Tyrone Poole

ATHLETICS
FORT VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY

As a man of humble beginnings who went on to lead an extraordinary life, Tyrone Poole is committed to giving back. Tyrone is a former professional athlete, and current author, speaker, inventor, entrepreneur and fitness evangelist. However, his greatest passion is the Tyrone Poole 38 Foundation, and its three pillars: Education, Fitness, and Humanitarianism

Erin Tolefree

BUSINESS
SPELMAN COLLEGE

Erin Marie Tolefree is President of Baldwin Richardson Foods (BRF), a leading custom ingredients manufacturer of sauces, syrups, toppings and fillings for the food and beverage industry and one of the largest Black-owned food manufacturing companies in the nation. BRF, a multi-generational, family-owned company, has forged strategic relationships with some of the world’s largest food companies across Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG), Quick Service Restaurants (QSR) and Food Service clients. These global, iconic food brands trust Baldwin Richardson Foods as their partner to deliver the highest quality products that exceed industry standards.

DR. CLEVELAND L. SELLERS

CIVIL RIGHTS
VOoRHEES COLLEGE

Growing up in rural South Carolina, in the shadows of Voorhees College, young Cleveland Sellers had dreams that went far beyond the city limits of Denmark. As the 3–year-old mascot for the big school in his little town, Sellers had no idea he would be named president of that very same institution, more than a half century later. He went on to attend Voorhees from 9th through 12th grades and graduated from Voorhees High School in 1962.

A three-year-old mascot; pardoned civil rights activist; author; educator; devoted husband and father. These are the roles that have indelibly shaped the legacy of Cleveland L. Sellers Jr., PhD, the eighth president of Voorhees College.

ANDREW JAMES FULLER

COMMUNITY SERVICE
ALABAMA A&M UNIVERSITY

Andrew James Fuller is a retired educator, administrator, business owner, civic stalwart, Army veteran, and more. Though a tour in the U.S. Army required a break in his studies at Alabama A&M College during the 1960s, Andrew returned to The Hill and earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Trade and Industrial Education. He later earned the Master of Science degree from his beloved AAMU. While he certainly credits AAMU for having prepared him professionally, it is at AAMU where he met and married Dorothy Thompson, a former Miss A&M and his wife of 50+ years.

DR. DORA S. WASHINGTON

EDUCATION
ALABAMA A&M UNIVERSITY

Dora L. Scruggs Washington, a native of Elkton, Tennessee, is the oldest of twelve children of Rev. Earl and Mrs. Georgia Scruggs. She grew up in Toney, Alabama, attended Toney High School and graduated from Council Training School, Normal, Alabama.

Dr. Washington received the Bachelor of Science degree (English) from Alabama A and M College, the MA degree (Speech: Oral Interpretation) from Northwestern University, and the MA and Ph.D. degrees from Indiana University, Bloomington, in Speech-Language Pathology. A speech pathologist, she has served on both state and national committees in her profession as well as several educational and civic boards, including a member of the Board of Trustees, Rust College, and a member of the Southern Regional Council College Board.

ED BRADLEY

ENTERTAINMENT
CHEYNEY UNIVERSITY

(Posthumously)

Bradley was born June 22, 1941, in Philadelphia and was graduated from Cheyney (Pa.) State College in 1964 with a B.S. in education. Ed Bradley’s death at the age of 65 on November 9, 2006 during his 26th season on 60 MINUTES shortened a career full of achievements few other journalists will ever match. His consummate skills as a broadcast journalist and his distinctive work were recognized over and over by the industry’s most demanding award committees, including Columbia University’s Alfred I. du Pont awards, the University of Georgia’s George Foster Peabody awards and the Emmys. His work won 21 Emmys, the last awarded posthumously for his coverage of the Duke University rape case, in which lacrosse players were falsely accused. He was honored with the Lifetime Achievement award from the National Association of Black Journalists.

