Board & Staff
At WHEF, we know progress requires both passion and expertise. Our board and staff bring the knowledge, leadership, and dedication needed to help Mississippi reach its education and workforce goals.
Board of Directors
Debra McGee
Board Chair
Senior Vice President and Director of Minority Business Development, BankPlus
Dr. Cedric Bradley
Vice Board Chair
Vice President of the Harrison County Campus, Keesler Center, and Naval Construction Battalion Center at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College (MGCCC)
Haley Fisackerly
President and CEO, Entergy Mississippi, LLC
Dr. Natalie W. Gaughf
Assistant Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, the University of Mississippi Medical Center
Dr. Michael Highfield
Provost and Executive Vice President, the Dean of the Graduate School, and Professor of Finance at Mississippi Christian University
Alesha Judkins
Mississippi State Director of Criminal Justice Reform, FWD.us
Carla Kirkland
Founder and CEO, The Kirkland Group
Jeff Rent
President and CEO, Greater Jackson Chamber Partnership
Cate Robinson, CFP®
Vice President and Senior Wealth Advisor, Cadence Investment Services, and adjunct lecturer, Mississippi State University
Mayor Errick D. Simmons, Esq
Mayor, City of Greenville, MS, and Partner at Simmons & Simmons, PLLC
Camille Young
Principal and Director, Cornerstone Governmental Affairs
Tianna H. Raby
Vice President of Regulatory Affairs, Entergy Mississippi, LLC
WHEF Staff Members
Jim McHale
President and CEO
Minette Ketchings, CPA
Chief Operating Officer and Controller
Bill Alvis, CPA
Chief Financial Officer
Shanell Watson, CPA
Chief of Staff
Nikki Jackson
Program Manager and Executive Assistant
Marilyn Lewis
Grants Specialist/ Accountant
Diane Covington
Human Resource Assistant
Margaret Saffold
Loan Portfolio Manager
Endaisia Love
Associate Director of Evaluation and Learning
Yolanda Houston
Director of MS Consortium for Higher Education in Prisons
Morgan Miller
Director of Communications, Policy, and Advocacy
Marie Roberts
Assistant Director of Communications, Policy, and Advocacy
Jackie Rogers
Project Manager of Communications, Policy, and Advocacy
Brittany Willard
Graphic Designer & Multi Media Specialist
Statewide Get2College Staff Members
Kierstan Dufour
Director of External Training & Partnerships
Brandi Lyndall
Director of College Access Strategy and Statewide Outreach
Shannon Grimsley
Assistant Director of External Training & Partnerships
Danny Thompson
Deputy Director of GEARUP Outreach
Christina Bracey
Assistant Director of GEARUP Outreach
Chelsea Williams
Coordinator of External Training and Partnerships
Jackson Metro
Get2College Center
Brian Thomas
Jackson Metro Get2College Center Director
Angela Wade
Senior Support Specialist
Ashley Bryant
Assistant Director and Outreach
Lee Scott
Assistant Director and Counselor
North Mississippi
Get2College Center
Daniela Griffin
North Mississippi Get2College Director
Latanya O'Bryant
Administrative Assistant
Jailand Williams
Assistant Director and College Counselor
Charlie Herrington
Assistant Director of Outreach
Josephine Dunigan
Coordinator of GEAR UP Outreach
Germilia Taylor
Coordinator for GEAR UP Outreach
Gulf Coast
Get2College Center
Kimberly Trosclair
Gulf Coast Get2College Center Director
Ana Ochoa
Assistant Director of Outreach
Chelsea Thomas
Counselor
Brittny McNair
Administrative Assistant
“When you see a first-generation student realize that college is within reach, it changes everything. WHEF is about creating those moments, over and over again, across Mississippi.”
–Morgan Miller, Director of Communications, Policy, and Advocacy