Black Alumni Council Members

Courtney Bass ’14
Elementary Education

Courtney Bass is a native of Auburn, Ala., in 2014 he graduated from Auburn University with a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education and a Master of Education in Administration and Supervision of Elementary and Secondary Education in 2019.

A product of, and now an educator in the Auburn City School System, Bass continues to pursue his passion and serve his community as a 6th grade math teacher at Drake Middle School in Auburn, Ala. His belief in lifelong learning translates to all facets of life, including his role on the Black Alumni Council.

Anthony L. Britt ’12
Political Science

Anthony L. Britt is currently employed with Mueller Water Product, Inc. managing facilities throughout the country, with 18 years of experience in facilities and project management. Britt recently launched his own company, Project Antidotes, LLC, which plans and coordinates corporate meetings, events, conferences, tradeshows, and designation management services for for-profit and nonprofit entities.

Active in his community, Britt is member Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. initiated through the Rho Upsilon Lambda Chapter in Dothan, Alabama. He currently is a member of the Alpha Upsilon Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. in Montgomery, Alabama.

Chacolby Burns-Johnson ’01, Immediate Past Chair
Business

Chacolby Burns-Johnson serves as a senior development officer major gifts with a legal advocacy civil rights nonprofit focused on human rights, justice and equity for all. She has experience as an executive director, an appointed member of two administrations in the State of Alabama Governor’s Office, in higher education and nonprofits with roles in fundraising, community outreach, events, marketing, communications and public relations.

A sustaining life member of the Auburn Alumni Association, Burns-Johnson currently serves as chair of the inaugural Black Alumni Council, is also a member of the James E. Foy Loyalty Society and will be returning to Auburn in Fall 2021 as a part-time adjunct professor. In addition, Chacolby is President of the Association of Fundraising Professionals Central Alabama Chapter and recently completed her term as Vice President of Programs with the Public Relations Council of Alabama-Montgomery Chapter. Chacolby is a Sustainer member of the Association of Junior Leagues where she served in Montgomery on the Board of Directors, and she is actively involved as a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

Jazzmin Carr ’15
English Literature & Sociology

Jazzmin Carr is a senior incident manager for Amazon.com, where she responds to critical impact global events, escalations and policy matters. A multifaceted attorney and risk management professional, Carr attended Auburn University as a presidential scholar, earning her bachelor’s degrees in English Literature and Sociology, summa cum laude, with university honors in 2015.

In 2018, Carr earned her juris doctor degree from Harvard Law School where she was appointed director of the Student Government and elected president of the Harvard Black Law Students Association. Carr began her legal career at Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP in Birmingham, Ala. and Clifford Chance US LLP in New York, N.Y. with a primary focus on cross-border mergers and acquisitions, capital markets and asset finance.

Kenneth “Ken” Day ’81
School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences

Ken Day recently retired after 42 years as supervisory natural resource specialist overseeing outdoor recreation, natural resources management, water safety awareness and environmental compliance on multipurpose water resource projects for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Mobile District.

Day serves on the SFWS Dean’s Advisory Council, is a member of the Woodlands and Wildlife Society and is a supporter of the Auburn University Chapter of Minorities in Agriculture Natural Resources and Related Sciences. He is a Life Member of the Auburn Alumni Association, a 2016 Black Alumni Weekend honoree, a member of the Foy Society and a life member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.

Dr. Bianca Evans-Donaldson currently serves as Associate Dean focused on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at the University of Florida. She is committed to increasing the access, retention, and success of students that have been historically underrepresented or marginalized in higher education. Her 15+ years of experience include experience in diversity, equity, and inclusion, student affairs, program development, TRIO programs, research and assessment, leadership development, student organizations, and academic support services. Evans-Donaldson holds a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology and a Graduate Certificate in Program Evaluation from Auburn University. She is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., and a participant in Leadership Gainesville Class 49.

Mitchell Holston ’12
Raymond J. Harbert College of Business

Mitchell Holston serves as the director for Lauder College House at the University of Pennsylvania. He graduated with his BSBA in business administration with a concentration in marketing and a minor in leadership studies from Auburn University and a MAEd in higher education from Virginia Tech. Before arriving at the University of Pennsylvania, Mitchell worked at Georgia Tech, Texas A&M University and Colorado State University with the focus areas of residence life, student leadership, curriculum development and diversity, equity and inclusion.

