2015 Spring Newsletter - Ron Brown Scholar Program

The Journey
SPRING 2015
Vol. 20, N0. 1
Newsletter
Board of Trustees
Norma Barfield
Director of Development & Planning,
Community Academy Public Charter Schools
Nicole K. Bates
Deputy Director, Global Health
Policy & Advocacy, Bill & Melinda Gates
Foundation
Donielle Buie (Ron Brown Scholar 2000)
Entrepreneur
Terri Dean
Chief Membership Officer,
Girl Scouts of Eastern Pennsylvania
Ambassador Diana Lady Dougan
Chairman, Cyber Century Forum
Jordan Goldberg
Vice President, Real Estate Group
Alliance Bernstein
Dane E. Holmes
Head of Investor Relations,
Goldman Sachs
Jack Leslie
Chairman, Weber Shandwick
Thaderine D. MacFarlane
Philanthropist
Gavin McFarland
Philanthropist
Michael A. Mallory
President, Ron Brown Scholar Fund
Executive Director, Ron Brown
Scholar Program
Jonathan D. Mariner
Chief Investment Officer,
Major League Baseball
Andrew C. Pilaro
Chairman, CAP Advisers Limited of Dublin
Anthony M. Pilaro
Chairman Emeritus RBSF Board of
Trustees, Chairman, CAP Foundation,
CAP Advisers
Limited of Dublin
Christopher A. Pilaro
President, CAP Charitable Foundation
Marva A. Smalls
EVP, Global Inclusion Strategy,
VIACOM & EVP, Public Affairs and
Chief of Staff, Viacom Kids & Family Group
Mary Snitch
Director, NASA Programs
Lockheed Martin Corporation
Kathy Thornton-Bias
Michael B. S. Treisman
General Counsel, Tiger
Management LLC
Thomas A. Waller
Senior Director of Corporate Affairs,
Constituent Relations, Wal-Mart
Stores, Inc.
Aaron S. Williams
Executive Vice President, International
Development, RTI International
Advisory Board
Melanie Avery
Director of Philanthropy, Veterans
On The Rise, Inc.
Michele Ballantyne
SVP, Federal Government and Industry
Relations, Recording Industry Association
of America (RIAA)
Geraldine Barber Hale
Financial Manager
Message From the Executive Director
I
n a year when the Ron Brown Scholar Program is focusing on demonstrating its “impact”,
we have been looking at the widely different but increasingly powerful ways our Scholars
are influencing positive change in America and globally. Then, comes the unexpected and
timely—a letter we received from Keon Pearson (RBS 2011); a note that makes us realize
that “impact” is actually more of a process than an outcome. I’m sharing with you a part
of Keon’s letter because it so clearly illustrates why all of you who believe in our Scholars
and so generously support the Program are having a positive “impact” on so many lives.
Dear Mr. Mallory and Ms. Evans-Grevious,
I hope this note finds you both well.
I just wanted to take a moment to express my sincere appreciation for the profound way that the Ron Brown
Scholar Program has impacted my life. Being at Harvard can be intensely tough at times, especially for people
from my background and family situation. However, because of the support of RBSP, I have felt secure, supported,
and at ease during my college career. Knowing that I would never have to worry about affording books, or making
flights home, or getting to medical school interviews across the country made an invaluable contribution to my
mental health and well-being. All that I had to do was study hard and be a normal student, and I could rest assured
that things would fall into place.
And things have certainly fallen into place! I have had unimaginable journeys across the globe, learned to communicate (admittedly, quite poorly) in two additional languages, experienced running a small non-profit, literally
run thousands of miles, fallen in love, developed strong friendships with people from three different continents,
deepened my passion for medicine and minority health, and, most recently, gained acceptances into the top medical schools in the country.
So I wanted to thank you both for the excellent work that you do every day. When I heard that all twenty-eight
finalists received the scholarship this year, I nearly wept with joy. Twenty-eight lives were forever changed, and it
was truly a beautiful moment.
I cannot believe that it has already been four years since my Selection Weekend! I still vividly remember exactly
where I was when I got that fateful phone call. Being a Ron Brown Scholar has meant the world to me. Soon enough
I plan to be able to contribute my time and treasure to this cause!
Sincerely,
Keon
We have many reasons to celebrate this year. We reached our fundraising goal; we heard from and were inspired by our
speakers during the Sixth Annual American Journey Awards, Sam Alemayehu (RBS 2004), the first (but we know far from
the last) Ron Brown Scholar to contribute funds to cover a full scholarship for a new Ron Brown Scholar. Sam repeated the
word “love” during his speech—and we all understood the profundity of what he was conveying. Donielle Buie, our first
Scholar Trustee, gave a stirring speech in which she asked the audience to consider a range of soul-searching questions,
concluding with, “Are you ready to go the distance with me, because I am with you?”
We also heard from Ms. Cokie Roberts who paid special tribute to her brother Thomas Hale Boggs, Jr. who passed
away in the fall of 2014. Tom was an inspiring friend and supporter of the Program who was instrumental in the naming
of the Ron Brown Scholar Program and became dedicated to the success of each Ron Brown Scholar.
Throughout the evening and in every corner of the vast hall, our Scholars connected with friends of the Program, our
friends made new friends, and everyone had a good time celebrating a special family of young leaders.
As Keon mentioned, we were able to award a scholarship to each of the twenty-eight finalists—that was the sweetest
part of a very sweet weekend. Thank you for being an important part of our family.
Please enjoy the Scholar accomplishments profiled in this newsletter. We hope you will stay in touch with us, connect
with a Scholar and keep us in your giving plans.
