Cynthia Gooch Ph.D., President

Dr. Cynthia K. Gooch currently serves Metropolitan Community College in the capacity of Associate Vice President for Equity and Diversity and has a background in Student Affairs, Human Services and Service-Learning.  An alumnae of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and the University of the District of Columbia, Dr. Gooch is passionate about motivating all people, particularly people of color, to pursue postsecondary education.  An Omaha native, she is a member of Salem Baptist Church and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

Michael Maroney, Vice President                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              

Roberta Wilhelm, Treasurer

Since 2003, Roberta Wilhelm has served as Executive Director of Girls Inc. of Omaha where she generates and manages the resources to inspire all girls to be “strong, smart, and bold.” Prior to coming to Girls Inc., Roberta was Executive Director of the Omaha Theater Company for Young People at The Rose, where she worked in a variety of artistic and administrative positions over a period of twenty years. She has served on the boards of the Omaha Summer Arts Festival, the Blue Barn Theater, Very Special Arts Nebraska, and Nebraska Alliance for Arts Education.  She currently serves on the board of Nebraskans for the Arts. Roberta has appeared in the motion picture Citizen Ruth and the locally filmed made-for-TV movie, Full Ride.   

Annice Russell, Secretary

Annice Russell is a retired Regional Underwriter for National Indemnity Company of Omaha where she was employed for 36 years and 8 months. She is a member of Salem Baptist Church, its Sunday School, Gospel Choir, Education Council, and Chairs the Adopt A School Partner Ministry.  Annice has served on the Board of Directors of the Charles Drew Health Center.  She served as the Secretary & Vice President.  She is currently a Life Member of the NAACP and the Omaha NAACP Executive Committee.

Marguerita Washington, Ph.D.

Dr. Marguerita Washington is publisher of the Omaha Star newspaper. Her life career in education changed upon the death of her aunt, Mildred D. Brown, founder and publisher of the Omaha Star newspaper.  Mrs. Brown bequeathed the newspaper to Dr. Washington and she immediately proved herself as an effective leader for the paper.  Her goal for almost 20 years has been to continue Mrs. Brown’s legacy of using the Omaha Star to educate its primary market, providing the community with scholarships, personal help, recognition and employment. She led the effort to gain National Register of Historic Places status for the Omaha Star office building and, in 2007, she formed a non-profit organization, Mildred D. Brown Memorial Study Center, Inc., for the purpose of giving young people the opportunity for scholarships, to study and research the history of Afro-American journalism in Nebraska, and get hands-on experience through involvement with a community newspaper. In 2005, the YWCA Omaha recognized Dr. Washington as one of the 10 “Women of Vision.” 

Phyllis Hicks

Phyllis Hicks is the Director of Marketing for the Omaha Star newspaper. Phyllis sells advertising, increases circulation, writes news and feature articles, is the newspaper’s primary representative at media-related conferences and events and is coordinator of developing new revenue streams, grants and awards to enhance the Omaha Star. From 1968 to 1998, Phyllis was Employee Relations Coordinator and Employment Service Supervisor for the Omaha Opportunities Industrial Center, Inc. She is a graduate of the Omaha Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership Omaha Program and the Heartland Blue Print Program sponsored by the United Way of the Midlands – two of Nebraska’s most prestigious business fellowship programs. She is a 2002 recipient of the City of Omaha’s “Living the Dream” Award presented annually on Dr. Martin Luther King’s Birthday. One of her proudest achievements remains being founder of the Salem Baptist Church Stepping Saints Drill Team in 1967 and leading it to national prominence.

Jim Nelson

Jim Nelson is owner of Jim Nelson Media Services and founder of the Jim Nelson Media Services Video Kool Skool for youth.  With more than 35 years of experience in video production, broadcasting and marketing, he is a respected veteran in directing, producing, hosting, reporting, photography and TV news management with the Omaha affiliates of NBC, CBS, ABC and Fox networks. The ultimate goal of Jim Nelson Media Services’ Video Kool Skool is to provide youth with video and multi-media training in a professionally equipped media studio and to give them hands-on career development opportunities to learn the process, procedures and positions necessary to create media content for on-air broadcasts and private productions. Jim is a former president of the Omaha Association of Black Journalists, received the “Gracie Award” from the Women in Television and Radio Association, and has been nominated for the prestigious broadcast journalism “CLIO” award and the CEBA Award (Communication Excellence in Black Advertising.”

Gail F. Baker, Ph.D.

Dr. Gail F. Baker is Dean of the College of Communications Fine Arts and Media at the University of Nebraska Omaha.  Prior to joining UNO, she held numerous leadership positions at the University of Florida including Vice President for Public Relations; Director of Communications and Chair of the Public Relations Department in the College of Journalism and Communications. An accredited member of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA), Dr. Baker is also a member of its College of Fellows, a distinction reserved for practitioners who have demonstrated the highest achievements within the profession.  She is author of Advertising and Marketing to the New Majority, and co-author of Exploding Stereotypes: Milestones in Black Newspaper Research. Dr. Baker holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Journalism from the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University, a Master of Science degree in Marketing Communications from Roosevelt University and a doctorate in Journalism from the University of Missouri-Columbia.  Along with holding positions at IBM and International Harvester corporations, Dr. Baker also served as reporter and editor for the Chicago Daily Defender newspaper.  In 2006, Dr. Baker won an Emmy Award for Excellence in Documentary Writing for “Paper Trail: 100 Years of the Chicago Daily Defender,” which aired on the Chicago PBS affiliate WTTW. 

Paul Bryant                                                                                                                            

John Heaston

John Heaston is the publisher and editor of Pioneer Publishing, a group of seven publications including The Reader, an alternative/metropolitan newsweekly, and El Perico, a bilingual community newsweekly. Locally, he is active as a board member of the Omaha Press Club, Omaha Entertainment & Arts Awards and the Young Professionals Council, and serves as a member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, Earth Day Omaha Committee, A Time For Burning Committee and Quad Club. An active member of Investigative Reporters & Editors, John also serves on the sales & marketing committee and ad hoc web committee for the Association of Alternative Newsweeklies.

John Pierce                                                                                                                                                                                                                              

Rodney L. Wheeler Sr., PMP

Rodney Wheeler is the Director,Professional Services and Support for Wausau Financial Systems, helping businesses of all types develop and deploy strategies that move money faster.  Rodney manages a team of Project Management Professionals and Technical Analyst located in Omaha NE, Chicago IL, and Charlotte NC. Rodney is a veteran of the United State Air Force, serving in many leadership positions.  Career highlights include being an Emergency Actions NCO on the “Looking Glass” Airborne Command Post and Superintendent of the Mobile Command and Control Squadron, the famed “Reapers”.  His decorated career consisted of 15 medals which include Three Meritorious Service Medals and three Commendation Medals. Rodney was honorably discharged after 20 years of faithful service at Offutt AFB NE in 1999.  Rodney holds a Masters of Public Administration from Bellevue University, graduating with a 4.0 GPA, and serving as Student Commencement Speaker; Bachelor of Business Administration in Management from Peru State University and an Associate Applied Science in Information Technology from the Community College of the Air Force.