Women's History Month 2024

• Demonstrated Commitment: The student actively promotes diversity, equity, and inclusion on campus.
• Leadership: The student has shown leadership in organizing or participating in activities related to diversity and inclusion.
• Advocacy: The student has advocated for marginalized communities and contributed to a more inclusive campus environment.
• Collaboration: The student has worked collaboratively with others to create a more inclusive community.
• Impact: The student's actions have positively impacted the campus's diversity and inclusion efforts.

• Inclusive Teaching: The faculty and adjunct faculty members have demonstrated a commitment to inclusive teaching practices that value diverse perspectives and engage all students.
• Research or Work Contribution: The faculty or adjunct faculty member's research or work has significantly contributed to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion within their discipline.
• Mentorship: The faculty and adjunct faculty member has been an exemplary mentor, providing guidance and support to underrepresented students and colleagues.
• Leadership: The faculty and adjunct faculty members have shown leadership in promoting diversity and inclusion initiatives on campus or in the workplace.
• Impact: The faculty and adjunct faculty member's efforts have resulted in a positive and lasting impact on the campus or within the community's diversity and inclusion landscape.

• Diversity Initiatives: The staff member has played a significant role in implementing or supporting diversity initiatives within the institution.
• Inclusive Practices: The staff member has contributed to creating an inclusive work environment through policies or practices.
• Collaboration: The staff member has collaborated effectively with colleagues and students to promote diversity and inclusion.
• Innovation: The staff member has introduced innovative ideas or practices that foster diversity and equity.
• Community Engagement: The staff member has actively engaged with the broader community to promote diversity and inclusion.

Catherine Addy, currently serving as Ms. Sophomore at Coppin State University, exemplifies adept leadership with a touch of grace. Beyond her distinguished role, Catherine actively engages in various organizations, notably the NCNW (National Council of Negro Women), showcasing her commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Her involvement spans community service initiatives, from tutoring at local high schools in Baltimore City to providing essential healthcare products to homeless shelters, reflecting her dedication to uplifting marginalized communities.

Notably, Catherine orchestrated a Build-A-Bear event, demonstrating her innovative approach to addressing seasonal depression among students. Her meticulous planning and research underscore her commitment to holistic well-being. Furthermore, as a content creator, Catherine advocates for the therapeutic benefits of visual arts within the healthcare industry, amplifying diverse perspectives on wellness.

Catherine Addy's remarkable service and leadership abilities are invaluable to any organization. Her unwavering dedication to effecting positive change, both locally and globally, is evident in her multifaceted contributions

Praise Alayode is a dedicated individual currently pursuing a dual major in computer science and mathematics as she enters her junior year. Her fervent interest in quantum computing has driven her to engage in research under the guidance of Professor Dr. Providence, collaborating with the IBM HBCU Quantum Center and contributing significantly to the field. Prior to this, she participated in groundbreaking research with NASA as an astro scholar, focusing on the analysis of hydrogen particles within galaxy m-83. Praise's academic prowess and research acumen are matched only by her profound commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Beyond her academic pursuits, Praise is deeply involved in community service endeavors. She actively mentors young women in her community, offering invaluable guidance and support as they navigate their educational journeys and pursue their aspirations. Additionally, she volunteers her time to tutor elementary school students and fosters a sense of community at Mathew Henson Elementary. At Coppin State University, Praise's exceptional academic achievements have earned her recognition as a Leadership Excellence scholar and Presidential Scholar, highlighting her leadership potential and commitment to fostering diversity and inclusion on campus. She further contributes to the university community as an Orientation Leader, Math Tutor, and Our House mentor, inspiring her peers to strive for excellence and embrace their diverse backgrounds and experiences.

For over 25 years, Nekeisia has dedicated her career as a change agent, advocating for social-economic equity and inclusion for low-income, underserved and marginalized groups. She is a visionary leader and strategic innovator with extensive experience driving organizational growth and transformation within Human/Social Services, Nonprofits, and Government sectors. Nekeisia is an expert at leading cross-functional teams, fostering a culture of collaboration and excellence in service delivery.

Nekeisia educational background, a Master of Arts in Management and a Bachelor of Arts in Human Services Administration paired with 8 years of hands-on senior leadership experience equips her to lead effectively and make meaningful contributions to advance organizations missions. She has a strong commitment to the community and currently serves as a Board Director for Fair Chance, a nonprofit in Washington DC.

