Award Winners

Dr. Carla R. Jackson | Spring 2019 Winner
Carla R. Jackson is a graduate of the doctoral program in Community College Leadership at Morgan State University, where she now serves as the Statewide Coordinator. In this role she conducts research that is pertinent to CCLP program development, and student advancement. She also works with faculty and administrators to enhance CCLP curriculum, workshops, and outreach efforts, both nationally and internationally.

Previously, she taught College Writing and English Composition courses as an adjunct at local community colleges and 4-year universities, namely the Community College of Baltimore County, Baltimore City Community College, Stevenson University, and the University of Baltimore. She earned undergraduate and graduate degrees from Howard University, and the University of Baltimore with honors, respectively. Her research interests are focused on faculty development, which includes an exploration of the impact of underrepresentation on the well-being of minority professors. This research has been well-received at local and regional conferences, and published in the Journal of Underrepresented and Minority Progress (JUMP), a refereed interdisciplinary journal. Subsequently, the journal’s publisher has asked her to serve as a peer reviewer of articles within her field of expertise, and to become a member of the editorial board. Dr. Jackson was also awarded the Peer’s Choice Research Award at the Morgan State Graduate Student Association’s Graduate Research Conference. She is currently pursuing publication in various scholarly and mainstream models that offer the best arena to highlight her penchant for multi-faceted story-telling that illuminates the human condition beyond data points.

Research: 1000 Paper Cuts: The Cost of Underrepresentation 

Dr. Tisa L. Silver Canady | Spring 2018 Winner
Tisa L. Silver Canady, Ed.D., MBA, is the founder and principal at Silver Canady & Associates, a research and consulting firm headquartered in Prince George’s County, Maryland. Her career in higher education began in 2003 when she joined the faculty of the Alfred E. Lerner College of Business and Economics at the University of Delaware. Tisa specialized in corporate finance and investments. In 2011, Tisa transitioned to an administrative role at the University of Maryland, Baltimore where she was responsible for campus-wide financial education programming and debt management initiatives. She also managed the campus financial aid counseling team and personally advised students on the repayment of more than $45 million in student loan debt. Tisa has served as a writer and reviewer of personal finance and investments content for online outlets including Forbes, Investopedia, and BET. Her insights have been featured in radio, television and print outlets including TIME, Ladies’ Home Journal, ESSENCE Magazine, FOX Business, MSN Money, Yahoo! Finance and Maryland Public Television. Tisa has an undergraduate degree in finance and a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Delaware. She earned a doctorate in higher education administration community college leadership from Morgan State University.

Research: The Relationship Between Financial Aid Advising and Community College Student Engagement

Dr. Charanne Smith | Spring 2017 Winner

Dr. Charanne Smith has a background in higher education, policy, diversity, curriculum and program development, early college high school partnerships, and corporate human resources. She has a Bachelor of Arts from University of Iowa, Master of Arts from Thomas Edison State University and a Doctor of Management in Community College Policy and Administration from University of Maryland University College. She believes in student access, opportunity and success, and is Director-Brookdale Community College at Neptune.

Research: Impact of Intended and Unintended Outcomes of Performance-Based Funding on Community Colleges

Dr. Deborah Peoples | Spring 2016 Winner

Dr. Deborah Peoples has over 10 years of community college leader experience. During her tenure as an administrator, she led institutional efforts in continuing education. Dr. Peoples has extensive experience in the public, private and non-profit sectors leading workforce development initiatives, grant development and management, student advisement, curriculum design and development, marketing, course evaluation, faculty assessment, enrollment management, and staff development. Dr. Peoples holds a B.A. from St. Mary’s College of Maryland, an MA from University of Maryland-Baltimore County, and an Ed.D. from Morgan State University. Dr. Peoples currently leads efforts to develop global leadership competencies for mid- to senior-level executives in a Fortune 500 company.

Research: Personal Connections and Career Reflections: Examining the Social Networks and Career Choices of African American Women Community College Leaders

Dr. Towaunna Porter Brannon | Spring 2015 Winner

Dr. Towuanna Porter Brannon is a higher education professional with more than 15 years of experience in key leadership roles at public, private and proprietary institutions. Dr. Brannon currently serves as the Assistant Dean for Advising, Records and Registration at LaGuardia Community College within CUNY. She provides leadership and vision to eight departments including the Registrar’s Office, Center for Career and Professional Development, International Student Services, Transfer Services, Office of Student with Disabilities, Student Advising Services, and CUNY signature retention programs including College Discovery, Accelerated Studies in Associate Programs (ASAP), and College Opportunity to Prepare for Employment (COPE).

Research: Perceived Factors Contributing to Associate Degree Completion by African American Males at a Community College