MEET THE SPEAKERS
A Virtual Interactive Summit 
FEBRUARY IS BLACK HISTORY MONTH IN THE US
​Friday, February 4, 2022
​FREE & OPEN TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC WORLDWIDE
​4pm GMT  •  11am EST  • 10am CST •  9am MST • 8am PST
Black History IS American History


KEYNOTE SPEAKER
DR. LEROY NUNERY
​US

Dr. Leroy (Lee) David Nunery II is an accomplished executive and entrepreneur with a unique breadth of experiences formed from over forty years in corporate banking and capital markets, higher education, professional sports, charter school management, public education, and a family-owned electrical contracting firm, Leroy Nunery & Sons, Inc. In 2007, Leroy founded PlūsUltré LLC, a strategic advisory firm focusing on turnarounds, transformations, growth and innovation planning, resource development, talent development, governance training, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) strategies. 

Dr. Nunery is a Lifetime Member of the National Black MBA Association, Inc., and served as National President (1983 - 1987). 

In November 2021, Dr. Nunery was named President of Evolution Advisors, LLC.

In 2017, PlūsUltré was commissioned by Marsh Companies to author a groundbreaking demographic and psychographic study called "The Journey of African American Insurance Professionals: Past and Present". Since publication in 2018, the Study has been presented to insurance carriers, agencies, and trade associations and is recognized as an industry standard for its deep analysis of the industry's DEI dynamics and acknowledgment of the historical accomplishments of African American practitioners, professionals, and insurance company owners. Based upon the Study's finding, PlūsUltré provides consulting services to the insurance industry on development and implementation of DEI strategies.

This was exemplified by the firm's engagement with the Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers Association (IIABA). Its Executive Diversity Consultant and Dr. Nunery's appointment by the Million Women Mentors' Women in Insurance Initiative as Senior Advisor for Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion to help the organization work toward a more inclusive space for all within the insurance industry. Insurance Business America has recognized his work in 2020 as a Leader for Change.

​Future versions of the Study will explore the linkages between effective diversity and inclusion practices and corporate performance, supplier diversity, and how DEI programs impact talent identification, selection, and retention levels.

Dr. Nunery has extensive experience in governance. He currently serves on the boards of Benchmark School, Philadelphia Outward Bound School, the National Council of Washington University's Gephardt Institute for Civic and Community Engagement, Independence Blue Cross' Regional Advisory Board, and Consumer and Business Affairs Advisory Committee. Pennsylvania Governor Thomas Wolf recently appointed Dr. Nunery to serve on Cheney University's Council of Trustees. He has previously served on the boards of Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, Inc., Pitney Bowes, Inc., Savoy Bank (New York), and Lafayette College. 

Among other recognitions, Dr. Nunery has been awarded the Wallace L. Jones Lifetime Achievement Award by the Consortium for Graduate Study in Management and the Alumni Achievement and Community Engagement Award from Washington University's Gephardt Institute. Since 2002, Lafayette College has awarded the Leroy D. Nunery Award for Intellectual Citizenship to a senior student of color for leadership and academic excellence.  

Dr. Nunery is a graduate of Lafayette College (B.A., Honors in History, 1977), Washington University (M.B.A., 1979), and the University of Pennsylvania (Ed.D., 2003). He has participated in the Aspen Institute's Executive Seminar, the Public Education Leadership Program (Harvard), and the Wharton e-Fellows Program (University of Pennsylvania). He frequently speaks on educational access, leadership, and organizational development and has taught at The Fels Institute of Government, University of Pennsylvania (2008 – 2015) and Keller Graduate School of Management (1981 – 1984). 

Leroy resides in Wyndmoor, PA, is an avid golfer, and loves to travel. He and his wife Gina Golson Nunery have three adult children, Leroy, Gillian, and Dorothy (Jackie). He is a proud member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity and Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity.


​DISTINGUISHED PANEL

DR. THELMA HART JOHNSON
​US

Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH)
​Martha's Vineyard Branch, President
Thelma Hart Johnson, Ed.D.

Dr. Thelma Hart Johnson is President of the Martha's Vineyard Branch of the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH). Under her leadership, the branch has received awards of outstanding programs, and for hosting collaborative events with other Martha's Vineyard community organizations. ASALH Martha's Vineyard Branch seeks to fulfill Dr. Carter G. Woodson's official mission "to promote, research, preserve, interpret, and disseminate information about Black life, history, and in the global community." Since 1976, ASALH has celebrated the entire month of February as Black History Month.

She holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Bethune Cookman University, a Master of Science degree in Elementary Education with a concentration in Reading from Indiana University, and a Doctor of Education in the Instructional Process with a concentration in Organizational Development and Leadership from Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville. She is an educator, administrative leader, and language literacy specialist consultant, now retired. Her educational career includes public school classroom teaching in Miami, Florida, and Alton, Illinois. In Alton, she also served as District Supervisor of Reading and as a Junior High School Vice Principal. On the Higher Education level, Dr. Hart Johnson served as an Associate Professor at South Central Community College in New Haven, Connecticut. She also served as an Associate Professor of Educational Leadership at Central Connecticut State University, New Britain.
​

She returned to Connecticut Public Schools and served as Supervisor of High Schools, Supervisor of Staff Development, and District Director of the Beginning Teachers Program. She returned to Higher Education and worked as a consultant in the Teachers Helping Teacher Program in the School Development Program at Yale University. As a consultant, Dr. Hart Johnson was instrumental in helping initiate the Advanced Alternative Preparation (AAP) for Literacy Specialist in Reading/Language Arts Certification at Albertus Magnus College in New Haven, Connecticut.

