The Board

Rev. Dr. Darryl Aaron is the Pastor of the historic Providence Baptist Church in Greensboro, NC. Rev. Dr. Aaron is regarded as one of the unique prophetic voices of justice and grace in the pulpit. His prophetic voice has been heard throughout the world and nation. Rev. Dr. Aaron is actively involved in the community, serving in many capacities.

Cassandra Baker retired after a rewarding business career in systems analysis, education, and financial administration. Over the years, Cassandra has remained active in the community and has always maintained her commitment to Wake Forest University, serving on various councils and boards.

Jerry Baker is Senior Advisor of the executive search firm of Buffkin/Baker LLC and was named a Life Trustee in 2012. Jerry earned his Master of Divinity degree from Harvard University Divinity School and has given Wake Forest many years of dedicated service.

Shelmer Blackburn helped found United Therapeutics Corporation, a pharmaceutical company focused on unmet medical needs of patients with chronic and life-threatening conditions. Shelmer owns and operates Champion Cattle Company, a large commercial operation, and Wilkes Livestock Exchange serving counties in Western North Carolina.

Rev. Ann Brinson is a WFU School of Divinity graduate, was ordained in the Presbyterian Church (USA), and pastored in three churches. Rev. Brinson currently leads monthly worship services for assisted living and skilled nursing residents at RiverLanding at Sandy Ridge Retirement Community.

Rev. Kellie Browne is a WFU School of Divinity graduate and Minister of Word and Sacrament of the PC(USA). Rev. Browne serves as a Member-at-Large of Salem Presbytery and Secretary of the American Waldensian Society, a group she first encountered as a student at the Divinity School.

Rev. Molly Brummett Wudel pastors Emmaus Way, an ecumenical, progressive community. Rev. Brummett Wudel is a recipient of Baptist Women in Ministry’s Addie Davis National Award for Excellence in Preaching and is published in The World is Waiting on You: Celebrating the 50th Ordination Anniversary of Addie Davis and Believe the Women: A Journey of Liberation with Alliance of Baptists’ Women.

Amber Harris, a WFU School of Divinity graduate, is SPARK’s creator and executive director (Share Peace and Rekindle Kindness, Inc.). Amber is an ordained minister in the Church of the Brethren and serves as a part-time chaplain at local hospitals.

Sue Henderson is the Executive Director, Face to Face Speaker Forum at Wake Forest University. Sue spent most of her career in financial services, including over two decades in wealth management at Wells Fargo, before joining Wake. Sue is passionate about community service and currently serves on multiple non-profit boards.

Mark Holt is a successful attorney recognized in Best Lawyers in America for over 15 years.  Mark has served as President of the North Carolina Bar Association and the North Carolina Bar Foundation and has received numerous professional accolades.  Mark is the son of a Baptist minister committed to serving the community.

Richard Howerton is the President and CEO of VHA Georgia, Inc. and Phoenix Healthcare Management Services, Inc. Before this role, Richard was the President of Novant Health Management Company. 

Rev. Emily Hull McGee serves as senior pastor of First Baptist Church on Fifth, their 12th pastor and first female senior pastor in the church’s 150-year history.  Rev. Hull McGee is a third-generation Baptist pastor in her family, following her parents, aunt, and grandfather into the ‘family business.’

Rev. Paul Jeanes has served as the Rector of Trinity Church in Princeton since the fall of 2008. In addition, Rev. Jeanes is on the board of Religious Ministries PHCS, an ex-officio member of the Trinity Counseling Service Board of Directors, a member of the Diocesan Council for the Episcopal Diocese of New Jersey, and a former Dean of the Trenton Convocation.

Alexis Johnson is an Executive in the telecommunications, media, and entertainment industries. Alexis has expertise in negotiations, deal team leadership, management of programming partnerships, operations management, conflict resolution, and contract compliance and administration.

Brandon Jones is the Director of Political Campaigns for the Southern Poverty Law Center and Southern Poverty Law Center Action Fund, overseeing various advocacy campaigns advancing the SPLC’s mission of racial justice in the Deep South.

