Morgan leads The Street Team at GirlTREK and leads the overall strategy for the organization and manages the senior leadership team. She develops partnerships, policy, culture, and programs. As a co-founder Morgan also serves as a spokesperson and fundraiser. Prior to GirlTREK Morgan served on the frontlines of education reform where she served as Director of New School Development and led the start-up of five public schools in collaboration with the NYC Department of Education with support from The Gates Foundation. With Co-Founder Vanessa Garrison, Morgan was named among the top 1% of social innovators in the world with fellowships from Harvard, Ashoka, Echoing Green and the Aspen Institute. They have two viral TED talks and are the co-hosts of Black-History Bootcamp, GirlTREK’s award-wining podcast. Morgan studied Political Science and American Studies at University of Southern California and earned a Master of Education in Public Policy, Admiration and Leadership at Seton Hall.

Vanessa leads The Storytelling Team at GirlTREK where she builds brand, marketing and communications strategy, forges corporate partnerships and produces products and brandpromoting events to grow membership, generate revenue and inspire behavior change. As a co-founder she also serves as a spokesperson and fundraiser. Prior to GirlTREK, Vanessa led digital media at Turner Broadcasting for some of the world’s most recognizable brands including CNN, TNT and Sports Illustrated. The Co-Founders have been featured on The Today Show, CNN, in The Washington Post, The New York Times and named a “Health Hero” by Essence Magazine. Vanessa also spent time working to serve formally incarcerated women with Our Place, DC and serves on the board of The Essie Justice Group. She also sits on the board of Rails to Trails. Vanessa studied World Arts and Culture at UCLA and was a social innovation fellow at Harvard University

Kallima leads The Sustainability Team at GirlTREK and leads finance and operations. In finance, Kallima supervises accounting, controllership, financial planning and analysis, audit, and treasury. In operations, Kallima leads impact management, compliance, human resources, internal systems, and technology. Kallima works with the growth team to support new ventures with business planning.

Prior to GirlTREK, Kallima spent 15 years leading finance and operations at Fortune 500 companies including, GE, IBM, and ESPN, where she led the Monday Night Football account.

In 2019, Kallima transitioned to Strategy and Consulting roles at Accenture, one of the world’s largest IT Services & Consulting firms. It was here she was able to leverage her extensive financial planning & analysis experience to focus on bold, large-scale finance transformations at some of the largest fortune 100 companies in the world.

Kallima holds a Bachelors of Science in Accounting & Finance from Syracuse University Martin J. Whitman’s School of Management and an MBA in Finance from the University of Connecticut

Ayanna leads the Talent, Development, Organizational Culture and Strategy, and Program Innovation functions at GirlTREK. In collaboration with the CEO, she oversees external civic and philanthropic partnerships, talent recruitment, strategy implementation, new program development and internal systems and processes that enhance the employee experience and quality of GirlTREK’s programming.

Prior to GirlTREK, Ayanna was a pioneer in education reform with a nearly 30-year career in K-16 education as a classroom teacher, professor, textbook publisher, and education consultant. Most recently she was the VP of Program and Innovation at a nonprofit supporting Black teachers in the US South and served for 9 years as a Clinical Associate Professor of English Education at NYU Steinhardt School of Education, Culture, and Human Development, where she continues to serve as an adjunct professor. In 2016, Ayanna launched Access Educational Advisors, LLC, an educational consulting firm. The diversity of clients and projects she worked on through her consulting company, along with varied professional experiences helped Ayanna hone the skills and expertise she now uses in her role as GirlTREK’s first Chief of Staff.

Ayanna sits on the board of NJ LEEP, a college access program in Newark, NJ and the Somerset (NJ) County Youth Services Commission. Ayanna holds a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature from The University of Pennsylvania, a Masters in Public Administration from Rutgers University, and an Ed.D. in Leadership and Innovation from NYU. She is a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated and The Links, Incorporated. As a wife and mother to two adult children and one teenager, Ayanna is grateful to have the opportunity to serve Black women through GirlTREK at this point in her personal and professional life.

Marcie L. Thomas is the Director of Community Care, providing support and care for GirlTREK’s membership and national team. She continues to serve as the founder and creative curator of Brown Girl Collective, a digital space for Black women.