While at Auburn, Mitchell served in leadership roles with several offices, including the Office of Alumni Affairs, and is excited to impact the experiences of Black students and alumni.

Dr. Dahlia G. Hylton, a higher education administrator and licensed realtor, hails from Los Angeles, Calif. and resides in Atlanta, Ga. Her work in higher education includes the University of California, Santa Barbara, Lehigh University, the University of North Carolina at Asheville and her beloved alma mater, Auburn University. She has promoted diversity, inclusion and equitable practices through building comprehensive cultural spaces, engaging groups from historically underrepresented communities, multicultural education training, student advising and retention programming.

Hylton holds a Ph.D. in higher education administration, Master’s in adult education and a Bachelor’s in marketing—all from Auburn University—as well as a Masters in human resource management from Troy University.

Sonya Jenkins ’92, Chair
Mathematics

Sonya Jenkins is the chief of operations at Advanced Project Consulting, a defense support contractor, and lives in Warner Robins, Ga. In 2012, she worked with Middle Georgia alumni to revitalize the Middle Georgia Auburn Club and served as interim president. She also assisted with re-chartering MGAC in 2017 and has served as a club board member since 2019.

Jenkins is a sustaining life member of the Auburn Alumni Association and is a member of the James E. Foy Loyalty Society with more than 10 years of continual giving to Auburn. She serves on the Auburn University Student Affairs Development Board, COSAM Dean’s Leadership Council and the Black Alumni Council.

Linwood Moore ’77
Pharmacy

Linwood Moore served as the associate chief and chief of pharmacy at the Washington, D.C. VA Medical Center from 2000 until retirement in July 2018. In this capacity, he was responsible for the daily operations of the pharmacy department at this comprehensive teaching medical center, which provides pharmaceutical care for more than 100,000 veteran patients.

While at Auburn Linwood was the first African American Plainsman and the first African American Cheerleader. A graduate of the Army’s Command and General Staff College, Linwood served 30 years as an active duty and reserve army officer achieving the rank of full Colonel.

Nathaniel Rutledge ’90
College of Liberal Arts

Nathaniel Rutledge, Jr. is a native of Birmingham, Ala. who served over 33 years in criminal justice at the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office and Fairfield Police Department before promotion to police chief for the city of Bessemer, Ala. in 2003. Chief Rutledge retired in 2017 and now serves with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, as well as an adjunct criminal justice instructor at varying colleges and universities throughout Alabama.

An 11-year veteran of the United States Marine Corps Reserves who served in Operation Desert Storm, Rutledge is a graduate of the 238th Session of FBI National Academy and a graduate of the FBI Southeastern Law Enforcement Executive Development Seminar. He served two terms as President of the Alabama Association Chiefs of Police.

Abraham Snell ‘94, Vice Chair
College of Liberal Arts

Abraham Snell, an Alabama native, is a technologist and communicator with over 26 years of experience in computer solution architecture, system engineering, system administration, technical people management, and as a college professor. He has also served in the Army/National Guard as well as the Executive Pastor for a large church. These experiences spanning Fortune 200 corporations, non-profit organizations, higher education, the military, and the federal government have provided cultural and organizational insight towards innovative and people-oriented solutions.

While at Auburn, Abraham participated in ARMY ROTC, the Auburn Marching Band, the Auburn Gospel Choir, and was initiated into Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. through the Omicron Kappa Chapter on campus. Abraham’s interest are the intersection of technology and culture. He regularly presents on Leadership and Purpose, Digital Transformation and Modernization, as well as Automation and it’s connection to open, collaborative, and inclusive work culture. Abraham earned degrees in History, Computer Science & Engineering, and an MBA with a concentration in Technology Management all from Auburn University. He currently serves as an Enterprise Solution Architect with Red Hat, Inc., and as the Governance Chair for a non-profit Board of Directors.

Vonnie Stone is a 2021 graduate of the Auburn University MSN – Family Nurse Practitioner Program and the Manager of Clinical and Quality Services for the Erlanger Community Health Centers in Chattanooga, TN. Vonnie has over 27 years of nursing experience and versatility as well as an excellent record filled with diverse leadership roles and accomplishments. Prior to becoming a graduate FNP, Vonnie worked as an RN in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Erlanger Hospital from 2010 to 2020; she also worked for both the Chattanooga State Community College and the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC) Schools of Nursing as a professor of nursing.