Rev. Nathan Kirkpatrick is currently a principal consultant with Saison Consulting, LLC. Rev. Kirkpatrick is an ordained Episcopal priest, gifted preacher, and group facilitator with experience in multicultural, intergenerational, and interfaith settings.

Marcus Kornegay, is a technologist and strategist with 20+ years of leadership experience in information technology delivery and value creation. He is currently the Director of Development and Delivery of Electronic Medical Record (EMR) Services at Novant Health and currently leads Novant Health’s Community Connect practice that supports 35+ independent provider networks and over 400 providers.  Marcus is passionate about education and a catalyst for upward mobility in his community. He serves on several non-profit boards and is a managing member of a residential real estate development company focused on affordable housing and generational wealth for the underserved.

Jared G. Lilly, founder of JGLilly Consulting, is an accomplished management consultant and development professional with over 15 years of experience in the nonprofit sector. Jared was previously the Director of Development for the National Independent Venue Foundation, The Futuro Media Group, and the Berkshire Opera Festival.

Leigh Longhurst is a native of Winston-Salem and works at JDL Castle Corporation in real estate development. Leigh formerly spent five years working in the Trial Consulting department at Womble Carlyle. Leigh is an active volunteer in the community. 

Dr. Marterre is an abdominal transplant and hepatobiliary-pancreatic surgeon who hung up his scalpel in 2016. He now works as an Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine and General Surgery at Wake Forest University School of Medicine providing inpatient palliative care consults for patient s with serious life-threatening illnesses, attending to their physical, psychological, social and spiritual suffering. Dr. Marterre teaches the ethics and practice of shared decision-making, and coaches advanced empathic communication skills. He is the founding Councilor of the Surgical Palliative Care Society.

Maria Mugweru was the first student accepted into its dual-degree program for the Schools of Law and Divinity, earning her Juris Doctor and Master of Divinity. While at Wake Law, Maria created a student clinic that allowed law students, under the supervision of licensed attorneys, to assist community members with completing their healthcare directives.

A native of Jones, Oklahoma, Timothy received a BA in religious studies from Adrian College in Adrian, Michigan, a Master of Divinity degree from Yale University School of Divinity and a Doctor of Ministry degree from Emory University’s Candler School of Theology. Timothy is the senior pastor at Wilshire Baptist Church in Dallas, Texas and has been serving there since January of 2023.

Mr. Redd is the first African-American man to lead Habitat Forsyth, which helps qualified families build and purchase affordable housing in communities, including Dreamland Park, where he played with friends as a child. Outside of Habitat, Redd’s community involvement includes membership in the NAACP, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, and Prince Hall Mason 30th District. He is also a member of the Piedmont Triad Workforce Development Committee and the Affordable Housing Coalition for the City of Winston-Salem.

Liz Seely is the Chief Administrative Officer with OSU Wexner Medical Center with 3o+  years of leadership experience in hospital operations and community engagement. Liz is a founding and current board member of Partners Achieving Community Transformation (PACT) and served over 16 years as a Girl Scout troop leader.

Rev. Alan Sherouse is the Senior Pastor of First Baptist Church of Greensboro, NC. Before this, Rev. Sherouse served as Pastor of Metro Baptist Church in the Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood of Manhattan, where many of his convictions about the church and the role communities of faith can play in advancing justice, and the common good were formed.

Gray received his B.A. (Politics) in 1985 from Wake Forest University, and J.D. and M.B.A. from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. He is an attorney with Fox Rothschild in Greensboro, NC and is the Co-Chair of the firm’s national Energy Practice Group. Active in numerous civic, church, and legal organizations, he has served on the Board of the North Carolina Symphony, as Chair of the North Carolina Museum of History Associates, as Chair of the Provincial Support Services Board of the Moravian Church, Southern Province, and as President of the Wake County (NC) Bar Association.

Rev. Dr. George Williamson served as Pastor of First Baptist Church until his retirement in 2006. Rev. Dr. Williamson was among the twenty-one students from Wake Forest and Winston-Salem State University who conducted the Winston-Salem lunch counter sit-in in 1960. George established the Mac Bryan Prophetic Preaching Series with the WFU School of Divinity.