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Alumni Leadership Council (ALC)

The EWU Alumni Leadership Council serves as the official leadership advisory body representing the alumni of Edward Waters University (EWU). It exists to strengthen alumni engagement, support strategic University initiatives, and foster a lifelong connection between alumni and the institution.  

Meet the council

Samuel C. Newby is a Jacksonville native and former At Large Group 5 City Council member, serving from 2015 to 2023 and as Council President in 2021–2022. A graduate of William M. Raines High School and Edward Waters College, he spent over 30 years with PepsiCo and held numerous community leadership roles, including chairing the Johnson Family YMCA and the Florida Assembly of Black Republicans. Known for his commitment to youth mentorship and neighborhood improvement, he remains a dedicated advocate for Jacksonville’s communities.
Melva Rozier is the Supervising Attorney for the Veterans Advocacy Project and a U.S. Army JAG Corps veteran, dedicated to advancing legal services for veterans and their families. She holds a J.D. with honors from Nova Southeastern University and brings experience across multiple legal fields, including VA benefits, probate, and elder law. Melva has earned notable recognition-including the Mission UNITED Award and the Florida Patriot Award-and serves in key leadership roles on veterans advisory boards and community organizations.
Marilynn Dawson is an accomplished facilities and real estate leader with experience managing multimillion dollar operations for Johnson & Johnson, including 2.5 million square feet of property and FDA regulated manufacturing sites. She has earned multiple CBRE awards for performance and community impact and was highlighted for International Women in Engineering Day. She holds a bachelors degree from Edward Waters University and an MBA from Webster University, along with an RPA designation. Marilynn also serves in leadership roles with JLL’s Black employee network and Black Excellence Empowerment, Inc., and is dedicated to community service across Jacksonville.
Aszloyn N. Wakefield, Ed.S., is an author, educator, entrepreneur, and U.S. Army veteran with more than 25 years of experience serving children, families, and school communities. A graduate of Edward Waters University and Nova Southeastern University, she has worked as a teacher, assistant principal, and principal before launching Family First Solution CDC and a Medicaid Waiver agency supporting individuals with disabilities. She also founded Above and Beyond Preparatory Academy and Built with Intention, a faithcentered business mentorship program for mothers. Aszloyn is an active member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., and remains deeply rooted in her faith and community.
Kabreel McEachin-Campbell, MBA, is a workforce development and higher education leader with experience spanning career services, continuing education, and talent strategy. He currently serves as Director of Career Services at Atlanta Technical College and is the Owner & Chief Experience Officer of 715 SoMa Workforce Solutions, specializing in equitable staffing and talent development.pdf). His background includes leadership roles at Lehman College (CUNY), the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce, and Johnson C. Smith University, where he advanced career pathways, employer partnerships, and student success initiatives.pdf). Kabreel is completing his Doctor of Education in Higher Education & Adult Learning, conducts research on LGBTQ+ student persistence at HBCUs, and is active in professional and community organizations, including Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.
Octavius Davis, known as DaMillionDollarVoice, is a Gary, Indiana native who has called Jacksonville home for nearly 40 years. With almost two decades of experience in public speaking and entertainment—including radio broadcasting, emceeing, voice acting, and motivational speaking—he is a dynamic presence on HOT 106.5. An Edward Waters University graduate with a B.A. in Communications, Octavius is known for his captivating voice and charismatic delivery. He is also the founder of Da Million Dollar Voice: Academy, an afterschool literacy program that boosts students’ reading confidence through the art of voice acting.
Tomeche Lowe is a Vice President and Retail Banking Specialty Team Manager with 25 years of leadership experience, specializing in coaching, performance improvement, and operational excellence. She is actively engaged in community service, supporting youth through initiatives such as mock interviews for Boys & Girls Clubs of America Student of the Year candidates and coordinating a Black History Month kickoff event as Chair of Jacksonville’s Black Professionals Group. A proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Tomeche contributes to scholarship fundraising and leads impactful volunteer efforts, including the “Kicks for the Kids” shoe drive that has provided nearly 1,000 children with new shoes. She is also committed to promoting financial literacy among youth and young adults, aligning her professional expertise with her passion for community empowerment.
Brian Hart is a proud Edward Waters University graduate and serves as Chair of Enrollment Management, bringing more than 18 years of experience in education to mentoring and empowering students as they pursue purpose, discipline, and personal growth. Alongside his work in higher education, he trains athletes in strength, speed, agility, mindset, and recovery, helping individuals perform at their highest potential on and off the field. He is a dedicated member of the Delta Psi Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. and a charter member of the Leesburg Alumni Chapter, where he supports service, leadership, and community impact.
Barbara B. Lang is the CEO of Lang Strategies, LLC and former 12-year President & CEO of the DC Chamber of Commerce, where she grew the organization into one of the region’s most influential business voices. Her career includes senior leadership roles at Fannie Mae and IBM, and she has been recognized with numerous awards, including repeated placement on Washingtonian Magazine’s “150 Most Powerful People” list. Barbara holds degrees from Edward Waters University and multiple honorary doctorates, serves on several corporate and civic boards, and is the author of Madam President.
Tomeche Lowe is a Vice President and Retail Banking Specialty Team Manager with 25 years of leadership experience, specializing in coaching, performance improvement, and operational excellence. She is actively engaged in community service, supporting youth through initiatives such as mock interviews for Boys & Girls Clubs of America Student of the Year candidates and coordinating a Black History Month kickoff event as Chair of Jacksonville’s Black Professionals Group. A proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Tomeche contributes to scholarship fundraising and leads impactful volunteer efforts, including the “Kicks for the Kids” shoe drive that has provided nearly 1,000 children with new shoes. She is also committed to promoting financial literacy among youth and young adults, aligning her professional expertise with her passion for community empowerment.
Christopher C. Calhoun, Sr., Esq. is a seasoned attorney and proud alumnus of Edward Waters University, bringing over a decade of legal experience in criminal and family law. As founder of the Law Office of Christopher C. Calhoun, he is known for his strong ethical judgment, strategic counsel, and ability to guide individuals and organizations through complex legal matters. A member of The Florida Bar, Calhoun has demonstrated a commitment to both legal excellence and community impact. His professional background includes prior service as an adjunct professor, where he taught legal issues in education and helped bridge theory with real-world application.
Tomeche Lowe is a Vice President and Retail Banking Specialty Team Manager with 25 years of leadership experience, specializing in coaching, performance improvement, and operational excellence. She is actively engaged in community service, supporting youth through initiatives such as mock interviews for Boys & Girls Clubs of America Student of the Year candidates and coordinating a Black History Month kickoff event as Chair of Jacksonville’s Black Professionals Group. A proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Tomeche contributes to scholarship fundraising and leads impactful volunteer efforts, including the “Kicks for the Kids” shoe drive that has provided nearly 1,000 children with new shoes. She is also committed to promoting financial literacy among youth and young adults, aligning her professional expertise with her passion for community empowerment.

