This is the second of a five-part series. Part 1 is here.
Dr. Andrew P. Daire
Dr. Andrew P. Daire is the provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs, as well as a professor in educational psychology, at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM). Dr. Daire brings 31 years of higher education experience to this role at UWM, including his most recent position as Dean of the School of Education at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) from 2016-2023.. Prior to VCU, Dr. Daire served as the College of Education’s associate dean for research at the University of Houston. He also spent 13 years at the University of Central Florida, where he co-founded the university’s Marriage and Family Research Institute, among other accomplishments. Dr. Daire is a successful researcher and scholar, having received over $16 million in external funding to support his primary research area in family stability and economic mobility and his secondary research area in career development in STEM recruitment and retention. He has more than 80 professional publications, including national and international peer-reviewed journals, book chapters, and research briefs and reports. Dr. Daire holds a B.S. in Biology and M.S. in Mental Health Counseling from Stetson University in DeLand, Florida. He holds a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology and School Psychology (APA Accredited) from Florida State University in Tallahassee, Florida.
Chauntel McKenzie
Chauntel McKenzie is founder of The PowHER Network. Founded in 2015, The PowerHER Network is a business strategy, marketing, organizational and fund development firm that also specializes in non-profit board governance, fundraising, grant writing, and large-scale event planning. While running that business, she has also served as director of marketing and fund development for the African American Leadership Alliance of Milwaukee, the chief operating officer and marketing director for America’s Black Holocaust Museum, and previously spent 16 years working her way up the ladder at AT&T. She was named a Milwaukee Business Journal Woman of Influence in 2022. She earned a bachelor’s degree in management information systems from the Milwaukee School of Engineering and is a Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer.
Dionna L. Gavin
Dionna L. Gavin is the director of diversity & inclusion for Froedtert Health. She leads internally facing efforts that include the development, implementation and integration of workforce and workplace DEI initiatives; the design and implementation of equity, diversity, inclusion and anti-racism educational offerings, and the oversight for Business Resource Groups and Diversity Action Teams’ strategic efforts. In previous roles over nearly 20 years at Froedtert, she was responsible for partnering with all levels of leadership to create systematic changes aimed at increasing staff & provider engagement, developing talent, and accelerating staff adoption of enterprise strategic initiatives and projects. She earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Carroll University and a master’s degree in adult education and organizational development from Alverno College, and attended the African American Leadership Program at Cardinal Stritch University.
Gary Davis
Gary Davis is youth employment coordinator at Briarpatch Youth Services, an organization in Madison that supports at-risk youth, especially from marginalized communities. A survivor of prostate cancer, Davis is also a member of the African American Cancer Community Advocacy Board, an outspoken advocate for cancer survivors, and a music promoter.
Kyle Wallace
Kyle Wallace is director of content for 101.7 The Truth, a radio platform that reflects Milwaukee’s Black community which he built from the ground up when Good Karma Brands launched the station in 2020. He is also an on-air host on ESPN Wisconsin. Wallace started his career as a freshman in college working for the UW-Whitewater college radio station 91.7 The Edge (WSUW-FM) and TV station UWWTV. He was named Wisconsin Broadcasters Association’s Young Professional of the Year in 2023.He is a 2012 graduate of UW-Whitewater with a degree in broadcast journalism, and earned a master’s degree in sports administration at Central Michigan University.
Scott Brown
Scott Brown is corporation counsel for Milwaukee County, a post he was appointed to in July 2024. He joined the corporation counsel’s office in 2018 as Assistant Corporation Counsel, served as Deputy Corporation Counsel since 2021, and has been Acting Corporation Counsel since March of this year. While serving as Deputy City Attorney for the City of Milwaukee, Brown was the primary counsel to its health department during the COVID-19 crisis and successfully led the legal team defending the City of Milwaukee’s Election Commission in litigation following the 2020 Presidential Election. His career began with six years as a public defender in the City of Philadelphia, where he represented the city’s indigent population in criminal trials. He earned a bachelor’s degree at Wake Forest and a law degree at Rutgers.
Dr. Yolanda Shelton-Morris
Dr. Yolanda Shelton-Morris is a community resources manager for the City of Madison, where she develops policies, executes program planning, project management and evaluation to improve outcomes for children, youth, families, neighborhoods and communities. She is also a lecturer at the UW-Madison School of Social Work and owner of Divine Design & Organization, where she helps families and small businesses create, simplify, and sustain a productive and comfortable work or living space by providing professional, creative and hands-on organizing assistance. She joined the city of Madison after more than 10 years of service to the state at the Departments of Administration and Children and Family Services. She volunteers as an advisory board member of Madison Community Foundation’s Fund for Women, and a member of the board of directors of Serve Wisconsin. She previously served as as member of the board of Domestic Abuse Intervention Services. She earned a bachelor’s degree at Upper Iowa University, a master’s degree in social work from UW-Madison and a doctoral degree in social work from the University of Louisville.
Mark Edmond
Mark Edmond is executive director of the Family Service Association of Sheboygan, a role he took on earlier this year after almost two years as director of people & culture at the Boys and Girls Clubs of Sheboygan County. After graduating from Lakeland University in 2005, where he was a three-year starter on the football team, he played 10 years in the semi-pro MidStates Football League and worked with the YMCA in Milwaukee, Indianapolis, Ind., and Rockford, Ill. He returned to Lakeland in 2018 as director of residence life and cornerbacks coach, a role he continues to hold. He earned a master’s degree in leadership and organizational development at Lakeland in 2022.
Part 3 coming tomorrow!