March 6, 2024 Show

Dr. Camesha Whittaker, Ph.D.,

is the Senior Vice President of Innovation and Design at the Propel  Center in Atlanta, Georgia. Under her leadership, the Propel Center launched its inaugural tech product, Propel Learn, with over 1,000 users in 2023. This mobile-first virtual learning platform is now accessible to over 300,000 students attending Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). In addition, Dr. Whittaker leads Propel’s virtual campus, overseeing product development, instructional design, curriculum development, research and development, faculty and consortia development. With the support of founding partners Apple and Southern Company, the Propel Center serves as a dynamic epicenter of learning, equipping students with the requisite knowledge, skills, tools, and resources to revolutionize the global talent pipeline and workforce. Dr. Whittaker’s passion for this work stems from extensive, broad-based collaborations in the marketplace, in public higher education institutions, as well as in HBCUs. Nationally, her work has been featured on several media platforms. Worthy of note is her C-SPAN presentation on civility with Representatives James Clyburn, Cathy Castor, Dr. Thelma Daley, and Dr. Allida Black; her PBS leadership discussion, Side by Side with Dr. Nido Qubein; and her contribution to The National Urban League's Interrupt Racism Summit.  Before joining the executive leadership team at the Propel Center, Dr. Whittaker was the inaugural Director of the BJ Moore Center for Faculty Innovation and Associate Professor of Communication at Bethune-Cookman University in Daytona Beach, Florida, where she managed the e-learning and faculty development division. As a sought-after educator and education consultant with over two decades of experience, Dr. Whittaker’s record of unwavering commitment to nurturing academic excellence and facilitating individuals toward actualizing their full potential is without question. As an award-winning academic, certified faculty developer, author, and influential business communication expert, Dr. Whittaker is an audacious innovator whose wide-ranging background, spanning areas within technology, media, and  education, along with her expertise in leadership and civility, marks her as a respected figure in the business, academic, and education technology sectors. The legacies of American civil rights leader and educator Mary McLeod Bethune and former United States First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt inspire Dr. Whittaker’s passion for advancing principles of civility and global citizenship. Her first book – Eleanor Roosevelt and Mary McLeod Bethune: An Unusual  Friendship – proposes civility as a fundamental core value necessary for fostering stronger socio-cultural relationships and advocating for a more cohesive society. Dr. Whittaker earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mass Communication from Bethune-Cookman University in Daytona Beach, FL, a Master of Arts degree in Public Communication from American University in Washington, DC, and a Ph.D. in Communication Studies, specializing in Organizational Communication from Regent University in Virginia Beach, VA.

February 7, 2024 Show

Special Guest: Dr. Wilson-Howard

Title of the Talk: Integrating Technology, Social Media, and Community Engagement to Decrease Health Disparities

Dr. Wilson-Howard is a faculty member at the Great Bethune-Cookman University in the Department of Natural Sciences. She is also an Affiliated Faculty member with the University of Florida’s STEM Translational Communication Center. As an affiliated faculty member, Dr. Wilson-Howard’s research with UF examines the effectiveness of Community Health Workers (CHWs) and culturally tailored Virtual Human Technology (VHT) promoting colorectal cancer screening via telehealth. She is also the founder and director of the B-CU’s We Invest in your Needs-Health Projects (WIN-HP). The goal of the WIN-HP is to provide non-biased scientific and health information surrounding both chronic and infectious diseases so people and businesses can make informed decisions to reduce risky behaviors and keep themselves, customers, and family members safe.  Dr. Wilson Howard’s research interests are in translational research with an emphasis on health communication and science literacy to decrease cancer and COVID-19 health disparities. Her long-term goal is to establish a Translational Research and STEM Center at a historically black college or university (HBCU) in order to tackle two factors that affect health disparities: 
1. Conduct a translational research project surrounding health and science literacy.
2. Increase minority participation in disciplines studying and treating health disparities.

Ebun I. Grimes, BS, MS

Health Care Professional with Over 20 years experience in the Fields of Public and Private Health Care Administration. Graduate of Florida A and M University and the University of Central Florida.

We discuss a wide range of topics in the health care field which I hope will be beneficial to our listeners. She recently helped me revamp my health care plan to save money plus increase my benefit package. We also discuss some of the many healthcare disparities and what can be done to address those matters.

