Meet the SPEAR Foundation Board
Charmaine Davis-Bey, Ed.D
President
As the President of the SPEAR Board of Directors, Dr. Charmaine Davis-Bey synthesizes her rich tapestry of experiences in education, public service, and organizational leadership, as contribution to this role. From the academic corridors of Xavier University of Ohio, and the University of Missouri-Columbia, where she secured her B.A. in Communications, and M.Ed. in Educational Psychology respectively, as well as earning her Ed.D. in Out-of-School Learning (OSL) from the University of Pittsburgh, Dr. Davis-Bey's commitment to life long and life wide learning stands prominent.
Dr. Davis-Bey is a proud educator and public servant, curating her role as Case Management Coordinator for the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce (DEW). Since April 2023, she leads the Department’s case management team in coordinating support for high-priority districts across the state. She previously served as a 21st CCLC Education Program Specialist for seven years, where she ardently supported out-of-school time (OST) programs in districts and community-based organizations through the Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Centers (CCLC) grant program. In this role, she managed over $25 million to expand and maintain OST programs, providing academic and non-academic supports, in the Northeast and Southwest regions of the state. While in 21st CCLC, she was selected as a national White-Riley-Peterson Policy Fellow, where she created and implemented her policy project to support the growth and development of quality high school 21st CCLC programs in Ohio – and allows for competitive priority for future 21st CCLC grant competitions. From 2022 – 2024, she managed several of the Department’s post-COVID American Rescue Plan (ARP) ESSER grant programs, including Ohio Alliance Boys and Girls Club ($17.9 million) and the ESC Extended Learning and Recovery
($75 million).
Dr. Davis-Bey is a life member of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc., inducted on March 3, 2006, Epsilon Lambda Sigma – Cincinnati, Ohio Alumnae Chapter, currently in the Alpha Lambda Sigma – Cleveland, Ohio Alumnae Chapter. She is also a past local and Central Region Historian (Epistoleus), 2020 Ollie V. Greene Humanitarian Award winner, and served on the International Centennial Committee: History and Archives. Other memberships include National Afterschool Association (NAA), Ohio Afterschool Network (OAN), National Council of Negro Women (NCNW), Cuyahoga County Section, Black Doctoral Network (BDN) member and American Educational Research Association (AERA) voting member.
Dr. Davis-Bey serves as a full voting member of the SPEAR Board of Directors. In her pivotal role as President, after seven insightful years serving in positions including Board Secretary, Central Region Representative and President-Elect, Dr. Davis-Bey stands poised to lead the SPEAR Foundation towards new horizons, leveraging her educational, professional, and organizational experiences. To reach her, please contact president@spearfoundation.org
Vanessa Power Anderson, Ph.D.
Vice President
For over 25+ years, Soror Vanessa Power Anderson (Ph.D.) has worked in higher education as a consultant, senior level administrator and visiting faculty member. She has earned academic degrees from Valdosta State University, the University of South Carolina, and a Doctor of Philosophy from Virginia Tech. She is a passionate educator who is working in her community and nationally. Her board appointments have included serving on the American Association for Women in Community Colleges (AAWCC) Mile High Chapter Executive Board, the Women’s Bean Project, Transformational Leadership Foundation and the Colorado Sisterhood Crusade. She has served on the 2024 National Conference Planning Team as the co-chair of the Logistic, Volunteer and Hospitality Committees
She is the Past President of the American Association for Women in Community Colleges (AAWCC) Mile High Chapter. Her recognitions include, but not limited to, Oxford International Round Table Scholar/Leader, 2017 Denver Urban Spectrum’s “African Americans Who Make A Difference” and the Sisters-In-Service, Soror of the Year. Her most recent honor is being selected as one of the 2021 National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development (NISOD) Excellence Award Recipient honoring her extraordinary work on her campus supporting faculty, staff, and students. For 29+ years, Soror Anderson has been an active member of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. in the Southeast, Northeast, Western and most recently, in the Southwestern Region. Soror Power Anderson served as the 17th Western Region Syntaktes from 2012-2016.
She is a Life Member, Ruby, past WR Anti-Grammateus, past Anti-Basileus of the Aurora, Colorado Chapter, as well as, a past Western Region Syntaktes, and National Board Member. She and her husband Dr. Myron Anderson, have been married for over 16 years and they have been blessed to have a son named Ayden.
Mrs. Power Anderson is a full voting member of the SPEAR Foundation Board of Directors, serving as the Director of Marketing and Vice President. Director Power-Anderson can be reached at vicepresident@spearfoundation.org
La Tonya Theus Nelson
Executive Director
La Tonya Theus Nelson was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. She is the oldest of four children. In her family, she is a first-generation college graduate. She is a graduate of California State University Long Beach with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice. In 2001, she earned a master’s degree in School Counseling from the University of La Verne. Currently she works as an Assistant Probation Director with the Los Angeles County Probation Department. In the past she has served as an Adjunct Professor for the University of Phoenix.