Frequently Asked Questions

What You Should Know

The EWU Alumni Leadership Council is the University’s official alumni engagement and advisory body, established within Edward Waters University and operating under the University’s governance, leadership, and nonprofit status. 

The Council exists to strengthen alumni connection, leadership, service, and philanthropic support in direct alignment with the University’s mission and strategic priorities. 

No. The EWU Alumni Leadership Council is not a separate nonprofit entity. It is an internal University body and operates under Edward Waters University’s existing nonprofit status, policies, and fiduciary oversight. 

Edward Waters University established the Alumni Leadership Council to ensure that alumni engagement and fundraising conducted on behalf of the University occur with clear institutional oversight, transparency, and alignment with University priorities. 

As the University has grown and advanced its mission, it became increasingly important to formalize alumni engagement through a structure that reflects best practices in higher education governance. The Alumni Leadership Council allows alumni to remain meaningfully connected to the institution while ensuring that activities conducted in the University’s name are properly coordinated, mission-aligned, and stewarded in a manner that protects both alumni and the University. 

This structure provides clarity, consistency, and confidence for alumni, donors, and partners, while preserving the University’s responsibility for institutional direction and accountability. 

The Alumni Leadership Council works in coordination with University leadership and Advancement to: 

• Advise on alumni engagement strategies 
• Support mission-aligned alumni programming and outreach 
• Serve as ambassadors for Edward Waters University 
• Strengthen alumni connection to students and institutional priorities
• Support and participate in University-authorized fundraising efforts coordinated through official EWU channels 

All activities conducted through the Council are University-authorized and University-governed. 

Official alumni activities or fundraising efforts conducted on behalf of Edward Waters University are those authorized by the University and coordinated through the EWU Alumni Leadership Council or other University offices. 

When in doubt, alumni should rely on official University communications or information published by the University. 

As part of the University’s ongoing efforts to strengthen governance and ensure clarity around alumni engagement, Edward Waters University clarified that alumni activities and fundraising conducted in the name of or on behalf of the University must occur through University-authorized structures. 

The establishment of the EWU Alumni Leadership Council reflects a forward-looking approach that ensures accountability, alignment, and transparency. 

Yes. Edward Waters University values alumni initiative and lifelong connection. Alumni may continue to gather and network independently. 

However, activities or fundraising conducted in the name of, representing, or on behalf of Edward Waters University must be coordinated through University-authorized entities to avoid confusion and ensure proper stewardship.

Edward Waters University recognizes that many alumni have historically organized themselves into local or regional alumni groups and chapters in order to remain connected to one another and to their alma mater. The University appreciates the time, energy, and dedication alumni have invested over the years to build community and support Edward Waters University. With the establishment of the EWU Alumni Leadership Council, the University is transitioning to a model in which alumni engagement and activities conducted in the name of Edward Waters University occur through University-authorized structures. 
 
This approach helps ensure clarity, transparency, and alignment with the University’s mission and priorities.
Additional information regarding alumni engagement opportunities and leadership participation will be shared through official University communications as the Alumni Leadership Council continues to develop.

Yes. Alumni are always free and encouraged to gather, network, and organize informally with fellow graduates. However, groups or activities that represent, fundraise for, or operate in the name of Edward Waters University must be coordinated through University-authorized structures to ensure appropriate stewardship, clarity of representation, and alignment with University policies. Alumni interested in participating in official alumni activities are encouraged to engage through the EWU Alumni Leadership Council.

THE ALC Structure

The Alumni Leadership Council operates under the guidance of the President & CEO of Edward Waters University and the Vice President of Institutional Advancement, Development & Marketing (IADMC). The Council is led by the Council President and Secretary, who oversee a series of specialized committees designed to strengthen alumni engagement and support the university’s mission. Each committee is chaired by an alumni leader and aligned with a corresponding university executive to ensure strategic collaboration across key areas—academic affairs, philanthropy, enrollment, athletics, student success, marketing and communications, and alumni engagement for both traditional‑age and adult learners. Through this structure, the Alumni Leadership Council connects alumni expertise with university priorities, fosters meaningful engagement, and advances initiatives that support students, strengthen programs, and build lifelong Tiger Pride.

Institutional Advancement, Development, Marketing & Communications

ALC Interest Form

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