Veronica Cox
Veronica believes diversity, inclusion, and social responsibility are foundational principles for good business and life. She has a proven record of cultivating a supportive and inclusive work environment for all employees. Her diverse career spans top-10 pharmaceutical CRO giants like PPD, where she worked as a programmer analyst, to the classrooms in Charlotte, NC, where she nurtured aspiring tech talent as an AP Computer Science teacher. Veronica directs iD Tech’s in-person camps while leading the JEDI council.
As Director of Operations, Veronica leads a team focused on growing capacity and market share while delivering the iD Tech experience to the campers and families attending the programs. She also leads the charge in DEI initiatives by crafting new programming and helping create the strategic vision. Her goal is to intentionally build a space for diverse talent and perspectives and fostering a community where everyone can grow.
Veronica serves as Chair of the WSSU Foundation SGA Gala and R.A.W 5K/10K Committees and is an active Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. member. She is also a fellow in Leadership Tomorrow, whose programmatic goal is to train leaders to address current issues and the changing needs of communities with a DEIB lens. She is the mother of four amazing and thriving children and has been married to her college sweetheart for over 25 years. Veronica enjoys snuggling up with a good book, hiking, and finding new bourbons to sip and enjoy in her time.
Dr. LaTanya Afolayan
Dr. LaTanya D. Afolayan joined Winston-Salem State University as the Vice Chancellor for University Advancement and the Executive Director of the Winston-Salem State University Foundation, Inc. in July of 2018. Prior to her appointment at WSSU, Afolayan served as the Senior Director of Major and Planned Giving at Norfolk State University in Norfolk, Virginia.
Her career in advancement began in 1996 at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. In 2002, she relocated to North Carolina to serve as the first director of major and planned gifts at Elizabeth City State University, where she also served as the Associate Vice Chancellor, and the Vice Chancellor for University Advancement. In 2009, Afolayan was appointed to serve as the Vice Chancellor of Institutional Advancement at North Carolina Central University in Durham, North Carolina. In 2011, Afolayan joined the major gifts team during Appalachian State University’s (NC) $200 million campaign. Afolayan also served as the Associate Vice President for University Advancement at Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas.
For more than 27 years, Afolayan has enjoyed her work in development at seven institutions of higher education. “The most gratifying aspects of my work are identifying scholarship resources for students and helping every donor to create lasting legacies Development officers must remain focused and vigilant as they develop enduring, lasting relationships with their constituents.”
LaTanya grew up in Evansville, Indiana. She earned a doctorate from East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina., a master’s degree from the University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, and a bachelor’s degree from Indiana State University, Terre Haute, Indiana. She holds certification in fundraising management from the Lilly School of Philanthropy at Indiana University and is a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals and the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education.
She is the proud mom of three AMAZING young adults.
Macus Cox
Marcus Cox has an extensive career in retail services. He has over 25 years working in banking, coffee retail and pet retail. Marcus’ last stint in retail was at Petco, a health and wellness company focused on improving the lives of pets, pet parents and Petco partners. In his role as Market Regional Director, Marcus was responsible for the operations of more than 85 pet care centers throughout states of Oregon and Washington generating over $410MM in annual revenue.
Marcus created a culture of world class coaching to 5 district managers and over 1000 partners in the Pacific Northwest (PNW). With an eye of improving working conditions for partners and driving top line revenue, Marcus’ contributions were extensive for the
PNW and Petco nationwide.
Prior to his role as a regional director with Petco, Marcus was a regional operations coach, for the Midwest Region of Starbucks. Marcus provided strategic advice, coaching and development throughout the Midwest Region. He contributed to the success of over 20,000 partners within the Midwest Region, while coaching 11 regional directors to improve their business operations, increase sales revenue per store per hour, drive partner sentiment and customer experience.
Marcus held several leadership positions within Starbucks during his 5 year tenure including a senior operations consultation manager (Sr. OCM) on the Operational Excellence team in Operational Services at Starbucks. In this capacity he consulted, led and wrote the Steps to Excellence, Business Analysis and Problem Solving, Food Safety and Clean and Maintain Stores for the US and Canada retail business. Marcus worked closely with retail Sr. OCM’s to bring an updated Drive Thru guidance to market. He also consulted with licensed stores (Sr. OCM’s) to help bring Nexus and Starbucks Connect to market.
Marcus represented Ops Services in Leadership in Origin, 2020 and was a founding member of the Ops Services Inclusion and Diversity Taskforce. He worked with the Starbucks University Programs team to help secure six internships for Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
During Marcus’s tenure with Starbucks he was also a district manager for licensed stores (LS), Charlotte North Carolina and Upstate South Carolina. In 2018, he participated in the Licensed Stores Advanced Development Program. He was also a grocery co-lead pillar for the SouthEast Region, LS where he was responsible for helping drive strategy in the grocery sector.