Vonnie has served on the City of Chattanooga Mayor’s Women’s Council, the Erlanger Children’s Hospital Family Advisory Council, and is currently a member of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, the American Nurses Association, Chattanooga Area Nurses in Advanced Practice, Sigma Theta Tau International Nursing Honor Society, and is a Life-Member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. Vonnie is currently the Health Committee Chair for the Chattanooga Branch of the NAACP, the Treasurer-elect for the Chattanooga Chapter of the National Black Nurses Association, the President of the Psi Chi Chapter of Chi Eta Phi (Nursing) Sorority, Incorporated, and was recently elected as a member of the Tennessee Nurses Association (TNA) – District 4 Board.

Dr. Cherith Fluker ‘01
College of Liberal Arts

Dr. Cherith Fluker is a Senior Implementation Manager at Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. She has an extensive background in the K-12 education space. Prior to HMH, she was Instructional Specialist for Section 504 & Homebound where one of her key responsibilities was leading teams that developed accommodation plans for students with conditions that interrupted their traditional learning experiences. Before serving as Instructional Specialist, she was a school administrator, an instructional coach and an English teacher. Cherith also has experience as an Educational Consultant and a technical writer for a major security solutions company. She serves on the Board of Directors for the Greater Birmingham Auburn Club and is a member of Delta Kappa Gamma Society International. Cherith holds a doctorate in Educational Leadership from Samford University, a master’s in Language Arts Education from Jacksonville State University, and a bachelor’s in English from Auburn University.

Student Government Association, Dunkin’ Darlings, Project Uplift, and working in the Men’s Basketball office are just a few of the things that kept Cherith busy during her time on the Plains. Initiated into the Kappa Upsilon Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. in 2000, she remains an active member of the sorority. Cherith is also a blogger and freelance writer whose writing has appeared in multiple publications.

Joe was born in Long Island, New York but raised in Alabama. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from Auburn University in 1998. While at Auburn, Joe was a member of Freshman Forum Class of 1994, SGA, Black Student Union, Gospel Choir, a member of the Academic Honesty Committee while also serving as a tour guide and student recruiter. Joe’s efforts earned him the Martin Luther King, Jr. Award from Auburn University.

Since graduation, Joe has worked in for Southern Company, Orange and Rockland, and Con Edison. He currently serves as the DG Ombudsman for Con Edison working with the New York Department of Public Service and New York State’s Energy Research and Development Authority. In his spare time, Joe plays recreational football, enjoys traveling, volunteers with Hearts and Bones Foster program, and spends time with his nieces.

Harold L. Wilson ‘87
Electrical Engineering

Harold L. Wilson is Deputy Branch Head for Logistics Information & Emerging Technology working for the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Fleet Readiness and Logistics, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations located in the Pentagon. He provides senior analysis and leadership for the Navy’s continuous effort to inject technology and enhance the performance of logistics systems and processes.

Mr. Wilson was born in Wetumpka, Alabama. He was introduced to Auburn University through the Minority Introduction to Engineering (MITE) program and attended school as an Air Force ROTC scholarship student. He is a retired US Air Force Colonel with professional qualifications as a Master Maintenance & Munitions specialist and Certified Professional Logistician. He has also served as Assistant Professor of Acquisition at National Defense University where he developed and taught graduate school courses in Defense Systems Acquisition, Research & Technology Policy, Defense Market Theory, and Robotics Autonomous Systems Industry Studies.

Joseph Young ’14
College of Liberal Arts

Joseph Young is a team leader for Delta Air Lines’ International Network Planning, managing transatlantic partnerships with Air France, KLM and Virgin Atlantic to plan the airline’s joint capacity between North America and the Europe, Middle East, Africa and India regions. A graduate of Auburn University’s Harbert College of Business, Young double majored in aviation management and supply chain management.

He currently serves as a member of the Harbert College of Business Advisory Council and the Black Alumni Council, working to foster a stronger relationship between Auburn University, the community, stakeholders and constituents. He was one of 54 employees selected for the 2019 Delta Global Build in partnership with Habitat for Humanity, where he helped build six homes for families in need in Recife, Brazil.