At the beginning of this year, Nekeisia made a difficult but necessary decision to resign from her C-Suite role at a local nonprofit. During this healing and reviving journey of her self-titled Faith Walk 2.0: Workforce Sabbatical, Nekeisia decided to start her consulting business now rather than waiting to retire. As a passionate coach and mentor driven to empower and inspire individuals to reach their full potential as effective and emotional intelligent leaders while advancing in their own career journeys, Nekeisia will be launching her professional and leadership development consulting and organizational advisory services in the upcoming months. Connect and follow Nekeisia Booyer’s LinkedIn page to stay informed of the leadership and career mentorship consulting business launching soon.

One last note: In 2020, Ms. Booyer tapped into her creative side and started a small custom jewelry business, Sincerely Kei Jewelry LLC. https://www.sincerelykeijewelry.com/.

Kara Burnett joined the WMAR-2 News team in December 2023. She was born and raised on Long Island, New York. After graduating from Stony Brook University in 2018, she began her journalism career by working with FOX 5 News and Good Day New York. There, she had the opportunity to write and segment produce for their morning show. She assisted with an Emmy-winning TV special, ‘Tunnel to Towers’, that honored first responders who lost their lives on 9/11.

In 2021, Kara’s passion for storytelling led her to New York’s Capital, where she was a reporter for Spectrum News 1. In Albany, she interviewed the state’s health commissioner on the opioid epidemic, spoke with mothers about rising maternal mortality rates for women of color, and provided continue coverage on farm owners navigating the effects of climate change.

When Kara is not chasing news, she’s on her way to her next adventure. She enjoys hiking, skiing and exploring small towns - anything that gets her outdoors! As an event planner, Kara loves to host and test out new recipes in the kitchen. Feel free to reach out to her to share your go-to dishes. She’s excited to hear your recommendations and more importantly, your story.

Dr. Mona Calhoun is the Chair of the Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Health Information Management programs at Coppin State University. She holds a Ph.D. in Psychometrics from Morgan State University, a Master of Science in Health Care Administration from Texas Woman’s University, and a Master of Education in Rehabilitation Counseling from Coppin State University. She has close to 39 years of experience in the health information industry. Before joining Coppin State University, she was employed in leadership roles in various settings in the healthcare industry. Her service in the local community and professionally includes serving on the Maryland Health Information Management Association (MDHIMA) board as President, Past President, Delegate, Director, and chairman of several committees. Nationally, she is an active American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) member. She has served as a Chairman of the AHIMA Council for Excellence in Education (CEE), Chairman of the AHIMA Fellowship Committee, Chairman of the AHIMA Nominating Committee, a member of the AHIMA Advocacy and Policy Council, AHIMA 2023 President/Chair-elect. Currently, she serves as the AHIMA 2024 President/Chair. Dr. Calhoun has also been an accreditation panel reviewer for the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM).

Dr. Ericka Covington is an Associate Professor of Management and Dean of Graduate Studies at Coppin State University. She has a Doctor of Business Administration with a concentration in Leadership. As a dynamic business expert and accomplished leader, she holds expertise in leading national marketing initiatives for a major Fortune 500 company. She has facilitated numerous training courses on management and effective leadership to corporate professionals. Dr. Covington holds certification in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion through Cornell University and serves as a content expert in the areas of business administration and leadership. Prior to working in higher education, Dr. Covington utilized her degree in criminal justice administration by serving as a parole and probation officer with the State of Maryland. She interned extensively with the Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s Office, The Office of the Public Defender, The Department of Juvenile Justice, and served as a Victim Witness Coordinator in Montgomery County.

While experienced in business and organizational leadership, her passion for social justice in her hometown of Baltimore, gave rise to her research evaluating fluctuating leadership styles within the Baltimore City Police Department and how those styles influence the motivation of patrol officers. Her other research interests include sustainable business development in urban communities and using leadership styles to develop effective organizational practices.

Marisa Dobson (she/her) is the founder & principal of Scintillate, a PR & marketing consultancy. With deep connections in the digital media, publishing, lifestyle, and culinary worlds, Marisa Dobson has spent the past 15 years working with professional creatives and entrepreneurs. She's helped launch national CPG brands, bakeries, bars, and restaurants, shepherding a few through acquisition. Her superpower is matchmaking -- connecting brands to creatives, inventors to investors. In 2021, Baltimore Magazine named her one of 30 women "shaping Baltimore's future." A founding member of the Chinatown Collective/Charm City Night Market, and the Baltimore Chapter of the National Association of Asian American Professionals, she regularly volunteers her free time and expertise for community causes. Born in Baltimore City, she resides in Northeast Baltimore with her wife and son.

