The Empowering Minds Foundation has created a board of directors and advisors to aid our mission and help develop the programs and business matters. Listed below with each board member is a brief bio highlighting a few relevant accomplishments which make them ideal ambassadors for Empowering Minds. For more detailed information, please contact us.

Mr. Kelly J. Morris
Washington, DC

Employment: Peace Corps: Information Technology Specialist, Center for Field Assistance and Applied Research.
Related Employment History: Peace Corps Program Officer, Africa Region; Associate Director/Rural Development in Togo; Training Consultant, Togo and Benin; Acting Director, Regional Training Resource Center for Africa, Togo; Peace Corps Country Desk Officer, Togo & Benin.

Since 1995, Mr. Morris has been one of the principal internal advocate and promoter of the integration of information and communications technology into Peace Corps' field programs. He has represented Peace Corps and secured a leadership role for the agency on numerous IT networks and inter-agency working groups, including JIGSAW Coalition and InfoChange. He proposed and managed the development of IT training materials and activities, including the IT "Training-of-Trainers" package and the upcoming "troubleshooting" training for Volunteers, Internet staff training for staff, and staff IT workshops.

Additional Notes:
Published, "Global Summary and Promising Practices: Information Technology Intiative" Peace Corps 1998 and 1999 Project Status Reports.
Published, "Business Development Strategy: Promoting Linkages for Sustainable Development." Peace Corps 1996 and 1998

Dr. Lynda H. Murray-Jackson, CPA
Philadelphia, PA

Employment: Associate Professor of Accounting, Delaware State University.
Related Employment History: Dean's Appointment, Temple University; Self-Employed Accountant; Manager, Financial Audits and Control, Edward Weck Incorporated; Tax Consultant, Bellsouth Corporation; Staff Manager - Taxes, Bellsouth Corporation; Tax Accountant/Staff Accountant, Arthur Andersen;

Professional and Community memberships: American Accounting Association; Maryland Society of CPAs; Garden Court Community Association Board of Directors - Treasurer; African-American Doctoral Students Association; National Association of Black Accountants; Secretary, NABA/Atlanta; Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc;

Mr. Amara Essy
Cote d'Ivoire, West Africa

Employment: Elected Secretary General of the Organization for African Unity (OAU).
Related Employment History: Minister of State and Minister of Foreign Affairs in charge of International Cooperation in Cote d'Ivoire; President 49th Session of the United Nations General Assembly; President of the Security Council; Vice-President of the 40th session of the General Assembly of the United Nations.

Career Related Activities: Mr. Essy has participated in several International Conferences - Nineteen OAU Summits and a number of Ministerial Meetings; All the ECOWAS Summits since 1990 and UEAMOA (WAEMU) Head of States Summits; Actively participated in the Settlement of a number of conflicts in Africa: Angola, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Burkina Faso, Mali, Tchad, Somalia. He also had the privilege of participating in the difficult negotiations between the South African Authorities and President Houphouet-Boigny for whom he was the personal representative on the question of Namibia and the elimination of Apartheid. He was the emissary between President Yasser Arafat and President Houphouet-Boigny with Mr. Issam Sartoui the Palestinian Official.

James B. Creighton, MD
Chapel Hill, NC

Educational Background: J.D. Candidate 2002 - University of North Carolina, School of Law; M.B.A. - University of Hawaii, School of Business Administration; M.P.H. - University of Hawaii, School of Public Health; M.D. - University of California, Davis, School of Medicine; B.S. Psychology, University of California, Santa Barbara.

Dr. Creighton bring his diverse experience as a business professional, medical doctor, law student and public health expert to the Empowering Minds board of directors. His past work experience includes Area Medical Officer for Peace Corps, West Africa where he was responsible for the medical personnel and volunteer health in all West African Peace Corps countries.

Mr. R. Tompkins Spann
Washington, DC

Employment: Technology Field Manager, NARAL
Mr. Spann is a founder of Empowering Minds and serves as past president and is a member of the Board. For more, view our founders page.

Ms.Sachiko S. Goode
Past President/CEO
Washington, DC

Ms. Goode is a founder of Empowering Minds and a past President. She currently serves as a member of the board. For more, view our founders page.