Board of Trustees

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Dr. Blondean Y. Davis

Chairperson

Dr. Blondean Y. Davis, founding CEO of Southland College Prep High School, is recognized nationally for her vision and leadership in raising student achievement levels and reforming education. Dr. Davis also serves as the superintendent of Matteson School District 162 in the south suburbs of Chicago, one of the oldest school districts in the state of Illinois.

A passionate supporter of providing excellent education for young people of all ages, Dr. Davis currently serves as vice chair of the board of trustees of Tougaloo College.

After receiving an honorary degree from Tougaloo in 2013, Dr. Davis joined the college’s board five years later and has served as its secretary; chair of educational planning and policy; vice chair and later chair of the art and cultural assets committee; vice chair of the executive committee and a member of the governance and institutional advancement committees.

“I believe that every child has a right to learn and can achieve the 21st-century skills needed for success—to think critically and to problem solve,” Dr. Davis says.

For decades, Dr. Davis has devoted her time and energy to raising money for students to attend college in partnership with the United Negro College Fund. She served as the chairperson for the CPS employee campaign for UNCF. Through those efforts, she helped to raise more than $10 million and more than 4,000 students received scholarships to attend college. In 2023, she organized the South Suburban School District superintendents to join forces with UNCF to sponsor a scholarship gala that raised more than $200,000. In 2024, the joint effort of the Superintendents’ Commission and UNCF raised more than $400,000.

In 2023, Dr. Davis was interviewed for inclusion in the video oral history archives of The HistoryMakers, a national non-profit research and educational institution committed to preserving and making widely accessible the untold personal stories of both well-known and unsung African Americans. The video oral history interview of Dr. Davis is now a permanent part of The HistoryMakers Collection at the Library of Congress. Dr. Davis was inducted into the Illinois Black Hall of Fame in 2022 in recognition of her lifetime as an educator who has changed the lives of generations of young people, their families and communities.

The former Chief of Schools and Regions of Chicago Public Schools from 1995 to 2001, where she was responsible for the daily management of seven regions and 601 schools, Dr. Davis joined Matteson School District 162 as superintendent in 2002. At the time, only 55 percent of the district’s students met or exceeded the Illinois Standards Achievement Test (ISAT) proficiency goals. With the implementation of a more rigorous curriculum and instructional program under the leadership of Dr. Davis, the state exam scores increased by almost 50 percent.

In 2010, in the belief that the area’s students needed a choice and hope for their future, Dr. Davis spearheaded the launch of a new charter high school. Her dream was to create a small but academically rigorous college preparatory school as an option for students in the predominantly African American school district in the south suburbs of Chicago.

Dr. Davis serves as the CEO, without compensation, of Southland, which has a comprehensive educational program that is both creative and rigorous with an emphasis on foreign languages, the arts, technology, and college preparedness. Southland is focused on preparing all of its graduates to enter and graduate from college. All of Southland’s graduates have been accepted to college and collectively have been offered more than $400 million in scholarships to top universities such as Harvard, Stanford, Yale, Spelman, Morehouse, the University of Chicago, Columbia, and many other top-ranked institutions. Graduates of all eleven Southland College Prep classes have been accepted by all of the top 50-ranked national universities, including all eight Ivy League schools. Southland graduates have been admitted to every major four-year public Illinois university and the top 50 Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

Southland, located in Richton Park, Illinois, is the only charter high school to earn the state’s highest designation of “exemplary” for five years; every year, the designation has been given by the Illinois State Board of Education. Exemplary status is awarded to the top 10 percent of the state’s high schools.

A product of Chicago Public Schools, Dr. Davis earned a bachelor’s degree, master’s, and a doctorate in education from Loyola University Chicago, and in addition to her honorary degree from Tougaloo College, she holds a Doctor of Humane Letters from Governors State University.

Dr. Davis firmly believes in the future of our children, regardless of demographics. She is driven by the philosophy that children “have unlimited potential and therefore unlimited possibilities.”

