Coordinated by the Council, the Academic Leadership Development Institute is a learning community of early career, underrepresented minority faculty and staff who are on track for professional advancement.
The Academic Leadership Development Institute, coordinated by the Council, provides a series of highly-interactive sessions and small group seminars led by faculty and administrators from across Kentucky and other states. The goal is to create a learning community of early career, underrepresented minority faculty and staff who are on track for professional advancement.
This year’s cohort consists of 19 professionals – seven from Kentucky’s four-year institutions and 12 from institutions in the Kentucky Community and Technical College System. Institutional leaders nominated candidates for the yearlong initiative based on their leadership ability, interest in advancement, and dedication to higher education. Participants cannot have previous administrative experience.
Members
Gail Barbour
Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College
Financial Aid Specialist
Barbour holds a Bachelor of Science in general management and a Masters of Arts in leadership dynamics, both from Western Kentucky University. She enjoys spending time with her family, reading and helping others.
Brigitte Burpo
University of Louisville
Clinical Assistant Professor
Burpo, originally from Birmingham, Alabama, has a Bachelor or Science in sales and marketing from Tuskegee University, a Master of Education in higher education administration from Auburn University, and a doctorate in educational leadership and organizational development in sport administration. She loves to travel internationally, studying history and playing tennis.
Ethan Coats
Bluegrass Community and Technical College
Computer and Information Technologies Instructor
Coats, from Michigan, has over nine years of experience working with learners in various educational roles. He has experience writing and public speaking as well as traditional and online curriculum design and has been recognized for excellence in teaching, leadership, skilled coaching/evaluation, and instructional design.
Orlando Currie
Ashland Community and Technical College
Academic Advisor/Coordinator of Student Activities
From Ohio, Currie has a Bachelor's in Science in sports management from Shawnee State University. He enjoys spending time with his family and serving as deacon at Revolution Church.
Oluwabunmi Dada
Murray State University
Assistant Professor of Occupational Safety and Health
Dada has a Bachelor of Science in geography science from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria, a Master of Science in environmental management from Samford University, and a doctorate in environment health sciences from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Her primary research focus is the impact of smoking and vaping on consumer health and other topics related to mitigating the environment's effect upon human health.
Aquesha Daniels
Western Kentucky University
Assistant Professor of Management
Daniels is a three-time award recipient within the Gordon Ford College of Business; having received the Aim High, Hays Watkins, and Vitale Award for Initiative, Innovation, and Leadership. She is also a Florida-barred attorney and has taught a variety of courses and presented talks on the legalities of business, ethics, and its implications, innovative pedagogy as well as entrepreneurship. She is also active in the community, providing advice, opportunity and access to funds to minority business owners.
Courtney Duvall
Owensboro Community and Technical College
Senior Admissions Advisor
From Owensboro, Duvall is pursuing a master's in leadership. Before her current role of Senior Admissions Advisor, she served as a student success coach, and enjoys working with students and seeing them succeed.
Roosevelt Escalante
Morehead State University
Associate Professor of Music
No photo or bio available.
Natalie Gibson
Kentucky Community and Technical College System
Associate Vice President - Student Services
Gibson has a Bachelor of Science from the College of Agriculture and Master of Public Administration from the University of Kentucky Martin School of Public Policy and Administration. She also holds a Doctor of Education (Ed.D) from Morgan State University located in Baltimore, Maryland. Her research interests include institutional responsibility for student success with a focus on the engagement of adjunct faculty in high impact instructional practices. Gibson has vast experience leading Kentucky's community and technical college system and is active in several local and state organizations, including the Kentucky Association of Blacks in Higher Education.
Erin Gilliam
Kentucky State University
Dean Whitney Young Honors Collegium; Associate Professor of History
No photo or bio available.
