Juanita Charles is a visionary leader, passionate advocate, and impactful community builder committed to driving meaningful change through empowerment and strategic action. As the founder of Manifest Magic Black Girl Cooperative, Juanita has dedicated herself to uplifting Black women and girls through innovative programming focused on civic engagement, economic empowerment, social justice advocacy, and comprehensive health and wellness initiatives. Under her leadership, Manifest Magic has established powerful community resources, including mental health workshops, leadership development programs, and collaborative initiatives designed to dismantle systemic barriers and build equitable access to opportunities.

In addition to her nonprofit leadership, Juanita is a dynamic entrepreneur and seasoned real estate professional. As a realtor and investor she actively transforms communities, promoting sustainable development and wealth-building strategies that contribute to long-term economic growth and stability.

Juanita’s diverse experiences—including her military service, entrepreneurial journey, and hands-on work in social advocacy—fuel her compelling insights into leadership, resilience, and the power of collective action. She challenges conventional thinking, empowering her audience to disrupt inequitable systems and embrace their roles as catalysts for positive change.

A recognized thought leader and recipient of numerous community honors, Juanita continues to inspire individuals and organizations alike, fostering collaborative relationships that build stronger, more inclusive communities.

Keashla Marengo, the new Director of the Career Success Center at Austin Peay State University is a proud first-generation college graduate who understands the complexities of navigating a career path without a clear blueprint. Born in Puerto Rico and raised in a bilingual household as one of five children, she learned the value of perseverance, adaptability, and the power of community early on. Having lived in multiple states including California, Florida, Illinois, Pennsylvania, and now Tennessee, she has witnessed firsthand how stepping out of one’s comfort zone, embracing change, and building connections—even from a distance— shape both personal and professional growth. With over a decade of experience in higher education, specializing in career services, Keashla has navigated the challenges many women face in their professional journeys, from advocating for her needs to finding her voice in leadership.

Dr. Terrell Strayhorn is a leading authority in the fields of education, psychology, and leadership, internationally-known for his ground-breaking research and scholarship on sense of belonging. He has authored over 12 books and more than 200 academic publications in highly-regarded peer-reviewed journals and volumes, plus dozens of widely-circulated op-Eds, letters, and blogs. He is a contributing writer for Entrepreneur, AllBusiness, Thrive Global, and leads the “Belonging Matters” blog for Psychology Today.

Strayhorn currently serves as Professor of Education and Psychology at Virginia Union University, where he also works as Vice Provost, Interim Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences, Director of Research in the Center for the Study of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Principal Investigator of The Belonging Lab. He teaches courses, designs curricula, and/or supervises doctoral committees at several universities across the globe. A leading DEI expert with subject matter expertise in Lean Six Sigma (black belt) and strategic planning, Strayhorn earned a bachelors degree from the University of Virginia (UVA), masters in education from UVA, masters in psychology from Indiana Tech, and doctorate (PhD) from Virginia Tech.

Driven by a genuine passion for helping others, Dr. Strayhorn has dedicated his career to working with individuals from diverse, vulnerable, and system-impacted backgrounds. He is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated and serves on several non-profit boards including Rainbow Labs, Career Analysis Organization of America, Oregon Outreach Inc., and Psychologists of Color, Inc.

Richard Lebron is a student-athlete on the Men’s Cross-Country team. He began his college journey at Daytona State College in Florida before transferring to Austin Peay State University to challenge himself and grow beyond his comfort zone. Currently, he’s pursuing a degree in Leadership & Marketing, with aspirations to one day launch a business that positively impacts communities. Richard is committed to embracing challenges and continuously building the skills and knowledge needed to make a meaningful difference.

With a dynamic career, Dr. Clarke brings over 16 years of higher education experience and more specifically cultivating the belonging and success of underrepresented populations on college campuses. Dr. Clarke joins us from the University of Miami where he currently serves as Assistant Dean & Adjunct Professor in the School of Law. In this role, he leads efforts to provide academic, social, and cultural support for students from historically underrepresented populations in legal education. Before that role, Dr. Clarke served as Director for the Office of Multicultural Affairs at the same institution. In addition to serving as a principal investigator for over $500k in grants and sponsorships, Dr. Clarke previously led offices at the University of Chicago and the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Dr. Clarke earned his bachelor of arts in educational studies from Concordia University – Wisconsin followed by his master's of public administration from Roosevelt University. He obtained a doctorate of education from the University of Miami. Dr. Clarke has many notable honors including 40 under 40 – South Florida and is a member of the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA), National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Ed, and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.

Dr. Clarke will provide strategic oversight of the Adult, Non-Traditional, & Transfer Student Center, Career Services, Latino Cultural Center, and Wilbur N. Daniel African American Cultural Center. He will also serve as the student affairs lead to boost student engagement and success of underrepresented populations and lead goal two of the division strategic plan.

With an impressive career, Dr. Gilmore brings 17 years of diversified higher education experience and a strong housing and residence life background to this important role. She joins us from Bellarmine University where she currently serves as Director for Housing & Residence Life in the Division of Student Affairs. In this role she leads the housing and residence life operations, strategy, and vision to promote student success and holistic development. Dr. Gilmore has served as an institutional leader with many campus-wide efforts and prior to her ascension at Bellarmine, she served as a retention administrator at Western Kentucky University where she contributed to the development of new programs to boost retention and persistence. She also served as a scholarship advisor, faculty advisor, and property advisor for a chapter of Alpha Gamma Delta sorority for many years.

Dr. Gilmore earned her bachelor of science in business administration from Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville, followed by earning two master degrees at Western Kentucky University - a master of public administration and master of arts in education for counseling and student affairs. She obtained a doctor of philosophy in higher education leadership Bellarmine University. She’s an active member of the Southern Association for College and Student Affairs (SACSA), Kentucky Association of Housing Officers, and served as faculty for Stars College program of the Association of College and University Housing Officers (ACUHO-I).

Dr. Gilmore will provide strategic oversight of Community Care & Standards, Community Engagement & Sustainability, Housing & Residence Life, and Student Life & Engagement. She will also lead campus-wide efforts on student engagement and student support intervention, lead goal one of the division strategic plan, and co-chair the all new Govs care team.

Banout is the inaugural executive director of the University of Chicago’s Forum for Free Inquiry and Expression and earned his PhD from the University’s Divinity School, where he was a Martin Marty Center Junior Fellow and Provost Dissertation Fellow. His career has spanned leadership in social sector organizations including healthcare and community organizing, as well as academia. For over a decade, he served as the senior vice president for Interfaith America, guiding a national civic organization in the development of strategies and programs devoted to democratic discourse and civil conversation across deep differences. He has spoken and published widely on free expression, constructive engagement of difference, and the civic relevance of religious diversity. A lifelong advocate for ideological diversity and inclusion in academia, Banout serves as a board member of the Heterodox Academy.