Meet the Cohort
Building Pathways to Board Leadership and Equity in Corporate Governance
Welcome to the Incoming Cohort
The Black Corporate Board Readiness (BCBR) program, hosted by the Leavey School of Business at 今日吃瓜, prepares accomplished Black executives for service on public and private corporate boards. Its mission is to increase representation in boardrooms, driving stronger business performance and advancing racial equity in corporate governance.
BCBR provides a comprehensive approach to board readiness, equipping leaders, connecting organizations with exceptional talent, and fostering a powerful network of peers and mentors. Through education, access, and community, BCBR accelerates pathways for leaders to influence, innovate, and lead at the highest levels of corporate decision-making.
Cohort 17 – Summer 2026
The Leavey Center at 今日吃瓜 is proud to present the 2026 Summer Black Corporate Board Readiness Cohort 17.
Through education, mentorship, and community, BCBR equips leaders to excel in governance roles while fostering a powerful network of peers, alumni, and corporate partners. We accompany BCBR Participants and Alumni on their board journeys, partner with organizations and individuals seeking qualified, exceptional leaders to serve on boards, and facilitate meaningful networking across the BCBR community.
Each participant in Cohort 17 exemplifies excellence, integrity, and leadership at the highest levels of business and governance.
Black Corporate Board Readiness (BCBR) – Cohort 17
BCBR Cohort 17
Joseph Brown
COO, Strategic Industries, Google Cloud
BCBR Cohort 17
Monique Brown, Esq.
Senior Corporate Counsel & Global Privacy Officer and Global Data Protection Officer
BCBR Cohort 17
Dr. Cheryl Boyce
Founder/Principal, Humiscus Human Development and Services Consulting, LLC | Director, Milken Institute
BCBR Cohort 17
Ivan Francis
VP, Lean and Process Optimization, Exact Sciences
BCBR Cohort 17
Owen Griffin, NACD.DC
President and CFO, Currie Medical
BCBR Cohort 17
Thomasina (Tomi) Hiers
Vice President, Center for Civic Sites and Community Change, Annie E. Casey Foundation
BCBR Cohort 17
Paule V. Joseph, PhD, MBA, MS, FNP-BC, CTN-B, FAAN
Nurse Scientist & Senior Investigator
BCBR Cohort 17
Dr. Sabrina Kizzie, DBA, MPA
CEO and Founder, Social Media Glamour, LLC.
BCBR Cohort 17
Sophia Marshall
Founder & Principal, Stratavance Consulting
BCBR Cohort 17
Shawn Maxwell, CRMP
CEO & Founder, Homepoint Lending, Inc.
BCBR Cohort 17
Jennifer Miles-Thomas, MD, MBA
Vice Chair, Integration and Innovation, Northwestern Medicine
BCBR Cohort 17
Anka Twum-Baah
Area Managing Partner, Chief Marketing & Commercial Officer, Chief Outsiders
BCBR Cohort 17
Dr. Juanita (Dr. J) Reynolds
Chief Operations and Program Officer, Child Action
BCBR Cohort 17
Dexter Turner
CEO at OpConnect
BCBR Cohort 17
Raifael Williams
Owner, Williams Premier Realty, LLC