José Juan Gómez-Becerra
Eastern Kentucky University
Assistant Professor of Spanish
Gómez-Becerra has a Bachelor of Arts in Chicana/o Studies and Master of Arts in Spanish Literature from California State University, Northridge, and a doctorate in Spanish language and culture from Arizona State University. Active in intentional mentorship and pedagogy, the faculty advisor for EKU’s Latino Student Association, and for the XE Chapter of Sigma Lambda Beta International Fraternity. He is also active in community organizations, such as the Casa de la Cultura in Lexington.
Brittney Hernandez-Stevenson
Madisonville Community College
Academic Director
A Kentucky native, Hernandez-Stevenson has a Bachelor of Science in human resources management from Western Kentucky University, a Master of Science in organizational communication from Murray State University and is currently working on her doctorate in educational leadership at Western Kentucky University. She serves on several community board positions, and has won numerous awards for outstanding service to both campus and community. She enjoys spending time with her family and helping others.
Chardae Kelly
Henderson Community College
Director of Nursing
Kelly, originally from Henderson, has a Bachelor of Science in health administration and a Bachelor of Science in nursing, both from the University of Southern Indiana. She also holds a Master of Science in nursing education from Indiana Wesleyan University and is currently working on her doctorate in nursing practice at Northern Kentucky University. In addition to her teaching duties, Kelly practices as a bedside RN on a supplemental basis for a local cardiac care unit. She is also very active in the community, and serves as a health care representative on local radio. She enjoys spending time with her children, cooking and watching television.
Jerisia Lamons
Elizabethtown Community and Technical College
Director of Cultural Diversity
Lamons has a Bachelor of Science in social work from Western Kentucky University and is currently pursuing her Masters of Arts in adult and higher education from Morehead University. Beyond her work on campus as a mentor and resource for minority students, she was instrumental in implementing the Equity Through Education scholarship, the first scholarship that is solely for minority students. She also serves on several community boards and has won numerous awards for her outstanding service. She enjoys gardening, cooking and playing with her children.
Ed Nazario
Somerset Community College
Associate Professor - Culinary Arts
Originally from San Juan, Puerto Rico, Nazario holds an associates degree in culinary arts from Sullivan University. In addition to his teaching career, Nazario is co-owner of the catering company, Somerset Culinary Company and operates a seasonal restaurant at Woodson Bend Resort in Bronston, Kentucky.
Deri Ross Pryor
Maysville Community and Technical College
English Instructor
Pryor began her college journey at Maysville Community and Technical College as a non-traditional student before transferring to Eastern Kentucky University to obtain both her Bachelor of Arts and Master of Fine Arts in English and creative writing. In addition to instruction and advising, she serves in leadership positions on campus diversity, curriculum and law enforcement teams, and as a co-sponsor of the Omega Lamda Nu sorority.
Chris Russey
Gateway Community and Technical College
Assistant Professor of Mathematics and Statistics
Russey, from Rockford, Illinois, holds a Bachelor of Science in computer science and a Bachelor of Arts in mathematics. He also has a Master of Science in mathematics from Syracuse University and is currently completing his doctorate in education sciences from the University of Kentucky. Over his educational and professional career he has received many awards, presented at conferences, participated on panels, facilitated trainings, and served as motivational speaker. His aim in life is to serve and inspire others towards achieving their dreams.
Andrew Smith
University of Kentucky
Assistant Provost for Student Well-Being
While assistant provost for Student Well-Being, Smith is currently serving as Interim Assistant Vice President for Auxiliary Services. A Frankfort native, he has a Bachelor of Arts in government from Centre College, a Master of Public Administration from Eastern Kentucky University and a doctorate in educational policy studies and evaluation from the University of Kentucky. His professional experience in higher education includes recruitment, conduct, diversity and well-being.
Tina Terry
Big Sandy Community and Technical College
Coordinator of student activities, recruitment, and diversity
Terry, from Pikeville, has a Bachelor of Science in special education, with an emphasis on child and family studies, from Eastern Kentucky University, and a Master of Arts in adult and higher education with emphasis in counseling from Morehead State University.