All the best to you,
Michael A. Mallory
President & Executive Director
N ew Board of Trustees Member; 2015 Scholar Reflections
Advisory
Board (cont’d)
Jerry B. Bias
Founder and Chief Executive Officer,
Wisdom Oak Winery
Melanie Wilson Bias
Principal and Chief Operating Officer
Wisdom Oak Winery
Robert B. Binswanger
Professor, Dartmouth College
Lance Blanks
Former NBA General Manager
John Burt
Co-Founder, MBA JumpStart Advisory Group
Kevin J. Carrington
Vice President, The Segal Company
Matthew D. Cutts
Partner, Squire Patton Boggs, LLP
Pamela Ellison
Managing Director, Robin Hood
Lauri Fitz-Pegado
Partner, Livingston Group, LLC
Guy E. Flynn
Partner, DLA Piper, LLP (US)
Nupur Parekh Flynn
Managing Director/Co-Director of Marketing,
Brown Capital Management
James Hackney
Entrepreneur
Judith Harrison
Senior Vice President, Staffing and Diversity
& Inclusion, Constituency Management Group
T
Sharon Brickhouse Martin
Founder and President, Brickhouse Martin
Healthcare Engineering
Emmit J. McHenry
Entrepreneur
Ginger McKnight-Chavers
Attorney
Lesia Bates Moss
President, Seedco Financial Services
Cynthia A. Murray
President, Cynthia Murray Enterprises, LLC
Joshua B. Rales
Founder & Managing Partner, RFI Associates
Eileen Cassidy Rivera
Vice President, Global Marketing and
Communications, Harris Healthcare Solutions
Rodney E. Slater
Partner, Squire Patton Boggs, LLP
V. Davis Smith
Principal, Organizational Development and
Executive Coach, Caste Energy LLC
Elsie Wilson Thompson
Attorney
Maria Tildon
Senior VP, Public Policy & Community Affairs,
CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield
Jonice Gray Tucker
Partner, BuckleySandler LLP
R. Kenly Webster
Attorney at Law
Michael A. Williams
Chief Medical Information Officer &
Associate Professor of Pediatrics
University of Virginia Health Systems
Bethany Dickerson Wynder
Director of Admissions & Financial Aid,
Trinity Episcopal School (Charlotte, NC)
Michelle Robinson (Ron Brown Scholar 1997)
Assistant Professor of American Studies,
UNC-Chapel Hill
Jason W. Young (Ron Brown Scholar 2000)
Entrepreneur
2
Spring 2015
Dane E. Holmes Joins Board of Trustees
he Ron Brown Scholar Program proudly welcomes our newest Trustee, Mr. Dane E. Holmes.
Dane is the Head of Investor Relations for Goldman Sachs. He is responsible for all aspects of investor relations and for shareholders, debt investors, rating agencies and corporate
governance engagement. He is a member of the Firmwide Client
and Business Standards Committee, the Firmwide Risk Committee,
the Disclosure Committee and the Americas Diversity Committee.
Prior to assuming his current role, Dane was in the Financial Institutions Financing Group within the Investment Banking Division. He
joined Goldman Sachs in 2001 as a Vice President and was named
Managing Director in 2004 and Partner in 2010. Prior to joining the
firm, Dane worked at J.P. Morgan covering the financial institutions,
municipal and healthcare industries and held various positions in the
Mergers & Acquisitions, Capital Markets & Advisory, and Portfolio
Management groups.
Dane earned a BA in Architecture from Columbia University in 1992.
“I am excited to join the Ron Brown Scholar Program as a
Trustee. It is an honor to be able to contribute to the significant
and longstanding impact the Program has had on young African Dane E. Holmes is Head of
Investor Relations at
Americans.” – Dane E. Holmes, Goldman Sachs
Goldman Sachs.
Reflections From a 2015 Ron Brown
Scholarship Recipient
Ritza J. Hendricks
Managing Partner, R.Y. Ink! LLC
Ellie Hylton
Client Solutions Associate
Nielsen
Michelle C. Ifill
Senior Vice President & General Counsel,
Verizon Operations, IT & CAO
Calvin C. LaRoche
Co-Founder, DC Ventures and Associates
Spring 2015
I
New Partnership With Goldman Sachs; Hidden Genius Project
Program Announces Partnership With Goldman Sachs
T
he Ron Brown Scholar Program and Goldman Sachs are pleased to announce a collaboration that will support the
funding of ten new Ron Brown Scholars annually over the next four years. This commitment by Goldman Sachs
(with the possibility of increased multi-year support) is the largest corporate investment received to date by the
Ron Brown Scholar Program. It underscores both Goldman Sachs’ commitment to promote diversity and the evolving national reputation of the Ron Brown Scholar Program. This joint effort
will significantly affect the ability of a unique and successful college scholarship program for African Americans to enlarge its network of future leaders.
“Our partnership with Goldman Sachs provides an incredible
opportunity for us to continue
building upon our motto, ‘The
value of one; the power of all.’ An
increase in the number of young
leaders we can support through
scholarship assistance will mean
an exponential increase in their
ability to influence successful and
sustainable change. Over the past
nineteen years, Ron Brown Scholars have successfully matriculated
at and graduated from America’s
top colleges and universities. As
they mature, network as a family,
and move into professional positions in every area of endeavour,
their accomplishments become
truly impressive. The time is right;
the partnership with Goldman is
powerful; it will enable the Ron
Brown Scholar Program and its
talented Scholars to expand their
impact on American and global
progress,” says Michael Mallory,
Executive Director, Ron Brown
Scholar Program.
“We are excited to launch this
partnership with the Ron Brown
Scholar Program. Ron Brown
Scholars have demonstrated im-
pressive achievements,
both in and outside the
classroom, and show
strong potential for
leadership and service. Through our new
partnership, we hope to
expose these talented
individuals to the wide
Mike Mallory with Cindy Joseph of Goldman
range of opportunities Sachs.
at Goldman Sachs, including mentorship, professional outreach through outstanding
development and internship pro- organizations such as the Ron
grams. Diversity is at the core Brown Scholar Program.” – Cindy
of our values, and it’s important Joseph, VP, Head of Diversity Rethat we continue to expand our cruiting, Goldman Sachs. ■
RBS Brandon
Nicholson
to Head the
Hidden
Genius Project
to be the leading incubator of
high-performing black male
entrepreneurs and technologists. The Project represents an
innovative approach to accomplishing positive societal impact. It also confirms a belief
undergirding the uniqueness
and value of the Ron Brown
Scholar Program. Hidden Genius confirms the realization
of a critical aspect of the Program’s initial dream:
“The vision of Mr. Mallory and the Pilaro family
was clearly for us to pursue
our individual missions and
aspirations, all the while supporting each other to build
towards the greater good. I’m
extremely proud to be working
with high-quality guys such as
Jason and Ty, both of whom I
have admired since the very
first days I met them. What’s
critical is the fact that they
have such big dreams; the
paramount ingredient in being able to accomplish transformative results. It’s a great
feeling to run alongside fellow
Scholars who believe we have
the power to create value and
uplift communities writ large.