Dr. Chanee Fabius is a gerontologist and health services researcher with an interdisciplinary background consisting of training in gerontology, human development and family studies, and public health. Her research informs aging and disability policies to reduce health care disparities and improve health equity for older adults and people with disabilities using long-term services and supports (LTSS). Her interests are informed by applied, clinical care management experience, where she helped older adults remain at home and delay the need for nursing home care. She is interested in: (1) better understanding networks of care (e.g. LTSS such as home and community-based services and family support) used by older people and how those may vary by race and socioeconomic status, (2) examining the effect of community-based LTSS utilization on quality of life and health service utilization across diverse groups of older adults, and (3) strengthening the direct care workforce that provides services and supports to vulnerable older adults, such as those with complex conditions like dementia. She completed a two-year AHRQ-funded T32 Postdoctoral Fellowship in the Center for Gerontology and Healthcare Research at the Brown School of Public Health in 2018. She earned her PhD in Human Development and Family Studies from the University of Connecticut in 2016.

Ebonye Jones is the current Tennis Director at the Baltimore Recreation and Parks and has been leading Coppin State University’s men’s and women’s tennis teams since January 2018. Her previous roles include Director of Programs and Services at The Ace Project, Director of Tennis at Belvoir Terrace, and JR. Team/Member Engagement Coordinator for the US Tennis Association Mid-Atlantic. Leading programs like “Girls Rule the Court” and the “Emerging Leaders Academy.” With a rich background in tennis coaching and program management, Jones has also contributed to the DC Department of Parks Rec and Trinity Washington University. Her expertise extends to club-level instruction, having served as Assistant Head Pro at Crestview Swim and Tennis Club. Jones holds a B.S. in Criminal Justice from Albany State University and resides in Baltimore City with her spouse, Josephine Mazyck.

A graduate of Coppin State College Class of 1991, Dr. Leontye L. Lewis currently serves as Dean for the College of Arts & Science and Education at Coppin State University. She previously served as Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs also at Coppin State University where she served in multiple roles at Coppin - from faculty to administration. Dr. Lewis also served as Professor and Dean of the School of Education at Fayetteville State University in Fayetteville, North Carolina from 2007-2015. A Jamaican by birth, the 7th of 8th children, and the first in her family to graduate high school and college, she earned a BS degree in Elementary Education from Coppin State in 1991. She holds a master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Bowling Green State University (Ohio), a second master’s degree in Teaching and Learning from Harvard University Graduate School of Education, and a Doctor of Education degree, also from Harvard, in Teaching, Curriculum, and Learning Environments. Her research interests and publications are focused on parental involvement, learning styles strategies, culturally relevant teaching practices, alternative assessment strategies, and effective pedagogies.

Keylin is an active community leader, speaker, and aspires to create her own medical journal on Mental Health in the military. Keylin is a graduate of Coppin State University, and a former Miss Coppin State. She is a 2nd Lieutenant Army Nurse, and is stationed in D.C Currently, she is serving as Americas Ideal Miss District of Columbia 2024, and will be competing for the title of America’s Ideal Miss 2024 this July. Her most recent accomplishments is becoming an author, Let your light Shine, a 25 day Devotional to live with grace & peace in the midst of chaos.

Kym Wilson is a certified human resource professional with over fifteen years of experience in the higher education environment. Kym currently serves as the Director of Human Resources, Academic Affairs at Morgan State University. In this role, Kym works closely with the Division of Academic Affairs driving a strategy that encourages innovation, learning, and cross-cultural collaboration. Kym led the human resources team at the Universities of Shady Grove and was intricately involved in the implementation of the DEI Charter at the university. Kym held multiple roles at Coppin State University including the Assistant Director of Human Resources for Faculty Affairs and was a member of the university’s Diversity Committee. Kym also worked as an Executive Recruiter while at Coppin State University. During her eight-year tenure at Howard University, Kym successfully implemented several strategic enterprise-wide initiatives while in the role of Director of Human Resources and Chief of Staff for the human resources team. Kym additionally led the talent acquisition team for both Howard University and Howard University Hospital and has in-depth knowledge of clinical hiring practices. Kym received her B.A. in Psychology from Hampton University and the M.S. in Management, specializing in human resources, from UMGC. Kym holds the SHRM-CP certification and Diversity and Inclusion for HR Certification from Cornell University. Kym holds professional human resources memberships with CUPA-HR, SHRM, World at Work, and Higher Education Recruitment Consortium.

