WOMEN’S EMPOWERMENT WORKSHOP LIST OF PANELISTS AND PRESENTERS

KAREN DOWNS

Workshop Presenter

Karen Downs has a master degree from the McAfee School of Business at Union University in Jackson,

TN and a bachelor degree in business administration from Mount Mercy University in Cedar Rapids, IA.

She is currently employed at Stanley Black & Decker in technical customer support. She is a member of

the Zion Church in Jackson, TN. She is also a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. She has two

adult sons that also reside in Jackson, TN.

Workshop Topic: Love and Relationships

This workshop is to create a healthy and fun dialogue between women regarding dating, courtship,

sexuality and marriage. The focus is on topics such as commitment, cheating, sex, marriage and divorce.

It is an opportunity to express opinions and feelings on a subject that affects many women.

WOMEN’S EMPOWERMENT WORKSHOP LIST OF PANELISTS AND PRESENTERS

AMELIA HARRIS

Workshop Presenter

A native of mid-town Jackson, Amelia Harris is currently an Assistant Professor of Accounting at Lane College, teaching Accounting, Personal Financial Management, and Business Finance. Amelia completed her B.S. degree in Accounting from Union University in 1983, her MBA from UT Martin in 2004, and various other graduate level Accounting and Finance courses. She began her professional career at the age of 10 as an office clerk in the business her parents, L. B. and Pattie Harris, owned - Credit Adjustment Bureau. Ms. Harris has worked locally in the banking and insurance industries as well as holding positions such as Accounts Receivable Specialist, New Product Development Liaison, and Sales Forecast Manager for DeVilbiss Air Power, which is now a division of Stanley Black & Decker. A devoted child and youth volunteer, Ms. Harris has been married to her husband, Robert T. Harris, for 37 years and they have two daughters, Kathryn Werner, PA-C CAQ and Sarah Hopper, DPT, and three grandchildren.

Workshop Topic: Budgeting

Many women are financially dependent on someone/something other than themselves - their spouse, their credit/debt, their family or friends. This can be hurtful to relationships, self-confidence, and personal peace. Financial independence results in greater self-esteem, stronger and more resilient relationships, and the freedom to chase one’s life dreams. This workshop will focus on achieving financial independence in a pleasant and safe environment by teaching the basics of budgeting and saving.

WOMEN’S EMPOWERMENT WORKSHOP LIST OF PANELISTS AND PRESENTERS

AMEERA GRAVES

Panelist

Ameera V. Graves is in her 14th year as an employee of Lane College, functioning in capacities that include assisting students with scholarship applications; coordinating cultural events; maintaining a chronicle of the college’s history; and serving as advisor to a student social justice organization. “Each area in which I serve at Lane allows me to nurture the development of students in some way or another. Mentoring students along their educational journey affords me the absolute greatest fulfillment. I thank God for the blessing of serving at Lane.” Prior to joining the Lane College staff, Graves taught High School English and theatre and hosted a radio show in the nation’s capital.

WOMEN’S EMPOWERMENT WORKSHOP LIST OF PANELISTS AND PRESENTERS

CARLEEN JACKSON

Workshop Presenter

Carleen Payne Jackson, a migrant from St. Kitts-Nevis in the Caribbean, holds dual BA degrees in English and Sociology, an MA in Latin American and Caribbean Studies, and a Ph.D. in History. Dr. Jackson is currently an Assistant Professor of History and Chair of the Business, Social and Behavioral Sciences Division at Lane College. She has also served Memphis’ Academy of Learning and Development as a Consultant for Diversity Training since 2008.

Workshop Topic: Working with Diversity

Increasingly, working women encounter a broad range of people from different nationalities, racial and cultural backgrounds, gender identities or sexual orientation. This workshop segment is intended to help participants gain the skills and confidence needed to interact respectfully in a diverse world. It will start with an Intercultural Competency Test designed to help participants gauge the extent to which they demonstrate attitudes and behaviors that enable them to work effectively across cultures. Secondly, they will be exposed to concrete guidelines on inclusive communication, bias-free interaction and pitfalls to avoid. Finally, they will be presented with real-life scenarios, and use roleplaying, to promote effective communication recovery skills for when things go wrong.

WOMEN’S EMPOWERMENT WORKSHOP LIST OF PANELISTS AND PRESENTERS

AIDA LOVELACE

Panelist

Aida Garcia Lovelace was born and raised in Torreon, Coahuila, Mexico, and moved to Tennessee in 2003. She graduated in 1991 from the Instituto Tecnologico of Monterrey (ITESM) Laguna Campus, where she earned a Bachelor in Business Administration and completed her MBA program from Coahuila State University. She has a banking and foreign exchange broker background in her natal country and has been employed with BancorpSouth since 2004. Aida is an Assistant Vice President at BancorpSouth where she serves as a Branch Manager/Lender and is the liaison with the Hispanic Community. Previously she served as a Human Resources Manager and a Relationship Officer. She also holds an Insurance and Annuity License. Lovelace serves on the Madison County Imagination Library’s board and has served on the Leadership Jackson and Leadership University boards. She is active with the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, American Cancer Society and American Heart Association. Aida is married to Joey Lovelace and they have one daughter.