‘The Value of One; the Power
of All,’ perfectly captures this
mission.”
Hidden Genius is a pathway to achievement for future
entrepreneurs. It hinges upon
a commitment to mentoring
underserved youth and creating a cohesive community of
tech innovators, who actuate transformational change
within their communities. The
By: Leah Yared, RBS 2015
remember sitting there thinking, “Did I hear that right?” I looked around
to see my fellow Scholars jumping out of their seats, hugging each other,
and crying tears of joy. I’m not much of a crier, but the atmosphere was
so moving that many of us got emotional. We had just heard Mr. Mallory say
the words: “You ALL won!” With three words, our lives changed forever.
each Scholar was seated at a
Rewind to the beginning
separate table surrounded by
of Selection Weekend. When
RBS alumni, supporters, and
we arrived at the 6th Annual
business people from a certain
Ronald H. Brown American
company. The reception expeJourney Awards reception on
rience had prepared us for this
Friday night, we were brought
new test: dining with influential
into a massive room filled with
people. The Journey Awards
well-dressed adults. The evedinner highlighted the legacy
ning was to honor the legacy of
of Mr. Thomas Hale Boggs, Jr.
the late Thomas Hale Boggs, Leah Yared will attend Harvard
and all of the support he proJr. and highlight the accom- College in the fall.
plishments of our very own Ron Brown Scholar vided the Program over the years. Cokie Roberts
Sam Alemayehu with the Emerging Leadership served as host and inspired us all to carry on Mr.
Award. We all spread out around the room and Boggs’ commitment to lifting up the future leadmingled, and as time passed, it became easier to ers of America. Ms. Roberts also announced the
shake a person’s hand and strike up a conversa- Thomas Hale Boggs, Jr. Memorial Scholarship
tion. Ron Brown alumni were mixed in with Fund which would recognize one Ron Brown
donors, supporters, and panelists; everyone was Scholar each year as a Tom Boggs Scholar.
The Program then recognized 2004 Ron
identified by the colored hanging ID tags worn
around the neck. I remember stepping into that Brown Scholar Sam Alemayehu with the 2015
overwhelming room, not knowing where to even Emerging Leadership Award. As Sam spoke
look first, and the first person who came up to about his Ethiopian upbringing and what the
talk to me was an alumnus. He warmly welcomed Program means to him, we all took note of his
me and imparted some words of wisdom for the humility and poise. As the daughter of Ethiopian
rest of the night, and for the long road ahead. immigrants, his speech struck a chord within
All too soon, the reception ended and the me as I thought about my own parent’s desire
ceremony progressed to the dinner, where to support my education in any way possible.
(Continued on Page 4)
Spring 2015
B
randon Nicholson (RBS
2001), has been named
the founding Executive
Director of the Hidden Genius
Project. The mission of this
organization conceived of and
launched by two fellow Ron
Brown Scholar colleagues—
Jason Young and Ty Moore–is
this work exceeds the current
capacity to meet it. The Hidden
Genius Project wants to be in
the vanguard of meaningful
impact in this realm.
Brandon believes their venture marks an opportunity
to disrupt the way we envision training and productivity for young people from
underserved communities.
In short, it offers a chance
to empower communities to
empower themselves, and accordingly leverage technology
Hidden Genius is a pathway to
achievement for future
entrepreneurs.
Project has begun by supporting young men in the Oakland,
California area. The end-point
goal is to expand nationwide,
helping young black males to
build the confidence necessary
for them to persevere through
systemic barriers and achieve
their dreams. The demand for
as a vehicle. The Scholars’
partnership in Hidden Genius
as well as their goals and aspirations for their endeavor,
provide clear proof that Ron
Brown Scholars, who stand
out in high school due to their
intelligence and commitment
(Continued on Page 11)
The Ron Brown Scholar Program Newsletter 2015 3
S cholar Spotlight; Scholar Reflections (cont’d)
Spring 2015
Remembering Thomas Hale Boggs, Jr.; RBS Donielle Buie
Remembering a Friend
Scholar Spotlight: Malcolm Grayson, RBS 2011
H
e’s a philosopher and a poet,
a chess master and a violinist, a published researcher
and a Harvard grad—no wonder
Malcolm Grayson is at the top of
the academic food chain. But when
Malcolm found out he was a recipient of the prestigious Michael C.
Rockefeller Traveling Fellowship,
he decided grad school could wait.
Awarded by members of the
Rockefeller family to a select
handful of Harvard seniors, the
get an entire year to enrich their
lives outside of academia by
doing, well, just about whatever
they want. With the freedom to
go anywhere and do anything,
Malcolm plans to hike the length
of Japan while memorizing poetry
and mastering lucid dreaming.
Malcolm will perfect a special memorization technique
known as the “Memory Palace” to commit hundreds of poems to memory­­–a small feat
. . . his gifts and how he uses them will
inspire younger people to understand and
follow their own dreams.
fellowship provides a year’s
worth of financial support for
unrestricted travel to a foreign
country. That’s right: unrestricted.
Recipients of this coveted prize
considering he can already recite a 108-line poem by heart.
Malcolm also plans to use this
journey of awakening to master
another craft—lucid dreaming.
He explains: “A lucid dream is
just like a normal dream except
for two things: 1) You happen
to know that you’re dreaming
and 2) You now have full control
over what happens in the dream.
It’s quite fun manifesting your
imagination right before your
eyes.” Malcolm plans to master
lucid dreaming as an instrument to design video games,
another lifelong passion of his.
With a double major and a
minor from Harvard (all with honors, by the way), Malcolm works
as a private tutor for high-profile
clients around the world. Parents
book him months in advance to
come to their country and teach
their kids anything from the SAT
to English, poetry to philosophy.
Malcolm’s aspirations and
his accomplishments to date
showcase the range of abilities
our Ron Brown Scholars possess.
win. That was extremely moving.
I remember him saying, “The
Program showed me love.” In
those few words, I immediately
knew the potential impact the
Program would have on me.
Moments later after laughing at Ms. Robert’s charismatic
Cokie Roberts shares a moment with 2015 scholarship winner Montell
Brown following the American Journey awards dinner.
