NAACP San Diego Branch Executive Committee 2015-2016
OFFICERS
President
Dr. Andre J. Branch
[email protected]
Dr. André José Branch earned the Ph.D. in Curriculum
and Instruction, at the University of Washington, Seattle.
He earned the Masters Degree in Counselor Education at
North Carolina State University, Raleigh. He earned the
Baccalaureate Degree at The King’s College, Briarcliff
Manor, New York, and also studied at the Institute of Holy
Land Studies, Jerusalem, Israel and at Oxford, England.
Dr. Branch has taught students at all grade levels in public
schools in the United States and abroad. He is presently a
tenured Associate Professor at San Diego State University,
where he teaches and conducts research in Education,
Ethnic Identity Development, and Valuing Human
Diversity.
Dr. Branch also directs the Career Breakfast Mentoring
Program for middle school male students of color at Bell
Middle School in San Diego, CA. Since Dr. Branch started
this program, student achievement has risen and he has
moved these students to a successful career path and
achievement.
1st Vice President, Freedom Fund Chair
Asst. Treasurer
Akilah Carter-Davis
[email protected]
Akilah Carter- Davis graduated from Stanford University in
2006 with a BA in Political Science with a Public Policy
Focus.
Shortly after graduating Akilah put her political education to
work, serving on the 2008 Barack Obama Presidential
Campaign staff as an Organizer, Deputy Regional Field
Director, and member of the Political Team.
Akilah currently works in the financial industry as a
Licensed Relationship Banker.
2nd Vice President
Chair, Membership/Life Membership
Stewart Payne
[email protected]
Stewart is a retired Marine Corps Veteran. During his military
career, he served tours of duty as a Drill Instructor, formal
school instructor, and a logistics & combat service support
specialist. While on active duty, he completed a Bachelor of
Science degree in Criminal Justice and a Master’s Degree in
Public Administration from National University. He also has a
Master of Arts degree in Sport Management from the
University of San Francisco.
Payne has served as track coach for over 20 years at the youth,
high school and community college level. He has been a
member of the NAACP San Diego Branch since 2013. In 2014,
Payne served on the Education Committee where he focused on
variety of issues related to equity in education.
3rd Vice President
Chair, Fundraising Committee
Chair, Community Coordination
Kathleen Harmon
[email protected]
Kathleen Harmon, who is well known throughout San Diego
and the State of California, received her double Masters
Degree from SDSU School of Social Work and graduated in
1978 at the top of her class. Her professional career includes
Nursing at Mercy Hospital for 20 years, Social Worker/Group
Counselor at House of Hope for 6 years and at the San Diego
County Welfare Department for 10 years.
Ms. Harmon has been in the political arena for over 40 years
and been a Democratic Central Committee Member. Ms.
Harmon has attended numerous Democratic conventions as a
delegate. Ms. Harmon is the mother of seven.
Secretary
Rachel Arrington
[email protected]
Rachel Arrington earned her Bachelor of Arts in Spanish from
Jackson State University in Mississippi. Arrington presently works
at the San Diego County Probation Department as clerical support.
Arrington has been on the Executive Committee for over 8 years
and has served two terms as Secretary and the ACT-SO Co-Chair.
Treasurer/Finance Committee
Alvin C. Wilkerson
[email protected]
Alvin Wilkerson, also known as our “financial guru, started a
paper route at 10, where he then opened his first bank account
with his parent’s assistance. He attended Florida A&M
University in Tallahassee Florida. In 1986, Alvin relocated to
San Diego and worked for Aetna Health Care for 15 years. He
joined our Executive Committee in 1988. Alvin has held the
positions of Housing Committee Chairman, Parliamentarian,
and serves as Treasurer, and Financial Literacy Consultant.
MEMBERS-AT- LARGE
Chair, Political Action
Past President
Alvin has been a member of the University Kiwanis Club for 5
years. In 2007, Alvin started a Homeless Food Ministry that
feeds between 140-170 people every month. In 2011, Alvin Coauthored a religious book called, “The Wisdom of Bishop Henry
L. Porter”. For 12 years, Alvin has been an independent
contractor with World Financial Group (WFG) as a financial
consultant. Alvin is a faithful member of the, “Fountain of Life
Church of God In Christ,” since 1989, and serves as an Usher,
Sunday School Superintendent, Sunday School Teacher, and
Sound Engineer.
Alvin’s goals are to continue to faithfully serve in the NAACP, and to
Petrina
M. Branch,
Esq.
bring racial
equality
and empower African Americans, and all races,
[email protected]
through financial education.
619.840.8548 (cell)
Petrina M. Branch is an attorney providing legal services in areas
of business, personal injury and estate planning in the Law Office
of Petrina M. Branch. She received her undergraduate degree
from Harvard University and Juris Doctor from Harvard Law
School in Cambridge, MA.
Petrina served as President of the NAACP San Diego Branch
from 2001 – 2002. Currently, she is Chair of the Political Action
Committee. In 2010 Branch received the NAACP San Diego
Branch President’s Award for exemplary support of the
association.
Ms. Branch is also a past president of the Earl B. Gilliam Bar
Association which represents African American attorneys,
judges, law students and professors in San Diego County.
Member-At-Large
LaShae Collins
[email protected]
LaShae Collins graduated from San Diego State University with a
Bachelor of Arts degree in Africana Studies and a Masters of Arts in
Education with an emphasis in Multicultural Counseling.
