NCBAA NORTHEAST 2025 Speaker Bios

County Executive Calvin Ball is a Maryland native and a resident of Columbia, where he and his wife Shani are proud parents of two daughters who attend and graduated from Howard County public schools.

In 2006, Dr. Ball made history when he was elected the youngest Chairperson in the history of the Howard County Council. He made history again in 2018, when he became the first African-American to be elected Howard County Executive.

“We are focused on becoming the best county not just overall, but for all—by being data-informed, people-driven, and expanding opportunity for all.” – County Executive Calvin Ball

Armenta E. Hinton, Ph.D. is the vice president of engagement, retention, inclusion and Title IX Coordinator at HACC, Central Pennsylvania’s Community College. In this role Dr. Hinton brings a high level of executive leadership to guide the institution’s commitment to promoting a culture of collegiality, inclusiveness, respect, and cultural competence. Previously she was the director of diversity and inclusion and Title IX coordinator at Elizabethtown College and served at Allegheny College in Pennsylvania as associate dean and co-chair and assistant professor of Black Studies. Dr. Hinton was also associate director of the center for diversity and social justice at Susquehanna University.

Dr. Hinton is an active scholar, practitioner and presenter in the areas of inclusion, diversity, equity and Title IX. Her research focuses on diversity, access and equity in education and higher education leadership. She is the co-editor of “Persistence and Memory,” a collection of essays on diversity with reflections written by Derald Wing Sue. Also, she contributed a chapter to a book, “Preserving HBCU’s Million Dollar Legacy.” Dr. Hinton is a member of National Association for Diversity Officers in Higher Education.

As a recipient of The World Affairs Council of Harrisburg’s Torch of Global Enlightenment Award for her contributions to inclusion and diversity, Dr. Hinton continues to make valuable contributions to diversity and inclusion in the region, as well as internationally, as she worked for many years in Germany and England. She received a bachelor’s degree in music history and piano from Alabama State University, a historically Black college and university, and studied at Roosevelt University’s Chicago Musical College. She received her post-graduate certificate in psychotherapy from Birmingham City University (England) and her doctorate in leadership and change from Antioch University in Ohio.

Robert (Bob) Messner, MSIS, CISSP, joined HACC, Central Pennsylvania’s Community College, as Chief Information Officer (CIO) in June 2013 to lead the Office of Information Technology and Learning Experience (OITLE). OITLE encompasses two departments: Enterprise Services and Information Technology. Bob brings over 25 years of leadership experience in higher education technology.

He holds a Master’s degree in Information Systems Technologies from Wilmington University and has earned industry certifications, including Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE), Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator (MCSA), and most recently, Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP).

In addition to his role at HACC, Bob serves as an external board member for Horizon Farm Credit and vice-chair of the Keystone RENN board. He also contributes to Zoom’s Higher Education Council.

Bob has previously worked as a technology consultant for Salem County Community College in New Jersey and Hagerstown Community College in Maryland. He has also served as an adjunct instructor at Wilmington University, where he taught advanced technology courses online at both the bachelor’s and master’s levels.

A visionary leader with over 22 years of executive-level experience in higher education, Dr. Brian Singleton’s distinguished career in education spans more than two decades. Beginning in the K-12 system, working with middle and high school students, he has dedicated the majority of his career to supporting student success at the collegiate level. Driven by an unwavering commitment to student success, he has risen to the top levels of administration and served in the executive cabinet for over a decade.

Currently Dr. Singleton holds the esteemed position of Vice Chancellor for Student Services and Campus President for the Curtis L. Ivery Downtown Campus at Wayne County Community College District (WCCCD), a comprehensive multi-campus community college serving over 32 cities and townships. In this role, he spearheads the development and implementation of a strategic vision for the campus and the Division of Student Services, focusing on overall student success. He skillfully manages daily operations while planning and developing long-term programs to meet the diverse needs of the Curtis L. Ivery Downtown Campus Community.