4
Spring 2015
speeches, we were called over by
Mrs. Evans to form a line and go
up on stage. We each called out
our name and hometown into the
microphone. Although the anticipation of walking up on that stage
gave me nervous jitters, everyone
spoke calmly and clearly – and the
audience loved it! I walked back
to my seat with a small feeling of
accomplishment. As I reflected on
the speeches from past Scholars
Karla Aghedo and Sam, I imagined
what it would be like to be up on
that stage in a few years giving
my own speech. Getting to meet
Scholars who were in our shoes
not too long ago opened our eyes
to the bright futures ahead of us.
Fast forward to Saturday night.
The moment Mr. Mallory said
those fateful words can only be
described as unbelievable. I felt a
huge weight lift off my shoulders.
And becoming a Scholar was only
half the shock; the other half of it
was finding out that all of us made
it. After a weekend of bonding,
we were rooting for each other.
By Gary Nordheimer
S
hortly after I attended my close friend Tom Boggs’ funeral I began to think about trying to establish a
meaningful way to expand his legacy. Tom had been involved in and generous to many good causes,
including his schools, university and law school and many other worthy causes. We talked with members
of his family and it became quite clear that the Ron Brown Scholar Program held a special place in his heart.
They are all intellectual standouts,
but their dreams move them along
unique and diverse paths. Malcolm shares a service theme common among RBS: that his gifts
and how he uses them will inspire
younger people to understand
and follow their own dreams. ■
Reflections From a 2015 Ron Brown Scholarship Recipient
(Continued From Page 2)
It was also inspiring to learn
that just a few short years out
of college, Sam had the good
fortune and generosity to give
back $40,000 to the Program.
He fully funded a scholarship so
that another student could receive
the same award he was blessed to
Spring 2015
The seeds of the Ron Brown family had already been sown, and
a family looks out for its own.
I went home the following
morning thinking back to the phenomenal young men and women I
had just met – the quintessence of
black excellence. I was humbled
and honored to be considered a
part of this family. At school, I was
always “that kid” – something of
an outlier in terms of academics
and race. The American Journey
Awards dinner taught me that
black excellence is not unnatural;
there are hundreds of role models in this Program alone. The
wisdom past Scholars bestowed
upon us was much different from
the usual “Follow your dreams!”
or “Find your passion!” These
were real people (people we could
actually relate to!) who found their
passion and thrived. I’m sure the
RBS Class of 2015 will rise to
the occasion of excellence, and
I thank everyone who paved the
way for us to achieve this honor. ■
Tom was a very private per- and Elizabeth Boggs Davidsen, football, basketball, and baseball
son, almost to the point of being carried on Tom's tradition and athlete and avid sports fan, will
shy, but not when it came to tak- participated in the interview of the not realize his dream of playing
ing the time to help select and first Tom Boggs Scholar, a young first-division collegiate sports.
mentor the many Scholars who man who would have made Tom His natural affinity to do well in
passed through his open door. very proud as the first in what we school will serve as his vehicle to
Discussions with Tom’s family anticipate will be a lasting tribute realize his dreams. His strongest
cemented the idea that Tom would to Tom and his deep commit- subject has always been mathhave been very proud to have an ment to the Ron Brown Scholars. ematics; he plans to utilize his
“We are so proud to select qualitative-quantitative abilities
endowed scholarship in his name.
We quickly reached out to his Raymond Pryor, IV as the 2015 re- as he pursues his undergraduate
family and to a large extended cipient of the Tommy Boggs Schol- studies and a professional career.
Apart from his academic infamily of friends, sharing favorite arship. Raymond, an all-League
stories about Tom and our mutual offensive lineman, is a big guy with terests, Ray has a true passion:
combating inequity
grief from Tom’s passing.
through connectivity. He
We agreed to try to
observed, experienced,
raise enough money prior
and was disgusted by
to the Sixth Annual Amerthe achievement and
ican Journey Awards Dinopportunity gaps in his
ner so we could establish
high school. He became
an endowed fund in his
a beneficiary, member,
name, to fund at least
and then leader of his
one full scholarship anschool’s Angels for AP
nually. We believe this is Gary Nordheimer (center) shown with Lesley
Excellence that encouran outstanding tribute to Israel (left), Barbara Boggs (3rd from left) and Gail
aged promising students
Tom and his family and Nordheimer (far right).
friends that within a very short pe- a huge heart. He’s a brilliant stu- of color to enroll in advanced
riod of time, the kernel of an idea dent and a natural politician so it courses (where they are severely
grew into reality and the first Tom is hard to imagine a better choice.” underrepresented). Building on his
– Elizabeth Boggs Davidsen leadership development training
Boggs Scholar has been selected.
Raymond Pryor IV, a young as a Bezos Scholar at the Aspen
Tom’s children, Douglas Boggs
Raymond Pryor, IV will attend
Duke University in the fall.
Institute, Ray launched the Ask An
Angel Network & Expo, a studentgenerated online and in-person
connectivity platform through
which students can engage with
the experiences, insights, and
advice of his high school’s,
100-year-old alumni network.
As he looks ahead to beginning his undergraduate education at Duke University, Ray
hopes to expand his quest to
maximize the positive impact
he can have on transforming
possibilities for under-served
individuals and communities.■
Will You Go the Distance With Me?
F
Memories From 2000 RBS Donielle Buie
ifteen years ago, I was a finalist for
the Ron Brown scholarship. I tried to
keep my cool, not show my nervousness (not let on that running through my
head was every possible question they
might ask me the next day!). But what I
kept coming back to and what I have come
back to over and over since I was a finalist
is that I was and am surrounded by excellence. They had my hue. That had lived my
story. And they showed me that being young,
gifted and black was not an anomaly. I was
unique, but not alone. Special but not rare.
While I sincerely hope that everyone is
able to walk away with $40,000 to help create
new opportunities (the world so desperately
needs our talents, leadership and ideas), what
I pray is each of you walk away from the
selection weekend experience with the begin-
ning of deep friendships in which the answer
to the following questions is a resounding yes:
If I fail, will you help me find the lesson?
If I fall, will you catch me?
If I succeed will you cheer for me.
If I am unsure, will you encourage me?
If I suffer a loss, will you sit with me?
If I forget who I am, where I came from,
and how many people helped to get
me here, will you remind me?
If I am scared to think big, live boldly and
serve humbly, will you help me push
through the fear?
Will you be my brother and sister on this
journey? Are you ready to go the distance
with me, because I am with you.
Congratulations 2015 Ron Brown Scholars!
