About: Board of Directors
| Board Position | Name | Qualifications |
| President / Treasurer | Venessa A. Brown |
|
| Vice President | Enrique Howell |
|
| Secretary | Catherimarty Burgos |
|
| Member / Conference Consultant | D. Wesley Poythress |
Standing L-R, Catherimarty Burgos and Venessa A. Brown
Seated L-R, Enrique E. Howell and D. Wesley Poythress
The Board of NCMSLC, Inc.:
Dr. Venessa A. Brown serves as the Assistant Provost for Institutional Diversity and Inclusion at Southern Illinois University - Edwardsville. She holds a tenured appointment as a Professor in the Department of Social Work. Dr. Brown was the previous Chair of the Department of Social Work. She received her PhD in 1994 from Clark Atlanta University. She is the author of "Child Welfare Case Studies," published by Allyn & Bacon. Her work experience includes approximately 10 years as a Child Protective Services Investigator for the State of Georgia, extensive work with the Juvenile Court System, a mental health assistant with a private adolescent center, social work practice with hospice, work with domestic violence and clinical social work experience with a private child and family counseling agency. Dr. Brown is committed to diversity and is currently the President of the Board of Directors for the National Christian Multicultural Student leaders Conference Inc. Her current research focus is on including people of color in child welfare history and international child welfare. She has traveled to the Caribbean, Central America, South Africa, and Eastern Europe studying and researching women's and children's issues. She has presented professional papers in the United States and internationally. She is also a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Dr. Brown serves as the NCMSLC Board of Directors President.
Return to the top of the page.
Enrique E. Howell serves as a Child Welfare Consultant. He recently retired as an Advanced Bilingual Child Welfare Specialist with Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Northwestern University, and the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services. He received his Masters in Social Work in 2001 from Southern Illinois University - Edwardsville. His work experience includes 28 years in the United States Air Force and 10 years as a child welfare specialist. Mr. Howell has conducted numerous workshops on children and family issues and has presented professional papers in the United States and internationally. His research interests are studying and researching women's and children's issues in the Caribbean and in Central and South America. He is a bilingual Panamanian and is committed to promoting diversity and positive change. Mr. Howell serves as the NCMSLC Board of Directors Vice President.
Return to the top of the page.
Catherimarty Burgos is a licensed clinical social worker and serves as the Clinical Director at the Juvenile Services Department (JSD) in Miami, Florida. She supervises and manages staff that provides evidence-based assessment and case management services to at-risk and arrested children in Miami-Dade County. Ms. Burgos, who is Dominican American, is committed to diversity and has been instrumental in the creation, implementation, and management of prevention and intervention programs serving minority children. She is an advocate for children and families served by JSD. The President's 2004 Drug Strategy Report recognized JSD/JAC as an "exemplary program" leading the charge in developing ways to "Intervene Early" with at-risk youth. Ms. Burgos serves as the NCMSLC Board of Directors Secretary.
Return to the top of the page.
Mr. D. Wesley Poythress is the founder of AWH Consulting, which provide expertise and comprehensive services including consultation and competency workshops in the areas of cultural and racial diversity, multiculturalism and social inclusion. Also, he serves as an Adjunct Professor at Anderson University (AU) in Indiana. He earned his Master of Arts in Counselor Education from the University of Iowa in Iowa City, Iowa. His Bachelor of Arts was earned from Berea College, a small private unique Christian institution, in Berea, Kentucky. Prior to establishing AWH, Mr. Poythress had great success as the Director of the Multicultural Student Services at AU. Prior appointments include serving as Director of Multicultural Life, then as Assistant Dean and Liaison to the President for Minority Participation at Hope College in Michigan. Prior to his tenure at Hope, Mr. Poythress served as the first Coordinator for Retention for Support Services at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, preceded by appointments as Assistant Director for Counseling, Assistant Director for Curriculum and Coordinator for Minority Outreach at the University of Iowa. He currently serves on several organizational boards and is an invited lecturer in several venues. He has worked in higher education for over 18 years and has served on many major committees, sub-committees and organizations. He is also a Life Member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Mr. Poythress serves as the NCMSLC Board of Directors Conference Consultant.
Return to the top of the page.
ABOUT LINKS:
- Board of Directors
- President's Letter
Bios of Board Members:
Venessa A. Brown
Ferguson, MO
Enrique Howell
Belleville, IL
Catherimarty Burgos
Coral Gables, FL