Program Manager - Dr. Mamie L. Johnson
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Dr. Mamie Johnson manages overall office operations, supervises office staff and intern students, and works with the Board of Directors to ensure collaborations with community affairs, membership, and civic engagement. She oversees the operations of grant writing proposals, marketing, and annual reports. Dr. Johnson earned her doctoral degree in Higher Education Administration from The George Washington University, Washington, DC, a Master of Arts degree in Communication with emphasis in Languages Studies, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Office Systems Management from Norfolk State University.
Before coming to the Virginia African American Cultural Center (VAACC), Dr. Johnson is currently President of the Framingham Village Homes Association (HOA) in Virginia Beach, where she is the operations manager of the Clubhouse and presides over a five-member Board of Directors for 213 single-family homes. She oversees and manages the infrastructure of the clubhouse, greenbelt areas, and the overall operations of finances, annual reserve studies, and monthly expenditures. Dr. Johnson is a retired Associate Professor of English from Norfolk State University for 28 years, where she taught English composition, African American history, speech communications, and American literature. Her leadership roles included Department Chair of English and Foreign Languages, where she managed a $2.1 million-dollar operating budget, supervised thirty-six faculty and staff members, created a website for marketing and branding, and increased student recruitment by 35%. She has a proven record of student recruitment and retention rates, organizational skills to lead and improve departmental operations, management, and leadership skills to enhance departmental efficiency. She served as coordinator and leader for the Literary Arts Festival for eight consecutive years, faculty advisor for English majors, life member and lead faculty advisor for Alpha Kappa Mu Honor Society, Mu Zeta Chapter and council advisor for Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society, and an honorary member of Golden Key National Honour Society. In 2003, Dr. Johnson became the Dean of Academic Support Services at Livingstone College in Salisbury, NC, where she spearheaded the academic success program for at-risk students (first-year students and sophomores) with a 65% retention rate increase within one year. The President of the College appointed her to a dull role as Associate Dean of Liberal Arts and Department Chair of English and Foreign Languages, where she advised 33 English majors, supervised six department heads, and worked closely with the Dean of Liberal Arts to manage the operations of the School of Liberal Arts. Dr. Johnson brings a plethora of leadership experience as former Commissioner Member of the Mayor’s Inclusion, Diversity, Ethics, and Acceptance (IDEA) Commission, Executive Board Member, City of Virginia Beach Public Library, Past-President, Norfolk Alumni Chapter, NSU, and Past-President, Conference of Minority Public Administrators, Hampton Roads Chapter. |
Media Specialist - Toni Guagenti
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Toni Guagenti worked in newspapers in Maryland, Washington, D.C. and Hampton Roads before leaving journalism to work in marketing, public relations and social media. She’s served as a freelance political consultant for several Hampton Roads’ political candidates, and as a freelance writer for various publications. She also penned the book, “100 Things to Do in Virginia Beach Before You Die.” She is a huge proponent of the mission and goals of the Virginia African American Cultural Center. When she’s not exploring new parts of Hampton Roads or freelance writing, Toni spends time with her Italian greyhounds, enjoys good vino and gleams with pride at being the mother of her 23-year-old daughter.
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Artist at Large - Crystal Sessoms
CREATIVE…DRAMATIC…and INSPIRATIONAL are just a few words to describe Crystal Sessoms. She has served as a creative professional in the “757” for more than twenty years. Crystal has worked as a journalist, actor, director, vocalist, dancer, African drummer and producer. She has spent the last ten years providing programming and direction for cultural art centers and museums. In her spare time, she loves travelling. Crystal believes art is the perfect vessel to spread messages of love and respect to elevate the human experience.
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