Albany State University alumni have been assigned to a select committee to assist the university with raising funds for the Tom Joyner Foundation School of the Month campaign.

We reached out to eight alumni across the region and in other states that are passionate about seeing ASU succeed in different ways,” said Sue Polite-Solomon, director of Alumni Affairs. “This committee is comprised of young and seasoned alumni who will work as a team to make sure this fundraising effort is the best that it can be.”

As the November School of the Month, TJF will promote raising funds for the university and highlight its programs throughout the year. ASU will be featured daily during the month of November. The newly formed committee will assist with implementing fundraising activities from now until November.

“We are asking that all of our alumni support this effort. It is important for us, as alumni, to remember when we were students and the financial support that was needed for us to complete our education at ASU. We want to make sure there are funds available for current and future students to do the same,” Polite-Solomon said.  “All funds will come back 100 percent to the institution.”

The Tom Joyner Foundation is led by nationally syndicated radio personality, Tom Joyner. In addition to assisting with fundraising, TJF will award a $1,500 scholarship to a successful male ASU student every week in November. The Hercules Scholars program, named in honor of Joyner’s father, serves to celebrate male students who exhibit academic excellence, leadership skills and community services. Award recipients will be chosen by TJF and announced on the Tom Joyner Morning show every Thursday.

Individuals may donate to ASU through the Tom Joyner Foundation by going to TomJoynerFoundation.org/donate or  http://igfn.us/vf/Albanyrams. Those interested in initiating a group fundraising effort can sign up by visiting http://igfn.us/join/tomjoynerfound/Albanyrams. Please visit www.asurams.edu for additional giving options.

Committee members are listed below.

· Grady L. Caldwell III (co-chair) is a native of Albany, Ga., and a third generation graduate of Albany State University. Caldwell majored in education and graduated in 2002 with a B. S. in Health & Physical Education. Caldwell also received a Master of Education, Administration & Supervision and Specialist of Education, Administration & Supervision from Georgia College & State University in Milledgeville, Ga. Upon graduation, he immediately began working in the educational field.  As an educator, Caldwell has served children in various capacities, from classroom teacher to head basketball coach and high school principal.  In 2010, Caldwell founded Exponential Commercial Finance. Caldwell believes in giving back and the degree of love is measured by the degree of giving. “You can't say you love Albany State and not give back to her. This is why I am excited about this committee,” he said. “Now is the time for our young alumni to stake its claim in the legacy of Albany State by giving back to our beloved institution.”   

· Melanie Shorter Jones (co-chair) - is a native of Albany, Ga.  She is a graduate of Monroe Comprehensive High School where she finished class valedictorian.  While at ASU, she majored in biology, was a member of the ASU Golden Ambassadors, a member the Alpha Kappa Mu National Honor Society, senior class president, and was a member of Gamma Sigma Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.  After graduating summa cum laude from Albany State in 1996, she entered medical school at the University of Tennessee in Memphis where she graduated in 2000. Dr. Shorter-Jones completed her residency at the Tallahassee Regional Medical Center. Currently, she is a board-certified family practice physician at Houston Family Medicine. Dr. Shorter-Jones is extremely excited about Albany State’s participation with the Tom Joyner Foundation and the potential for ASU to reach its fundraising goals.
 
· Andrea D. Albritten, a native of Dawson, Ga., is a 1996 magna cum laude graduate of Albany State University, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing.  She presently serves as Director of Human Resources for Grady Health System in Atlanta. Possessing over 18 years of human resources and management experience, she joined Grady in July 2015, and was previously employed by Wachovia Bank, Georgia Power / Southern Company, and Walgreens in a variety of roles. Albritten received an MBA in Management from Mercer University in Macon, Ga. She is certified as a Professional in Human Resources and as a Society for Human Resource Management Certified Professional. “I am honored to be a part of the Tom Joyner School of the Month Fundraising Campaign Committee,” Albritten said. “This campaign will help a number of students remain in school that may not have other options available to them.”
 