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Shirlethia V. Franklin, Esq

Shirlethia is a Partner in the Washington, DC office of Jones Day. She is the practice leader for Jones Day’s New Lawyers Group, former co-chair of the Firm’s Black Lawyers Group, and a partner in the Business and Tort Litigation practice where she litigates complex, high-stakes cases across a broad range of industries. She also maintains an active pro bono practice, most notably playing a pivotal role in Jones Day’s Rule of Law in Africa trainings in Kenya, representing migrants in asylum cases, and serving as first-chair counsel in a matter defending the Charlottesville city councilors’ vote to relocate the Confederate statues at the center of the violent rally there in August 2017. Shirlethia has been recognized by The National Law Journal as a “D.C. Rising Star,” Bloomberg Law’s “They’ve Got Next,” and the Washington Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 for her “proven track record of success.”

Prior to joining Jones Day, Shirlethia was Deputy Chief of Staff and Counselor to the Attorney General at the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) during the Obama administration. In these roles, she counseled two Attorneys General on significant law enforcement issues, high-profile environmental matters, and key policy initiatives. She also served as a lead on the DOJ Agency Review Team during the 2020 Biden-Harris transition. Shirlethia is a former White House Fellow—one of the nation’s most prestigious fellowships for leadership and public service—and former member of the President’s Commission on White House Fellowships and Board of Directors of the White House Fellows Foundation and Association.

Shirlethia currently serves on the board for the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, and was awarded the Brooks Burdette “Rising Impact” Award by the Lawyers’ Committee in 2022 for her work in connection with the nomination and confirmation of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson.

A proud Mississippi Delta native, Shirlethia received her B.A. from Tougaloo College, where she graduated Valedictorian and served as Student Government Association President. She currently serves as Governance Chair of the Tougaloo College Board of Trustees. She received her Juris Doctor from Howard University School of Law, where she served as Editor-in-Chief of the Howard Law Journal.

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Lakeysha Hallmon, Ed.D

Dr. Lakeysha Hallmon is a native of Batesville, Mississippi, and a 2004 graduate of Tougaloo College. While at Tougaloo, she was a student leader, serving on the SGA, the Vice President of the NAACP, a member of Young Democrats, and organizer for the South Jackson Juneteenth Festival, a member of the Gamma Omicron Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha, and a proud Residence Assistant.

After graduating from Tougaloo College, Dr. Hallmon spent 13 years in the education industry—teaching in the Mississippi Delta, Jackson, MS, and in 2011, moved to Atlanta, GA, where she became a research and evaluation specialist for the Georgia Department of Education. In the Fall of 2015, Dr. Hallmon began developing her first business, and her career as a nationally celebrated business owner launched in 2016.

Recognized as one of the most brilliant minds in education and business, Dr. Hallmon has transformed the lives of thousands of Black entrepreneurs across the world. Her love of community, paired with her mantra, “Support Is A Verb,” inspires and educates African Americans to create generational health and wealth. As an award-winning expert in education and business development, she leaves an indelible mark on any business that walks through her door. Dr. Hallmon has developed an economical vehicle that empowers the Black community through cooperative economics. Her ‘key’ to success is her village.

She moves businesses from sales to success and inspires them to become doers, supporters, and leaders of change. The mission-forward visionary advocates and empowers artisans, creators, and burgeoning Black businesses who want to thrive. After founding the Village Market in 2016, she has reached and served 1,440 businesses and facilitated $7.3 million in direct sales to Black-owned businesses. Now with several verticals under the Village Market moniker, Dr. Hallmon has recently expanded her village to include her storefront, The Village at Ponce City Market, a curated collection of premier Black businesses. She has cultivated a team of her own, employing 100% Black people, over 90% of them women. From Atlanta all the way to the Bahamas, the Mississippi-bred thought leader helps businesses with big ideas turn them into even bigger profits. Her goal is to build a Black mecca, where Black businesses can build and grow anywhere, and with several market storefronts on the way, she’s just getting started.