Dr. Hart Johnson is happily married to Alvin Johnson, retired Vice President, Human Resources, Yale New Haven Hospital. Her two sons are Brent Johnson, J.D., owner CEO, ONE Entertainment, Los Angeles  and Dirk Johnson, M.D., Director, Medical Surgical Services, SRC, Yale New Haven Hospital. Her grandsons are David, 13, Daniel, 10 and Kingston, 20 months. 

DR. STEPHEN PAUL DELSOL
​UK

 Dr Stephen Paul Delsol is an international education consultant with vast experiences in creating and managing programs that help under-achieving young learners realize their full potential. 

Born on the small Island of Dominica in the Caribbean before migrating to the UK in 1965, he has built a long career in education and has worked collaboratively with multiple stakeholders to connect the UK and Caribbean school sectors to enrich education, promote global citizenship and build international trust and understanding. His work fosters dialogue and international partnerships between higher education institutions and organisations. 

He has served as deputy Chairperson of the Caribbean Teachers' Association, an organisation that created an "Access to Higher Education in Britain." Since 1977 the programme has facilitated access to British colleges and universities for over 700,000 working-class Black and minority ethnic mature students, who otherwise would not have met the formal entry criteria.

Dr Delsol is a passionate advocate of social mobility principles and uses this passion to teach, tutor, motivate, mentor, coach, and counsel thousands of children, students, parents, professionals, and business owners in Britain, Africa, America, and the Caribbean to impact and change the trajectory of their lives.

HIS PHILOSOPHY

There is one race - the Human Race- with one Creator - God. Therefore, human beings, irrespective of their colour, class, nationality, ethnic background, gender, disability and sexual orientation are of equal worth, value, respect and dignity. 

DR. LORNA ANDRADE
US

Dr. Lorna E. Chambers-Andrade is a consummate healthcare educator with years of experience and achievements in community outreach and leadership. 

Having spent her formative years in the Roxbury section of Boston, she lived in other towns in the region, including Milford, Quincy Shores, and Brookline, before moving permanently to Martha's Vineyard some years ago.

Her nursing and business career spans more than 46 years. Dr. Andrade holds a BSN in Nursing from Boston State College, a ME.D in Education and Administration from Cambridge College, and a joint MBA-PhD, in Health Education and
Administration from Union Graduate School.

She is a retired professor of Nursing Education in
Medical and Surgical Nursing and Gerontology, and in
Health Education and Administration. She also taught Pre-Medical Students and has experience in Holistic Education. She has taught students at all the Boston Teaching Hospitals and several Neighborhood Community Health
Centers.

Dr. Andrade has served in several leadership positions and is the former Vice President of the Brookline Visiting Nurses Assoc. She also served as Vice President of Martha's Vineyard Visiting Nurses Association is the Past President of the New England Regional Black Nurses Association, and is a member of the National Black Nurses Association.

She served on the Advisory Boards of New England
Colleges and Universities: Regis, University of Mass.
Boston, U. Mass. Dartmouth, Roxbury Community College, and Endicott College.

Her awards are numerous. She is a member of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nurse Researchers. Dr. Andrade was awarded the Human and Civil Rights Award from the Massachusetts Teachers Association and is listed in Who's Who Biographical National and International Researchers.

A widow for many years, Dr. Andrade remains physically active as a member of the famous Martha's Vineyard Polar Bears Inc.

She is a member of the Martha's Vineyard Cottagers, a
Philanthropic group of highly respected Black women who give throughout the community.

WILLIAM WELLS, JR
Panel Moderator
​US

Bill Wells is President, W. Wells & Associates, LLC, a management consulting firm specializing in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) strategy development. In his work, Additionally, Bill provides customized human capital and talent acquisition & retention solutions as well. Bill also works closely with senior leaders providing coaching and guidance during culture change and transformation.
​
Previously, Bill served as Vice President - Global Diversity/Chief Diversity Officer (CDO) for Traveler's Insurance. Earlier in his career, Bill held a variety of executive and general management level positions in both the telecommunications industry, including leadership roles in Human Resources, Information Technologies, Marketing, Operations, Strategic Planning, and Business Development.

Bill holds an MBA degree with a major in Marketing, a graduate certificate in Business Administration, and a Bachelor of Arts degree with a Psychology major. Bill is a life member of the National Black MBA Association, including former Chairman, and Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity. Also, Bill is married, has two sons, is a freelance writer, avid music-lover, jazz enthusiast, and enjoys golf.

Youth Speak Out About Black History Month

Young People Speak Out About Black History Month
The collaborators of the US UK Summit on Race make a point to include the voice of young people in much of what we do. This includes helping them to tell the story of Black History Month and what it means to them. Our February 4th program will feature the voices of young people from around the world, including the UK, Australia, and Brazil.  

We'll also feature young voices from Boston who will share their special perspectives with us. They include:

Tarene Cunningham, Age 14
Wesley Todd, Age 13
and
Amara Germain, Age 6

And these amazing young people are all members of Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Boston.

We plan on including more youth voices in our virtual events and online discussions. Young people are not only our "Leaders of Tomorrow," they are our guideposts for better cross-cultural platforms for change.


Carole Copeland Thomas
Garth Dallas
Denise Gray-Felder
William Wells, Jr.

Friday February 4, 2022
​FREE & OPEN TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC WORLDWIDE
​4pm GMT  •  11am EST  • 10am CST •  9am MST • 8am PST