Board Members

Bio TBD

Mashif is a passionate leader who has fostered a culture focused on accountability, execution, and team development. He has held leadership roles in strategy, operations, and sales/marketing. Most recently, he worked in instructional services responsible for how mobile learning and gamification learning strategies do across all retail lines. He led a program focused on business solutions in the mobile learning space. Mashif was also engaged in various initiatives as a Design Engineer for AT&T Services, Inc.

Mashif holds a Bachelor’s in Psychology from Eastern Michigan University, a Master’s in Leadership and Organizational Development from Central Michigan University, and pursuing a Doctorate in Educational Technology from Central Michigan University. Today, Mashif resides in Ypsilanti, MI. In his spare time, he enjoys working with his fraternity Kappa Alpha Psi, political and advocacy groups, traveling, and spending time with his family and friends. He appreciates opportunities to experience diverse cultures and cuisines, both within the United States and internationally.

Bethany creates interactive business reporting tools for Mott Children’s Hospital and Von Voigtlander Women’s Hospital in Ann Arbor. She was previously the Manager, Marketing and Corporate Development and Corporate Secretary for Renosol Corporation, where she installed quality and environmental management systems in multiple manufacturing sites. With experience in marketing, human resources, sales and management, Bethany has created management training programs and developed tools that make data visible at all levels of the organization. She has also taught database development and critical thinking for Phoenix University.

Freeland currently works with a team at Michigan Medicine. There, she creates systems for measuring and improving equity in the delivery of children’s healthcare and provides the support youth need to thrive.

She holds a Liberal Arts degree from Kalamazoo College and an MBA from Eastern Michigan University.

Jorge currently works as an International Adoptions Supervisor for a non-profit organization in Ann Arbor.  His work background includes special education school teacher, child protective services social worker, a volunteer in a law firm and child custody evaluator/mediator.

He has a Bachelor’s Degree on education, a Bachelor’s Degree on Psychology, a Master’s Degree on Social Clinical Psychology and a Juris Doctor Degree.

Jorge is married to his husband for 13 years and they been together for 24 years.  He has four small dogs and a garden.

Jorge was appointed by the mayor of the City of Saline, where he lives, as member of the Arts and Culture Commission where he volunteers his time to expand and promote the arts and culture in his community.

Nathaniel Alston is the President & Founder of THE HORIZONS GROUP, Inc., a human capital consulting firm specializing in human resources strategic planning, succession planning, executive search, business coaching, and management/leadership development training.

Prior to entering corporate America, Nat spent 10 years in Law Enforcement serving as a Maryland State Police Officer, a Prince George’s County Police Officer and as Director of Public Safety, Bowie State University.

In 1998, Nat along with twelve other senior human resources’ executives founded the National Association of African Americans in Human Resources. In 2001, he was elected as the National President. This is an organization which represents over 7,000 African American Human Resource professionals in 30 cities.  In 2007, Nat was bestowed the Lifetime Member Emeritus designation of the organization.

In 2013, Nat was elected Chairman of the National Board of Directors of the National Association of African Americans in Human Resources.

Erica currently works as the manager of annual giving and alumni relations at the University of Michigan School of Education, overseeing annual giving appeals, stewardship materials for donors with endowed funds, and several events. Erica is passionate about her work because she comes from a family of educators who showed her that education was the primary method for upward mobility and success. Seeing her mother work as a teacher firsthand, she gained a high level of respect for the profession.

As an alumna of the University of Michigan, Erica graduated in 2013 with a degree in sociology and a minor in community action and social change. She became interested in the field of fundraising through the U-M Development Summer Internship Program as an undergraduate student.

Prior to working at the SOE, Erica supported three major gift officers in the U-M Office of University Development as a senior development assistant. Previously, she worked at a market research firm in Washington, D.C. as well as a non-profit consulting firm in Beverly Hills, Michigan.

Erica enjoys the outdoors, taking long walks with her dog, Lola, and spending time with family, many of whom live nearby.

Toni currently works at University Bank as a Loan Servicing Team Lead and has 35 plus years banking experience in Auditing and Loss Prevention. She has her Ministerial License and has served for many years as a Youth Pastor in the community, guiding and mentoring young people. Toni is a huge Michigan Football fan and enjoys spending her free time with her two grandchildren. 

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Thank you, all past and present board members, for your commitment and service.

Sharon Irvine, Desirae Simmons, Douglass Harvey, Justin Carthage, Steve Wilcoxen, Domonic Buffa, Anne Brown, KaRon Gaines, LaTia Williams, Rhonda Palmer, Diane Smith