The Ron Brown Scholar Program Newsletter 2015 5
2015
Spring 2015
Ron Brown Scholars
Congratulations to the
2015 Ron Brown Scholars!
6
Jason Adulley
Bronx, NY
Regis High School College: Williams College
Interest: African-American Studies
Desmond J. Howard
Lexington, KY
Bryan Station High School
College: University of Pennsylvania
Interest: Physics
Akintobi “Irvin” I. Akinseye
Frisco, TX
Frisco High School
College: Brown University
Interest: Neuroscience
Taylor L. Howell
Fayetteville, GA Sandy Creek High School
College: Georgia Institute of Technology
Interest: Chemical Engineering
Ayanna D. Martin Collierville, TN
St. Mary’s Episcopal
College: Vanderbilt University
Interest: Economics
Chidera C. Osuji Stockbridge, GA
Dutchtown High School
College: Yale University
Interest: International Relations
Anthony D. Mayfield
Fort Worth, TX
Boswell High School
College: Stanford University
Interest: Electrical Engineering
Jaylen J. Pittman Montgomery, AL
LAMP Magnet High School
College: Yale University
Interest: Global Affairs
Christopher D. McKinnis
Pinehurst, NC
Pinecrest High School
College: University of North Carolina - Charlotte
Interest: Meteorology
Raymond E. Pryor, IV
Aurora, CO
East High School
College: Duke University
Interest: Public Policy
Andrew O. Bempah Evanston, IL
Evanston Township High School
College: Stanford University
Interest: Operations Research
Javarcia D. Ivory Clinton, MS
Clinton High School
College: Stanford University
Interest: Biophysics
Lena F. Blackmon Vail, AZ University High School
College: Stanford University
Interest: Material Science
Bruke M. Kifle
Alexandria, VA
Thomas Alva Edison High School
College: Massachusetts Institute
of Technology
Interest: Engineering
Tristan J. McLaurin
Conway, MA
Pioneer Valley Performing Arts
Charter Public School
College: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Interest: Mechanical Engineering
Matthew W. Shearin
El Cajon, CA
El Cajon Valley High School
College: Dartmouth College
Interest: Computer Science
Montell D. Brown Cincinnati, OH
Oak Hills High School
College: University of Pennsylvania
Interest: Biological Basis of Behavior
Devin B. Kilpatrick Rome, NY
Rome Free Academy
College: Princeton University
Interest: Earth Science
DivineAsia E. Miller
Brooklyn, NY
Brooklyn Technical High School
College: Amherst College
Interest: Psychology
Mojique D. Tyler Brooklyn, NY
Bard High School Early College
College: Yale University
Interest: Physics
Caroline E. Haoud Astoria, NY
Bard High School Early College Queens
College: Columbia University
Interest: Biochemistry/Physics
T’Angela J. Knight Memphis, TN
Whitehaven High School
College: University of Tennessee
Interest: Marketing/Psychology
Andrew R. Moton Stockton, CA
Tokay High School
College: Harvard College
Interest: International Affairs
Auriel S. Wright
Macon, GA
Northeast High School
College: Harvard College
Interest: Global Healthcare
Melanie C. P. Horton
Upper Darby, PA
Commonwealth Connections Academy
College: Tufts University
Interest: Psychology
Courtney R. Lewis Kennesaw, GA
The Walker School
College: Harvard College
Interest: Neuroscience
Zaria A. Noble
Denver, CO
Kent Denver High School
College: Washington University –St. Louis
Interest: Political Science (Pre-Law)
Leah S. Yared
Rockville, MD
Rockville High School
College: Harvard College
Interest: Government
7
R
on Brown Scholar Updates
Spring 2015
Ron Brown Scholars—What Are They Up to NOW?
Spring 2015
Katori Hall, (1999) will premiere her new
work, The Blood Quilt, at Arena Theatre in
Washington DC on May 7th.
for the summer, but hopes that the summer
involves both productivity and relaxation.
Immanuel Foster (2002) is a litigation associate at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher &
Flom LLP in Boston.
Matt Wood (2013) is striving to finish his
sophomore year strongly, will be in NYC as
a summer analyst for Credit Suisse, and looks
forward to finalizing his plans to continue his
studies in Brazil in the fall.
Brandon Nicholson (2001) is the executive
director of the Hidden Genius Project, whose
vision is to be the leading incubator of highperforming black male entrepreneurs and
technologists. These leaders are committed
to mentoring underserved youth and creating a cohesive community of tech innovators
who actuate positive, transformational change
within their communities. Through its model,
The Hidden Genius Project aims to bolster
workforce and economic development as a
means to effect a positive societal impact.
Crystal Boyd (2006) is alive and well in
Berlin, researching best literacy practices for
teaching refugees in the school system as part
of the Alexander Von Humboldt Fellowship.
She's creating with her production company
and the team is working on pitching Downtown Girls and developing it into a TV show.
This summer she will be meeting Angela
Merkel for dinner with her program, and living
in Barcelona and parts of Greece.
Tristan Ivory (2000) is currently putting the
final touches on his dissertation and should be
done this upcoming June.
Sharlene Brown (2004) is working as a
management consultant for Accenture. She
remains very involved in the education space
and joined the founding governance board of
a new school opening in East LA.
Tracy "Ty" Moore II (2002) is busy managing the research contract that MindBlown Labs
was awarded by the U.S. Treasury Department.
In addition, he's reaching out to schools that
would like to use their best-in-class financial
capability game and lesson plans. Shortly, he'll
be joining Jason Young (2004) in the White
House at the President's Advisory Council
Meeting and presenting at the Clinton Global
Initiative University conference in Miami.
Eddie Martin, Jr. (2000) is continuing his
work as a special assistant at the U.S. Department of Education's Center for Faith-based
and Neighborhood Partnerships, an Initiative
that is part of the White House Office of Faithbased and Neighborhood Partnerships. He is
also serving as chaplain (captain) of the 400th
Military Police Battalion at Fort Meade and
the youth pastor at Nineteenth Street Baptist
Church in Washington, DC.
Geraldine Pierre Haile (2004) recently defended her dissertation and has started working
full-time at Mathematica Policy Research in
Oakland, CA as a survey researcher.