Prior to Starbucks, Marcus worked in the financial services industry for over 15 years. Marcus was the Market President for Bank of America in Asheville, North Carolina where he led a team of 110 bankers that delivered the company’s corporate, social responsibility, and financial strategies regionally. He also was responsible for bringing the full resources of Bank of America Merrill Lynch to clients by managing, coordinating and integrating product and service delivery for all lines of business with investable assets totaling $1.4B, deposits of $606MM and commercial loans totaling $55MM.
Marcus has been active in civic and community affairs throughout his career. Marcus is the Co-Chair of the Black Partner Network, SSC Chapter. He currently serves on Winston Salem State University’s Foundation Board as Vice Chair and is currently a finalist for a board position with the Seattle Repertory Theatre board. (Seattle Rep) He is also a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
Marcus is a native of Winston Salem, graduated from the Winston Salem State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science (c/o 1997). He married his college sweetheart, Veronica Cox, and they have four children, Marcus Cox II, Marcella Cox, Marcia Cox and Carter Cox.
Dr. Siobahn Grady
Dr. Siobahn Grady’s remarkable journey began as the first woman to earn a Ph.D. in Computer Science from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University in 2018. Currently, she serves as an Assistant Professor and Program Director of Information Science/Systems at the School of Library and Information Sciences at North Carolina Central University. Notably, she heads the Laboratory for Artificial Intelligence and Equity Research (LAIER), co-directs the Center for Data Equity (CODE), and holds the title of an Office e-Learning faculty fellow at the same institution.
A passionate researcher, Dr. Grady delves deep into the application of machine learning, targeting misinformation on social media and enhancing fault detection in autonomous vehicles. However, her pursuits are not confined to academic corridors; she is a vocal advocate for bolstering the representation of women and minorities in computer science. Recognizing the pronounced gender and racial disparities in STEM, she aspires to foster confidence in these groups, aiding them in sculpting a robust STEM identity. As an esteemed AAAS IF/THEN ambassador, Dr. Grady is at the forefront of instigating change, both through hands-on research and community outreach.
Her accomplishments have not gone unnoticed. Dr. Grady’s insights have illuminated national and international conferences, and her legacy is immortalized in the world’s largest exhibit of women’s statues. Furthermore, museums across the country have celebrated her contributions. Her vision for an inclusive future in technology is realized by promoting educational opportunities across multiple platforms – from community organizations to academic research and philanthropic endeavors. Demonstrating her commitment to the future of STEM, Dr. Grady has established four merit-based, STEM-centric endowed scholarships at prominent HBCUs within the University of North Carolina System, effectively easing the financial strain on deserving students.
Her unwavering commitment to excellence in education is evident in her array of Quality Matters Certifications, including Master Reviewer, Peer Reviewer, and several Facilitator roles. Dr. Grady’s influence stretches to numerous board and advisory positions outside academia, including the Winston-Salem State University Foundation and the National Girls Collaborative Project. She also proudly associates with several esteemed organizations, like the Alpha Zeta Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., and both the Winston Salem State University and North Carolina Central University National Alumni Associations as a life member.
With a dedication that transcends the classroom and a vision that seeks an inclusive future, Dr. Grady continues to shape the trajectory of women and minorities in STEM.
Cherita Marks
Cherita Marks is a seasoned coordinator with 6+ years of brand activation leadership, entertainment marketing and strategy, and experiential events experience in cannabis, fitness, Web3, entertainment, fashion, and more. Formerly, Cherita has worked in Studio Public Relations and Marketing with organizations such as Paramount, Disney (Freeform and ABC Studios), and BET. Cherita is recognized for demonstrating a natural aptitude for directing effective sponsorship and outreach events and creating engaging marketing campaigns and brand strategies. As such, she has consistently exceeded budgetary and performance goals
and is adept at achieving maximum operational output with minimal resource expenditure.
Professional focal points include brand activations, cross-functional collaboration, partnership outreach, vendor coordination, content planning, marketing strategy, brand development, and creative strategy. Delivering superior administration in the latter areas of expertise requires effective communication, negotiation, business acumen, data analysis, project management, and resource management to support efficiency and maximum returns.
Colleagues describe Cherita as a progressive, driven, down-to-earth, results-oriented, multicultural, and creative branding expert who can be relied on to offer superior solutions that deliver profitable results on time and under budget.
