GIRLS Executive Board Members

Dr. Randolph Burnside                                                                        Ms. Terrish Catchings

Dr.  Neffisatu Celestine Dambo                                                       Dr. Twinette Johnson 

Dr. John McIntyre                                                                                  Ms. Victoria Riley

                                                    Mr. William Virgol Williams     


                          GIRLS Advisory Board

Dr. Eugene Barnes                                                                                Dr. Mykah Jackson

Dr. Lori West                                                                                           Pastor Elvin Woodruff

Dr. Patrice Leverett                                                                              Ms. Ave Alvarado

Dr. Christie McIntyre                                                                          Ms. Kellye Smith
                                                          Ms. Brooklyn Smith                               

 


                                   

Dr. Randolph Burnside

 Dr. Burnside is an Associate Professor in the Department of Medical Education at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine. He was born in Philadelphia, Mississippi and received his Ph.D from the University of New Orleans. His professional interests include race, ethnicity and diversity, human resources management, behavioral aspects of disaster and organizational leadership. His most recent work has been published in the Canadian Journal of Administrative Sciences, the Journal of Applied Social Science, and the Ralph Bunche Journal of Public Affairs. He currently resides in Carbondale, Illinois with His wife Rhetta and son Christopher. He is an active member of Bethel AME Church where he serves on the trustee board and is also a member of Tuscan Lodge #42 of Prince Hall Masons.

Dr. Neffisatu Celestine Dambo

Dr. Dambo is the founder and CEO of Barbee Trinity Glow LLC. She is also the founder of Genuine Intelligent Respectful Ladies Soaring, a 501(c)(3) holistic organization that advocates for 6th through 12th grade youth. She has served as an advocate, mentor, consultant, and volunteer with academic, medical, and not-for-profit programs around the world. In 2015, she was the first to be awarded the University of Illinois Young Alumni Achievement Award. Dr. Dambo is a licensed school counselor, principal, teacher, and entrepreneur. Dr. Dambo has served as an Assistant Professor at the University of Nevada Las Vegas where she was awarded a Faculty Opportunity Award for research. She has worked five years in higher education as a Counselor Educator, six years as a high school counselor, and over 18 years of experience with organizations serving children from under-served groups. She graduated high school at the age of sixteen, earned a B.S. in Psychology, and a B.A. in Elementary Education from Southern Illinois University. In 2006, Dr. Dambo earned her M.S. in Counseling from Eastern Illinois University. She continued her studies at the University of Illinois and earned a M.S. in Educational Policy Organization Leadership. Dr. Dambo earned her Ph.D. in Education - Counselor Education Track at the University of Central Florida where she served as a Graduate Research Assistant for the College of Medicine’s Associate Dean of Diversity, the College of Education Office of Research, the College of Education Doctoral in Education & Executive EdD Educational Leadership Track Program. Her research interests include: (a) adolescent transitions and retention, (b) program development and evaluation, (c) innovative group counseling approaches for students at-promise, (d) instrument design for special populations, and (e) multicultural advocacy.

Dr. John McIntyre

Dr. John McIntyre is an emeritus professor in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. While at SIUC, he has served as a coordinator of a teacher education center, Director of the Teaching Skills Laboratory, Director of Professional Education Experiences, Acting Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, Associate Dean for Teacher Education and School Partnerships and Chairperson of the Department of Curriculum and Instruction. He is a past president of the Association of Teacher Educators and received the association’s Distinguished Member Award as well as Distinguished Researcher and Distinguished Teacher Educator. His research interests include design and practice in teacher education, supervision, and teacher development. Dr. McIntyre has published widely in the area of teacher education, including as co-editor of the ATE Research in Teacher Education Yearbook series published by Corwin Press and is co-editor of the Handbook of Research on Teacher Education, 3rd edition.