Karsonya “Kaye” Wise Whitehead is the founding executive director of The Karson Institute for Race, Peace & Social Justice and a professor of communication and African and African American Studies at Loyola University Maryland. She is the host of the award-winning radio show Today with Dr. Kaye on WEAA, 88.9 FM and the recent recipient of the Vernon Jarrett Medal for Journalistic Excellence, for her outstanding reporting on the impact racial reckoning has had in helping to close social/racial wealth gap for Black people in America. She was recently selected by The Daily Record as one of Maryland’s Top 100 Women of 2022 (an honor that she also received in 2020) and by Black Girls Vote as a 2022 honoree for its “Ladies & Politics” series. Her radio show, Today With Dr. Kaye, received both the 2022 Chesapeake Associated Press Award for Best in Show and for Best Radio Talk Show; and, the Second Place Award for Outstanding Editorial or Commentary.

In 2021, Dr. Whitehead received the Regional Edward R. Murrow Award for Excellence in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion; the Afro newspaper selected her as one of their “2021 Newsmakers of the Year;” and, she was selected by the Baltimore Business Journal to receive the Leaders in Diversity Award. In 2019, she received the Collegium Visionary Award from the College of Holy Cross; the Exceptional Merit in Media Award (EMMA) from the National Women’s Political Caucus; the Baltimore Sun named her as one of Baltimore’s 25 “Women to Watch in 2019”; and Essence magazine included her on the 2019 “Woke 100 List,” of “black women advocating for change.” As one of only a few daily drive-time afternoon radio shows hosted by a black woman, Today with Dr. Kaye received the 2021 and 2020 Chesapeake Associated Press Award for Outstanding Editorial or Commentary; the 2019 Chesapeake Associated Press Award for Outstanding Talk Show, and the second place Award for Outstanding Editorial or Commentary.

She is the author of four books, including RaceBrave: new and selected works; Notes from a Colored Girl: The Civil War Pocket Diaries of Emilie Frances Davis, which received both the 2015 Darlene Clark Hine Book Award from the Organization of American Historians and the 2014 Letitia Woods Brown Book Award from the Association of Black Women Historians; and Letters to My Black Sons: Raising Boys in a Post-Racial America. She is a K-12 master teacher in African American history; an award-winning curriculum writer and lesson plan developer; and an award-winning former Baltimore City middle school teacher.

In February 2016, Dr. Whitehead received the Joan B. Kroc’s Institute for International Peace Studies “Distinguished Alumni” Award for her work as a peace activist, scholar, filmmaker, writer, and poet. In 2014, she received the 2014 Lifetime Achievement Award from the Progressive National Baptist Convention (PNBC); was selected as one of the top 25 women professors in Maryland by Online Schools Maryland; and in 2013, received Loyola University Maryland’s Faculty Award for Excellence in Engaged Scholarship for her work documenting the stories of women who are temporarily experiencing homelessness.

Dr. Whitehead also received the 2006 Gilder Lehrman Preserve America Maryland History Teacher of the Year Award (sponsored by the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History and the Maryland State Department of Education); was one of 50 alumni to receive the Distinguished Black Alumni Award from the University of Notre Dame, Indiana (2005); and was a winner of both the Langston Hughes, David Diop, Etheridge Knight Poetry Award (1999, 2000) and the Zora Neale Hurston Creative Writing Award (1998) from the Gwendolyn Brooks Creative Writing Center at the University of Chicago.

Prior to her work in academia, Dr. Whitehead was a documentary filmmaker with MetroTV, a PBS-affiliate, and a senior producer for Music Television Networks (MTV). In 2001, she directed and produced Twin Towers: A History, a documentary film that describes the technical problems that were overcome and challenges the ironworkers faced in constructing the landmark buildings and recounts the daredevil stunts that the buildings attracted. The film was nominated for an Emmy in 2002—Dr. Whitehead’s third nomination. It has since become the second-largest selling film about 9/11 and airs regularly on PBS stations around the country.

Dr. Whitehead is the former national secretary for the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH) and the current national President of the National Women’s Studies Association). Additionally , she writes a bi-monthly column, “Conversations with Dr. Kaye,” for the Baltimore Afro newspaper based upon her deep ethnographic study within the Black Butterfly neighborhoods of Baltimore City. She is also one of the most sought-after keynote speakers in the country, having given over 500 keynotes worldwide.