A long-time Trekker, Marcie’s first official role was as the City Captain for Savannah, GA. She has also been a Neighborhood Captain, Crew Leader, Joy Brigade volunteer at the Stress Protest, and Special Impact Coach for her sorority, Sigma Gamma Rho.

Originally from Cleveland, Ohio, Marcie spent seven years in the United States Air Force. While in the military, she earned a BBA in Marketing from Campbell University, a Master’s in Management and Human Resources Development from Webster University, and a Master’s Degree in Interactive Marketing from Walsh College.

When she’s not serving the women of GirlTREK, Marcie volunteers across the Atlanta metro area, reads, paints, creates playlists, attends concerts, tends to her plant babies, visits museums, or plans new adventures.

Hailey joins the GirlTREK national team as the National Field Director and West Coast Regional Coach. With a passion for working with the younger generation, Hailey uses her faith in Jesus to be a guiding force of justice for Black women and girls and looks forward to building GirlTREK’s presence across the West Coast and caring for our GirlTREK members across the nation. Since joining GirlTREK as a volunteer in 2016 with her mom and two sisters, Hailey has truly experienced what happens when Black women walk. Through her volunteer work with GirlTREK, Hailey has climbed mountains, both literally and figuratively, towards her own healing. Women being transformed, families being renewed, and communities being ignited is what she deeply desires for all black women to experience.

Hailey currently resides in Houston, Texas, but her Southwest Louisiana roots follow her wherever she goes. Hailey is most joyful when spending time with her sisters and taking walks along Louisiana’s country roads.

Carla E. Harris is a visionary leader committed to uplifting Black women’s health and well-being as Vice President of Member Care at GirlTREK. Since joining the national team in 2017, Carla has played a pivotal role in supporting GirlTREK’s bold mission to extend the life expectancy of Black women by 10 years within 10 years. Her leadership ensures the organization provides unparalleled support and care to members, volunteers, allies, and partners, fueling a culture of compassion, care, and world-class service.

Carla’s transformative journey began as a dedicated City Captain in Atlanta, where she led a statewide movement that set a new standard for community engagement in Georgia. With over 25 years of experience in customer service—including roles as Sony’s customer service manager and on Avon Products’ elite leadership team serving top-tier sales representatives—Carla brings exceptional care strategies and frontline experience to her work at GirlTREK. She expertly consults with the leadership team, crafts care strategies, and manages impactful community support initiatives.

Carla is devoted to creating spaces that honor, support, and uplift Black women. Known as “Cosmic Carla,” her superpower is caring leadership that drives collective empowerment. She cherishes her four adult children and enjoys traveling, walking, cooking, dancing, painting, and gardening. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, Carla is originally from Cleveland, Ohio, and celebrates 4 decades of marriage to her high school sweetheart.

Siobhan’s 15 years of experience in Human resources creating, updating, and applying all HR policies and company guidelines while leading the day-to-day HR support focusing on employee relations, investigations, training, and coaching along with her 6 years of experience as a dedicated GirlTREK organizer in Harlem, New York supporting the movement as a volunteer has uniquely set her apart to serve in an inspiring dual role on the GirlTREK National Team.

In her role as the Executive Assistant to the CEO, Siobhan manages the day-to-day partner/client/colleague relations at GirlTREK. She efficiently manages inquiries and offers support where needed to ensure smooth and efficient operations for the office of the CEO.

In her role as the MidAtlantic Regional Coach for Delaware, Maryland, Washington DC, and Virginia, she skillfully manages a team of leaders who serve as state coaches across her region which includes the selection, onboarding, budgeting, time management, organizing walks in strategic areas and building local partnerships just to name a few.

In addition to her love of hosting training treks, give back laps and justice treks, she enjoys hiking, walking, reading, studying history and traveling.Siobhan currently resides in Baltimore, Maryland and is a MPA graduate of Brigham Young University and received her BS in Sociology.

Cynthia Thompson is the National Field Director, with a special emphasis in Black Churches. Cynthia has been advocating, championing, organizing, and serving Black women and girls since 2013 with GirlTREK.

