William Roby (JDJ Board Chair) has been a board member since the inception of the Judith Dianne Jackson Scholarship Fund. He is currently retired after a 35-year career in education with Detroit Public Schools. He was recognized for Outstanding Commitment and Unselfish Devotion to the Advancement of Education for the Children and Citizens of Detroit as Assistant Director of Cass Corridor Youth Advocates in late 1970’s where he developed programs for at-risk students.

Sheilah is a Detroit native and Cass Technical High School graduate. She completed her undergraduate studies at Spelman College and earned her graduate degree from Wayne State University and was bestowed an honorary doctorate degree from Oakland University. Sheilah is a nonprofit leader in the human service and behavioral health fields. She is the retired CEO of Neighborhood Service Organization where she served 22 years and has a permanent supportive housing apartment building named in her honor in the Detroit, The Clay Apartments for the formerly homeless adult population. Sheilah returned to work and currently serves as the inaugural Executive Director of the City of Detroit’s Community Health Corps focused on addressing the social determinants of health and poverty for Detroiters. Finally, and most importantly, she initiated the establishment of the JDJ Scholarship Fund in honor of her friend Judith Dianne Jackson.

Sharon Hayes-Roby, board member since inception of the Judith Dianne scholarship fund. Retired from Detroit Public Schools after a 38-year career in education. She served as an elementary school teacher, special education consultant/teacher, and English Language Arts Instructional Specialist. As Instructional Specialist, Sharon conducted demonstration lessons and assisted with curriculum planning and pacing to ensure that adopted reading materials were used as designed. Other accomplishments included the provision of ongoing professionally embedded assistance to teachers through team teaching and cognitive coaching, Coordination and facilitation of client seminars, and Implementation of a school-wide differentiated instruction reading program for at-risk students.

Evan Jackson, son of the late Judith Dianne Jackson, recently returned to Michigan to serve as the Middle School Athletics Coordinator at Greenhills School in Ann Arbor. A proud graduate of University of Detroit Jesuit High School (Class of 2011), Evan went on to earn his undergraduate degree from Washington University in St. Louis, where he discovered his passion for education. Since then, he has taught Kindergarten, Fourth Grade, and Physical Education, while also holding roles as an Athletic Director and Student Life Coordinator. Evan is excited to join the board of the Judith Dianne Jackson Scholarship Fund and is dedicated to advancing his mother’s legacy of supporting Detroit students in their educational journeys.

Jazmine Johnson is a true Detroit native, born and raised in the city. She is a 2017 Judith D. Jackson Scholarship recipient. She has a Bachelor's Degree from the Stephen M. Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan. Her concentration is in Marketing and Sales with a minor in Entrepreneurship. She currently works at University of Michigan’s Cardiovascular Center in Healthcare Administration. She is also the CEO and Founder of Barb n Jewels Cosmetics LLC. She believes that women should feel proud of the skin that they’re in. With her business, she aims to instill that confidence in her clients through her cosmetic services. She aims to serve Women of Color and the youth in Detroit. Growing up in a single parent household, Jazmine understands the importance of support and hopes to be that for the community she strives to impact.

Christina Ladson is a Procurement Manager at Detroit Public Library. Christina is a graduate of Michigan State University, with a Bachelor of Arts in Supply Chain Management and has worked for the City of Detroit for twenty-five years. She is a life-long resident of Detroit and volunteers her time with JDJ Scholarship Fund because she truly believes in the mission of the fund and is proud to align herself with an organization, which is committed to young scholars from the Metro-Detroit area. Christina is married and has two daughters.

Carlton McAfee is a husband and father of 2 sons who also serves as Deacon & Chairman of the Trustees at Rock of Ages Christian Ministries in Detroit. He is also an accountant who currently serves as the Accounting Manager at Neighborhood Service Organization, a not-for-profit human services agency. Carlton also serves as the Financial Secretary of the Gamma Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., Secretary of his Prince Hall Masonic Lodge (Abiff Lodge #21) and is a board member of both the Gamma Lambda Education Foundation and the JDJ Foundation, 2 foundations which provide scholarships to Detroit area youth. Carlton is also a published poet who has performed spoken word poetry at several venues.

