.
During his nine years in the NFL, Madieu was a team captain and perennial starter for Cincinnati Bengals, Minnesota Vikings, San Francisco 49ers and Washington Football Team.
Madieu holds an undergraduate degree in Public Health from University of Maryland, graduate degrees in Business Administration from University of Maryland Global Campus and Juris Doctor from University of Baltimore.
Job Titles:
- Founder & Principal, Desired Outcomes
Melani Dziire is recognized as a thought leader and expert in risk management, internal audit, governance and compliance drawing from her extensive background as a senior executive with multiple large banks. Adept at building and leading high-performance teams in dynamic environments, she is committed to helping organizations assess, develop, and elevate more engaged leaders from the C-Suite down to improve organizational performance and drive transformational change. Melani is the owner of Desired Outcomes, which provides executive coaching, leadership development, and business consulting services. She is also a proud alum and avid supporter of HBCU's.
Job Titles:
- Brand and Sales Strategist
- Chief Relationship Officer for 300 Studios
- Lead Creative and Development Strategist for 300 Studios
Mignon Espy Edwards is a seasoned brand and sales strategist, with over 25 -years of experience. Recognized for her unparalleled storytelling, Mignon is a leading business executive known for launching and driving transformative brand growth. She sites her ability to connect pop culture, cultivate meaningful partnerships, unlock revenue growth, and build empowered teams as keys to success.
Mignon currently serves as Chief Relationship Officer for 300 Studios, premier content and film storytellers with a cultural lens. Prior to her current role, Espy Edwards was Head of Digital Content Marketing at Viacom CBS where she led sales and marketing initiatives, empowering media sales teams to cultivate collaborative, profitable network partnerships.
Job Titles:
- Secretary
- Talent and Organizational Strategist
I am strategic Human Resources (HR) and Organizational Development (OD) leader with over 20 years' experience in corporate, manufacturing, and non-profit environments alike. As a certified leadership coach, talent manager, and trusted advisor to executive teams I help leaders get clarity on the people stuff to increase capacity. I have a keen eye and unmatched creativity for organizational design and development.
Job Titles:
- Partner, Kirkland & Ellis
Nicole Washington regularly represents some of the largest and most diversified asset managers, as well as numerous small and middle-market managers on the formation of private investment funds ranging from several hundred million to multibillion dollars. Nicole advises private investment funds on a range of complex business transactions in the secondary market, including fund restructurings and other GP-led transactions. She also advises some of the world's most sophisticated private fund sponsors on internal management and succession planning, strategic investments, co-investment arrangements, joint ventures, and other investment management matters.
Dr. Robinson has served as a Bennett College Trustee since 2015. During an earlier tenure as Chair (2016 - 2021), she led the College through its pivotal change in strategic direction, which has created an exciting new framework for the future. She has also played an instrumental role in establishing a powerful long-term partnership with national accrediting body TRACS and will oversee the final phase of Bennett's transition into TRACS membership, expected this academic year.
Senator Gladys A. Robinson, has been elected to her sixth term in the Senate. She is 1st Vice Chair of the North Carolina Legislative Black Caucus and is a dedicated advocate for the people of North Carolina, specifically Guilford County. Senator Robinson serves on the following Legislative Committees: Appropriations on Health and Human Services, Appropriations/Base Budget, Education/Higher Education, Finance, Health Care, Select Committee on Nominations and Commerce and Insurance. Non-Standing Committees: Joint Legislative Commission on Governmental Operations, Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Medicaid and NC Health Choice and Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee.
Suzanne Walsh is the 19th President of Bennett College, one of two historically black colleges for women in the United States. Prior to that role, she served as the deputy director for postsecondary success with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
Suzanne Elise Walsh became the nineteenth president of Bennett College on August 1, 2019. She was most recently deputy director of postsecondary success for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, leading and developing a team and a portfolio of over $70 million in postsecondary investments in institutional transformation in the United States. She previously served in leadership roles with the Lumina Foundation for Education and The Heinz Endowments.
Ms. Walsh has received national recognition for her portfolio of work with organizations at the intersection of innovation, technology, and learning. Education leaders with whom she has consulted praise her ability to create and work with cross-functional teams as a key driver in affecting flexible, personalized, and affordable approaches to higher education, and other leaders have expressed their appreciation for her work on several viability and sustainability initiatives at HBCUs, analyzing complex situations, developing innovative action plans to address challenges and motivating teams.
Ms. Walsh has been a frequent speaker and workshop leader at conferences such as the SXSW EDU, Black Futures Summit, ASU+GSV (Arizona State University (ASU) and Global Silicon Valley (GSV), Council for Independent Colleges, Salesforce Education Conference, and Global Learning Council, of which she is an active member. Other nonprofit board service includes Trellis Foundation, Achieving the Dream, Women's College Coalition, the Harwood Institute, Global Learning Council, and Greensboro Chamber of Commerce. Ms. Walsh is a member of the Homeland Security Academic Partnership Council, appointed by the secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. She has published or edited several books and journal articles on the topic of educational transformation, and is the recipient of numerous awards, honors, and fellowships.
Ms. Walsh has honorary doctorates from Case Western Reserve University and Johnson C. Smith University. She was elected to the prestigious Society of Benchers of Case Western University School of Law. She earned a juris doctorate and master's in social work from Case Western Reserve University, a bachelor's degree from Cornell University, and an associate degree in applied science from Hudson Valley Community College.
Job Titles:
- Director of Student Success / Student Success and Retention
Job Titles:
- Director of Donor Relations and Stewardship