December 6, 2023 Show

Laurence (Larry) Wesley

Larry is a native of Daytona Beach, Florida and a retired career educator with more than 37 years of service in the Florida Community College System.  He was an Associate Professor in the School of Student Life Skills and adjunct Professor of African-American History. Additionally, his service to DSC has included: Director of Minority Student Advocacy; Academic Retention Specialist; Academic Counseling and Advising; and Advisor for the African American Student Union.

An ardent advocate for students and an energetic and passionate communicator. He has served on the State of Florida's Commissioner of Education African American History Task Force and serves as an education consultant for the School Districts of Palm Beach and Broward County, Florida.

Larry holds membership in numerous community organizations and has served on the City of Daytona's Community Relation Council. Additionally, he was the "Voice" of the Bethune-Cookman University Cateye Sports Radio Network for more than 25 years. 

An avid 'multiculturalist' and educator, Larry has served on the faculty and staff of the University of North Florida; Morehouse College; and Bethune-Cookman University.  Larry's life-purpose and commitment to the process of education is the creation of a more culturally sagacious society in the 21st century.
 

November 1, 2023 Show

Kerri Hall, PhD

Dr. Hall has broad experience in Marriage and Family Therapy spanning nearly 30 years of service to individuals, couples, children, and families. She has provided services in mental health and medical family therapy. Serving in such areas as the child welfare system, court system, hospice/medical system, domestic violence, suicide prevention, pregnancy/rape crisis intervention, pre-marital/marital/divorce psycho education. She has served as the Founder of PAK Family Services, LLC which specialized in High Conflict Divorce. She is currently serving as an Adjunct Professor at National University based in San Diego, California, in the JFK School of Psychology and Social Sciences, Department of Marriage and Family Therapy.

Special Guest: Ashlee Wright

ASHLEE M. WRIGHT is the CEO of WOT, Inc. (Wright on Time), an educational services company with offices in Miami and Lakeland, Florida. As founder of New Beginnings Academy (Lakeland) serving over 1,000 students and Next Paradigm Academy (Miami) serving over 700 students, she is an innovative educational leader who combines a unique talent of motivation, management, and financial acumen to address the needs of her students.

September 6, 2023 Show

Genesis Robinson

is a political strategist and community organizer with over a decade of experience delivering results at the local, state, and federal level of government. Currently, he serves as the Political Director for Equal Ground Action Fund. He is an alumnus of Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU) where he studied Political Science and Public Administration. He began his professional career in the United States House of Representatives, where he served as Legislative Assistant during the 113th and 114th Congress. Since then, he has held various positions throughout Volusia County and the state of Florida. In 2018, while working in the Florida Legislature, Genesis assisted in the successful passage of legislation to select Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune as one of two people to represent the state of Florida in the National Statuary Hall Collection in the United States Capitol- a distinct honor which made her the first African American to represent any state in the country. Genesis is the Chief Executive Officer of GROW Strategies LLC, a consulting firm that enables him to use his extensive experience to deliver results for his clients and effectuate positive change in his community. He is married to Charlise Robinson, a Volusia County educator and they reside in Daytona Beach with their two children.

August 2, 2023 Show

Dr. Chester L. Wilson, Jr.

Chester Wilson, Ed.D, is a business owner, motivational speaker, educator, trainer, mentor/volunteer, and community resource.  Dr. Wilson’s professional pursuits includes currently serving as the CEO of the CW Consulting Firm and Outreach Community Care Network. Dr. Wilson has 22 years of experience in healthcare, 14 years in higher education, and nine years as a business consultant and owner.  Dr. Wilson’s educational achievements include having earned a Doctor of Education degree in Organizational Leadership and Human Services Administration, and a Master’s in Business Administration degree with a concentration in Criminal Justice.  Dr. Wilson possesses a plethora of professional certifications, which includes being certified in Addictions, Mental Health, HIV, CPR and First Aid Instructor Trainer, Quality Assurance Reviewer, Healthcare Risk Management, Diversity and Inclusion, Trauma Informed Care in Criminal Justice, Private Security, Private Investigation, Circuit Civil, County, and Family Mediation, and a Notary.  Dr. Wilson’s volunteerism activities include serving as a board member, church administrator, and community consultant. He is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.  Dr. Wilson has been highlighted and has received a bevy of community awards and accolades for his service, dedication, and volunteerism. He has been acknowledged for freely sharing his talents and gifts with others. He has acquired a wealth of information and serves as a community resource.  Dr. Wilson’s life’s goal and mission is to utilize his acquired skills to assist individuals, families, and communities in need. It is also his desire as a life learner to acquire skills that will afford him the opportunity to assist others in developing professionally and growing personally.