Black Alumni Council Members

Samuel Ginn College of Engineering

Dr. Davyda M. Hammond is a program manager at Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU) in Oak Ridge Tennessee, where she conducts research on safety culture, worker health, and environmental science.

She is a supporter of the Auburn University Center for Inclusive Engineering Excellence and the College of Engineering’s 100+ Women Strong programs. Hammond serves on the board of the Oak Ridge Breakfast Rotary Club and is an avid quilter and hiker. She is a member of the Xi Iota Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. in Oak Ridge, TN, and was initiated through the Kappa Chi Chapter at Auburn.

Sonya Jenkins of Warner Robins, Ga. is a technology portfolio strategist with EXPANSIA, a consulting firm specializing in digital transformation solutions for government, academic, and industry partners. In 2012, she worked with Middle Georgia alumni to revitalize the Middle Georgia Auburn Club and served as interim president. She also assisted with re-chartering MGAC in 2017 and has served as a club board member since 2019.

Jenkins is a member of the James E. Foy Loyalty Society with more than 10 years of continual giving to Auburn. She serves on the Auburn University Student Affairs Development Board, COSAM Dean’s Leadership Council and the Black Alumni Council.

Abraham Snell, an Alabama native, is a technologist and communicator with over 26 years of experience in computer solution architecture, system engineering, system administration, technical people management, and as a college professor. He has also served in the Army/National Guard as well as the executive pastor for a large church.

While at Auburn, Abraham participated in ARMY ROTC, the Auburn Marching Band, the Auburn Gospel Choir, and was initiated into Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. through the Omicron Kappa Chapter on campus.

College of Sciences and Mathematics

Dr. JoQuese Satterwhite is chief of staff for the Office of Ethics & Compliance and senior director of Global Compliance Governance & Risk for Medtronic. In these roles she is responsible for the overall global risk assessment, strategic planning, and governance aspects for the Office of Ethics & Compliance.

Satterwhite serves on the San Antonio Boys & Girls Club, and San Antonio Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation board of directors, where she is the chair of the Diversity & Inclusion Committees for both boards. She also serves as the Chair for the National Association of Black Compliance & Risk Management Professionals Corporate Advisory Board. She was also recently named as a member of the San Antonio 40 under 40 2023 class. She is a proud and active member of the San Antonio Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated.

Ryan Blackwell is a management consultant in the CPG & Retail industry helping grow and scale small, mid-size, and Fortune 500 organizations through strategy and operational excellence. He previously worked as an Operations Manager for Frito-Lay leading front-line teams in the manufacturing of billion-dollar brands such as Cheetos, Doritos, and Lays.

In 2022, Ryan earned his MBA from The Kellogg School of Management where he served as Co-President of both the Black Management Association and Christian Fellowship and was later selected as one of Poets & Quants’ Best & Brightest MBAs. At Auburn Blackwell served in various leadership roles in the College of Engineering, Student Government Association, Emerge, Auburn University Marching Band, NPHC, and Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc.

College of Liberal Arts

Dr. Matthew Paul “MP” Cowley is a higher education scholar-administrator currently serving as the executive director for Career and Professional Development at Virginia Tech. He previously served as the director of Career Development Services at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia, and held several positions with the University of Florida’s Career Connections Center.

While at UF, he earned his Ph.D. in curriculum and instruction with specializations in social foundations of education and the critical study of race, ethnicity, and culture in education. At Auburn, Cowley participated in the War Eagle Girls and Plainsmen, Student Recruiters, Camp War Eagle, High School Leadership Conference, Auburn Marching Band, and the AU Gospel Choir.

College of Education

Dr. Bianca Evans currently serves as associate dean focused on Recruitment and Retention in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at the University of Florida. She is committed to increasing the access, retention, and success of students that have been historically underrepresented or marginalized in higher education.

She has more than 15 years of experience in diversity, equity, and inclusion, student affairs, program development, TRIO programs, research and assessment, leadership development, student organizations, and academic support services. Evans is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., and a participant in Leadership Gainesville Class 49.

College of Liberal Arts

Dr. Cherith Fluker is a senior implementation manager at Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. She has experience in the K-12 education space as a school administrator, an instructional coach and an English teacher, and previously served as instructional specialist for Section 504 & Homebound where one of her key responsibilities was leading teams that developed accommodation plans for students with conditions that interrupted their traditional learning experiences.

Fluker also has experience as an Educational Consultant and a technical writer for a major security solutions company. She serves on the Board of Directors for the Greater Birmingham Auburn Club and is a member of Delta Kappa Gamma Society International. At Auburn she was involved with the Student Government Association, Dunkin’ Darlings, Project Uplift, and working in the Men’s Basketball office.

Brandon Fowler is the vice president of strategy for Surgery Partners, a leading operator of surgical facilities and ancillary services providing care in more than 180 locations across 31 states. He is responsible for leading the organization’s strategic planning and ensuring enterprise alignment of the organization’s mission to ‘enhance patient quality of life through partnership.’

