2024-2025 Board of Directors
OFFICERS
Please Click Pictures for Board Member Bios
President-Elect
VP of Ethics, Compliance and Enterprise Risk Management, Signet Jewelers
DIRECTORS
Dr. Angela Brake, DPS
Continuous Improvement & Robotic Process Automation Leader,
The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
Anita L. Davis, Esq.
Attorney at Law
Past PGA Board President
Barry Dunaway
Retired Smucker’s
& Leadership Akron
James Harris Jr.
IT Project Manager
Quanex
Dana K. LaGarde
Retired Lead Project Manager, AT&T
Past PGA Board President
Fedearia Nicholson-Sweval, Ph.D.
Vice Provost for Student Pathways &
Dean of Williams Honors College
The University of Akron
Ann Otto, Ph. D.
Retired Associate Vice President
NEOMED
Community Involvement Consultant
OH Region, FirstEnergy Corporation
Clarence Tucker, Retired
Deputy Mayor for Public Safety
City of Akron
The Honorable Annalisa S. Williams
Judge
Akron Municipal Court
Pam Wright, CPA (Retired)
Consultant
Shanda-lyn Yaegar, GISP
Assistant Professor
Stark State College
EX OFFICIO
Dr. Michael Robinson
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.
7/1/2020 -