Dr. Hallmon’s expertise in education spans 15 years, where she has served as a critical voice and advocate for creating empowering learning and work environments for students and employees, and is deeply passionate about work efficacy and social-emotional learning.

Dr. Hallmon has been featured in Forbes, Essence, Black Enterprise, CNN/ HLN, the Today Show, NOW THIS, the Source, Atlanta Business Chronicle, Bustle, the Root, Forbes for the Culture, Therapy for Black Girls, and Black on Air.

A sought-after speaker, served as the keynote speaker for the Fall graduating class at Clark Atlanta University and the Boys and Girls Club of NW Mississippi and graced the stages of the Steve Harvey Foundation, National Urban League, Hope Global Forum, GoodWill, Beyond School Hours National Conference, Students At-Risk Conference, National Summer Institute Conference, GA Federal Programs Conference, the Power Rising Conference, EnricHER Conference, Atlanta University Center’s Financial Literacy and Innovation Conference, and the HBCU Entrepreneurship Financial Literacy Expo. Dr. Hallmon has worked with the White House Office of Public Engagement, serves as an Ambassador for the City of Atlanta, and was sought out by the Essence Festival to serve as one of the curators for the annual festivities.

Dr. Hallmon was inducted into the 40 under 40 Society at her undergraduate alma mater, Tougaloo College. She was also inducted into the Atlanta Business Chronicle 40 Under 40. recognized in 2021 by the Root 100 as one of the most successful African Americans, and listed in the inaugural Forbes 50 Champions. Dr. Hallmon was appointed to the 61st Mayor of Atlanta transition team to serve on the ethics and procurement committee for the City of Atlanta. Dr. Hallmon is an active member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated.

Dr. Hallmon’s debut book was published in winter 2023 by Harper Collins.

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Derrick Johnson, J.D.

President and CEO, NAACP

Derrick Johnson serves as the 19th president and CEO of the NAACP, a role he has held since October 2017. With a long history of leadership within the NAACP, including vice chairman of the National Board of Directors and president of the Mississippi State Conference, he has been instrumental in guiding the Association through a period of reinvigoration and transformation.

Under Johnson's leadership, the NAACP has taken numerous impactful initiatives to advance racial justice, expose systemic inequities, and amplify the organization's advocacy for Black communities across the nation. Most recently, he spearheaded the launch of NAACP Capital, a fund of funds aligned with the NAACP's mission of achieving equity, political rights, and social inclusion for Black people and all persons of color. In 2020, Johnson led the "We Are Done Dying" Campaign, which exposed systemic inequities in American healthcare and beyond, further amplifying the NAACP's advocacy during the COVID-19 pandemic. He also oversaw the Jamestown to Jamestown Partnership in 2019, commemorating the 400th anniversary of the arrival of enslaved Africans in America.

As the Biden Administration came into office in 2021, Johnson led the charge in calling for a Cabinet-level position dedicated to advancing the nation's issue of racial justice. His efforts culminated in President Biden signing an Executive Order to eliminate systemic racial barriers, ensuring federal policies are rooted in equity.

A seasoned civil rights advocate, Johnson has consistently been on the frontlines of the nation's most pressing issues. From calling out instances of racial insensitivity, like Virginia Governor Ralph Northam's use of Blackface; to condemning the burning of Black churches in Tennessee and Louisiana, he has been an unwavering voice for justice. His leadership also included testifying before the Senate Judiciary Committee in opposition to Attorney General William Barr's nomination and overseeing the NAACP's historic vote to impeach President Donald J. Trump at the 110th National Convention in 2019.

One of Johnson's top priorities is financial empowerment for Black Americans. He is working to close the wealth gap by supporting Black entrepreneurs through micro grants and resources. His advocacy also extends to keeping future presidential administrations focused on policies that benefit Black Americans, while actively combating harmful agendas.