· Willie Ballard - grew up in Irwinton, Ga., and matriculated through the Wilkinson County Schools System. Upon graduation in 1987, he attended South Georgia Technical College located in Americus, Ga. To further his education, Ballard enrolled at Albany State University (then Albany State College). He completed his Bachelors of Science degree in Accounting in 1993. Ballard joined Children’s Wellness Center, LLC as Practice Manager in February 2007. Ballard has extensive experience working in different specialties of the healthcare sector for over 20 years including Family Medicine, OB/GYN and Pediatric practices. He looks forward to the opportunity to work with the Tom Joyner School of the Month fundraising campaign.

· Nikki Bonner – is the founder and managing partner of Bonner and Penn, P.C. Bonner has been practicing law for over 12 years. Before entering his passion of criminal and civil litigation, Bonner served as an associate general counsel and partnered with Bill Strickland, a legend within the Sports Law Industry and partner at Strickland and Ash, which later transformed into Blackwave Sports. Within this sector of his career, he represented athletes such as Rashad Wallace and Allan Houston. In addition, they also represented “top-chart” entertainer and Grammy nominated artist, Gucci Mane. Bonner’s experience further expands into the non-profit industry, as he has also represented world-renowned ministers, Creflo Dollar and Matt Pitt. Bonner is a native of Albany, Ga., and graduated from Albany State University in 1998. Bonner earned his Juris Doctor from Regent University in Virginia Beach, Va., which is a private Christian research university. Bonner welcomes every opportunity to assist his alma mater, Albany State University. He is excited about being a part of the School of the Month campaign.
 
· Jacqueline J. Floyd is a proud Golden Ram alum having earned a Bachelor of Science in 1988, a Master’s degree in Middle Grades Education in 2000, and an Education Specialist Degree in 2002 in Educational Leadership and Supervision.  She has made a tremendous difference in the lives of children in the Albany, Ga., community as a 28-year veteran educator in the Dougherty County School System, having served a period of 26 years as a middle school science teacher and most recently as a biology teacher at Westover Comprehensive High School. Throughout her tenure, she has diligently served in numerous capacities and roles to improve the lives of children. Floyd is a native of Waycross, Ga. “It is truly an honor to serve as a member of this vital campaign designed to strengthen the educational opportunities for those aspiring to make a difference in society,” she said. “I will endeavor to seek the full support of fellow ASU alums, the student body, faculty, staff, and friends of our beloved alma mater.”
 
· LaFonda E. Gipson-Middleton - matriculated at Albany State University and graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice in 1993. She continued her education at the University Of Florida College Of Law. She obtained her Juris Doctorate degree in 1996. Gipson-Middleton is a member of the Florida Bar (1997), Georgia Bar (1996) and the Tennessee Bar (2008).  After working in the public and private sectors, in 2008, Gipson-Middleton started her own firm, The Middleton Law Firm.  She actively practices in Florida and Georgia with a primary focus on personal injury litigation and health care directives.Gipson-Middleton is thrilled to play an instrumental part in the fundraising efforts for Albany State University, the chosen November School of the Month for the Tom Joyner Scholarship Foundation
 
· Marvin Laster – is a 2000 and 2012 honor graduate of both Albany State University and Mercer University’s Stetson School of Economics and Business.  He is currently the Chief Professional Officer for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Albany, Ga. Previously, he served as Director of Character and Citizenship programs for the Atlanta based Boys & Girls Clubs of America as the National Advisor for the Youth of the Year program. During his tenure at BGCA, Laster held several prominent roles including Director of Diversity Services, creating the organization’s inclusion initiatives specifically aimed at serving kids with disabilities. After graduating from ASU, Laster worked for the university on two separate occasions, as Deputy Program Director in the Office of Institutional Research and Planning and as the Prevention Specialist for the university’s Family and Community Violence Prevention Program. “I am honored to be a part of this campaign and the efforts to raise money to ensure the “mighty Ram” traditions of providing a high quality education and a network of support for students lives on,” Laster said.