La Tonya is a part of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. Sigma became a part La Tonya's life when she was an undergraduate at California State University Long Beach. She served as the Basileus of the Antelope Valley Alumnae Chapter, Epsilon Chi Sigma. As a member of Sigma, she has served on various committees and has held national, regional, and local offices in the sorority. La Tonya has also volunteered and assisted with various programs on all levels as well as projects of Sigma. She currently serves on the Centennial Planning Committee, as the November Celebrations Chair. She is 15th Western Regional Syntaktes. Additionally, La Tonya is a Veteran and served in the United States Army obtaining the rank of Sergeant.
With a passion for community service, La Tonya has worked with a variety of agencies and organizations, which include, Black Probation Officers Association, California Probation, Parole and Correctional Association, Association of Fraternal Advisors, Coalition of 100 Black Women, Concerned Black Men of Los Angeles and many more just to name a few. She is an inductee of the Order of Omega a National Greek Honor Society and a member of the Presidential Who’s Who Among Business and Professional Achievers.
La Tonya lives in Lancaster, California, with her husband Gerard, a strong supporter of Sigma Gamma Rho. Together they have 3 children. She enjoys running, spending time with her family and providing service to others.
Mrs. Nelson serves as a full voting member of the SPEAR Board of Directors and Director Nelson can be contacted at executivedirector@spearfoundation.org
Uolanda Davis-Campbell
Immediate Past President
Ms. Uolanda Davis-Campbell, a proud native of Detroit, holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Communications from Eastern Michigan University, with a minor in Theatre Arts. She has also earned the Certified Nonprofit Professional (CMP) Designation/Credential from Allied Management Institute. Ms. Davis-Campbell brings a wealth of expertise in customer service, sales, and event coordination, coupled with her strategic planning acumen and specialized skills in community engagement.
Currently, Ms. Davis-Campbell serves as the Chandler Park Community Engagement Manager for Brilliant Detroit in Detroit, Michigan.
In her leadership roles, she has served as a Nonprofit Leadership Alliance Student Leader Mentor and held key positions within Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc., including Central Region Time and Place Committee Chairperson and Event Planner. Ms. Davis-Campbell is deeply involved in community service and currently holds pivotal positions such as the President of the Sigma Public Education and Research Foundation, Second Vice-President of the Rho Sigma Detroit Alumnae Chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc., and serves on the Eastside Community Network Resiliency Steering Committee.
With her extensive background in community engagement, program management, and client relations, Ms. Davis-Campbell is a dedicated advocate for positive change. She actively contributes as a full voting member of the SPEAR Board of Directors, where she continues to drive impactful initiatives. Director Campbell can be contacted at udaviscampbell@spearfoundation.org
Dorothy Simmons Blake
Board Member
Ms. Dorothy Simmons-Blake has been an integral part of the foundation since its nascent stages, joining the initial board of directors in 1993 and playing a pivotal role in steering its financial strategies and governance.
Ms. Simmons-Blake graduated from Cal State University, Fullerton in 1988, where she majored in Business Administration. This solid academic background in business has been paramount in her professional journey of over 17 years in the finance and banking sectors, wherein she honed her proficiency in financial management, strategic planning, and fiscal governance.
Ms. Simmons-Blake became a cherished member of Sigma Gamma Rho, initiated through the Gamma Kappa chapter in 1983. She has sustained active involvement and commitment to the sorority (as a Life Member and Ruby Member), currently contributing to the Eta Chi Sigma Chapter, the Las Vegas Alumnae chapter, where she continues to embody the values and mission of the organization in her endeavors.
As a vital member of the SPEAR Foundation Board of Directors, she is readily available for contact regarding any related aspects at Dsimmonsblake@spearfoundation.org
Arcola F. Stafford
Board Member
Ms. Arcola F. Stafford, originating from the nurturing community of Luxora, AK, has cemented her legacy both in the sphere of education and within the SPEAR Foundation, currently residing in the vibrant city of Las Vegas, Nevada. She achieved her Masters of Education (M.Ed.) with a specialization in Educational Leadership.
Ms. Stafford’s professional journey in the realm of education traversed various geographical and cultural landscapes. She served the youth of Kansas City, KS, imparting musical education for six enriching years after dedicating three decades of her career to the Clark County School District in Luxora, AK, as an Elementary Music Teacher, from where she retired with an arsenal of cherished memories and experiences. Her commitment to education, particularly in the musical arts, extended beyond the classroom into the community where she was an active participant in the Maestro Singers, an ensemble devoted to the preservation of negro spirituals, in Las Vegas.
