ABEN for ACE

​​Meet the Collective

Board of Directors

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Henry W. Taylor
Chairman
Atlanta, Georgia

M. von Nkosi
Atlanta, Georgia
Licensed Architect and Principal
Liquid Studios and The
​MXDCollaborative, Inc.  
 
Michael Steele, CPA
Treasurer
Emeryville, California
President, Michael Steele, CPA
 
Beulah McLoyd
​Secretary
Chicago, Illinois
CEO
New Leaders

​Patricia (Akosua) Lesesne
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Founder & CEO, Sisters in Education Circle

​Dr. Theresa Y. Robinson, PhD.
Chicago, Illinois
Ass. Professor and Director of Secondary & Middle Grads Education
Founder, Science 3000

​Tyson Amir
Oakland, California
Author and Founder & Director of Freedom Soul Media Education Initiatives

Michael C. Essien
Oakland, California
Principal, Dr. Martin Luther King Academy Middle School

J. Toni Oliver 
Atlanta, Georgia
President, J.T. Oliver & Associates

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Wisdom Circle

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Lisa Delpit, Ed.D.
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Felton G. Clark Distinguished Professor of Education
Southern University

Gloria Ladson-Billings, Ph.D.
Madison, Wisconsin
Kellner Family Chair in Urban Education
University of Wisconsin-Madison

Carol Lee, Ph.D.
Evanston, Illinois
Edwina S. Tarry Professor of Education & Social Policy
​Northwestern University

Wade Nobles, Ph.D.
Oakland, California
Founder & Executive Director
​Institute For The Advanced Study of Black Family Life and Culture

Adelaide Sanford, Ph.D.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Vice Chancellor Emerita
New York Board of Regents

Malik Yakini
Detroit, Michigan
Founder & Executive Director
The Detroit Black Community Food Security Network

Arnetha Ball, PhD
Stanford, CA
Professor
Stanford University Graduate School of Education

Leadership Team

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Iva Carruthers, Ph.D.
Vision & Organizational Consultant
Chicago, Illinois
Founder & General Secretary
Samuel Dewitt Proctor Conference​

Joyce King, Ph.D.
​Vision & Organizational Consultant
Atlanta, Georgia
Benjamin E. Mays Endowed Chair for Urban Teaching, Learning & Leadership and Professor
Department of Educational Policy Studies, Georgia State University

Debra Watkins, M.Ed., M.A.
Founder Emerita & Director of Strategic Partnerships
A Black Education Network (ABEN)
​San Jose, California

Founder, Dr. Frank S. Greene Scholars Program; an award-winning STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) initiative for African American students in Silicon Valley​
Founder, Project WORD (Working On Re-defining our Destiny); a culturally- responsive intervention program for high school students
Co-founder, Black Students of California United; a youth organization focused on civic engagement, leadership development, and cultural awareness
Founding Member, Santa Clara County Alliance of Black Educators; President (1994-2001)