DR. CRAIG L. OLIVER

FAITH/THEOLOGY
CLARK ATLANTA UNIVERSITY

Dr. Craig L. Oliver, Sr. has a tremendous passion for God’s Word coupled with a love for God’s people. He has a contagious spirt of generosity that overflows throughout every facet of his ministry. Having received his mandate from God, Dr. Oliver, obediently fulfills his calling as Senior Pastor of Elizabeth Baptist Church and is joined in unity with Mrs. Chi’Ira Oliver.

His vision is uncompromisingly clear, with on central principle – to build and develop a kingdom of empowered, equipped people for God. Dr. Oliver received his Master of Arts Degrees in Biblical/ Theological Studies and Leadership from Luther Rice Theological Seminary, a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Education and Religious Studies from Clark Atlanta University and a Doctor of Ministry in Preaching the Literary Forms of the Bible from Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary.

MICHAEL S. REGAN

GOVERNMENT
NORTH CAROLINA A&T UNIVERSITY

Administrator Regan is a graduate of the North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University, making him the first EPA Administrator to have graduated from a Historically Black College and University. He earned a master’s degree in Public Administration from The George Washington University.

HENRY “Hank” F. ALLEN

INDUSTRY
SOUTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY

Hank Allen is a retired executive for Pfizer Inc. He also served as the National Lead for Pfizer’s Field African American Network, whose mission was to help the Growth, Development, and Advancement of Blacks within the Company. Prior to his Pfizer career, Hank served four years in the U.S. Army as an Infantry Officer, achieving the rank of Captain before departing the service in 1982. Hank is an ardent supporter of his alma mater and currently serves as the 29 th President of the South Carolina State University National Alumni Association. During his career, he has received numerous awards and recognitions, including induction into the Pfizer Hall of Fame. He is a Life Member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.

MICHAEL COARD

Law
Cheyney UNIVERSITY

Michael Coard, a criminal defense attorney with more than 25 years of state and federal trial experience, specializes in murder cases and worked at the Charles W. Bowser Law Center after serving as Legal Counsel for State Senator Hardy Williams. He received his degree in law from Ohio State University and his undergraduate degrees in English Education and Political Science from Cheyney University.

He is an adjunct professor in the Africology Department at Temple University and a volunteer instructor of the Criminal Justice course and the Hip Hop 101 course in the university’s Pan African Studies Program. As an attorney, he successfully litigated at trial a historic Private Criminal Complaint that sought a murder prosecution of a white police officer who killed an unarmed Black teen. As a community activist, he is a founding member of Avenging The Ancestors Coalition (ATAC).

DR. SANYVETTE A. WILLIAMS-FOY

MEDICINE
ALABAMA A&M UNIVERSITY

Dr. SanYvette Williams-Foy, a native of Tuscaloosa, AL, received her Bachelor of Science degree from Alabama Agricultural & Mechanical University (AAMU) in 1983 and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Tuskegee University College of Veterinary Medicine (TUCVM) in 1988. After completing a clinical pathology internship, she relocated to the Washington, D.C. metro area, and served as an officer in the U.S. Public Health Service (USPHS) Commissioned Corps as a public health veterinarian and is a small business owner. Dr. Williams-Foy’s career spans over 30 years and reflects the One Health, One Medicine concept to protect and maintain human, animal and environmental health. Detailed to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as a Sr. Veterinary Officer, duties included human health data evaluation, risk assessment, policy and guidance development for registration/reregistration of conventional or antimicrobial pesticides used in agricultural, industrial, residential and other settings.

DR. MELISSA GREEN PARKER

Science
Claflin UNIVERSITY

Dr. Melissa C. Green Parker is an accomplished public health professional who currently works for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) as a Scientific Advisor within its Office of Disease Prevention (ODP). In this capacity, she provides critical leadership to two NIH-wide research initiatives that address unmet prevention research needs, the Prevention Scientific Interest Groups (SIGs) and ODP’s signature Pathways to Prevention (P2P) Program. Prior to joining the ODP, Dr. Green Parker spent years excelling as a leader in various capacities, including Program Director in the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), Health Sciences Program Manager for the Department of Defense (DoD), and Division Director at the United Negro College Fund Special Programs Corporation.

