Two education leaders from Northern Kentucky have been named to the Prichard Committee for Academic Excellence, a statewide citizens’ group working to improve Kentucky’s schools.
Leo Calderón is director for Latino Programs and Services at Northern Kentucky University in Highland Heights. His almost 31 years of experience at NKU have included providing academic guidance to students and serving as liaison with faculty, staff, administrators and community leaders to promote Latino student success.
He is a former member of the Kentucky Board of Education and served on the Kentucky Health Committee and participated in the Global Education Leaders Program. His civic involvement includes leadership positions with the Red Cross Board, HealthPoint Family Health Care Board, the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center Advisory Board, the YMCA of Greater Cincinnati Board, the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities and several others.
Nancy Grayson of Walton is director of Strategic Initiatives for the Northern Kentucky Education Council. She previously worked at NKYEC and coordinated Ready By 21 Initiatives. Her work at 2015 focused on regional education efforts, and she received the Northern Kentucky Champion for Education Award in 2011.
She serves on the Kentucky Historical Society’s executive committee, the Boone County Education Foundation Board of Directors and the Episcopal Diocese of Lexington Camps and Conferences Board of Directors. She previously served on several organizations’ boards, including the Boone County Public Library and the Kentucky State Nature Preserves Commission.
Also joining the committee as new members during its recent annual meeting were:
· Dr. C.B. Akins Sr., pastor of First Baptist Bracktown Church in Lexington.
· Veeko A. Lucas of Louisville, senior manager of The New Teacher Project, a national nonprofit.
· Dr. Daksha Mehta of Eliabethtown, a rheumatologist and specialist in arthritis and osteoporosis.
· Melissa Moore Murphy, of Lexington, an attorney with the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government Department of Law.
· Emanuel Washington of Lexington, founder of EVOLVE, a company focused on creating products and services that will embolden one to “Evolve into what God wants you to be.”
From the Prichard Committee