Deborah Catchings-Smith is a Vice President of Risk Management in the North America Consumer Bank Division of Citi, where she’s served in leadership for the past two decades. Including Ms. Catchings-Smith’s career at Citi, she has worked in financial services for more than 30 years.

Ms. Catchings-Smith served as the 24th International President, Chief Executive Officer, and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. from 2016-2020. In this position, she was responsible for more than 100,000 members within 500 chapters internationally.

Edie Barnard is the Director of Development and Communications for the Missouri Charter Public School Association. In her role, Ms. Barnard works to secure funding that support’s the organization’s mission: Improve student outcomes by increasing access to high-quality charter schools. Ms. Barnard also oversees communications and outreach efforts aimed at Missouri’s charter public school sector and the general public. Ms. Barnard has spent a significant amount of her career as teaching media studies as an Associate Professor at Lindenwood University and Adjunct Professor at Webster University. Her passion for media literacy education led Ms. Barnard to found the Midwest Center for Media Literacy.

Evelyn Woods, EdD is the Director of Human Resources and Evaluation at the Hazelwood School District. Dr. Woods has more than 16 professional years in the St. Louis educational community. She has spent 8 of her 11 years as a turnaround-focused school principal. Before she served as an administrator, Dr. Woods taught middle school communication arts. She has a bachelor’s degree in criminology and criminal justice from the University of Missouri-St. Louis, a master’s degree in legal studies, a master’s degree in teaching with an emphasis in communication from Webster University, and an educational specialist degree from MIZZOU in 2012. Dr. Woods earned her doctorate in educational leadership from Maryville University.

LaTonya Jackson, MBA, is in her seventh year in banking. She has served as a BankCentre Leader, the VP of Community Development, and she currently serves as the Asst. VP of Business Services at St. Louis Community Credit Union.  Her focus was, and continues to be, building and expanding relationships between Banks and the communities within the St. Louis Metropolitan Area. With more than 20 years of professional experience in social services, LaTonya has a unique understanding and intimate knowledge of how to best serve under-served St. Louis communities. Jackson has a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Benedictine College and a master’s in business administration degree from Fontbonne University.

Art Silverblatt is a Professor Emeritus of Media Communications at Webster University, St. Louis, Missouri. He is the author of Media Literacy: Keys to Interpreting Media Messages, Dictionary of Media Literacy, Approaches to Media Literacy, International Communications, Approaches to Genre Study, and Handbook of Media Literacy, as well as numerous articles focusing on the topic of Media Literacy. He is a Founding Member of DIMLE (Digital International Media Literacy E-book Project).

Kim Scott is a seven-time published author, screenwriter, TV producer, non-profit founder, speaker, and overall creative. She has worked and written for some top TV networks, including ABC, FOX, BET, NBCUniversal, TV One, Cleo TV, and YouTube Space. Kim has a passion for helping people become the best version of themselves. As a speaker and coach, she has mentored and coached hundreds of people on effective goal setting that yields results. She has touched the lives of thousands of girls and women across the globe through her books, speaking engagements, online community, and simple but meaningful daily conversations.

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