Cynthia is a member of Greater Bethlehem Temple Apostolic Faith Church of Jackson, MS, where her pastor is Bishop Robert N. Fortson, Sr. She is a finance coach and coordinator for her church’s Finance Ministry. She is also the ministry leader of the “Fitness for His Glory” Ministry, the church’s Fitness Ministry. Cynthia is also a community organizer and activist in Jackson, Mississippi, and has served on the Jackson Public School Board as a Trustee Board Member since October 2020; and she has worked with various School’s PTSAs & Booster Clubs. Cynthia is happily married to Elder Emon Thompson, Sr.; they have been married since 1992 and are the proud parents of 7 children and two grandchildren (5 daughters, two sons, a daughter in love, and two granddaughters). She currently serves with her husband in several Neighborhood & Homeowner Associations and ministry at their church with the media, finance, and fitness ministries.

Cynthia is a graduate of Jackson State University with a BS in Psychology. Her work history, over the years, has included working as a Children & Youth Behavior Specialist, Child Protection Social Worker, Adult Protection Worker, Assistant Communication Director, and Administrative Office Assistant.

Cynthia wears many hats and finds joy and fulfillment in them all. One thing she is most proud of is that she is an active trekker and the transformation trekking has made in her life personally and her family’s lives! She uses trekking as meditation, prayer, and inner reflection time; it is her fellowship and inspiration time and time of balancing, healing, and renewing! She treks daily, she treks to live, and live life more abundantly!!! She is excited about empowering others to have this same success in expanding the joy that grows for each woman who develops the habit of walking as part of their self-care.

Chasiti Moncure is the Assistant to Vice President of Organizing and Church Lead Organizer. As an advocate for Black women, she has been walking and spreading the good news of GirlTREK since 2014.

Chasiti also continues to serve in her community in her church and other organizations, such as the Jackson branch of the NAACP, the Junior Auxiliary of Byram-Terry, the Mississippi Black Leaders Institute, Western Hinds County Young Professionals, and more.

Chasiti received a bachelor’s degree in Education from Mississippi University for Women and a master’s in leadership from Belhaven University.

Prior to Chasiti joining the GirlTREK National Team she worked with national labor union teams on topics such as organizational skills, team building, leadership, and social and racial justice.

Currently, Chasiti lives in Utica, MS with her supportive husband, Sterling, where they hope to one day raise their family and continue her great-grandfather’s legacy of agriculture. In Chasiti’s leisure time, she loves to read, travel, dance and take naps.

Brittany serves as VP of Marketing, overseeing brand, content and product marketing efforts. Leveraging integrated strategies and partnerships, Brittany leads the development of authentic, consumer-centered campaigns that bolster awareness, acquisition and engagement for GirlTREK.

Previously, Brittany led digital and brand marketing at Amazon Music with a focus on Wondery podcasts. Her background is rooted in entertainment marketing spanning film, television and audio in both corporate and start-up environments. Brittany has also held client management and digital strategy positions at global advertising agencies such as IPG and M&C Saatchi Group supporting CPG, QSR, wellness, hospitality, education, gaming and automotive categories.

Brittany’s known as a deeply collaborative leader with an innate ability to build positive and productive relationships that fuel innovative storytelling and drive results. Her focus areas include content development, media planning, digital strategy, communications and experiential.

Brittany is a Flint, Michigan native who now resides in San Diego, California. She is a graduate of Central Michigan University where she obtained a BAA in Integrative Public Relations with a Minor in Advertising.

Summer Duperon serves as Vice President of Collective Impact at GirlTREK, one of the largest public health movements for Black women. In her role, she partners with executive leadership and regional stakeholders across government, nonprofit, business, and community organizations to implement a collective impact partnership model that will increase the life expectancy of Black women by 10 years in 10 years.

Summer is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., a 2014 graduate of the Bryan Bell Metropolitan Leadership Forum, 2022 Housing Narrative Lab Fellow, 2023 graduate of the United Way of Greater Atlanta’s Volunteer Improvement Program (VIP), and 2024 Georgia Women’s Policy Institute Fellow. Throughout her community experiences, she’s served in board capacities with The Junior League of Atlanta, Atlanta Symphony Associates, New Orleans Opera, Mercy Endeavors Senior Center, and Ivy & Roses Community Fund.