Johnson envisions the NAACP as a leader in data-driven civic engagement, shaping the most comprehensive Black voter mobilization efforts to date. By leveraging technology and cutting-edge research, he aims to transform how the NAACP engages with communities across the country. Under his leadership, the organization is becoming the leading authority on Black culture, expanding its legacy from civil rights to fighting for equity across multiple arenas of American life.

Among his recent achievements, Johnson was awarded the 2024 Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids Champion Award for his relentless work to eliminate menthol cigarettes and the industry's predatory marketing toward Black communities. He also received the 2024 Tougaloo College Light of Justice Award and the 2022 Warrior of Justice Award, recognizing his steadfast dedication to justice and equity.

Born in Detroit, Johnson attended Tougaloo College in Mississippi before earning his JD from the South Texas College of Law in Houston, Texas. He has furthered his training through fellowships with the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, the George Washington University School of Political Management, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). A proud member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., Johnson's career as a veteran activist is defined by his commitment to defending rights and improving lives—whether through advocating for equitable education in Mississippi or pushing for national civil rights reforms.

Johnson is a frequent voice on networks such as CNN, MSNBC, CBS, and ABC, where he advocates for the Black community and all those impacted by systemic oppression and injustice.

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Rev, Dr. J. Lawrence Turner

A pastor, prolific preacher, teacher, social justice advocate, and author, Dr. J. Lawrence Turner has devoted his life to meaningful ministry, which has made immeasurable impacts across the nation for 25 years. For the past 10 years, he has faithfully served as the Senior Pastor of Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Memphis, TN, the largest congregation in the Disciples of Christ denomination.

For seven years prior to coming to Mississippi Boulevard, he served as the Senior Pastor of the Community Baptist Church in New Haven, Connecticut, where he tripled the membership and liquidated the debt. Similarly, during his first 8 years at Mississippi Boulevard, he liquidated the debt on the Midtown campus renovations. In addition, following the move of God, Dr. Turner relocated the former East campus to southeast Memphis, later purchasing its permanent location, a beautiful 7-acre campus that has proven to be a beacon of hope as it thrives in that community. Under Dr. Turner’s leadership, the mortgage on that new campus was retired within the first eight years.

Dr. Turner is a native of Nashville, Tennessee, and 2003 magna cum laude graduate of Fisk University, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Religion and Philosophy. He was a 2001 United Negro College Fund/Andrew Mellon Undergraduate Fellow and a 2002 Fellow of the Fund for Theological Education. Dr. Turner received his Master of Divinity degree from Yale Divinity School and was awarded the prestigious H.H. Tweedy Prize for exceptional promise for pastoral leadership. Dr. Turner earned the Doctor of Ministry degree in Transformative Leadership at the Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School in Rochester, New York.

Understanding the need for excellence in leadership, Dr. Turner’s vision and leadership extend beyond the pulpit and pew. He served as President of the Yale Divinity School Student Council, Vice President of the Connecticut State Missionary Baptist Convention, Chaplain of the New Haven Fire Department, and Chairman of the Board of Commissioners of the Housing Authority for New Haven, Connecticut. He currently serves as Secretary/Treasurer for the Board of Directors of the National Action Network, Board Member of Church Health, President of the Yale Divinity School Alumni Board, member of the Yale Divinity School Dean’s Advisory Council, and member of the Mission Integration Committee of Methodist LeBonheur Healthcare. Dr. Turner also serves as the bibliographer for the Conference of National Black Churches Annual National Consultation and is a member of the Advisory Team of the Issachar Church Growth and Development Conference. In 2021, he was inducted into the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Board of Preachers at Morehouse College.

Bridging his passion for faith and social justice, Dr. Turner founded and serves as President of The Black Clergy Collaborative of Memphis, whose mission is to express the voice of the Black Church on issues of economic empowerment, civic engagement, and criminal justice reform. This organization played a vital role in the Reimagining Policing in Memphis Initiative and endeavors to live out its mission through the establishment of the following programs: D-Free Initiative, BCCM-Hope Credit Union Small Loan Fund, Journey to Food Justice, and created the African American Clergy Collective of Tennessee that seeks to engage clergy organizations and state legislators across the state.

