WHO ARE WE
UNITE Inc. is a 501c3 nonprofit organization that was founded in August 2011 at Alabama State University. Since 2013, UNITE Inc. has become a national organization serving high school students and HBCU students across the country. We strive to connect high school students to HBCUs and HBCU students to opportunities. Since 2014, have assisted our high school seniors in securing over $40.2 million in scholarships. Further, we have assisted our college students in securing internships and job placements with companies such as JP Morgan, Oracle, Ernest & Young, Deloitte and admission in to graduate programs across the country.
OUR MISSION
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The mission of UNITE Inc. is to promote leadership, scholarship, and social awareness while motivating and empowering the youth to dream and excel in every aspect of life.
OUR VISION
UNITE Inc. strives to empower the youth spiritually, culturally, and intellectually.
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OUR MOTTO
Connecting high school students to HBCUs and HBCU students to opportunities.
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OUR PLEDGE
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"I am driven and destined for greatness. No challenge is too hard or goal too high. The sky is not the limit. Only you can stop you from doing what you want to do. My life matters and I pledge to be great at all times. I love me and I love you. ONE LOVE!!!!"
THE TEAM
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OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Travis C. Smith Ph.D.
Travis Smith is a proud graduate of the Lafayette High School class of 2008. He later attended Alabama State University on a full academic scholarship. In 2011, Smith founded Unite Inc. at Alabama State University to improve freshmen man retention rates. In 2012, Smith received his Bachelor of Science in Biology and went on to study at Life University in Marietta, GA. where he received a Masters of Science degree in Sports Health Science. Dr. Smith attended Clemson University where he earned a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership in Higher Education. As a critical scholar, he chooses to focus on inquiry, practice, and pedagogy that helps disrupt oppressive systems in order to support racially minoritized students. His research agenda is centered in Black student involvement, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Black graduate education. He is currently an Assistant Professor at Auburn University. His ultimate goal is to become president of a Historically Black College and University.
Cara Mitchell
Cara D. Mitchell is a highly skilled B2B and B2C Marketing professional dedicated to strategically providing high level ideas and solutions to critical business issues. Cara received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration with a major of Marketing and a minor of International Business from Alabama State University and an MBA from Texas Southern University. Cara has years of fortune 500 corporate sales and marketing experience with O’Reilly Auto Parts, AT&T, and ITW. Currently Cara is the Associate Director of Marketing for BBB Industries and is based in Dallas, Texas. As an experienced B2B and B2C marketer, Cara has worked across multiple marketing disciplines with large and small companies, agencies, and people. With strategy as her core skill, Cara has led strategic product launches of multi-million-dollar brands, executed thought leadership campaigns for acquisitions and integrations, and developed communications & content strategies. Outside of work, Cara enjoys spending time with her daughter, volunteering with Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, and serving as President of The Dozens of Cousins which is the family club for the Bryant-Fisher Family, the 3rd largest African American family in the United States. Cara’s ultimate goal is to prepare the next generation to communicate successfully in all settings.
Kayla C. Elliott Ph.D.
Kayla C. Elliott, Ph.D. is Director of Workforce Policy at The Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, America’s Black think tank. Her team centers Black communities in policy solutions for the future of work, workforce development, and access to good jobs. Kayla was previously director of higher education policy at The Education Trust, and held teaching and research positions at Florida Atlantic University, where she earned a Ph.D. Kayla also holds a masters in philanthropy, and has worked with a range of nonprofit organizations on diversity, development, and engagement. A proud graduate of Fisk University, Kayla is a fierce HBCU advocate.
Jonathan Davis Ph.D.
Dr. Davis currently serves as Director of Research at EqRC. He identifies as a mixed-methods
researcher-advocate with interests in inequitable K-12 schooling conditions that delimit
post-secondary choices and opportunities for students of color and students from low-income
backgrounds. Dr. Davis most recently served as Senior P-12 Research Associate at The
Education Trust.
OUR TEAM MEMBERS
Shenice W. Smith
Director of Strategic Initiatives
Shenice Smith is a HBCU alumna and strong community advocate with expertise in Corporate Human Resources across a variety of industries such as banking, arts and entertainment, and retail. Shenice has partnered with community organizations to support workforce development, financial literacy, and affordable housing initiatives that serve low-income and minority populations. Her passion for community uplift has led her efforts to support and advance community programs and corporate partnerships for 8 + years. She has served on Strategic Investment Committees and Visiting Allocation Teams for organizations like United Way. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Business Management and a MBA in Finance. She is a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated and a small business owner. Currently, she is pursuing a Masters of Education in Marriage and Family Therapy at the University of Florida while supporting community outreach programs in the department of Student Affairs.