Fowler is also the chair of his organization’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion & Community Impact Council. Brandon has over 15 years of healthcare management experience and is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives. During his time at Auburn, he played the saxophone for the Auburn University Marching and Symphonic Bands, and was a member of Alpha Epsilon Delta.

College of Education

Bri’ana Holmes is the marketing director for RenderATL, the largest Black-owned software engineering conference in the country, and helped lead it to unprecedented growth and nationwide recognition. She also founded the Network of Atlanta, a community organization serving over 20,000 Atlantans through free and low-cost events.

Beyond marketing and community service, Holmes manages the Mayor of Atlanta’s social media strategy. Her expertise enhances the city’s online presence and citizen engagement. Recognized as a United Way Volunteer Improvement Program graduate for unwavering community service, as a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, she uplifts and empowers her community while exploring new ways to create a positive impact worldwide.

Mitchell Holston serves as the director for Lauder College House at the University of Pennsylvania. Before arriving at the University of Pennsylvania, he worked at Georgia Tech, Texas A&M University and Colorado State University with the focus areas of residence life, student leadership, curriculum development and diversity, equity and inclusion.

While at Auburn, Mitchell served in leadership roles with several offices, including the Office of Alumni Affairs, and is excited to impact the experiences of Black students and alumni.

Raymond J. Harbert College of Business and College of Education

Dr. Dahlia G. Hylton is a higher education administrator and licensed realtor residing in Atlanta, Ga. Her work in higher education includes the University of California, Santa Barbara, Lehigh University, the University of North Carolina at Asheville and her beloved alma mater, Auburn University.

She has promoted diversity, inclusion and equitable practices through building comprehensive cultural spaces, engaging groups from historically underrepresented communities, multicultural education training, student advising and retention programming.

Darrian Johnson is development operations engineer at Corsha, where he utilizes his expertise to fortify API Security by maintaining code infrastructure. He previously served as a software engineer at IBM automating deployment processes and managing essential system clusters.

At Auburn he participated in the National Society of Black Engineers, Black Student Union, the Center for Inclusive Engineering Excellence, CUPOLA Engineering Ambassadors, and Student Government Association, where he served as a Senator for the College of Engineering. Darrian’s passion for mentorship led him to guide students in programs such as Auburn Youth Programs and OID’s Tiger Retreat, showcasing his commitment to community and diversity.

College of Education

Dr. Taylor J. Langley currently serves as the first embedded sport psychologist in the Athletics Department at Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida. In this role, she provides individual and team mental health and sport performance services to Division II student-athletes, in addition to consultation, assistance, and educational opportunities that can enhance overall well-being and performance. 

Langley’s research and clinical interests include Black mental health, athlete mental health, sport and performance psychology and more. During her time at Auburn, she founded Black Women in Mental Health, a graduate student organization aimed at increasing and promoting mental health awareness. She is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated.

College of Liberal Arts

Mintrel D. Martin is a Birmingham-based lawyer with more than 20 years of legal experience representing clients in complex personal injury, vehicle accidents and trucking accidents cases. He has won recoveries in the millions of dollars on behalf of his clients and has served as an expert guest on Fox 6 WVUA’s “Law Call.”

Martin is the recipient of Birmingham Magazine’s “Best in Minority Business Award” and has been listed in Super Lawyers® Magazine. Along with Mr. Martin’s commitment to serving clients, his passion for the community has been channeled into the philanthropic work on behalf of The Mintrel D. Martin Foundation, including efforts on behalf of Susan G. Komen and Alzheimer’s of Central Alabama.

College of Sciences and Mathematics

Dr. LaWanda Mitchell is an educational specialist for the State Department of Education, specifically assigned to the Governor’s Turnaround Initiative. She has served in many capacities ranging from district leadership to building leadership, involved in transforming not only the climate and culture of the schools, but also founding mentoring programs for higher academic growth, higher academic achievement and lowered discipline for all students involved.

She received a Congressional Recognition for Excellence in Education in honor of her dedication to academic excellence for the students she serves. Most recently, Dr. Mitchell was recognized for her extraordinary accomplishments, significant professional achievements, and distinguished service to others by the Auburn Alumni Association’s Young Alumni Council as one of their 20 Under 40 Class of 2023.

College of Liberal Arts

Chelsea S. Phillips is a member of Phillips & Associates, which oversees more than 650 licensed representatives in financial services. Her responsibilities include training, developing and licensing agents in personal finance. She is also a publicist for professional athletes through Chelsea Phillips LLC, helping establish their brand off the field, incorporating nonprofits, planning events and featured placement in local, state and national media.