Dr. Turner has presented to audiences at Fisk University, Yale University, LeMoyne-Owen College, Tougaloo College, National Action Network; appeared on CNN, PBS, BBC, MSNBC, Jack & Jill of America, Inc.; interviewed with The New York Times, The Tennessean, The Tri-State Defender, The Atlanta Journal Constitution, and Yale Divinity School Reflections. The Memphis Business Journal selected him as a 40 UNDER 40 and Power 100 honoree.

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Joyce Small Delk

A pastor, prolific preacher, teacher, social justice advocate, and author, Dr. J. Lawrence Turner has devoted his life to meaningful ministry, which has made immeasurable impacts across the nation for 25 years. For the past 10 years, he has faithfully served as the Senior Pastor of Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Memphis, TN, the largest congregation in the Disciples of Christ denomination.

For seven years prior to coming to Mississippi Boulevard, he served as the Senior Pastor of the Community Baptist Church in New Haven, Connecticut, where he tripled the membership and liquidated the debt. Similarly, during his first 8 years at Mississippi Boulevard, he liquidated the debt on the Midtown campus renovations. In addition, following the move of God, Dr. Turner relocated the former East campus to southeast Memphis, later purchasing its permanent location, a beautiful 7-acre campus that has proven to be a beacon of hope as it thrives in that community. Under Dr. Turner’s leadership, the mortgage on that new campus was retired within the first eight years.

Dr. Turner is a native of Nashville, Tennessee, and 2003 magna cum laude graduate of Fisk University, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Religion and Philosophy. He was a 2001 United Negro College Fund/Andrew Mellon Undergraduate Fellow and a 2002 Fellow of the Fund for Theological Education. Dr. Turner received his Master of Divinity degree from Yale Divinity School and was awarded the prestigious H.H. Tweedy Prize for exceptional promise for pastoral leadership. Dr. Turner earned the Doctor of Ministry degree in Transformative Leadership at the Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School in Rochester, New York.

Understanding the need for excellence in leadership, Dr. Turner’s vision and leadership extend beyond the pulpit and pew. He served as President of the Yale Divinity School Student Council, Vice President of the Connecticut State Missionary Baptist Convention, Chaplain of the New Haven Fire Department, and Chairman of the Board of Commissioners of the Housing Authority for New Haven, Connecticut. He currently serves as Secretary/Treasurer for the Board of Directors of the National Action Network, Board Member of Church Health, President of the Yale Divinity School Alumni Board, member of the Yale Divinity School Dean’s Advisory Council, and member of the Mission Integration Committee of Methodist LeBonheur Healthcare. Dr. Turner also serves as the bibliographer for the Conference of National Black Churches Annual National Consultation and is a member of the Advisory Team of the Issachar Church Growth and Development Conference. In 2021, he was inducted into the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Board of Preachers at Morehouse College.

Bridging his passion for faith and social justice, Dr. Turner founded and serves as President of The Black Clergy Collaborative of Memphis, whose mission is to express the voice of the Black Church on issues of economic empowerment, civic engagement, and criminal justice reform. This organization played a vital role in the Reimagining Policing in Memphis Initiative and endeavors to live out its mission through the establishment of the following programs: D-Free Initiative, BCCM-Hope Credit Union Small Loan Fund, Journey to Food Justice, and created the African American Clergy Collective of Tennessee that seeks to engage clergy organizations and state legislators across the state.

Dr. Turner has presented to audiences at Fisk University, Yale University, LeMoyne-Owen College, Tougaloo College, National Action Network; appeared on CNN, PBS, BBC, MSNBC, Jack & Jill of America, Inc.; interviewed with The New York Times, The Tennessean, The Tri-State Defender, The Atlanta Journal Constitution, and Yale Divinity School Reflections. The Memphis Business Journal selected him as a 40 UNDER 40 and Power 100 honoree.