2026-2027 Board of Directors
OFFICERS
Please Click Pictures for Board Member Bios
President
VP of Ethics, Compliance and Enterprise Risk Management, Signet Jewelers
Secretary
Retired Randolph Baxter Professor of Law
The University of Akron
Past PGA Board President
Treasurer
Community Involvement Consultant OH Region, FirstEnergy Corporation
DIRECTORS
Kelly Herold
Senior Director,
Educational Outreach & Adult Focus
The University of Akron
Judge Kani Hightower
Presiding Judge
Summit County Domestic Relations Court
Montrella Jackson, Esq., CCM
Director of HR/Chief HR Officer
City of Akron
Patrick M. Kabasinski, Esq
Associate Attorney
Roetzel & Andress LPA
Dr. Aaron M. Lear
Research Director Family Medicine
Cleveland Clinic Akron General
Joseph May
Manager of Corporate Social Responsibility
State and Federal Communications
Debra Shifrin, Esq
Attorney
Liner Legaltake
Clarence Tucker
Retired Deputy Mayor for Public Safety
City of Akron
Shanda-lyn Yaeger, GISP
Associate Professor
Stark State College
EX OFFICIO
Mary Outley
Superintendent
Akron Public Schools
Jacqueline A. Silas-Butler, Esq.
Executive Director
Project GRAD Akron
Presidents of the Project GRAD Akron’s Board of Directors
Vivian Celeste Neal
2002
(Interim Director to establish the non-profit status)
Robert Kulinski
2002 - 2004
Jocelyn McClendon
2004 - 2007
Jean Van Ness, Esq.
2007 - 2009
Danielle Kimmell, CPA
2009 - 2012
Bennett Gaines
2012 - 2013
Anita L. Davis, Esq.
2013 - 2015
Dana K. LaGarde
2015 - 2018
Pamela R. Valentine
2018 - 2020
Martin H. Belsky, Esq.
2020 -2022
Maura Scanlon Bozzelli
2022-2024
Diane Miller-Dawson
2024 to 2026
Ebony L. Yeboah-Amankwah, Esq.
7/1/2026 to present