Paul T. Spraggins, Jr. has been working with educational opportunity programs since 1973. From 1973 to 1982, he served as administrator for the Wisconsin Higher Educational Aids Board. Mr. Spraggins retired June 2002, as Director of the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, Educational Opportunity Programs and Office of Urban Education. Mr. Spraggins received his B.S. degree from Pepperdine University in Los Angeles, CA and also attended Tufts University in Medford, MA. He has been a visiting lecturer at several colleges in Wisconsin as well as California and Kansas. Mr. Spraggins has continued in his efforts for young people for 30 years at the federal, state, and local level. Mr. Spraggins has received more than 60 awards and certificates for his contributions in educational opportunity and civil rights. Mr. Spraggins is the president of the National Economic Opportunity Network (NEON) and the founder of the NBSU Corporate Fair.

Emanuel Newsome is Senior Vice President of Student Affairs, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, Florida. Dr. Newsome received his Ph.D., Indiana State University; M.A., and B.S. degrees at Western Michigan University. Dr. Newsome has extensive professional experience in various aspects of student affairs and higher education. He has been a strong advocate of multicultural and international education. This has also been augmented through his frequent travel abroad experiences, publications, and honors. He has made a significant contribution to the National Black Student Union Conference since its inception. Getting students to seek careers in higher education has been his focus.

Ira Albert Rutherford, III is currently the President and Founder of the Rutherford Group, and Lecturer at the University of Michigan at Flint. Rutherford received his M.S. degree at Wayne State University, and his B.A. at Western Michigan University. He was the former superintendent of the Flint Beecher Community School District. Rutherford serves on a number of boards. He currently is the President of the Hurley Hospital Board of Managers. He has been awarded a host of awards but admires his recognition as “Citizen of the Year” by the Flint Voice Newspaper. Rutherford has a strong admiration for music. He was a former producer and disc jockey of the “Common Ground Radio Program” at Western Michigan University.

Dennis M. Baskin , M.B.A., Budget Director, Division of Academic Support Services and Associate Director in the Office of Pre-College Programs, UW-Whitewater earned his M.B.A. degree in Business Management, and bachelor’s degree in Business Finance both from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. He is currently a Ph.D. student in Educational Administration at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Dennis also is a licensed realtor with Century 21 Affiliated in Beloit and Janesville, Wisconsin. In his spare time, Dennis conducts workshops on financial planning for various community agencies. Lastly, Dennis teaches business courses in the College of Business and Economics at the University of Wisconsin – Whitewater and at Upper Iowa University Blackhawk Technical College Center.

Nicole Bronson, M.B.A., is currently a Doctoral student in the Department of Health Services at the University of California , Los Angeles (UCLA).  She earned her M.B.A. in Business Management and bachelor’s degree in Finance both at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.  Nicole served as a mathematics lecturer in Developmental Education at UW-Whitewater.  She currently serves on the Board of Directors of the National Black Student Union and is Co-Chair of Communications for the Student of Color for Public Health (SCPH) in the School of Public Health at UCLA.  Her research focuses on “How Provider-Level Factors Affect Homeless Women in LA County Use of Healthcare Services and Level of Satisfaction”.

Richard McGregory Jr., Ph.D., currently serves as Director, McNair Scholars Program and Lecturer, Economics at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. He previously served in the following capacities at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater: Academic Counselor, Educational Opportunity Program; Interim Director, Upward Bound Program; Lecturer, Department of Mathematics. McGregory has earned the following academic credentials: BBA, Marketing, University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh; MBA, Marketing/Management, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater; Ph.D., Economics, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Finally, his areas of research interest are as follows: Healthcare; Industrial Organization; Labor: Privatization and Economic Development in Southeast Asia and the Caribbean; Economic Awareness of Multicultural Students.

Monica D. Kelsey-Brown , Ph.D., is Director, Academic Support Services, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. She recently finished a temporary appointment as an assistant principal and teacher at Thoreau Elementary School, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Dr. Kelsey-Brown earned her Ph.D. Degree in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, both her Masters and Bachelor’s degrees at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. She has been successful in writing Federal TRIO proposals to the U.S. Department of Education. In addition to her administrative duties, Dr. Kelsey-Brown serves as a math lecturer in the Developmental Education Department at UW-Whitewater. She is a member to many professional associations and is a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Organization.

Darian P. Snow, M.S., is the Assistant Director, Office of Pre-College  Programs, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.  Darian earned a Bachelors of Science in Human Services from Upper Iowa University and a Masters of  Science degree in Curriculum & Instruction form the University of  Wisconsin-Whitewater.  In addition to is administrative responsibilities, Darian has also served as faculty advisor for the UW-Whitewater Gospel Choir.