Board of Trustees
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CLARK ATLANTA UNIVERSITY CLARK ATLANTA UNIVERSITY TRUSTEES 2020-2021 Updated December 2020 CLARK ATLANTA UNIVERSITY CLARK ATLANTA UNIVERSITY TRUSTEES Gregory B. Morrison (2004) Chair Atlanta, Georgia Gregory Morrison is the recently retired Senior Vice President and Corporate Chief Gregory Morrison is recently retired Senior Vice President and Corporate Chief Information Officer for Cox Enterprises, Inc., a leading communications, media and automotive company with revenues exceeding $22 billion and approximately 60,000 employees. For eighteen years, he was responsible for delivering all information technology and cyber security solutions. Widely known for authorship of large-scale business transformations, key technology deployments that accelerate the digitization of manual businesses processes, he has demonstrated a commitment to career path modeling of IT professionals and a passion for diverse leadership teams and was named among the industry’s top performing CIO’s who have shown unparalleled leadership to drive innovation and transformation in their businesses. Amassing more than 30 years’ experience as corporate CIO, Mr. Morrison has been cited as a major ‘influencer’ for organizations within the technology sector. Prior to Cox, he served as Vice President and CIO at Prudential Financial, Inc. and Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for RealEstate.com, a B2B ecommerce internet company. Currently, he serves on the corporate board of directors for Veritex Holdings, a Nasdaq listed bank holding company: BVTX (member of audit, IT, and Risk Committees) and IEWC Global Solutions, an international distributor and solutions provider for wire, cable and wire management products. Mr. Morrison serves on the Global Advisory Board of Tricentis, a software test automation company based in Vienna, Austria and is a former corporate board director for nuBridges, Inc., Scentric, Inc., and Florida First Coast Business Investment Corporation. Leonard Walker (2005) Vice Chair Atlanta, Georgia Leonard Walker brings previous banking and venture capital exposure to the Board of Trustees. As Business Baking Division Manager for Wells Fargo Bank (formerly Wachovia Bank, N.A.), where he headed banking activities for more than 4,000 companies with annual sales ranging from $3M to more than $25M and maintaining responsibility for all corporate banking, treasury services, credit and capital management needs for Business Banking Customers in Atlanta. As founder and principal of Cyber-Starts, an institution-backed venture capital firm based in Atlanta and funded, in part, by Wachovia, the firm created, acquired and managed companies focusing on the intersection of financial services and technology. Walker’s banking career includes 11 years with JPMorgan Chase in New York, New York where he held a number of senior management positions including Small Business Financial Services and Division Executive in Middle Market Banking. Mr. Walker serves on the Board of the YMCA Metro Atlanta, Grady Health Foundation, Central Atlanta Progress and Midtown Alliance. Recipient of the Bachelor of Arts Degree in Economics from Davidson College and Master of Business Administration Degree from Columbia University, he is a graduate of the Harvard Business School Program for Management Development. Mr. Walker chairs the Board of Trustees’ Finance and Audit Committee. 2 Clark Atlanta Uniersity | Board of Trustees | 2020-2021 CLARK ATLANTA UNIVERSITY Stephanie Russell (2013) (MBA 1993) Secretary Atlanta, GA Guided by a commitment to service as community activist and volunteer, Mrs. Walker has focused her attention and energies in the areas of health and education as they impact the well-being of children and women, particularly African-American. Professionally, Mrs. Russell served internships with the Coca-Cola Company and McMaster-Carr Industry Supply Company, after which she held positions as brand Manager, Fountain Division, the Coca-Cola Company; Product Development Manager, Bell South Cellular, where she was responsible for creating brand relevancy and advertising plans for the GT Wireless program. Mrs. Russell actively supports several organizations and initiatives. Following a successful transplant between her husband and his brother and garnering in excess of $300,000, she organized and sponsored the first-ever African American Kidney Fund Gala to advance awareness and promote the Fund. In addition, the Fund was beneficiary of a $100,000 family gift. Mrs. Russell serves as member of several philanthropic and community organizations including: Board of the National Black Arts Foundation, Wren’s Nest; Villages of Carver YMCA; and the Westminster Schools “Wilbur and Hilda Glenn Institute for Philanthropy and to Serve Learning. She is actively involved