Speakers

 

Deltha Q. Colvin is the Associate Vice President for Student Affairs, Special Programs at Wichita State University (WSU). She was a graduate of the first TRIO Upward Bound fifty-one years ago. In essence she is living the TRIO experience starting as a first-generation student to now being Associate Vice President for Student Affairs. She has dedicated her time and effort to provide opportunities to students. Colvin has been involved with TRIO Programs for 45 years. She overseas 10 TRIO Programs and 2 Gear UP Programs. She has been president of the Mid-America Association of Educational Opportunity Program Personnel (MAEOPP) and the MO-KAN-NE Chapter of MAEOPP, serving on the national, regional and chapter TRIO board of directors. As a member of the US Department of Education’s national TRIO ThinkQuest (TTQ) Advisory Committee and University of Washington Training, she has assisted in the implementation of web page design competition for TRIO participants and promoting the importance of model curriculums. Her programs have been a part of the Microsoft TRIO Partnership since 1994, receiving software to assist TRIO students in their educational pursuits. She is a national advocate, trainer, and consultant in the development of proposals, program management and operations, and TRIO program reviews. She served as the eighth and first female president and the secretary of the Mid- America Association of Educational Opportunity Program Personnel (MAEOPP), serving on the board of directors of the National Council of Educational Opportunity Associations (NCEOA). MAEOPP is the largest of the ten TRIO regional associations, representing ten states in the Midwest and has over 800 members.

Curtis Pitts was voted one of the “Top 10 Up and Coming African American Leaders in the United States" by Coretta Scott King of the King Center. For his Nonviolent Social Change, motivational speaker Curtis Pitts is an award-winning community activist, keynote speaker, and philanthropist.

Curtis earned his bachelor’s degree in General Studies with minors in Political Science and Criminal Justice from Fort Hays State University and has studied at the prestigious Scholars Institute at the King Center for Nonviolent Social Changes in Atlanta, Georgia. He currently serves as the President and CEO of the International Institute to Improve Race Relations in addition to working as an independent lobbyist. Curtis has spoken at over 900 national, regional, and state conferences and has received numerous awards. He has four decades of activism and training on improving race relations.

Jenna Smith joined the TRIO Disability Support Services program in November 2004 and remained in the program through graduation. She graduated from Wichita State in May 2009 with a Bachelor of Science in Health Services Management and Community Development.

After graduating with her bachelor’s degree, Jenna went on to obtain two master’s degrees. She earned degrees in Public Health from the University of Kansas in 2012 and Aging Studies from Wichita State University in 2014. Jenna recently returned back to Wichita State University and is in the process of earning a master’s degree in School of Psychology in hopes of working in the school system.

Jenna has put her education to good work as an advocate for adults with Alzheimer’s and dementia. She worked for five years as the family care coordinator for the local chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association and is currently employed by the Alzheimer’s Association headquarters as a 24/7 helpline care consultant providing support for caregivers and family members. She is active in the Wichita community as a member of the Public Health Coalition and various other groups that advocate for needs of elderly adults. Jenna continues to volunteer with the Alzheimer’s Association local chapter in coordinating events and planning and presenting for the yearly Kansas Education Conference on Dementia, is a girl scout leader to her daughter’s school and involved in PTO through her daughters school.