Gregory Steven Miller II is an Artistic Trailblazer from Detroit, Michigan. Sparkling glimmers of creativity in adolescence encouraged Gregory to dive into the Theatre and Dance community at Cass Technical High School, while simultaneously training and performing with Mosaic Youth Theatre of Detroit. Visualizing his path in a career that evokes global change while blissfully fueling a gregarious inner-fire, he elected to continue training at Western Michigan University’s School of Theatre and Dance. In that transition, he obtained financial assistance from the Judith Dianne Jackson Scholarship Fund; allowing him to passionately take ownership of numerous projects across theatrical and film production at the collegiate and professional levels. Now degreed a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting, Gregory is presently laying the foundation for life-long longevity; beginning his career as a Resident Teaching Artist with Mosaic Youth Theatre while boarding alongside the same JDJ community that once served him so well.

Brenda Murphy retired from Social Security Administration after 46 years of dedicated employment. During Brenda’s tenure, she received the Commissioner’s Award for outstanding service. Brenda enjoys contributing to the development of children and has volunteered time with Junior Achievement. Brenda was Judy’s older sister and volunteers her time with the JDJ Scholarship Fund Board to honor Judy’s memory and to continue her mission of service.

Amy (Colette) Parnell is a manager in Underwriting for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan. She has been in healthcare for almost 30 years. Colette graduated from Michigan State University with a Bachelors in Accounting and, Central Michigan University with a Masters's in Health Administration. She enjoys volunteering with children, spending time with family and friends, and shopping of course. Colette is the niece of the late, great Judith Dianne Jackson.

Lynn Rife is a Certified Nurse Midwife in the Henry Ford Health System and has been assisting women with their health and welcoming babies into families, in the Metro Detroit area, since 1991. She has been involved with education of Wayne State University medical students, MD residents and Advanced Practice Nurses and Nurse Midwifery students for 28 years and has earned both local and national awards for mentoring and precepting at the graduate level. She is currently pursuing her Doctorate in Nursing Practice (DNP) to continue to educate nurse midwife students into the future.

Omari Taylor is a passionate advocate for the community's most vulnerable residents, bringing over 25 years of expertise in nonprofit leadership, with a focus on fundraising, marketing, brand management, media planning, and corporate communications. He currently serves as Chief Communications Officer for New City Kids, a national nonprofit organization. Throughout his career, Omari has held leadership roles at respected organizations, including Life Remodeled, Gleaners, South Oakland Shelter, Neighborhood Service Organization, and the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. In 2015, he was honored as an International Ford Fellow, earning a three-week residency in New York City alongside emerging leaders from around the world. The program included advanced nonprofit management training at Columbia and Yale Universities. Omari is a proud graduate of Leadership Detroit Class 44 and is deeply involved in his community as a worship leader at Oak Pointe Church in Novi. He is also pursuing his passion for music, currently working on his first gospel album. Omari and his wife, Catheren, have been married for over 17 years and are the proud parents of four wonderful children.

Mecca Vance, a 2017 recipient of the Judith Diane Jackson Scholarship Fund, decided to return to an organization that was so instrumental in her success at Howard University. After graduating from Howard University Magna Cum Laude with her BA in marketing in 2020, Mecca returned home to Detroit, where she has been building her experience at Ally Financial as a Data Analyst. During her two years at Ally Financial, she has learned valuable skills in data analytics, and the intersectionality of community advocacy and business operations. As a result, she has been nominated for the I’m an Ally Award for her continued commitment to serving her customers and her community. Mecca is currently pursuing higher education and is planning on returning to school in Fall 2023 to earn her Juris Doctorate.