Task Force
A 20-member task force representing the university, community and professional colleagues provided planning support and guidance for this year's African American Children and Families Conference and complementary African American Read-In.
Gloria Kirkland Holmes, PhD, and emerita professor, has coordinated the conference since its inception. She passed away in December 2022 in the midst of this year's event planning. This year's conference will open with a tribute to her long-lasting commitment to these annual events, her profession and her community.
2023 Planning Task Force
DeCarlos Anderson: Director, Educational Talent Search, UNI-CUE/University of Northern Iowa Center for Urban Education, UNI, and Head Football Coach, East High School, Waterloo, Iowa
Katelyn Browne: Youth Collection Librarian, African American Read-in Scheduler
Amy Curley: Event Coordinator, College of Education, UNI
Robin Dada: Department Head, Curriculum and Instruction and Interim Department Head, Special Education, UNI
Rev. Brian Dale: Pastor, St. Mark Missionary Baptist Church, Waterloo
Rev. Charles Daniel: Pastor, Antioch Missionary Baptist Church, Waterloo
Lawrence Daniel: 1st Judicial District Juvenile Court Officer/ Supervisor
Maxine Davis: Executive Director, Instructional Resources and Technology Services, UNI
Marlyn Fagan: Community Advocate/Supporter, Impact Church of Hope
Tiffany Flowers: Georgia State University, Associate Professor of Education
Magda Galloway: Instructional Technology, Department of Curriculum and Instruction, UNI
Farah Kashef: Educational Technologist/IT-ETMS, UNI
Dr. Lawrence Marshall: Pastor, Payne African Methodist Episcopal Church, Waterloo
Stacy McGauvran-Hruby: Manager, Marketing and Communications, College of Education, UNI
Shuaib Meacham: Associate Professor, Literacy Education, Curriculum and Instruction, UNI, Hip-Hop Literacy Program
Sarah Montgomery: Professor, Elementary Education, Curriculum and Instruction, UNI
Mindy Noble: Executive Secretary, Instructional Resources and Technology Services
Charles Pearson: Black Youth Life Summer Program, UNI and Pearson/Consulting
Robert Smith: Executive Director, Head, University of Northern Iowa Center for Urban Education, UNI
Angel Stigler: UNI Department of Transportation, UNI Panther Supporter-Promoter
Leigh Zeitz: Learning Technologies and Instructional Design, Curriculum and Instruction, UNI, tech team and conference emcee.