Jessica O’Connor (she/hers) is the Consortium’s Public History Director. She is a Cheyenne, Wyoming native. A graduate of Winston-Salem State University and University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Jessica holds a B.A. in History and M.A. Museum Studies. She also holds certificates in Inclusive Leadership, Project Management, and Cultural Heritage Preservation. Prior to joining the...
Vera Whisenton received her bachelor’s degree from Spelman College in Atlanta in 1964 and went on to pursue a master’s in library science from Atlanta University in 1965. Her vigorous career spanned 42 years, which included serving in influential positions such as the Director of Administrative Services in the Office of the Secretary of the...
Barbara Hogue is the Executive Director of the Christ Church Preservation Trust in Philadelphia, a National Historic Landmark that welcomes 200,000 visitors each year with strategic responsibilities for guiding the education, arts, material culture, and archival programs, as well all preservation and conservation efforts across the historic campus of properties including Christ Church, The Christ...
Roy DeBerry, a native of Holly Springs, MS, recently retired as Vice President for Economic Development and Local Governmental Affairs at Jackson State University. He also served as the Executive Vice President and an Adjunct Professor of Public Policy and Administration, Jackson State University, where he taught two courses. He was also Activist in Residence-2014-16...
Theodore R. Debro, Jr. is the Retired Deputy Director of the Jefferson County Committee for Economic Opportunity (JCCEO), Birmingham, AL. JCCEO, a non-profit organization, is one of 22 Community Action Agencies (CAA) located throughout the State of Alabama to serve all counties in Alabama. His work at JCCEO included the management and oversight of more...
Dwight Cammeron is an award-winning independent documentary filmmaker whose projects have been recognized by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, PBS’s National Black Programming Consortium, The National Educational Telecommunications Association, and the Broadcast Education Association. His films, which highlight African American history and center the African American experience, have been screened at film...
Lisa Ackerman serves as Executive Director of Columbus Citizens Foundation, an organization devoted to Italian culture and Italian American heritage. CCF provides more than $2 million annually in scholarships and offers a broad range of public programs. Previously, Ms. Ackerman served as Interim CEO of the World Monuments Fund in 2018 and 2019, after having...
Steve Crocker co-anchors the 6 and 9pm newscasts at WBRC FOX6 News. Steve grew up watching television news in Queens, New York and was introduced to broadcasting by his older brother Rob, who does jazz radio in the New York area. Steve’s broadcasting career began at WCLK radio in Atlanta, while attending Morehouse College, where...
Priscilla Hancock Cooper served as the founding Executive Director of the Alabama African American Civil Rights Heritage Sites Consortium since it began as a project of the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute (BCRI) in 2017. She retired from the Consortium in January 2023 and was named Executive Director Emeritus by the Board of Directors. After retiring...