Vanessa Powell is a doctoral student in the Community College Leadership Program at Morgan State University in Baltimore, Maryland. In February, she successfully defended her dissertation Black Community College Students with Nonapparent Disabilities: A Hermeneutic Phenomenological Study Exploring Self-Advocacy. She will earn a Doctor of Education degree in May 2025. Vanessa intends to use her newly acquired knowledge to specialize in community college advocacy.

Vanessa is currently an attorney specializing in environmental justice and advocates for minority and low-income populations. She lectured in higher education while serving as a federal prosecutor with the United States Department of Justice, Environment and Natural Resources Division, Environmental Enforcement Section. Vanessa earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in History from the University of Baltimore, a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Maryland School of Law, and a Master of Theology degree, with a concentration in Social Justice, from St. Mary’s Seminary and Ecumenical Institute in Baltimore, Maryland.

David Baime serves as senior vice president for government relations for the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC). In this role, he directs the national advocacy efforts for the nation’s close to 1,200 community colleges and their students. Prior to joining AACC, he served as director of education funding for the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities. He has also worked as assistant director of government relations for the Association of American Medical Colleges.

Baime has made a number of radio, television, and Web appearances, including on CNN, MSNBC, C-SPAN, and National Public Radio, and is frequently quoted in The Chronicle of Higher Education, Inside Higher Ed, and other education publications.

Baime holds a bachelor’s degree from Haverford College and a master’s degree in economics from the London School of Economics.

Dr. G. Duncan Harris serves as the CEO of the Capital Campus of Connecticut State Community College (formerly Capital Community College) in Hartford, CT, where he is responsible for the strategic direction and daily operations of the campus. The Capital campus hosts CT State’s largest nursing program and is known for its success in providing access to careers that disrupt cycles of poverty and equity gaps for its students, 70% of whom are Black and Hispanic. Dr. Harris is recognized as an expert in student success and retention and takes pride in his role as a mentor/coach to many community college professionals.

He serves on the boards of the New England Board of Higher Education, the American Association of Community Colleges Economic Development and Workforce Commission, the National Council on Black American Affairs, Windsor Saving Bank, and the Wadsworth Athenaeum. He has received awards for his contributions to the community, including the CT African American Affairs Man of the Year and the NAACP 100 Most Influential Blacks in CT Award.

He holds a Doctorate of Education from Nova Southeastern University, a Master of Science degree in counseling from Central CT State University, a Bachelor of Arts in economics from UConn, and a certificate in Management and Leadership from Harvard University. He is a lifetime Alpha Phi Alpha, Fraternity, Inc. member and is active in the Hartford alumni chapter.

Myrtle E. B. Dorsey serves as the Program Director/Professor of Practice for the Community College Leadership Program at Morgan State University that offers the Master’s of Education in Community College Administration and Instruction, Doctor of Education in Community College Leadership, and the Doctor of Philosophy in Higher Education with an emphasis in Community College Leadership. She served as a consultant to the American Association of Community Colleges in Washington, D.C., facilitating the Roueche Future Leaders Institute. She has served in numerous leadership roles in Maryland, Georgia, Ohio, Louisiana, and Missouri. She is the former Chancellor of Baton Rouge Community College located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana for ten years. After leaving Baton Rouge she served as the Chancellor of the St. Louis Community College District.