Faith Jackson (2012) was recently elected
president of Read Between the Minds, an
e-mentoring, non-profit organization she cofounded in 2013. She is really excited to be
making it her main focus outside of school,
and the organization is currently part of the
Venture Incubation Program at Harvard Business School. She is still deciding her plans
8
Spring 2015
Chanel Washington (2011) will be working at
Goldman Sachs in New York as an analyst for
the Private Wealth Management division after
graduating from Harvard College.
Michael Mekonnen (2009) just returned from
a very refreshing and wonderful trip to Ethiopia (9 years after arriving in the US!), and also
just moved past the one-year anniversary as a
software engineer at Google. “I have learned
and grown in many ways in this first year, and I
look forward to the same amount, if not more,
of growth in the coming year.”
Jordan Alston-Harmon (2013) transferred to
Harvard College in the fall. He leads a program
with the Institute of Politics that discusses the
intersection of race and politics, competes on
the Harvard Mock Trial team, and volunteers
with a group that tutors incarcerated youth
once a week. He will intern at the New York
office of McKinsey & Company this summer.
Julius Mitchell (2009) has just returned from
backpacking in southern China, Singapore,
and the Philippines to celebrate the Lunar
New Year. As his teaching fellowship with
the Yale-China Association ends this coming
June, he is preparing applications to a wide
range of finance, legal, research and consulting positions.
Jade Craig (2002) was married on September
22, 2014. He and his wife Jamie currently
live in Washington, DC. With the help of Ron
Brown Scholar Program mentors, he received
a presidential appointment in the Obama Administration. He serves as the Special Policy
Advisor to the Assistant Secretary for Fair
Housing and Equal Opportunity at the U.S.
Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
Malcolm Grayson (2011) is about to graduate from Harvard College with a degree in
philosophy. After graduation he plans spend a
year living in the wilderness of Japan, memorizing poetry and mastering lucid dreaming.
Brennan Gould (2001) is director of programs at the Charlottesville Area Community
Foundation and oversees the Foundation's
grantmaking and strategic community development initiatives. She and her husband Andre
are awaiting with great excitement the arrival
of their little girl in June.
Folake Dosu (2007) is the marketing manager at Bolstr, an online marketplace where
emerging consumer, retail and manufacturing
businesses can access growth capital from
a network of accredited investors. Check
the recent feature in Inc. magazine. In other
news, she recently became a Forte Foundation
MBALaunch Fellow and her daily Chicago
commute is challenging.
Victoria Offei-Dua (2014) will be having a
low key summer and taking summer courses
for her pre-med prerequisites and shadowing at
the Huntsville hospital. Her plan is to be ahead
in her pre-med courses so that she can study
abroad in the UK during the spring semester
of her junior year.
Dorian Dargan (2007) leads Product at YouNow, a fast-growing live video social network
& venture-backed tech startup in NYC. He
and his wife are expecting a baby girl in May.
Camille Everhart (2009) is currently finishing up her Master's in Mechanical Engineering
at Stanford, and will be taking her qualification
exam for Ph.D. candidacy in the spring.
Bryant Watson (2006) is headed to Yale Law
School this fall.
Frederik Groce (2010) is currently working
as the CEO of Stanford Student Enterprises.
He has just re-signed for another year and is
excited to continue his work with the organization. One of the big projects he's been
(Continued on Page 9)
Ron Brown Scholar Updates (cont’d)
Spring 2015
Ron Brown Scholars—What Are They Up to NOW?
Spring 2015
(Continued From Page 8)
investing a lot of his time on is creating a brand
new incubator for Stanford start-ups called
Cardinal Ventures.
recently begun serving as chair of a local
nonprofit board. He continues to work as an
attorney at Alston & Bird LLP.
Jasmine Browne (2007) is currently supporting the testing and commissioning of a
new vertical form fill seal machine for P&G.
This role has led to several trips to Belgium
during the last half of 2014 and the beginning
of the 2015. Her culminating trip will be a 3
month assignment in the Philippines to ensure
a successful startup of the machine, beginning
in March 2015.
Jennifer Green (2003) currently serves as
Vice President and Counsel at Credit Suisse.
Danielle Allen (2005) is moving back to DC
from Boston. She's also taking on a new role
convening and advising education philanthropists at Impact for Education.
Andrea Headley (2010) is finishing up her
second year as a doctoral student studying
the politics of crime control. Her current
research has centered on prison privatization
and police-community relations.
Gomian Konneh (2014) was awarded the
"Intercultural Award" from the University of
Pennsylvania's Onyx Senior Honor Society,
which is an award that was designed for
the underclassman "who has made notable
achievements in promoting elements of black
culture through art, dance, or other artistic
expression." She has also received an award
for the Onyx Senior Society's Freshman Honor
Roll. She will be interning in Manhattan with
Viacom and will be working on a project in the
Content Distribution and Marketing division
and is very excited to learn about the mass
media industry in this very hands-on manner.
Alexandra Wood (2003) is currently the
global digital product director of Havas Worldwide, where she was recently selected as one
of 46 Havas employees (out of the 16,000-person employee base) for Havas CEO Yannick
Bolloré's inaugural class of next generation
leaders, which grooms high-performing
managers for executive leadership positions
within the company. She was also recently
tapped to write a column on technology trends
for The Drum.
Kalonji Nzinga (2002) is finishing his third
year of a PhD program at Northwestern
University in the School of Education and
Social Policy. He is beginning his dissertation
research on the moral socialization involved
in engaging with hip-hop music.
Miles Malbrough (2012) is finishing his
junior year at Harvard College. He's currently
planning his senior thesis research on class
consciousness and social mobility of African-
American communities in the South, which
will begin in May of 2015. Besides senior
thesis research, Miles will continue his work
as treasurer and CFO of the Phillips Brooks
House Association (PBHA) this summer. A
student-run non-profit, PBHA is Harvard's
largest service organization, running over 80
after-school, mentoring, adult services, advocacy and summer learning programs annually.
Chris Lyle (2008) is currently working at
Bank of America in NYC as a senior financial
analyst supporting FICC Emerging Markets
Finance. In February 2015, he was promoted
to assistant vice president. In addition to
work, he has been preparing for the GMAT
with hopes of attending business school in
the near future.
Mondaire Jones (2005) is thoroughly enjoying his clerkship for Judge Andrew L. Carter,
Jr. of the U.S. District Court in the Southern
District of New York. It is the best job he has
had thus far.