on committees within the Woodward Academy community and the Girl Scouts of America. Mrs. Russell has chaired and co-chaired many events throughout the Atlanta Community, including thee National Black Arts Festival (NBAF). As a founding member of Granting Atlanta’s Wishes (G.A.W.), a nine-woman organization, Mrs. Russell provides assistance to those seeking to pursue educational, entrepreneurial and artistic dreams. She received the Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Management from the Georgia Institute of Technology and the Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Clark Atlanta University in 1998. Mrs. Russell is married to H. Jerome Russell and they have four children. James H. Colon (2013) Marysville, Washington Current Co-Owner of Marysville Toyota in Marysville, Washington, James Colon previously served as Toyota Vice President, African American Business Strategy for North America where he was responsible for engaging Hispanic and African American business and media communities and building a network of Toyota Associates and team members across regions to optimize relationships with these constituencies. Prior to assuming this role, Colon was vice president of product communications for Toyota Motor Sales (TMS) U.S.A., Inc. where he was responsible for creating, gathering and managing information for promotion initiatives for Toyota brand vehicles in addition to product sales and training. Colon held various roles at Toyota regional offices and TMS headquarters in Torrance, California, including general manager for the Portland and Chicago regions and vice president of sales for the Toyota Division with responsibility for sales support of Toyota regional offices, public companies and private distributors. Trustee Colon serves on the board of Directors for Black Star Project and the First Tee of South Los Angeles. IN 20ll, he was selected to serve on the Board of Directors for California State University, Los Angeles’ Friends of Engineering, Computer Science and Technology and is a member of the United Negro College Fund (UNCF) Los Angeles Leadership Council. In support of its mission to develop leaders, inform policy and educate the public, Colon was recently appointed to Congressional Black Caucus Foundation. Colon is recipient of the bachelor’s degree in economics and business from Manchester University in North Manchester, Indiana. In May 2011, Mr. Colon was awarded the Honorary Doctorate degree in Humane Letters from Martin University in Indianapolis, Indiana. Clark Atlanta University | Board of Trustees | 2020-2021 3 CLARK ATLANTA UNIVERSITY Thomas Wesley Dortch, Jr. (AU’86) (2010) Atlanta, Georgia Entrepreneur Thomas W. Dortch, Jr. is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of TWD, Inc. a consulting firm with emphasis on business development, public relations, and fundraising. Engaged in a variety of business ventures, Mr. Dortch is Chief Executive Officer of Atlanta Transportation Systems, Inc., a para-transit system that manages non-emergency transportation for the State of Georgia, Chairman and CEO of Cornerstone Parking, Chairman of Lancor Parking Management, LLC, and Managing Partner of FAD Consulting, LLC, a diversity management, marketing and events management company. Mr. Dortch holds the singular distinction as Chairman Emeritus of 100 Black Men of America, Inc. Under his guidance, the organization expanded from 43 to 102 chapters throughout the United Sates, Africa, England and the West indies. Mr. Dortch is founder of the National Black College Alumni Hall of Fame, Inc., a vehicle to highlight the major contributions of Historically Black Colleges and Universities and their graduates; co-founder of the Georgia Association of Minority Entrepreneurs (GAME), an advocacy organization for minority business development; and, co-founder of the Greater Atlanta Economic Alliance, a capacity building and business development organization for the construction and transportation industries. His organizational affiliations include the Sickle Cell Foundation of Georgia; Black/Jewish Coalition; Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau; Atlanta Business League and Fulton Dekalb Hospital Authority. Among the numerous awards received, Mr. Dortch is recipient of the U.S. Presidential Citation for Volunteerism; Martin Luther King, Jr. Distinguished Service Award; Turner Broadcast Trumpet Leadership Award; 2004 Man of the Decade Award by the 100 Black Men of America, Inc; and, the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation 2004 Distinguished Phoenix Award. Mr. Dortch holds the Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Pre-Professional Social Work from Fort Valley State University and Master of Arts Degree and Master of Arts in Criminal Justice Administration from Atlanta University. A Georgia State University