Dr. Dorsey is a graduate of Morgan State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish and a minor in Russian, a Master of Science in reading, and a Ph.D. in higher education administration with an emphasis in community college leadership from the University of Texas at Austin. She has served as a college reading instructor, academic skills center director, university reading specialist, director of student support services, assistant to the dean of students, associate dean of student services, vice president of student affairs, system vice president of student affairs and institutional development, executive vice president, and chancellor. Dr. Dorsey has had extensive experience in higher education leadership, teaching, and service to the community. She served on the 21st Century Commission on the Future of Community Colleges, chaired the American Association of Community Colleges Board of Directors (32-members), served on the Baton Rouge Area Chamber Board of Directors, American Council on Education-Commission on Effective Leadership, Governor-Elect Jindal’s Higher Education Council, Baton Rouge Film Commission Board, Baton Rouge Literacy Coalition Board, Advisory Panel-Volunteers in Public Schools, Board of Trustees-Baton Rouge General Medical Center, Woman’s Hospital Development Council, Capital Area Network, Mid-City Merchants Association of Baton Rouge Board, and Louisiana Governor’s Adult Learning Task Force.

Dr. Dorsey has been honored with the St. Louis Empowerment Foundation-Women in Leadership Award, Phi Theta Kappa’s Shirley B. Gordon Award of Distinction, Baton Rouge Brotherhood and Sisterhood Award, the Rotary’s Paul Harris Fellow, NAACP Freedom Fund Community Service Award, Distinguished Graduate of the Community College Leadership Program, and the NISOD Master Teacher Award.

Cecelia A. Knox is solution-focused strategist with more than 25 years of experience in workforce development, career coaching, and group facilitation. A recently retired college administrator, she consults with leaders of organizations in the development of workplace competencies, with an emphasis on leadership, equity, and team building. Ms. Knox is a John Maxwell certified coach, speaker, trainer. She holds a master’s degree and is currently completing doctoral research focusing on the best practices for adult learners. One of her greatest joys is continuing a legacy of excellence as the dean for the NBCAA Leadership Development Institute.

Dr. Kelvin Cooper is the Chair and Professor in the Health, Physical Education, and Wellness Department at Bronx Community College. A native of the Bahamas, he is certified in both fitness and yoga, bringing a unique blend of expertise to his teaching and practice. Dr. Cooper has taught Afro-Caribbean dance at New York University and serves as a teaching artist for the Alvin Ailey Arts Education Program. His work spans continents, having taught and directed intercultural dance and Restorative Wellness workshops, conferences, and performances across Africa, South America, Asia, North America, and Europe.

Dr. Cooper’s performance credits are extensive, with appearances in renowned venues such as the Apollo Theater, BAM, the Joyce Theater, Madison Square Garden, and the Metropolitan Opera House. In addition to his performance career, he has completed a yearlong graduate-level certification in Compassionate Inquiry, a program founded by Dr. Gabor Maté. This opportunity has deepened his work in restorative practices, allowing him to explore healing and creative processes with diverse communities.

With his wealth of experience and knowledge, Dr. Cooper addresses two fundamental human needs: the need for connection to one’s authentic self and the need for mutual support and resources within a community. His work in Restorative Practice is grounded in these principles, fostering environments where individuals can thrive both individually and collectively.

Tisa Silver Canady, EdD, MBA, is an author, advocate, and collegiate financial wellness expert specializing in student loan debt. She and her team have personally advised students and families on the repayment of more than $150 million in student loans, helping public servants and long-time borrowers eliminate more than $21 million in federal student loan debt. She is a double graduate of the University of Delaware and Morgan State University Community College Leadership Program.

Dr. Theresa B. Felder serves as the 10th President of Harford Community College. Her focus is on providing access to higher education for all students. She is especially passionate about increasing the number of college graduates from first-generation and low-income backgrounds, which was addressed in her doctoral dissertation.

Since her time as president at Harford Community College, Dr. Felder has made an impact in the community. She has been honored by The Baltimore Sun as one of the 25 Women to Watch: Best in Advocacy, Business and Health. She was recognized with the 2023 Paragon Award for New Presidents by the Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) Honor Society and was named as one of Maryland’s Top 100 Women by The Daily Record.