WOMEN’S EMPOWERMENT WORKSHOP LIST OF PANELISTS AND PRESENTERS

DARLETTE CARVER SAMUELS

Panelist

Darlette Carver Samuels has a bachelor’s degree in journalism from The University of Oklahoma and is

currently working on a master’s degree in public administration with a concentration in human

resources. She is currently employed at Lane College as the chief advisor to the president. In this role,

she serves as the College ombudsman, liaison to the staff and College community, and assist in

implementing the College’s strategic plan. Mrs. Samuels serves on the board of the Jackson Arts Council

and the Master Plan Advisory Council for Jackson Recreation and Parks Department.

WOMEN’S EMPOWERMENT WORKSHOP LIST OF PANELISTS AND PRESENTERS

DIANE SKLENSKY

Panelist

Diane Sklensky grew up in Silicon Valley and attended first Santa Clara University and U.C. Berkeley, eventually settling on an undergraduate major in Botany. After earning a Ph.D. in Plant Physiology at Cornell University, Dr. Sklensky has taught at a variety of colleges, focusing on Botany, when possible, but also developing her passion for nature into expertise in teaching environmental studies. In Jackson, this enthusiasm has also manifested in her participating in the certification of her church as an Earth Care Congregation. At Lane, Dr. Sklensky chairs the Biology Department and teaches everything from General Biology to Ecology to Genetics.

WOMEN’S EMPOWERMENT WORKSHOP LIST OF PANELISTS AND PRESENTERS

MICHELLE CURTAIN STEWART

Moderator

Michelle Curtain Stewart received her bachelor's degree in political science from Alcorn State

University, her master's in sociology and doctorate in educational leadership from Indiana University-

Bloomington. She came to Lane College in 2007 as an assistant professor of sociology and was

promoted to associate professor of sociology with tenure in 2014. Prior to joining Lane College, she

served as executive director of the International Association for the Study of the Commons at Indiana

University. In that position, she worked with a multi-disciplinary team of researchers, practitioners,

policymakers, and donors to support the organization's global mission. Dr. Stewart has also served in

several research roles; she was a research associate on a joint project between Indiana University, the

National Institute of Mental Health and the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the

Choice Neighborhoods Project through the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Currently,

she serves Lane College as the Vice President of Academic Affairs.

WOMEN’S EMPOWERMENT WORKSHOP LIST OF PANELISTS AND PRESENTERS

CASSANDRA OWENS

Workshop Presenter

Professor Cassandra Owens is a native of Jackson, TN. She holds degrees from Clark College, The Interdenominational Theological Center and currently pursuing a doctorate degree at Union University in Education. She is employed at Lane College as Department Chair and Assistant Professor of Religious Studies. Ms. Owens has served as Faculty Athletic Representative; she is currently serving as Faculty representative to the Board of Trustees. She holds memberships in Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. where she was just elected Undergraduate Chapter Coordinator of the Southeast Region. She is a past president of the Daybreak Toastmasters club. She holds membership in other civic and professional organizations. Workshop Topic: The Difference is You This workshop is designed to make the participant aware of the uniqueness that each of us possess. Women of Color sometimes struggle with “letting their lights shine.” In this session, discussions will take place that will bring awareness to individual talents and gifts. The world is waiting on you to release your brilliance. Come and share and grow

WOMEN’S EMPOWERMENT WORKSHOP LIST OF PANELISTS AND PRESENTERS

THERESA WOODARD

Panelist

Dr. Theresa Woodard has two bachelor of science degrees in biomedical engineering and chemical

engineering from Northwestern University. She received her doctorate in medicine from Louisiana State

University Medical School in New Orleans, LA. Dr. Woodard served as Medical Director for the

Brownsville branch of Intrepid U.S.A. Home Health Agency, and practiced Internal Medicine at the

Dowling & Woodard Medical Clinic in Brownsville, TN. In 2016 she founded TWMed Consulting, LLC

which offers services to individual patients/clients, health care practices, and other businesses and

corporations interested in improving the health of their employees. She holds memberships in the

Tennessee Medical Association, the National Association of Women Business Owners, a VIP member of

the National Association of Professional Women, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., NAACP, and Hands

of Hope Ministry.

NOTE: Not pictured are Mrs. Sherrill Berry Scott (panelist) and Ms. Katrina Tate (workshop organizer).