Dr. Mike Nettles
Senior Vice President, Educational Testing Service (ETS)
No one in America has researched and studied successful achievement environments more than Mike Nettles. His work at the University of Michigan, The Patterson Institute of the United Negro College Fund and now as Senior Vice President of ETS have all been highly acclaimed. Most noteworthy, however has been his passionate zeal for doing the hard research needed to validate how and why success is achieved in some environments but not in others.

Dr. James Renick
President, North Carolina A&T State University/
ACE Sr. Vice-President designate
How do you take a good HBCU and within a few short years turn into it into a world class institution that defies traditional notions of what a Black College can become? In the most recent Carnegie classification, North Carolina A&T State University's high research designation puts it on a level with the nation's most prestigious institutions of higher learning. The Carnegie people have only confirmed what many already knew - that James Renick is one of the brightest and most gifted leaders in higher education. His recent appointment as Senior Vice President for Programs and Research at the American Council of Education makes him one of the most powerful and influential education leaders, both nationally and internationally.

Dr. Belle Wheelan
President, Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
Very few people in higher education possess the same combination of charismatic charm and astute leadership prowess as that of Belle Wheelan. From her role as a community college president, Virginia's Secretary of Education and now President of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools - as well as a single mother - she brings a perspective to leadership that is almost impossible to replicate. She knows what needs to be done - and more importantly, how to get things done.

Renee Poussaint
Executive Director, National Visionary Leadership Project
In an era where network journalists are better known for their shallowness than their depth of understanding of the issues they cover, Renee Poussaint - a three time Emmy award winning national newscaster - is a refreshing change. As co-founder with Dr. Camille Cosby of the National Visionary Leadership Project, she engages and forges mentoring relationships between high school students and living legends in the African American community.

Dr. Lester Monts
Sr. Vice-Provost for Academic Affairs, University of Michigan
Lester Monts is also Senior Counselor to the President and Arthur F. Thurnau Professor of Music at the University of Michigan. As the Senior Vice-Provost, Dr. Monts assists the Provost and Executive President for Academic Affairs on matters related to budget, tenure and promotion, enrollment, and a broad range of academic issues. Today music has taken on an unprecedented role in the African American Community. It is both admired and lambasted . Admired because of its ability to positively influence and move people to better states of being. It is lambasted for its ability to foster anti social behavior that is reeking havoc on the very foundations of the Black community. Dr. Monts has researched and understands how to harness the power music.

Dr. Karla Holloway
William Rand Kenan Professor of English, Duke University
No one understands the African American culture and all of its nuances better than Karla Holloway. Her research, writing and public engagements reflect and resonate a familiarity honed from always staying close to what matters. Her ability to relate how one achieves an extraordinary scholarly and research record while actively being engaged in and supporting her community provides lessons that need to be listened to and studied.

Dr. Lucy Reuben
Professor, North Carolina Central University and Visiting Scholar, Duke University
One of the very few Black women in America to earn a Ph. D in finance, Dr. Reuben has dedicated her entire life to the cause of Black Education. As a former member of the Charlotte regional federal reserve board , a superior academic leader and a sought-after business and economic consultant, she understands leadership. More importantly she knows how all of the pieces fit together.

Dr. Miguel Guajardo
Assistant Professor, Education and Community Leadership Program, Texas State University San Marcos
The successful experience of African Americans and Hispanics has a lot more in common than is usually acknowledged. Dr. Guajardo and his brother have created an amazingly successful community-based high school to college model that has worked for poor Hispanic students and is sure to work for African Americans as well.

Dr. Lucius T. Outlaw, Jr.
Associate Provost for Undergraduate Education, Professor of Philosophy and of African American Diaspora Studies, Vanderbilt University
Because education knows no boundaries, there is a great deal that can be learned from the cultures that are based in the African diaspora. Dr. Outlaw brings an uncanny knowledge of notions of excellence based on this often-overlooked realm of knowledge.