Ms. Terrish Catchings

Ms. Catchings is a Freelance Public Relations Specialist. She holds a bachelor’s degree in public relations from Florida A&M University. Ms. Catchings has worked on marketing campaigns for Hollywood feature films like “Restored Me.” Alongside working on campaigns, Ms. Catching has assisted companies with brand building. She has worked in various industries such as entertainment, fashion, beauty, transportation and healthcare. Currently, Ms. Catchings serves as the executive secretary for Genuine Intelligent Respectful Ladies Soaring (GIRLS) and is a 2010 GIRLS Alumna.

Ms. Victoria Riley

Mrs. Duckett-Riley has been married to her husband for five years and has mentored children and young adults for over 12 years. She is actively involved with her church and is passionate about the economic development and future of youth. Mrs. Duckett-Riley has earned a Masters Degree in Public Administration with a concentration in Government Management from Keller Graduate School and a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting from Ashford University. She has 18 years of experience in the banking and financial industry. Mrs. Duckett-Riley is currently pursuing a Certification in Public Accounting and works for one of the nation’s top financial institutions in their Commercial Banking Department with Wholesale Lending.

Ms. Twinette Johson

Ms. Johnsons membership with the board is reflective of her expertise, active engagement (i.e., provides legal advice, support, face-to-face youth seminars), prior residency in Illinois, and current networks in Central, IL. Professor Johnson is an Associate Professor of Law at the University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law. She directs the School of Law’s Academic Success program. Prior to joining the School of Law faculty in 2017, Professor Johnson was an Associate Professor of Law and Director of the Academic Success Program at Southern Illinois University School of Law. There, she taught Agency and Partnership, Introduction to Commercial Law, Higher Education and Democracy (a writing seminar), Lawyering Skills, Advanced Legal Analysis and Strategies (a bar exam readiness course) and Professionalism and the Law. Professor Johnson also served on the faculty of Saint Louis University School of Law as an Associate Professor of Legal Writing. In that position, she taught Legal Research and Writing, Appellate Advocacy and Advanced Legal Analysis and Strategies. Professor Johnson also served as the Associate Director of Bar Exam Preparation while there. In addition, she served as a faculty member in Saint Louis University’s Summer Institute program where she taught Legal Skills and Contracts. Professor Johnson’s previous professional experience includes a clerkship on the Missouri Supreme Court with Judge W. Duane Benton. She also held a position as an associate attorney with Shearman and Sterling, LLP, a New York based law firm. There, she practiced in the Bank Finance group where she represented financial institutions and corporations in investment grade and noninvestment grade financing transactions. Professor Johnson’s research interests include higher education access policy and learning theory models in legal education. Professor Johnson earned her J.D. from Tulane University School of Law and her B.A. in English Literature from Saint Louis University.

Mr. William Virgol Hawkins

Mr. Hawkins membership with the board is reflective of his expertise, active engagement, prior residency in Illinois, and current networks in Illinois. Mr. Hawkins has over 20 years of experience as an engineer, producer, and youth leader. In his capacity as a lead engineer and producer, he served as the Urban League’s Director of Technology & Infrastructure for seven years, implemented the Department of Technology, as well as oversaw Computer Literacy Programs that provided skill development training courses in Microsoft Windows, Microsoft Office, and PC Troubleshooting. Mr. Hawkins is a strong advocate for youth development, which is evident through his work as a musical instructor for youth service organizations including Boys and Girls Clubs, 4-H, and the Champaign-Urbana Area Project. He was featured as the lead musical instructor for College for Kids through Parkland College and the Independent Media Center: Arts based instruction that included radio broadcasting, mixing, and electronic music production and song development. Mr. Hawkins has served as the Program Director for the Internet Radio Academy, a youth service program that provided real-world learning opportunities to youth interested in media based technologies including: Recording and Production, Internet Radio Broadcasting, and Video Production and Editing. Mr. Hawkins is the Founder and CEO of the AON Center for Community Arts and Development; a social service based organization that provided youth and young adult job training, mentoring and afterschool based programming surrounding multimedia and technology programming. In 2001, he established an independent music label, All or Nuthing Productions in Champaign, IL. He has produced music projects, radio shows, and commercials for organizations including State Farm Insurance, Insure One Insurance, and Urbana Public Television.