An alumnus of Philander-Smith College located in Little Rock, AR, Ms. Stafford’s impact extends into the sisterhood of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc., where she took her initial steps in 1969, joining the Alpha Xi Chapter. Her leadership and steadfast commitment within the sorority were evident through her tenures as Chapter Basileus of Alpha Xi and, subsequently, the Eta Chi Sigma Chapter (Las Vegas Alumnae Chapter), weaving a tapestry of support and leadership that has influenced generations within the sorority.
Since 1993, Ms. Stafford has been an instrumental figure in the foundational structure and growth of the SPEAR Foundation, actively participating as a part of its initial board of directors and presently holding the pivotal role of Treasurer. Her keen financial acumen, shaped by her educational background and professionally enriched through various experiences, continues to be an invaluable asset in steering the fiscal navigation of the foundation.
Ms. Stafford serves as a full voting member of the SPEAR Board of Directors. She welcomes dialogue and collaboration and can be reached at astafford@spearfoundation.org
Denine Goolsby, M.Ed
Women’s Programming
Denine A. Goolsby is a native Clevelander and a graduate of Shaw High School located in East Cleveland, Ohio. She received a Bachelor of Science Degree from Kent State University with a concentration in Elementary Education in 1977. She began her career as a teacher in the East Cleveland City School District and remained there for twelve years. She taught students in grades one, three, four, and six during her tenure there. She took a sabbatical from the district in 1989 to pursue a Master’s Degree in Educational Administration and Principal’s Certification from Kent State University. After graduation in 1990, she returned to the East Cleveland Schools. She currently holds a Superintendent’s License from Ashland University.
In 1992, Ms. Goolsby accepted an administrative position with the Cleveland Heights-University Heights City Schools. While in the district, she served as Elementary Assistant Principal, Assistant Middle School Principal, Elementary Principal, and Middle School Principal. As an elementary principal, she received an award from the Governor for closing the achievement gap. Through collaboration with the staff, she led the middle school to receive recognition as a National School to Watch. She retired from the Cleveland Heights-University Heights School District in 2008.
From 2008 to 2018, Ms. Goolsby served in several roles in the Cleveland Metropolitan School District. She has held the positions of Regional Superintendent, Academic Coach, and Executive Director of Humanware – where she worked extensively with experts in the field of SEL, who are internationally known for being pioneers in social and emotional learning.
Currently, Ms. Goolsby is a professor at Cleveland State University and an active member of the CREATE for Education Board of Directors – whose goal is to nurture healthy, caring school communities that support social and emotional learning and teacher and principal wellness.
Ms. Goolsby was inducted into Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority on April 17, 1976, at Kent State University. She has served as Epistoleus, Grammateus, and Basileus of Alpha Lambda Sigma Chapter, 2016 Boule Hostess, and served as the National Boule Hostess (2017 – 2020). She is a member of the National Sorority of Phi Delta Kappa, Incorporated, and the National Coalition of 100 Black Women.
Ms. Goolsby serves as a full voting member of the SPEAR Board of Directors. She serves as the LADES Program Coordinator. Director Goolsby can be contacted at dgoolsby@spearfoundation.org
Alafia "Terrie" Thompson, PMP
Project Mangement
Alafia “Terrie” Thompson, PMP® is a member of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. for over 28 years; affectionately and professionally known as Terrie Thompson. She is a certified Project Management Profession (PMP®) through the Project Management Institute (PMI). As a Philo Affiliate Advisor through the Theta Alpha Sigma Alumnae chapter, she established the first Philo Affiliate in the state of Connecticut on March 19, 2022. She has her Bachelor of Science in Public Relations and Psychology. Mrs. Thompson has over 17 years of advocacy, nonprofit development, and grant experience. She has worked in various capacities of service within corporate settings, non-profits, and human services in the Western Massachusetts area. She brings her extensive grant writing, advocacy, donor development, sponsor cultivation, CRM systems management, project management, and community engagement experience to contribute in a meaningful way to the SPEAR Foundation Board of Directors. Throughout her career she has been committed to advocating and working closely with marginalized communities to create social equity, inclusion, exercise personal choice, and help provide equal access to resources in the larger community.
In all areas of her career, she has practiced honoring the unique experiences and needs of the communities she serves by helping those individuals and groups to be empower by their own experiences so they may thrive where they live, work, eat, and play in a meaningful way. Her work continues through her appointments/memberships to active community boards and agencies in Massachusetts. Mrs. Thompson’s current board/community involvement includes SPEAR Foundation (Director), Women of Color Health Equity Collective (Board Member), Massachusetts Department of Disabilities Citizen’s Advisory Board (Chair of the Board for an Area Office), and Massachusetts Juvenile Detention Alternative Initiative (JDAI) (Hampden County Committee Member).
Mrs. Thompson serves as a full voting member of the SPEAR Board of Directors, currently serving as the Director of Project Management. She can be contacted at directorofpm@spearfoundation.org