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Precious Jordan
College Access Coach
Precious White-Jordan is an accomplished educator and project coordinator. Precious has over 12 years in the k-12 public school setting, having worked as a career and technical education teacher, a special education teacher, and currently as an English language arts teacher at Inspire Virtual Academy in the Chambers County School District in Lafayette, Alabama. She also served as the Chapter Director for the Lafayette chapter of Unite. During her time in Chambers County, Precious has been awarded Teacher of the Year, traveled to Seoul, Korea with Auburn University as part of a Global Education Initiative, and became a Sustainability Fellow at Arizona State University, securing one of three available spots from an applicant pool of 182. Her most notable and proudest accomplishment is when she and a student were selected to be a part of the 2019 cohort of Bezos Scholars, the first and only Bezos Scholars in the state of Alabama. That relationship has led to Precious being contracted as a consultant for the Program as well as being a part of the selection committee . Prior to becoming an educator, Precious worked for Walgreens as a Project Coordinator, where she created and executed project work plans and oversaw employees at targeted multi-city store remodels, acquisitions, and relocations, nationwide. In this position, she was acknowledged for playing a pivotal role in the 250 Duane Reade drugstore acquisition in New York City, where she was the lead project coordinator. Precious received a Bachelor of Science in Family and Consumer Sciences from the University of Montevallo, her Master of Science in Post-secondary Education from Troy University, and her Master of Education in Special Education from the University of West Alabama.
Jeremiah Streeter
College Access Coach
Jeremiah Streeter begins his first year at Alabama State University in the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics Student-Athlete Support Services (SASS) as the Assistant Director of Academic Services. Prior to his time in that office, Streeter served as a Student-Athlete Development Coordinator at Southeast Missouri State University. There he helped athletes to identify and achieve their career and professional goals. This was accomplished by the creation of the program called “The Next Step” which is dedicated to the holistic development of student-athletes to advance them toward success at SEMO and in life through career development, leadership development, and personal development. Also, Streeter served as the head SAAC Advisor.
Streeter earned a bachelor’s degree from Alabama State University (2018) in Interdisciplinary Studies. He is also a former Track and Field Athlete at ASU. He later earned a master’s degree in Athletic Leadership Studies from Clemson University (2020).
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Everett Sims
College Access Coach
Everett Sims is a graduate of LaFayette High class of 2015 where he took part in the inaugural UNITE HBCU tour. He then attended Alabama State University and became a member of the UNITE college branch. He graduated in 2019 with a Bachelor’s in Education. In 2020 he began teaching and coaching in the Chambers County School District. He is currently attending the University of West Alabama online in pursuit of a Master’s in Secondary Education.
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Nicole Brooks
Project Manager
Nicole Brooks is the Health Sciences Advisor/Recruiter specialist at Southern Union State Community College. Primarily focusing on advising and career development services, Brooks prioritizes increasing student enrollment and retention in the area of health sciences. Chiquita has over 8 years of logistical planning experience ranging from the medical field to higher education. She has a keen interest in creating efficient processes using strategic approaches to recruitment and retention. Chiquita is a proving project manager as she has led a variety of teams throughout the college in various initiatives such as new student orientation, community engagement, and campus partnerships.
Caitlynn Myer
Project Manager
Caitlynn Myer is the Associate Director for Intercultural Education & Engagement at the University of South Carolina Upstate. Focusing on the advancement of justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion, Myer develops and implements programmatic involvement and organizational leadership development promoting equitable and inclusive cultures for students. Caitlynn creates and presents essential training and development for the Division of Student Affairs professionals and provides divisional leadership with assessment and evaluation of organizational cultures and structures.
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CHELSEA OKOROH
Project Manager
Chelsea Okoroh is a native of Glenarden, Maryland. She is currently enrolled at Bowie State University where she will receive her Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration in May of 2021. She serves as the Senior Class Vice President, President of Bowie Women In Business, Vice President of American Marketing Association, Political Actions and Community Outreach Chair of the Bowie State NAACP Chapter. Chelsea is an active advocate in her community for mental health, injustice and human rights. Chelsea aspires to mentor young adults, uplift the black community and advocate for the unheard.
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OUR INTERNS
Jourdan Johnson
HBCU Project Manager Intern
Jourdan Johson is a rising senior Media, Journalism, and Film Communications major at Howard University. She has a concentration in Television and Film Production and a minor in Business Administration. Jourdan participates in various campus organizations, such as the School of Communications Student Council. Jourdan aspires to work in the entertainment industry and increase visibility for underrepresented groups in media.
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Soukeyna Dale
HBCU Program Manager Intern
Soukeyna Dale from Racine, Wisconsin, is a rising sophomore at the illustrious Dillard University majoring in Business Administration with a double minor in Political Science and Financial Economics. Having worked with organizations like Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA), where she served as a national officer, and the Wisconsin Association of School Councils (WASC), Soukeyna developed a true passion for aiding peers and fellow students with professional development and career advancement opportunities. Soukeyna is very involved on campus as she serves as the Chief Clerk for the 87th Student Government Association, is a member of DECA, and is a Dillard University cheerleader.
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