Beta Eta Lambda Scholarship Foundation
of
Alpha Phi Alpha
Board of Directors
Chairman
Warren Pete
Is a servant in education and has served as a Teacher, Instructional Coach, Vice Principal and is currently the Principal of Millwood Arts Academy in Oklahoma City. Mr. Pete continues to support the Beta Eta Lambda Scholarship Foundation with a $500.00 scholarship in honor of his mother, Bertie Lee Thornton, who passed away in 2016. Mr. Pete’s goal is to change the headlines for all students.
Vice Chairman
Gary Jones
Serves as the Director of Diversity and Inclusion of the Michael F. Price College of Business at The University of Oklahoma. Having over a decade in higher education diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) work, Mr. Jones is responsible for ensuring Price College remains a welcoming place for all students, faculty, staff and alumni through a variety of strategic initiatives. Professionally, Gary is credited for creating and sustaining programs like the annual Civil Rights Movement Spring Break Tour for Oklahoma Christian students, as well Oklahoma’s premiere annual black history month event, “History Speaks”, which brings living civil rights icons to Oklahoma Christian’s campus annually. He is also the founder and director of Oklahoma Christian’s John Thompson Leadership Program – a social cohort for domestic minority leaders. Mr. Jones holds both a bachelor's degree (History / Pre-Law) and MBA (Organizational Leadership) from Oklahoma Christian University.
Secretary
Ken Lawson
Retired from the IBM corporation after 33 years. Mr. Lawson’s civic involvement includes being a life member of the Urban League, Chairman of the Beta Eta Lambda Scholarship Foundation of Alpha Phi Alpha, officer at Prospect Church, former National President of OU Black Alumni, and annual United Way Drive leader. Mr. Lawson is married to Lena Lawson and have three children and eleven grandchildren.
Treasurer
Wm. Gerald Henderson
Is an Income Tax Preparer and 60-year life member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated. Mr. Henderson served as the past Oklahoma State Director of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated, and past-president of the Beta Eta Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated. Mr. Henderson is a member of St. John CME Church in Spencer, OK, where he serves as Treasurer, Trustee, Steward-OK President, and CME Ministry to Men Department. Mr. Henderson holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Langston University and Master of Science in Zoology from The University of Oklahoma.
Financial Secretary
Carvel Davis
Retired from Tinker AFB after 42-years of combined military and civil service. He served in the United States Air Force Reserve in numerous capacities, ultimately retiring after 32-years as the First Sergeant to the 513th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron. During his Civil Service career, he served as a Nondestructive Tester Supervisor, Engineer Technician, and level III certifier for nondestructive testers. Mr. Davis retired as the Training Manager for the 76th Maintenance Support Group in 2018. He holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Central Oklahoma. Mr. Davis is married to Joanne Davis and they have two daughters and two granddaughters.
Beta Eta Lambda President
Brian Eakers
Member
J.D. Daniels
Worked in criminal justice and retired as the Deputy Director of the Oklahoma State Pardon and Parole Board after nearly 40-years. Mr. Daniels started his career at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary and served on various Boards and Commissions throughout his career. Most recently, Mr. Daniels was on the Board of Directors for Opportunity Industrialize Center. He is a Life Member of the National Association of Blacks in Criminal Justice and Life Member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. In both organizations, he held leadership positions. Mr. Daniels received a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science degrees in Sociology (Emphasis in Corrections) from Oklahoma State University. He married Olivia Combest, after they met on the campus of Oklahoma State University. They have been married for 42-years and have two children and three grandchildren. They are members of Tabernacle Church.
Member
Marcus Verner
Is the Director of the United States Department of Commerce’s (USDOC) Commercial Service (CS) Oklahoma U.S. Export Assistance Center (OkUSEAC). He is responsible for the implementation of the Commercial Service’s export assistance programs and services in Oklahoma, which are designed to expand international trade awareness and increase the number of exporting firms, particularly by small and medium-sized businesses. Mr. Verner holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Central Oklahoma (Business) and a Master of Business Administration (International Business) degree from Oklahoma City University.
Member
Dr. Silvya Kirk
Retired from the Mid-Del School District in 2016. Dr. Kirk served as a Teacher, Assistant Principal, Principal (Carl Albert High School for 14 years), Director of Secondary Education and finally, the Executive Regional Director for the District. Additionally, Dr. Kirk served as an Adjunct Professor at Southern Nazarene University. Prior to the family’s move to Oklahoma, Dr. Kirk taught in Florida, New York (her home state), Mississippi, and the Republic of the Philippines. Notwithstanding, she serves on myriad committees across the state as an Educational Consultant, as well as, a Motivational Speaker. Dr. Kirk holds degrees from the State University of New York, Tuskegee University, and a doctorate from the University of Oklahoma. She is a life member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and is married to Mr. Precel Kirk. They have three children and one grandson, Deno.
Member
Dr. Sean McDaniel
Has over three decades of experience in education and was named Superintendent of Schools for Oklahoma City Public Schools in July 2018. Dr. McDaniel began his career in education as a language arts instructor at Denver’s Highland High School from 1986-1988. He has served in several teaching, coaching and administrative capacities in both Colorado and Oklahoma. Dr. McDaniel went on to earn his master's degree in educational administraion from Northeastern State University and his doctorate in educational leadership from Oklahoma State University. This year marks his 35th year in education and his 19th as a district superintendent. Dr. McDaniel and his wife, Traci, have two children: Erin and Mac.
Member
Jelani Toure
Is a Senior Contract Analyst with approximately 20-years of experience in the oil and gas industry. This includes various forms of DOT/PHMSA compliance work, Pipeline Corrosion and Transmission System Design, and Property Accounting. Mr. Toure earned a Bachelors of Science in Marketing and Economics from Oklahoma State University and Master of Business Administration with an emphasis in Energy Management from Oklahoma Baptist University. Mr. Toure is married to Shanae Monk Toure and they have two children.
Member
Vernon Walker
Is a Certified Public Accountant. He has a 40+ year career working in a number of financial and retail operations capacities. Vernon retired from a position at Tinker Air Force Base to work exclusively as a CPA. He also has a relationship with an Edmond-based financial services investment company whereby he works to provide tax preparation and planning services to some of their high-end clients.
He had a 27-year career with JCPenney, which included being at the forefront of the retail industry converting from the use of paper Gift Certificates to electronic Gift Cards; leading JCPenney to become the second retailer to develop and implement such a program that transformed the industry. While in Dallas Vernon was the first African American President of the Dallas Chapter of CPAs, a 6,000+ member organization. He ensured that the Board of Directors was more diverse than at any time in the Chapter’s history. Through his leadership he & his team was awarded, “CPA President & Chapter of the Year”, by the Texas Society of CPAs.
He has also served on the board of a number of other non-profit organizations. Vernon is a proud graduate of the HBCU, Mississippi Valley State University with a BS in Business Administration/Accounting. He is a member of the Beta Eta Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Vernon and his wife, Marie resides in Edmond, Oklahoma, and have two children. They are members of Greater Mount Olive Baptist Church where he serves on the Finance and the Golf Committees.
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P.O. Box 21021, Oklahoma City, OK 73156