In the late 1990’s, the Silver Spring, Maryland native earned her Ph.D. from the Indiana University School of Medicine (Indianapolis, IN) and became the school’s first African American student to receive
a doctorate from its Biochemistry and Molecular Biology department. The tenacity and motivation to pursue her doctorate was borne through her interactions with HBCU faculty, staff, and students at her esteemed alma mater, Claflin College (now, Claflin University in Orangeburg, SC). As a result of Claflin’s professors and administrators taking a sincere interest in both her educational and personal growth, she graduated summa cum laude from Claflin as the valedictorian of her class with a bachelor’s degree in Chemistry.

MR. JAMES W. BOWDEN

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT
DENMARK TECHNICAL COLLEGE

James W. Bowden, Sr. is the son and sixth child of the late Bessie and Grady Bowden. Mr. Bowden was reared in Great Falls, SC, graduating from Great Falls High School (Class of 1968) as one of the first African American students enrolled in the segregated school system under the Freedom of Choice, or Free Transfer plan. His parents encouraged him to believe in God, value education and scholarship, and avail himself of every opportunity to succeed and become a self-reliant and productive citizen. Access to post-secondary education would result in him leaving his close-knit family and familiar enclave to matriculate at Denmark Technical College (Denmark Tech) in Denmark, SC. Mr. Bowden graduated from Denmark Technical College (Denmark Tech) in 1972 and in 1993 with degrees in electronics technology and industrial technology, respectively.

Bowden currently serves as a Denmark Technical College Area Commissioner and president of the Denmark Technical College National Alumni Association. He has also served on the Board of Directors for the Denmark Technical College Foundation. His unwavering support of the College has spanned over five decades.

REV. DR.  HERMAN “SKIP” MASON

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT
MORRIS BROWN COLLEGE

Rev. Dr. Herman “Skip” Mason, Jr. is the senior pastor of Historic West Mitchell Christian Methodist Episcopal Church in Atlanta, Georgia. A proud native of Atlanta and an honors graduate of the Atlanta Public Schools, Dr. Mason matriculated and graduated from Morris Brown College in 1984. He continued his education at Atlanta University (now Clark Atlanta University) and earned Master’s Degree in Library and Information Science with a concentration in African American Studies and Archives/Museum Management. He is also a graduate of the Interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta where he obtained the Master of Divinity and the Doctor of Ministry degrees respectively.

Dr. Mason, a seasoned educator for over 35 years has served as professor of history, college archivist, director and dean of students and Vice President of Student Services at both Morris Brown College and Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia. Currently, he serves as the Dean of Library and Museum Services and Assistant Professor of African-American History and Religion at Voorhees College in Denmark, South Carolina.

DR. WILLIAM “BILL” PICKARD

CHAIRMAN’S AWARD
CLARK ATLANTA UNIVERSITY &
MOREHOUSE COLLEGE

William F. Pickard, Ph.D. is Founder and Executive Chairman of GAA Manufacturing and Supply Chain Management (GAA), GAA New Ventures, Co-Managing Partner at MGM Grand Detroit Casino, and co-owner of four Black-owned newspapers which evolved into Real Times Media, a media marketing company. Pickard’s 50-year entrepreneurial career began as a McDonald’s franchisee in Detroit, Michigan. Since 1989, GAA has generated more than $5 billion dollars in sales with eight plants in the U.S. and Canada, servicing Boeing, Mercedes Benz, Ford, General Motors, Delphi, Johnson Controls, Starbucks, The Home Depot and Merck & Co. Pharmaceuticals. Black Enterprise honored Dr. Pickard as one of the 50 most Influential Black Entrepreneurs over the past 50 years.

Dr. Pickard holds an Associate Degree from Mott Community College, Bachelor’s Degree from Western Michigan University, Master’s Degree from the University of Michigan, Ph.D. in Education, from The Ohio State University, Honorary Doctorates from Clark Atlanta University (CAU) and Florida A&M University FAMU. He is a philanthropist, supporting education at Wayne County Community College District,
Spelman, Morehouse, Clark Atlanta, Fort Valley State University, The Ohio State, Florida A&M University and other HBCUs.