This is where your bio belongs as a new or current member. Membership is limited to 100 maximum at any time. We have a leadership spot reserved for you.
Debra Y. Ware (Richmond, Virginia) - HHEW '13
Debra is an experienced professional with over twenty years of successful experience working with urban public school districts. Debra’s approach is hands-on, results and profit-oriented, and she is an internet-savvy executive who combines well-developed analytical, financial and operational skills with outstanding business acumen. She applies technology to enhance data and information management to build and deliver solutions. She strategically applies keen business principles to develop and install newly developed software applications and hardware solutions to achieve critical business results. She has successfully implemented Enterprise Resource Planning systems, inventory reduction and cost control programs, Human Resources onboarding process cycle time reduction initiatives, and eLearning Attendance and Credit cycle time reduction projects. She is a regular team member on technical assist visits to Council of the Great City Schools member districts in which subject matter experts review in detail the human resources operations of a district and offer findings and detailed recommendations for program and systems improvements. Ms. Ware is a Six Sigma Black Belt who works with public education, government and businesses. Her B.S. degree is from Strayer University, and she is currently an MBA candidate at Texas A&M University at Commerce. She holds a certification as a Six Sigma Black Belt. Areas of Expertise: Performance Management and Employee Accountability - Employee Relations and Employee Retention - HR and HRIS Integration - Process Improvement and Process Management - Oracle Applications Enterprise Resource Implementation
Debra Watson (San Jose, California) - HHEW '06
Debra was born in Los Angeles and raised in Pomona, California. After her high school graduation, she studied in France for one year and earned a baccalaureate that enabled her to attend college in the country free of charge. Instead, she returned to the United States and earned a B.A. in English with minors in French and Psychology from Pitzer College in 1976. She then entered Stanford University’s Teacher Education Program and earned a Master’s degree in Education as well as Life-time Teaching Credentials in English, French and Psychology in 1977. A second Master’s degree in Counselor Education was granted in 1996. As of July 2007, she is the full-time Executive Director of the California Alliance of African American Educators (CAAAE), an organization she founded in 2001, as well as its president. Debra was also one of the founders of the Santa Clara County Alliance of Black Educators approximately 30 years ago and served as its president for seven years (1994-2001). In addition to running the CAAAE, Debra supervises and coaches teachers and tutors three days each week in an innovative program at Oak Grove High School that she designed for under-performing students of African ancestry and that is funded by an AT&T Aspire High School Success grant.
Clint Williams (San Antonio, Texas) - HHEW '01
Clint Williams is a native of Roanoke, VA, and is one of the founding members of the HHEW Group. He served in the US military for twenty years, and retired in 1996. He graduated from Texas State University in San Marcos, with a degree in Journalism. He later received a master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from St. Mary’s University, San Antonio. He is a licensed professional counselor (LPC), and works with at risk youth and their families in San Antonio. Clint and his wife, Angela, are the proud parents of three adult children, Nicky (Joseph), Nicholas and Vincent, an 18 year old daughter, Alexandra and our “baby,” our 11 year old daughter, Aliyah. He is also the proud grandfather of three, Brandon, Brianna and Benjamin. Clint is a member of the ‘first’ African-American Collegiate fraternity, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. A die-hard Virginia Tech football fan, Clint roots for the “Hokies” as they vie for a national championship (or a major bowl game) every fall!
Roy L. Williams, Esq. (Milwaukee, Wisconsin) - HHEW '01
Native of St. Louis, MO. 1993 Graduate of Claremont McKenna College with a BA in Government/Religion. 1997 Graduate of Loyola University-Chicago School of Law. Attorney with the Milwaukee County Office of Corporation Counsel. I also have my own private practice. Named a Rising Star among lawyers in Milwaukee Magazine. Board Member of the Social Development Commission, an anti-poverty agency. Adjunct instructor at Concordia University and Cardinal Stritch University. In addition to my three strong-willed daughters, I love two things--trying cases and teaching. Finally, my spare time is spent reading and training in Krav Maga, the Israeli hand-to-hand self-defense/combat system.
Gloria Willingham-Toure', PhD (Santa Barbara, California) - HHEW '08
Earned a PhD from Claremont Graduate University in Education; born in Little Rock, Arkansas, now a resident of California. She is married, and is a mother and grandmother. She earned a B.S.N. at Regents College, University of the State of New York, and a master’s degree in nursing science from University of Arkansas Medical Science Campus. She is currently the Interim Provost and Associate Dean, Academic Affairs, School of Educational Leadership and Change, Fielding Graduate University, Santa Barbara, California. She has lived, studied and/or worked abroad in Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt, Thailand, France, China, Cuba, Canada,and Mexico. She is a Fulbright Senior Specialist in Public/Global Health and was the recipient of a Fulbright Grant to the University of Malta.
Edward M. Willis (Asheville, North Carolina) - HHEW '01
I have 30 years of diverse, inclusive and progressively responsible student affairs experience in a variety of higher education settings. I have worked at one of the largest public universities in the country, the largest catholic university, two historically black colleges and universities, two flagship state university campuses, as well as regional state universities. My university experiences have included: Florida A&M University (current), University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, University of Missouri – Columbia, Rutgers University, St. John’s University, North Carolina A&T State University and The University of Toledo.
I am a native of New Jersey and I am married to the former Carla A. Smith, who serves as a Vice President for University Relations and Executive Director of the Foundation at Florida A&M University. I have two sons, Christopher who is 22 and Brandon who is 19 and both are currently in college. I enjoy reading, spending time with my family, listening to music and watching sports
I have a Bachelor’s degree (B.A.) from Montclair State University in Northern New Jersey, a Master’s of Education degree (Ed.M.) from Rutgers-The State University of New Jersey and I have completed work towards a Ph.D. at the University of Toledo.
I am a native of New Jersey and I am married to the former Carla A. Smith, who serves as a Vice President for University Relations and Executive Director of the Foundation at Florida A&M University. I have two sons, Christopher who is 22 and Brandon who is 19 and both are currently in college. I enjoy reading, spending time with my family, listening to music and watching sports
I have a Bachelor’s degree (B.A.) from Montclair State University in Northern New Jersey, a Master’s of Education degree (Ed.M.) from Rutgers-The State University of New Jersey and I have completed work towards a Ph.D. at the University of Toledo.
Derrick Woodson, MPA (Miami, Florida) - HHEW '03
Derrick “Baby D” Woodson was born and raised in the rural southwest town of Kenbridge, Virginia. He received his B.A. degree from St. Paul’s College in Lawrenceville, Virginia and his MPA degree from The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio. He has been a proud member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. since 1979. Derrick currently resides in Miami, Florida where he works in the Safety and Security Division of the Miami-Dade Transit Department. Derrick always looks forward to attending the HHEW conference in Las Vegas so that his mind can be stimulated by the various topics of discussion on how we as African Americans can continue to uplift our communities and each other.