Shana Payne, Executive Director
As Executive Director, Shana Payne is responsible for the overall vision for College Summit-National Capital Region, direction of growth and ensuring sustainability for the regional office. Prior to joining the College Summit staff, she served as an educator in Coatesville, Pennsylvania, teaching World History and African-American studies. Her decade of work at College Summit has taken her to schools in urban and rural settings across the country, providing a strong foundation of best practices that she uses to support schools and provide implementation oversight throughout the National Capital Region. Shana began at College Summit in 2002, through her various roles she led efforts to train and coach program staff in burgeoning regional offices, while also serving as the lead in designing and implementing the volunteer engagement program. In 2005, Shana transitioned from her role in the College Summit national office to serve as Program Director in the National Capital Region. Since then, her efforts have focused on regional growth in students served, school district relationship management and overall programmatic quality. She has helped NCR grow from serving six schools in Washington, DC to over 20 schools across Maryland, DC and Virginia with significant results. Shana has a B.A. in American Studies and Education from Yale University and a M.A. in Urban Affairs and Public Policy from University of Delaware.

Mardia Blyther, Program Director
Mardia is a native Washingtonian that has had over 20 years of experience working with low income, at risk, and potential first generation youth and families both in the non-profit and government sectors.  Her previous work as an educational consultant, primary, secondary and adjunct instructor, program coordinator and college access advisor has given her a tremendous amount of invaluable insight on the social and educational challenges of young people K-College. Her passion for young people, education and health issues has afforded her several opportunities to train, facilitate workshops and develop curriculums. Mardia holds a B.A. from the University of the District of Columbia in Biology (1999), and a MSA from Trinity University (2006).

Vinette Brown, Development Director
Vinette was formerly the Associate Director of Development for Family Health International and Ashoka: Innovators for the Public, and worked for two years with the Academy for Educational Development (AED). Vinette is a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer (RPCV) and spent two years in Haiti as an Agricultural Extension Volunteer. She also serves on the boards of the Educated Consumer Project (ECP) – which provides low income youth with financial literacy education, and Perry Street Preparatory Charter School in DC. She has a B.A. in International Relations from Boston University (1997), and a M.A. in International Development Studies from the George Washington University (2005).  

Clifton Crosby, School Partnership Manager
A former NFL Player and Super Bowl Champion, Cliff was an All-State Basketball, Track and Football Star in high school who was recruited by the University of Maryland on a full football scholarship and graduated with a degree in Family Studies (1999). With football life now behind him, Cliff has become a champion of at risk youth and families in his work with many different organizations, including Caron Treatment Centers and the National Center for Children and Families.

Tracy Brower, School Partnership Manager
Tracy has worked in non profit education in D.C. for over 10 years. His positions include program manger of a youth development and summer internship program and director of a mentoring program for African American male high school students. He is active in his community serving on the board of directors of The Scholarship Academy in Washington, DC. Tracy has served as a writing coach, writing coach coordinator and College Summit advisor through one of our former agency partners. He graduated with a B.A. in English and minor in Afro-American studies from Virginia Commonwealth University (1993).

Quincy Jones, School Partnership Manager
Quincy is originally from Cincinnati, Ohio and graduated from Kentucky State University with a B.A. in Business Administration in 1995. He began his career as a financial advisor, but was soon called to the social services field. He moved to the DC area in 2001, where he worked for many years in the foster care arena as a Case Manager and Crisis Intervention Specialist. He most recently worked as a college access advisor/provider in DC Public Schools. He also tutors students in Prince George's County Public Schools and has served as a College Counselor during College Summit's summer workshops. Quincy holds a M.S.A (2009) from Trinity University. 

Regional Advisory Board

Nancy Kuhn, Esq.
Board Chair

Sheldon Caplis, Vice Chair
Regional Director of Community Relations
Citi

Angela Antonelli
President & CEO
AMD LLC Advisory Services

Vinod Bagal
Managing Director
Accenture, LLP

Charlene Dukes
President
Prince George's County Community College

Margaret Dunning, Development Committee Co-Chair
Principal and Chief Strategy Officer
Widmeyer Communications

James W. Dyke, Jr.
Partner
McGuire Woods, LLP

Donna Fleming
Vice President, Regional Operations
College Summit

John Green, Development Committee Co-Chair
Chief Financial Officer
Share Our Strength

Verdia Haywood
Former Deputy County Executive
Fairfax County

Kenneth Jones
Vice President, Finance and Administration
The Annie E. Casey Foundation

Amry Junaideen
Principal, Enterprise Risk Services
Deloitte & Touche

Chip Kunde, Selection Committee Chair
Vice President, Government Relations
Darden Restaurants

Connie Myers
Government Relations Consultant
Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP

Judy Wurtzel
Consultant
Education Policy

Mary MacPherson, Honorary Board Member
President
M2Works, LLC

Seeking Advisory Board Members

College Summit-NCR is looking for committed business and community leaders in the National Capital Region to join its Regional Advisory Board. College Summit-NCR seeks candidates who have connections, experience, and contributions to make in at least one of these priority areas and regions:

1) Fundraising/Resource Development

2) Marketing/Communications/Public Relations

3) Corporate Sector

4) Prince George’s County

5) Washington, DC

6) Baltimore City

For more information, review the full Advisory Board Job Description, or contact Executive Director Shana Payne, .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

College Summit National Capital Region Advisory Board - Open Positions