Brandon Hill (2011) accepted an internship
with Google for the summer. He is also on the
verge of launching his campaign for student
body president of Stanford. He has co-founded
(Continued on Page 12)
Ihotu Ali (2003) just returned from a trip to
Nigeria for family weddings and connecting
with rural nurses and midwives. She joined
the research and advocacy team at Choices
in Childbirth in New York City, and launched
her in-home women's massage therapy and
preventive medicine practice: www.CreativeRebirth.com.
William Chichester, III (2001) has celebrated
his first-year wedding anniversary to his beautiful wife, Ivy. He spent his anniversary in St.
John's Virgin Islands. He continues to reside
in Charlottesville, VA, and leads Capital One's
diversity campus recruiting efforts.
Chaz Beasley (2004) is finishing up his term
as the president of the Young Democrats of
Mecklenburg County in Charlotte, NC. He
remains active in the community, having
(from left to right) Bradley Pough (RBS 2008), Rashawn Dye (RBS 2010), Mondaire Jones
(RBS 2005) (back to us), and Kai Ross (RBS 2005) enjoy time together during the 2015 Alumni
Association meeting in Washington, DC.
The Ron Brown Scholar Program Newsletter 2015 9
R on Brown Leaders Network; Harvard Mock Trial
Spring 2015
Alumni Spotlight; RBS Katori Hall Debuts New Play
Ron Brown Leaders Network Spring Update
W
Alumni Spotlight—Megan Donovan-Davis
ith thanks to our Corporate Partners who provided job leads and advice, the Ron Brown Leaders Network enjoyed a very
successful year in recruiting. Over 25 students secured highly competitive positions with our corporate partners. The
placements to-date are as follows:
Capital One Internship Program
•Teresa Danso-Danquah, Cornell University
Deloitte
•Esther Owolabi (full-time consultant),
Georgetown University
•Marcus Harris (full-time consultant), University of Virginia
•Crystal Chukwurah (full-time consultant), Duke University
DLA Piper Undergraduate Legal
Internship
•Nana Abrefah, Columbia University
•Chigozie Akah, Columbia University
Goldman Sachs
•Chanel Washington (full-time analyst), Harvard College
•Ebo Quansah (summer analyst), Princeton
University
•Kristen Shipley (undergraduate camp), North Carolina A&T University
•Njeri Grevious (summer analyst), Yale University
•Ollie Howie (summer analyst), Harvard College
•Omolola Agabalogun (summer analyst), Harvard College
•Zola Bridges (summer analyst), Johns Hopkins University
Siemens Summer Internship Program
•John Giles, University of Alabama-
Huntsville
Sikorsky Aircraft Summer Internship
Program
•Andrew Black, Yale University
•Avery Fisher, Northwestern University
•Christina Fagbile, Georgia Institute of Technology
•Cinneah El-Amin, Barnard College
•Jimmy Harris, MIT
•Morgan Mahlock, Stanford University
Neveen Mahmoud (RBS 2007) shares her new
program during the Ron Brown leadership
meeting in Washington, DC.
H
Macarrin Morton (RBS 2003) takes notes
during recent brainstorming session at
the offices of Deloitte.
Wake Forest School of Business Masters of
Management Corporate Fellows Program
• Brittany Coleman, Duke University
Weber Shandwick/ Powell Tate
• Khadijah Davis (full-time hire at Weber Shandwick), Georgetown University
• Taylor Evans (Powell Tate summer intern), University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill
For additional information on the Ron Brown
Leaders Network and our Corporate Partners
Program, please contact Holly Duke (hduke@
ronbrown.org). ■
Ron Brown Scholars Participate With
Harvard Mock Trial Association
arvard Mock Trial Association is the
#1 Mock Trial program out of thousands across the country. It is one of
a handful of completely student-run teams,
and the program has done a phenomenal job
competing against teams with many attorneys
serving as formal coaches. The program
is extremely competitive, with there being
three rounds of intense try-outs each year.
Naturally, it is very exciting to have three Ron
Brown Scholars on the team: Jordan AlstonHarmon, Faith Jackson, and Tyler Parker.
Jordan is a sophomore studying sociology
who first participated in Mock Trial at Northwestern University during his freshman year
there. He has since transferred to Harvard,
where he again found himself making it onto
the Mock Trial program. Faith started participating in Mock Trial for the first time in college,
and has competed since her freshman year,
only stopping during a year off from Harvard.
10 Spring 2015
Verizon Summer Internship Program
•Jeron Fenton, Princeton University
•Nehemiah Blackburn, Yale University
•Gomian Konneh, University of Pennsylvania
Tyler is a sophomore who has been on the program since his freshman year. HMTA is further
broken down into 3-4 teams, each consisting of
6-9 competitors, and Jordan, Faith, and Tyler
all compete on the two most competitive teams.
Those two teams both came in second
place with records of 7-0-1 at their respective
Regional Tournaments, and they then went
Jordan Alston-Harmon (left) enjoys a fun
moment with the winning national team
this Spring.
Spring 2015
on to Championships. From there, Tyler’s
and Faith’s team unfortunately saw the end
to their competitive season, while Jordan’s
team again came in second but went on
to win the national championship. Jordan,
Faith, and Tyler all traveled with their teams
to State College, PA for the Championship
Tournament, and they had a wonderful time
competing alongside their scholarship siblings. Much of the approximately 20 hours
of traveling involved them joking about
the fun times they have had as Ron Brown
Scholars, reminiscing about selection weekends’ past and looking forward to the future.
All in all, Jordan, Faith and Tyler have
thoroughly enjoyed being on the Harvard
Mock Trial Association together, have recognized how great it is to have had three
Ron Brown Scholars make it onto the very
competitive program, and look forward to
one day competing on the same team together.
M
egan Donovan-Davis (RBS 1997) is
the current Senior Buyer for the entire
furniture division of ZGallerie. She
was selected in the first class of Ron Brown
Scholars. Meg graduated from Harvard College
with a degree in economics. Recently, we asked
her to reflect on her life and her victories in the
years since becoming a Ron Brown Scholar.
Meg, would you share some anecdotes
from your undergraduate college days that
illustrate how your interaction with the
Ron Brown Scholar Program was valuable
to you?