Summer received both her MA degree in Business Education and BBA degree in Marketing from the University of Georgia. She is currently pursuing her MBA with a concentration on Business Analytics at Hampton University. Originally from New Orleans, Summer currently resides in Atlanta.

Jamilia B. Shipman is the Vice President of Philanthropy and Partnerships for GirlTREK. In her role, she facilitates conversations and connections with individuals, corporations and foundations in support of 1M Black women who are walking, talking and solving problems.  Her primary role is to raise capital in support of this global movement.

Jamilia’s career in fundraising began as an undergraduate when she was exposed to nonprofit organizations and the power of philanthropy. Since 2001, Jamilia has secured revenue for the arts, youth development, military families and affordable housing.

Prior to GirlTREK, Jamilia spent 7 years in development working in higher education for Christopher Newport University and Hampton University. She designed annual fund campaigns, planned special events and built partnerships with corporations and foundations. She also served military families as a Director of Development at Operation Homefront. Jamilia also started a nonprofit consulting firm, Philanthropy Partners, to support community development organizations with fundraising strategies and board development.

Jamilia holds a Bachelors of Arts in Communication Studies from Christopher Newport University, a Masters of Arts in Philanthropy and Development from Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota. She earned the CFRE designation in 2016 and is a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals. She is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and the Chesapeake Chapter of Carats, Inc.

She lives in Virginia and enjoys visiting local beaches, listening to NPR and going for walks with her miniature dachshund, Grisby.

As Senior Director of Impact Storytelling, Ebony is responsible for telling the story of GirlTREK’s impact and creating content that connects and inspires GirlTREK’s members and supporters. Ebony also leads research and evaluation efforts at GirlTREK, designing research that gets at the heart of the human experience and captures the compelling stories of Black women in the movement.

Ebony has a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology from Michigan State University and has worked as a researcher for nearly 30 years. Her work has been featured in numerous journals and edited volumes including Race, Class and Gender, American Educator and Instructional Leader. She is also a writer and former educator who has taught undergraduate and graduate courses in psychology and teacher education, and has written social studies curriculum for middle and high school students. Her memoir The Love Prison Made and Unmade was named a Notable Memoir by The New York Times in 2019 and her TEDxDetroit talk “How to coparent as allies” now has over 2 million views.

A proud native of Detroit, Ebony currently lives in Los Angeles with her son Sekou.

Also known as ‘Rev. Morgan’, ‘MD’ joins the GirlTREK national team as the Director of Business Operations.  After over two decades in Church Administration, MD brings an attention to detail fueled by a passion for excellence, and commitment to the Black community.  Since becoming a GirlTrekker in 2012 as a way to personally reconnect to her own self-care, MD has worn many hats leading winning church teams and inspiring others to join the movement and prioritize their own health.  She has witnessed women’s lives be empowered and transformed simply by walking.

She received her Bachelor of Arts in Music Education from Morris Brown College, a Master of Arts, Entertainment & Media Management from Columbia College Chicago and a Master of Divinity from McCormick Theological Seminary.  She is an active member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

MD is a Midwesterner and resides in Chicago.  She is an avid music lover, foodie, sports fan and sunshine seeker!

Chyna-Lloyd Nicole Johnson serves as Director of Data Management at GirlTREK. She joined GirlTREK in 2017 as the 2017 Summer Fellow while completing her graduate degree at Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine. In her role as a summer fellow, Chyna worked on the planning and execution of GirlTREK’s annual national church walking challenge PrayerTrek.

Today, she is responsible for the overall management of GirlTREK internal systems, information management, and administrative program support that supports an effective and high-functioning national staff.

Chyna is originally from Columbus, Ohio. She received her Bachelors of Arts in Chemistry and African & African American Studies from Berea College in Berea, Kentucky and earned her Master of Public Health from Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine. She now resides in the Atlanta area.

