Maxine Graves Somerville is a 1985 Old Dominion University graduate who holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology. She has long been actively involved with the Black Alumni Council, having served two terms as Washington, DC Regional Representatives and two terms as Second Vice President. In April 2005, she was elected President of the Black Alumni Council, a role she notes is an honor to serve in. Maxine is a member of the Old Dominion University Alumni Association Board of Directors where she is currently serving a four year term. She previously served a one year term on the ODUAA Board of Directors for 2003-2004.

Currently, Maxine, a long time resident of Waldorf, Md., serves as the Director of Administration and Human Resources for the United Nations Foundation, an organization founded by media mogul Ted Turner. In addition to her degree from Old Dominion, she holds a Master's of Public Administration from The George Washington University

A certified human resources professional, she earned the PHR designation in May 2003. Maxine is a member of the American Society of Association Executives and the Society of Human Resource Management. Maxine serves on the Charles County Commission for Women, a political appointed position and an organization whose mission is to promote and focus on concerns for women living in Charles County, Maryland. She has also served as Upward coach for girls’ basketball and cheerleading, a Christian based athletic program for youth since 2002. Maxine’s other volunteer experience included Big Brother and Big Sister and Cub Scouts of America.

Career
• Systems Analyst (V&V) 06/2006 – Present
   SNVC, L.C.
• Jr. Engineer (Internship) 06/2002 – 05/2006
   Northrop Grumman Corporation

Social
• Alpha Kappa Psi: Professional Business Fraternity. (2004-2006)
• ODU Student Ambassadors (2003-2006)

Personal
• Volunteer at South County Secondary School in Lorton, VA for the Athletic Boosters.
• Part-time referee for Springfield Youth Club (SYC) basketball league.

Previous Support of ODU
• Previous participation in ODU Student Ambassadors and Alpha Kappa Psi has helped me to participate in numerous events for the university. I took part in countless events such as Campus Open Houses, ODU Capital Fundraising, Relay For Life, and many volunteer events.
• As a Disk Jockey for WODU Radio, I volunteered as the DJ for countless events on campus.

Debra Jones is a native Virginian and graduated from Old Dominion University with a B. S. in Management Information Systems in 1985. After graduation, she moved to New Jersey and was employed as a Research Analyst at Hoechst Celanese (now Sanofi-Aventis). While employed at Hoechst Celanese for 13 years, Debra held positions of increasing responsibility (Programmer, PC Co-ordinator, Applications Developer) and during this time, accepted the challenge to transfer from Financial Management to Research Computing.

Debra’s goal was to increase her scientific knowledge so that she could bridge the gap between business and scientific computing. In order to help attain that goal, she returned to college and earned a M. S. in Computer Science from Fairleigh Dickinson University in 1995. Three years later, Debra accepted a position as a Sr. Systems Analyst at Novartis Pharmaceuticals with the responsibility to provide computer software systems design support in the areas of Chemistry and Biology by directly consulting and collaborating with research scientists.

In September 2001, Debra was promoted to Manager of Laboratory Automation with the responsibility to lead personnel and software implementations in the areas of laboratory robotics to ensure IT solutions met business expectations regarding quality, performance, costs, reliability and security. A year later, Debra was appointed to Head of Scientific Data Management US and subsequently relocated to the Novartis Institute for BioMedical Research in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Debra’s latest achievements are a Master’s Certificate in Project Management from George Washington University (August 2005), a Global Purchasing Team Award (November 2005) for service management responsibilities of a chemical inventory management system and a promotion to Associate Director responsible for IT Portfolio Management (March 2006).

Debra’s community activities have involved being a Math Tutor for S.T.A.M.P. (Student Tutoring and Mentoring Program) in Westfield, N.J. for two years and a career presenter for the Douglass Project for Rutgers Women in Math, Science and Engineering. When time allows, Debra loves sports (basketball, softball, bowling, volleyball) and travelling (both domestic and internationally).

Debra is proud to be a board member of the BAC and looking forward to being involved in everything that the BAC has to offer to current and prospective ODU Alumni!

Leo Blackwell currently works in the Education Industry within Global Business Services of the IBM Corporation. As a Business Solutions Professional, Leo spends his time working directly with school systems (K12 & Higher Education) to identify areas where technology-enabled solutions support the education of our students.

Prior to joining IBM, Leo has held several sales and marketing management roles at Cisco Systems, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Informix Software, Government Technology Services, Inc, and Xerox. He has spent over twenty years assisting private and public sector organizations around the world discover the value of enabling their business with technology.

Leo served as a board member of the Governor’s Workforce Investment Board, member of the State Youth Council, and member of the Baltimore City Public School System Executive Steering Committee for the Digital Harbor Technology High School. Leo earned his B.S. in Management Information Systems from Old Dominion University, and his MBA degree in Marketing from George Washington University. Leo lives in Reston, VA with his wife, Suzette, and their three children.