While at Auburn, Phillips was a member of the University Program Council where she served on the public relations committee, National Pan-Hellenic’s Administrative Vice President, Young Women’s Leadership Program as a mentor to students at the local middle school, Big House Foundation as a volunteer with foster children, and she worked for Verge Pipe Media as the content manager. She has received numerous accolades from Top Producer of the Year for six consecutive years to the Coach Jerry’s Outstanding Leadership Award.

College of Human Sciences

Tionna Plummer is the founder and chief executive officer of the nonprofit Novaturient Inc., using her experiences and education to continue to help children create and live a better life.

In 2021 she was named 30 under 30 for Atlanta’s nonprofit leaders, and was nominated for the RICE Founders Rising Star award in 2022. Now in 2023, Novaturient Inc., was nominated as nonprofit of the year. During her time at Auburn University, she was part of the child life club, black student union, and untamed. She also volunteered with a local non-profit, IAMBK, as a mentor, cheerleading coach, and event coordinator.

College of Sciences and Mathematics

Darryl Raines is the former chairman of the board for Mentoring Families and Kids, Inc., and has actively served on scholarship committees for organizations like the Marietta-Roswell Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. He has led workshops, participated in the Atlanta Black College Expos for the International Association of Black Actuaries, and maintains a strong passion for mentoring and community involvement.

With over thirty years in the insurance industry, including director-level roles within actuarial and predictive analytics, Raines extensive background encompasses non-profit work, community service, and corporate leadership. During his time at Auburn, he contributed to the athletic department by coaching sprints and jumps for the Women’s Track & Field team.

Ebony Ruffin is the head of Ruffin Consulting Services, which helps educate families and business owners on the value of life insurance and proactive financial planning. In April 2022 Ruffin Consulting Services was listed among the top firms as a leader in the competitive landscape of insurance consulting services.

Her work has been highlighted in Forbes, Business Insider, Yahoo Finance, Nerdwallet, Intuit, Insurance News Net Magazine, The CW Atlanta, Fox Soul, Auburn University’s Harbert College of Business, Bloomberg Radio, Think Advisor, the National Newspaper Publishers Association and more.

David A. Russell Jr. is a partner at the Birmingham Business Alliance, working on the economic development business retention & expansion team. He supports existing businesses in the following industries: logistics, distribution, light manufacturing, and advanced manufacturing, with solutions for their needs.

Prior to joining the Birmingham Business Alliance, Russell founded Synergy Consulting Group, LLC (SCG) in 2018 and held positions with both Walmart and Dollar Tree in various distribution centers. His goal is to positively impact his community through influence, education, and inspiration.

Nathaniel Rutledge Jr. serves with the Federal Bureau of Investigation and is an adjunct criminal justice instructor at varying colleges and universities throughout Alabama. The former police chief for the city of Bessemer, Ala., Rutledge retired in 2017 after 33 years in criminal justice at the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office and Fairfield Police Department.

An 11-year veteran of the United States Marine Corps Reserves who served in Operation Desert Storm, Rutledge is a graduate of the 238th Session of FBI National Academy and a graduate of the FBI Southeastern Law Enforcement Executive Development Seminar. He served two terms as President of the Alabama Association Chiefs of Police.

College of Liberal Arts

Dr. Addie Cobb Swinney is the first executive director of Human Resources for Auburn City Schools, and was former chief officer of Human Resources for Horry County Schools in Conway, S.C.

Swinney served as the national and state president of the American Association of School Personnel Administrators and the Alabama Association of School Personnel Administrators. She is passionate and dedicated to recruitment, retention, mentoring, and providing leadership training opportunities that will continuously impact personal growth and development in others. She continues to provide professional coaching services to individuals, businesses, and nonprofit organizations.

Samuel Ginn College of Engineering

Joe White currently serves as the DG Ombudsman for Con Edison working with the New York Department of Public Service and New York State’s Energy Research and Development Authority. He previously has worked in for Southern Company, Orange and Rockland, and Con Edison.

While at Auburn, Joe was a member of Freshman Forum Class of 1994, SGA, Black Student Union, Gospel Choir, a member of the Academic Honesty Committee while also serving as a tour guide and student recruiter. Joe’s efforts earned him the Martin Luther King, Jr. Award from Auburn University. In his spare time, White volunteers with Hearts and Bones Foster program.

Harold L. Wilson is deputy branch head for Logistics Information & Emerging Technology working for the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Fleet Readiness and Logistics, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations located in the Pentagon. He provides senior analysis and leadership for the Navy’s continuous effort to inject technology and enhance the performance of logistics systems and processes.

Wilson is a retired US Air Force Colonel with professional qualifications as a Master Maintenance & Munitions specialist and Certified Professional Logistician. He has also served as Assistant Professor of Acquisition at National Defense University where he developed and taught graduate school courses in Defense Systems Acquisition, Research & Technology Policy, Defense Market Theory, and Robotics Autonomous Systems Industry Studies.