Nyra Govan joins GirlTREK as the College Engagement Program Manager. With a focus on encouraging healthy behavior change in the lives of college-aged women, Nyra uses her passion for fitness and health to inspire and welcome young women nationwide to join the GirlTrek movement. She is a recent graduate of Claflin University where she earned a degree in Human Performance and Recreation. During her matriculation at Claflin, she was a member of the Alice Carson Tisdale Honors College, a McNair Scholar, and a GirlTrek HBCU Fellow.

In addition to her powerful work at GirlTREK, Nyra has recently accepted an opportunity to obtain her Master’s in Public Health with a concentration in Physical Activity and Health. In her free time, Nyra is committed to providing health and fitness opportunities to her local community. She also serves as the Founder and CEO of Vigor Figure Fitness, which she founded in 2020.

ReNatè Elliott serves as the Regional Field Director and Training Specialist and supports GirlTREK teams across the South and Southeast. She has been a trekker and volunteer with GirlTREK since 2015 and has served as a Neighborhood Captain, Mental Health First Aid Instructor and a Care Crusader.

A graduate of Washington State University, ReNatè previously worked as the Manager of Accessibility Services, developing accessible programming and services for public libraries in the state of Georgia. She is an active volunteer in her community, a former ambassador and current mentor for MIT’s PLIX Creative Learning Program. She is dedicated to empowering communities, fostering belonging and promoting self-care for Black women.

She currently resides in Atlanta where you can find her spending time with family & friends, hiking, traveling, attending sporting events and festivals.

Stephanie Lovelace serves as the Operations Coordinator with GirlTREK’s Sustainability Team. With a background spanning multiple regions, she has expertise in HR, operations management, and higher education administration.  Drawing from her diverse background, Stephanie brings a unique blend of strategic thinking, analytical expertise, and operational insight to her current role.

Stephanie’s journey in the corporate world began at Citibank, where she excelled as a Process and Systems Change Manager. In this role, she directed transformative initiatives, optimizing processes and enhancing systems to drive efficiency and productivity across the organization’s Early Career division.

Prior to her tenure at Citibank, Stephanie made significant contributions to both the University of South Florida and the University of Michigan. With a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from the University of Michigan, her experience in higher education administration equipped her with a deep understanding of academic environments, coupled with a keen ability to navigate complex organizational structures.

Originally from Detroit, Michigan, Stephanie currently resides in Tampa, Florida. Outside of work, Stephanie enjoys any water activity, from spending time on the beach with her husband Tim, to kayaking and paddle boarding, and spending time with family and friends, reading, and enjoying the Florida sun!

With over 6 years of dynamic experience in the marketing space, Zahria Harvey brings a deep passion for creativity, innovation, and impactful storytelling to her role as the Brand Experience and Events Manager at GirlTREK. Throughout her career, Zahria has navigated various facets of marketing, including PR/Talent, Consumer Products, Content Creation/Social Media, and Paid Media/Programming. Zahria’s ability to seamlessly blend data-driven insights with creative strategy has consistently driven significant brand growth and engagement.

At GirlTREK, Zahria leverages her extensive background to create immersive brand experiences and orchestrate impactful events that resonate with the community. Beyond her professional accomplishments, Zahria has a personal love for cooking and gardening, passions that align perfectly with GirlTREK’s mission to empower Black women through wellness, storytelling, and cultural celebration. Whether she’s cultivating fresh ingredients in her garden or crafting memorable culinary experiences, Zahria’s approach to life reflects her commitment to nourishing both body and soul. This holistic perspective informs her work at GirlTREK, where she is dedicated to creating events that not only inspire but also foster a sense of unity and empowerment.

Tulaine is an entrepreneur, educator, writer, organizer, and currently serves as CEO of New Profit, a philanthropic organization that supports high-impact social entrepreneurs creating solutions to systemic challenges in America by leveraging their proximity to the genius, assets, and vision of the communities they serve. She was a key architect of New Profit’s proximity strategy, a $100M effort launched in 2018 to address the systemic funding gap faced by Black, Latinx, Indigenous, rural, and other overlooked social entrepreneurs. She also led initiatives at New Profit focused on strengthening pathways to opportunity for underserved youth, driving resources and support to entrepreneurs impacted by the American legal system, and building a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive organization and philanthropic sector. Tulaine serves as the Board Chair of GirlTREK, the largest health nonprofit dedicated to Black women and girls in the United States, and is the host and executive producer of Say More with Tulaine Montgomery, a podcast that brings together influential leaders from different identities, generations, and sectors for radically candid, action-oriented, and joyful conversations around how we can design and build a thriving society.