Rhonda M. Glover was born in Annapolis, Maryland and raised in Washington, D.C. She graduated from Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia and received a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice. She subsequently received a Masters of Science degree in Management from the Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland. She also holds a certificate in Nonprofit Executive Management from the Georgetown University, Washington, DC.

She began her career with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in August 1984 at FBI Headquarters (FBIHQ). While at FBI HQ, she was assigned to the Technical Services and Laboratory Divisions. Ms. Glover was transferred to the New York Office in January 1987 as an Investigative Specialist as part of the Special Surveillance Group working Foreign Counterintelligence matters. In September 1988, she received her appointment to the position of Special Agent. Upon completion of training at the FBI Academy, Ms. Glover was transferred to the Newark Field Division working applicant matters and drug violations. While investigating drug matters, Ms. Glover served as the Relief Supervisor and subsequently, Principal Relief Supervisor. She is the recipient of the Monmouth County, New Jersey President’s Award for Outstanding Case Work. She has received numerous cash awards, plaques, certificates of appreciation and letters of commendation for investigative work. While in the Newark Division, Ms. Glover was a member of the Evidence Response Team and worked major investigations such as TWA 800 and UNABOM. She also served as the Black Affairs Coordinator for the Newark Field Division of the FBI. Ms. Glover served as a New Jersey State Celebrity Reader and has received numerous community service awards, which include the Award of Excellence from the United Way.

In July 1998, Ms Glover was transferred to the Washington Field Office and continued to excel in drug investigations. In March 2000, Ms. Glover was promoted to Supervisory Special Agent and assigned to FBI HQ, Criminal Investigative Division, Drug Section, Colombian/Caribbean Unit at FBIHQ, where she briefly served as the Acting Unit Chief. In January 2003, she was promoted to the Inspection Management Unit, Inspection Division. In June 2005, she was promoted to supervise a Criminal Enterprise squad that will investigate traditional Organized Crime matters in the Newark Field Division of the FBI.

She is a Diamond Life Member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated. Ms. Glover is also a Life Member of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE) where she served on the NOBLE Executive Board from 1997-2002 as its National Parliamentarian. Other NOBLE affiliations included serving on the National Constitution and Bylaws Committee, the National Legislative Affairs Committee, and the National Education and Training Committee. She has served as the President, Vice President, and Corresponding Secretary in the Northern New Jersey Chapter of NOBLE. She currently serves as the NOBLE National Youth Initiative Chairperson. Ms. Glover is a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police, where she has served on the Legislative Affairs Committee. She is also a member of Toastmasters International and the American Institute of Parliamentarians.

SSA Glover serves as the Advisory Co-Chair for the Tavis Smiley Foundation Youth 2 Leaders (Y2L). She also served on the National Advisory Committee and Host Committee for the Y2L National Youth Summit that was held in August 2003 on the campus of Catholic University, Washington, DC. As a result of her commitment to youth, SSA was honored as the recipient of the 2003 Tavis Smiley Foundation Volunteer Award at the foundation’s annual Salute to Youth Leadership gala and awards event in Bel Air, California. She was also recognized by the California State Senate for her activities with the foundation.

Furthermore, SSA Glover recognized there were students in need of financial assistance to attend college. As a result, she created the Julius E. Glover, Jr. Memorial Scholarship Fund for graduating high school students majoring in military science, early childhood education and any of the physical sciences.

Ms. Glover upholds the ideal of giving back to the community and believes in the investment of young people through time, encouragement, and the sharing of knowledge and love.

Tyrone S. Goodwyn is a proud May 1983 graduate of Old Dominion University. He majored in Management Information Systems and in Marketing Management. Tyrone obtained his Masters degrees from the College of William and Mary, and George Mason University. During most of his career in telecommunications IT, Tyrone has performed the role of a Software Systems Architect. He currently works for AT&T managing an IT department.

His Home is Chesapeake, Virginia, and he loves Tidewater and the South in general. He lives in NW Washington, DC – a city that he is continually enamored with.

Tyrone has a great respect for the past. He is a genealogist specializing in the history of free colored people in the South, and is restoring his 104-year-old home. He is a Secretary of the board of his family reunion – which encompasses 300 families, tens of states, and a history starting in 1761.

"I want to make an impact today and for the future." Tyrone is a sign language interpreter, providing communications services for Shiloh Baptist Church in DC, and is the sign language coach for DC Boys Choir.  He is a member of the National Alliance of Black Interpreters, chair of the board’s Technology Committee.

Tyrone has been active in BAC since its inception - on the charter board and two terms as BAC President. He enjoys working with President Maxine Graves Somerville (with whom he serves as a board member for the ODU Alumni Association as well) and is looking forward to supporting her vision for BAC 2007-2009.

Tyrone has been active in the Old Dominion University Alumni Association since 2001.  He has served as ex-officio member, full board member, Chair of Alumni Organizations, and is Vice-president in the 2007-2008 term.