Dr. Felder is active in the community and serves on various nonprofit boards, including the Harford County Chamber of Commerce, the Harford County Economic Development Advisory Board, the Susquehanna Workforce Network (SWN), the Northeastern Maryland Technology Council (NMTC), the Greater Baltimore President’s Advisory Committee, University of Maryland Upper Chesapeake Health, the Harford Business Roundtable for Education, and the Harford Leadership Academy.

Dr. Felder started her professional career in corporate accounting and later became an independent consultant, specializing in job readiness and employment training. She completed her doctoral degree in Higher Education Leadership at Northeastern University and holds a Master of Science in Administration from Central Michigan University and a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Syracuse University.

Dr. Felder and her husband, Greg, live in Havre de Grace, Maryland. Their son, Gregory, lives in Largo and works for the World Bank in Washington, DC. Their daughter, Taylor, recently graduated from Butler University and resides in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Dr. Jermaine F. Williams became the president of Montgomery College on February 28, 2022.

Dr. Williams’ work in higher education has focused his energies on improving access for students, as well as retention, graduation, and post-completion success. He has paid special attention to mitigating institutional, societal, and racial inequities, strategically creating programs and policies that support historically underrepresented and/or marginalized groups. He has years of experience designing, managing, and enhancing institutional and statewide programs and initiatives that have yielded positive student outcomes.

Dr. Williams has been widely lauded for his inclusive leadership style and for building teams that create strategic programing and policies to improve student outcomes. His professional approach to student success is deeply rooted in equity-minded systems and data-informed analysis. Dr. Williams’ view of higher education as a public good informs his personal passion about enhancing access, completion, and post-completion success, goals that are shared across Montgomery College.

Dr. Daria J. Willis serves as the fifth president of Howard Community College. She assumed office in January 2022, following a nation-wide search process and an unanimous vote by the college’s Board of Trustees. Dr. Willis is the first African American to lead the college in its history.

Dr. Willis is focused on issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion, ensuring the college’s culture of care and belonging extends to all students and employees. To build an equitable foundation for students, she has started the process of reorganizing the areas of teaching and learning and student success. An active social media user, Dr. Willis launched her own Instagram Live series, “Conversations from the Couch,” to connect with the community.

Prior to her appointment at Howard Community College, Dr. Willis was the president of Everett Community College in Everett, Washington, where she reported to a five-member board of trustees, managed a $73 million budget, and oversaw an institution with 840 employees. Committed to shared and participatory governance, Dr. Willis practices collaborative leadership and worked directly with three collective bargaining units at Everett.

She is a 2021 Aspen Institute Ascend Fellow, dedicated to empowering children and families across the country. She serves on the Howard County Economic Development Authority Board of Directors and on the advisory board for the Phi Theta Kappa international college honor society. Dr. Willis was named an Influential Marylander in 2022 by The Daily Record.

Dr. Willis earned her Ph.D. in history from Florida State University. She holds a master’s degree in history and a bachelor’s degree in history education from Florida A&M University, a historically Black college in Florida.

Dr. Barbara Gaba, was appointed the ninth president of Atlantic Cape Community College in January 2017, becoming the first female and first African American president in the college’s 50-year history. With extensive experience in higher education, she is deeply committed to the mission of the community college to provide affordable educational pathways for student success.

Prior to joining Atlantic Cape, Dr. Gaba served as Provost and Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs at Union County College (NJ). She also served as Dean of Academic and Student Support Services at Camden County College (NJ) and Associate Director of the Office of Board Affairs and Government Relations at the New Jersey Department of Higher Education.

During her 40-year career she has served as a teacher, researcher and administrator and has been devoted to working with underserved, underrepresented students, empowering them to attain a college education. She is student-focused, community-centric, and employee-oriented. Working to transform the lives of the students she serves—one student at a time—has been her calling. She strongly believes that it is the responsibility of leaders to use the power and influence they are given to lift up their communities and to create positive change.

She is a frequent speaker at statewide and national conferences on various higher education issues and she also continues to give back by serving as a mentor to individuals aspiring to leadership positions in higher education.