Dr. Benjamin served as the 18th Surgeon General of the United States. She is currently the Chair of Public Health Sciences at Xavier University. She is a recipient of the MacArthur Genius Award, NAACP Image Award, Kellogg National Fellowship, Nelson Mandela Award for Health and Human Rights, Rockefeller Next Generation Leader Award and has served on the boards of Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Kaiser Family Foundation, and Morehouse School.

Dr. Bennett is a professor at Duke University and directs Duke’s Global Digital Health Science Center and Obesity Prevention Program – where he designs, tests, and disseminates industry-leading obesity treatments for the primary care setting and digital health. He has authored more than 100 papers on the social determinants of obesity & the effectiveness of intervention strategies.

Chaula is VP of Program Investments at The Chicago Public Education Fund. She was founding Managing Director of Social Entrepreneurship & Innovation Initiative at Teach For America; launched a new Social Innovation Award for early-stage seed investments, created design-thinking trainings for educators, and coached alumni entrepreneurs to raise more than $10 million collectively to launch new social ventures.

Rita Johnson-Greene leads the US Commercial Operations team at Spark Therapeutics. She is a successful business leader with 15 years of progressive finance, resource allocation, sales and strategic business planning experience with several world class organizations.

Rita began her career in strategic consulting within Accenture ‘s pharmaceutical practice and developed business cases and financial models for new business ventures. She went on to manage the finances of AstraZeneca’s six billion dollar Nexium brand and served as a member of the Commercial Operations Leadership team.

Rita earned her MBA in Finance and Strategic Management from The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania. Rita acquired her undergraduate degree in Electrical Computer engineering from Drexel University, where she met her husband of 14 years. They live in Drexel Hill, PA with their two daughters, Leah and Maya.

Qiana began her career in music in 1999 at Epic Records in Promotions/A&R while contributing to album projects by Michael Jackson, Jennifer Lopez and B2K. In 2011, Qiana founded Cue the Creatives where she began Music Supervising on projects such as Nickelodeon’s How To Rock, Lifetime’s holiday feature Seasons of Love starring Taraji P. Henson, Gladys Knight & Method Man. Currently, Qiana is producing/directing “The Untitled TLC Documentary,” which follows the journey back to the music for the iconic pop girl group, after a 20-year lapse, as they take on the challenges of making their final album.

Serita is the Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer of iFoster – where she brings her personal experience in foster care and her executive-level management experience leading and consulting both Silicon Valley Fortune 500 companies and organizations in the non-profit sector. Before launching iFoster, Serita provided strategic counsel to some of the largest philanthropic foundations and non-profit services for at-risk youth as a management consultant with the Bridgespan Group. Serita has been recognized as a White House Office of Social Innovation Citizen Innovator, an Echoing Green Fellow, and an American Leader of Change.

Deonta leads the strategic direction and integration of RockHealth.org’s strategy alongside the organization’s CEO, Board, Initiative Leads, and team members. Deonta previously held portfolio investing, advisory, and field leadership positions at New Profit, a venture philanthropy fund, and academic research and accelerator management positions at Emory University’s Goizueta Business School. He has also served as a featured contributor to +Acumen, has published research in the Stanford Social Innovation Review, was a 2022 Aspen Ideas Health Fellow, and is an Advisory Committee Member to Impala. Deonta is a graduate of Manhattan College, where he received a B.A. in International Relations with minors in Economics and Philosophy.

Kathryn Schotthoefer is an American film and television executive. She founded Original Media Ventures, a studio focused on developing film and TV projects from underrepresented creative voices. Previously of film studios such as Warner Bros, Twentieth Century Fox, and New Line Cinema, and former President of M&C Saatchi’s boutique creative agency Heavenspot, which partnered with major entertainment and lifestyle brand clients on integrated digital strategy, product launch strategy, social media strategy, social media marketing, social media management, product development, research & fan analysis, social CRM, and enterprise-level social strategy consulting.