Advisory Board

* Advisors to the Advisory Board

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Creamer, Erica Johnson

Senior Director, Federal Government Affairs, Walmart, Inc.

Erica Johnson Creamer is an accomplished corporate and government affairs professional. She also has held various positions in brand public relations, reputation management, employee and executive communications as well as community affairs.

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Grillo, Lou

Workforce Development Director, Kerr-Tar Regional Council of Governments

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Jones, Laureen Gay

Former Career Technical Educator Director, Franklin County Schools’

Laureen Gay Jones served 36 years as a former Franklin County Schools Career Technical Educator Director. In this role, she implemented several new programs, Advanced Manufacturing, Biotechnology and an Agriculture program offered at one of the middle schools. She was awarded several grants: Golden Leaf, Governors Innovation and the former Career Technical Education Enhancement, Franklin County Schools (NC) totaling 3 million dollars.

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McLaren, Antonio, Ed.D.

Vice President for Programs, 1890 Universities Foundation

In April 2021, Dr. Antonio McLaren joined the 1890 Universities Foundation as the Vice President for Programs. In this role, he manages high-impact programs and initiatives across the 1890 land-grant institutions to help them respond to new/emerging opportunities and challenges in the 21st century.

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Rux, Shawn, Ph.D.

Senior Executive Director, Office of New School Development & Design

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Scott, Jasmine

Government & Sustainability Affairs Lead, Syngenta

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Thompson, Alton*

Executive Director for the Association, 1890 Research Directors (ARD)

Dr. Alton Thompson is the Executive Director for the Association of 1890 Research Directors (ARD). As ARD’s Executive Director, he provides leadership and coordination in representing the Association on developing regional/multistate and national research priorities, and implementing a regional response for the 1890 region.

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Wardlaw, Lance

Director of Strategic Alliances, Farm Credit

Lance Wardlaw began his Farm Credit career in 2006. After 3 years of serving as Regional Lending Manager he now serves as Director of Strategic Alliances, focusing on our Young, Beginning, Small Farmers Programs (YBS), community outreach, grant programs, and college/scholarship efforts. Lance is passionate about serving people and inspiring the next generation of leaders.

Webber, Ebony

Chief Officer of Operations National Society for Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences (MANRRS)

Hailing from a rural town in the Mississippi Delta, Ebony Webber serves as the Chief Officer of Operations for the National Society for Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences, and has worked for MANRRS for the last 17 years.

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Wicks, Jenna

Program Manager, Farm Foundation