It is often difficult to think of life as a
marathon and not a sprint. It is important to be
focused in college as this trait leads to success,
but it is equally as important to enjoy the experience. At Harvard, it was so easy to develop
tunnel vision about your future. Being part of
the first class of RBS meant we were a much
smaller group and getting together was like
being with family. Evenings or trips were filled
with a lot of laughter and great opportunities
to bond and compare notes with like-minded
individuals. You knew, no matter where you
originally came from or what school you
attended, you had a great network of people
to lean on at that moment and in the future.
Also, to be honest, the person who has always
been my strongest mentor has been Michael
Mallory. He has always been supportive of my
choices and was there for me for my successes
as well as my rougher patches. He continues to
be one of my favorite people and supporters.
furnishings is incredibly rewarding. I gain
a great deal of pleasure when someone tells
me how much he/she loves my company or a
specific product I have developed. I feel like I
am making people's lives richer by making the
backdrop of their life their dream environment.
In addition to my day job, I recently started
a blog that allows me to explore my personal
passions; it provides another creative outlet
where I can take chances without the pressure
of those projects being part of a multi-million
dollar business. It is pure fun!
What advice would you give to fellow RBS
interested in obtaining a position similar
to yours?
In any career, success is a mixture of hard
work, timing, and connections. Especially,
when you are starting out in a career it is
important to be fearless and eager but also
humble. I landed my first interview to be an
assistant buyer by calling the HR department
hiring manager and leaving a message that
said although I did not have any experience
in the field I was passionate and if she gave
me fifteen minutes of her time I would convince her I was the right candidate for the job.
I hope that both personally and professionally I continue to find new and exciting
opportunities and never stop challenging
myself to grow and develop. I am proud of
who I am and where I am in my life. The next
5 to 10 years are something I look forward to
with much anticipation. ■
In what ways do you feel that your professional endeavors are fulfilling your sense
of purpose?
to a better world, are genuine leaders who
mature into successful professionals with
unlimited potential. Brandon sums it up:
“While it is unquestionably important
for people of all backgrounds to get to experience other cultures and environments,
people should not have to disqualify their
own environments as the sites of their own
growth and development. My mission is
to address this challenge on a systemic
level.”
From Jason Young, (RBS 2000) and
co-founder Hidden Genius Project:
“The Hidden Genius Project never
would have been possible without the Ron
Brown Scholar Program. While Ty and I
were the co-founders, there were a number
of Scholars who provided invaluable support along the way. Michael McDaniels
helped us to structure the program and
commuted over 2 hours each way on weekends to work with our students. We also
drew heavily on Errol Saunders extensive
experience, and of course, Brandon has
been involved since day one. Hidden Genius is an excellent example of what can
happen when Ron Brown Scholars come
together.” ■
I am incredibly lucky that throughout my
career I have been able to mix my analytic
mind with my creative side. Being on the
forefront of trends within fashion when I was
with Saks and Bloomingdales, and now home
Ron Brown Scholars Celebrate the Success
of Playwright Katori Hall, RBS 1999
R
on Brown Scholar and playwright,
Katori Hall, is a rising star in
contemporary American theater. At just 30 years old, her play The
Mountaintop starred Samuel L. Jackson and Angela Bassett on Broadway.
An alumna of Columbia, Harvard
and Julliard, Hall was also the first
black woman to win England's coveted
Laurence Olivier Award for Best New
Play in 2010. Naturally, when news hit
this spring that her new play The Blood
Quilt was being produced in DC, area
friends and Scholars came out in support.
The Blood Quilt is currently run-
ning through June 7 at Arena Stage in
Washington, DC. For information and
tickets visit http://www.arenastage.org. ■
Ron Brown Scholars embrace Katori Hall
following a performance of her play, The Blood
Quilt on April 28 in DC. (From Left to Right)
Jocelyn Bell, Morgan Harper, Ade Sawyer,
Dr. Ku McMahan, Katori Hall and Ubah Dimbil.
What are your personal hopes and professional plans moving forward?
RBS Brandon
Nicholson to Head the
Hidden Genius Project
(Continued From Page 3)
The Ron Brown Scholar Program Newsletter 2015 11
S cholar Updates (cont’d); Save the Date
Ron Brown Scholars
What Are They Up to NOW?
(Continued From Page 9)
Spring 2015
an innovation and leadership academy for
Black students called Enza Academy (www.
enzaacademy.org) which operates in the Bay
Area and New York City. It was inspired by
Ron Brown.
Natalie Davis (2005) is in the final stages
of her dissertation proposal. Her study will
investigate Black students' political and intellectual agency across contexts (i.e within one
African-centered and one place-based school).
Danai Kadzere (2010) is working with her
editor/publishing team to put the final touches
on The Princess Games coming July 27, 2015
to bookstores and libraries across the USA
and Canada.
Amber Bailey (2009) was named as a 2015
Advocacy Scholar for Preservation Action. She
is a public historian committed to using the
past to educate and engage her community and
adopted hometown of Chicago. Her interest in
historic preservation is rooted in her desire to
be a steward and advocate for marginalized
communities and historic places within them.
To this end, she is especially interested in how
historic preservation can be used as a tool to
revitalize economically depressed areas.
Jeanine Pollard (2005) is looking forward to
her summer internship with the Smithsonian
Center for Learning and Digital Access.
Charday Ife (2010) is at USC finishing up
her fifth year double-majoring in AfricanAmerican Studies and Economics.
Fatima Loeliger (2007) is living and working
in NYC as Creative Director for TheMuse.com,
an online job search platform focused on the
millennial job-seeker. She is loving learning
more and more about the tech space and can't
wait for summer.
Spring 2015
Our Partners
Maia Roberson (2011) has decided to attend
the University of Utah to pursue a PhD.
Carolanne Sanders (2009) has decided on the
University of Washington to get her Master of
Public Health in Community Oriented Public
Health Practice with a concentration in health
policy. She moves to Seattle in the fall. ■
Save the Date
IMPACT:
Ron Brown Scholars
Catalyzing Change in Our Communities
and the World
Mark Your Calendars for the
Annual Ron Brown Scholar
Summer Reunion and Leadership Summit
Offices of Deloitte
Arlington, VA
August 7-9, 2015
More details to come!
12 Spring 2015
Ron Brown Scholar Program
1160 Pepsi Place, Suite 206
Charlottesville, VA 22901
Phone: (434) 964-1588
Fax: (434) 964-1589
email: [email protected]
Visit us at
www.ronbrown.org