Collins currently serves as the District Director for Assembly
Member Hon. Dr. Shirley N. Weber (AD-79). For the last 6 years
LaShae served as the Event Coordinator for the San Diego Branch
NAACP Freedom Fund Dinner. Furthermore, she currently serves as
the 1st Anti Basileus on the Executive Board of the National Sorority
of Phi Delta Kappa, Delta Upsilon Chapter, Financial Secretary on
the Executive Board of the Association of African American
Educators, President of the Johnson STEM Magnet Parent Teacher
Association, a representative on School Site Council at Johnson
STEM Magnet and Business Manager for the Pee Wee Division with
Valencia Park Pop Warner.
She is married to Ian Collins and has two children, daughter Zorihya
Collins and son Zion Collins.
Chair, Press & Publicity
Earl W. Davis, Jr.
[email protected]
Earl Wayne Davis, Jr. received his Bachelor of Science degree
in
Chemistry and an Honorable Discharge from the Navy
before working for General Dynamics. Earl took a job as a
freelance writer/photographer for the local weekly newspaper
the San Diego Voice which led him to form his own newspaper San Diego Viewpoint. Both papers were combined for the
modern day The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint. Earl and his
wife, Tina, published this paper for 16 years. Earl also worked
for the Neighborhood House Association where he was the
Public Relations Director for eight years before he retired.
Earl is a Professional Event Photographer. Earl is active in the
community. He is the vice president of the Board of Directors of
the Legal Aid Society of San Diego; President of the Martin
Luther King, Jr. Democratic Club; president of the Board of
Directors of the San Diego Chapter of Better Investing; member
of Bethel AME Church; member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity
and past president of San Diego Fair Housing Council.
Chair, Education
Dr. Michael Dodson
[email protected]
Dr. Michael Dodson began his career in education in 2001 after
retiring from the U.S. Navy. He taught 4th grade for three
years while completing his administration credential program.
Dr. Dodson has been a school administrator for 11 years as a
Vice Principal and a principal.
He earned his undergraduate degree at Southern Illinois
University, A Master’s Degree from National University, and
his Doctorate Degree at San Diego State University. Dr. Dodson
is a proud member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc.
Youth Council Advisor
Tiffany Harrison
[email protected]
Tiffany Harrison started with the NAACP SD Branch as
teenager with the W.E.B. Dubois Young Black Scholars.
Tiffany was encouraged to start an NAACP SD Youth &
College Chapter. For the past two years, 10-15 students would
travel to the NAACP CA State Convention from San Diego to
Oakland and Newport Beach. In April of 2012, the San Diego
Youth Council & the SDSU College Chapters were officially
chartered and recognized by the NAACP Board.
Tiffany Harrison received her Bachelor of Science in Business
Management and Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from
SDSU. Tiffany is a member of New Creation Church and a
native San Diegan. She part of the Occupy the Vote Campaign
as an intern for the National Urban League Policy Institute.
Her thoughts – “If our great civil rights leaders could get the
word out and organize to protest for freedom and justice in the
past without email, cell phones, or Facebook, surely we can
encourage someone to vote.”
Chair, Legal Redress
Past President
Douglas A. Oden, Esq.
[email protected]
619.702.0800
Douglas A. Oden, Esq. is a Past President of the San Diego
Branch and served as President from 2003-2008, the longest
tenure as a NAACP San Diego Branch president in the modern
history of our branch.
Oden is a practicing an attorney that is a founding Partner of
ODEN & GREENE. His law firm focuses in the area of
Consumer
Law,
Personal
Injury,
Criminal
Law
and Bankruptcy. He is currently chair of the branch’s
Membership and Legal Redress.
Oden obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree from California
Lutheran University and his law degree from Thomas
Jefferson School of Law.
Chair, Labor & Industry
Slyvester T. Oliver
[email protected]
Sylvester T. Oliver is a Journeyman Ironworker at the
International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental
and Reinforcing Iron Workers Union, Local 229. Mr. Oliver
is also an identified casual longshoreman at the Pacific
Maritime Association in San Diego.
Mr. Oliver has considerable experience working with the
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the
National Labor Relations Board. Mr. Oliver is a community
leader who strives for equality and diversity by committing
himself to the Chair of the Labor and Industry Committee
and is dedicated to helping insure that all people are granted
the same access to employment and training opportunities.
Member-At- Large
Franklin D. Petersen
[email protected]
Franklin Petersen completed 30 years of distinguished Naval
Service
in June of 1991 and retired as a Chief Warrant
Officer. Franklin attended Southern Illinois University (SIU).
Franklin was associated with San Diego Community District
(SDCCD) for 7 years and taught at City College and at the
Educational
Cultural
Complex
(ECC).
Franklin has been a member of the San Diego University
Kiwanis Club for over 30 years and has held several
administrative positions with them. Our motto is: Children
are our number one priority and we want to change the world
one child and one community at a time.
Presently Franklin is self employed in the Financial Services
Industry teaching individuals/families/businesses how money
works and how to get it to work for them.
Chair, Health Committee
Debra (D. Ann) Roberson, M.C.D.C.C.
[email protected]
D. Ann Roberson is a proud graduate of Abraham Lincoln High
School and former Abraham Lincoln High School Senior Class
President - Voted Most Community Service and Who's Who Among
High School Seniors.
Roberson graduated from SD City College with an A.A. in Black
Studies, from SDSU with a B.A. Degree in Africana Studies, and a
Masters' Degree in Career Development and Community College. A
native of 'America's Finest City" Roberson is a former president of
the SDSU African American Alumni Chapter.
Roberson has admirably and professionally served in our
educational institutions: an 11 year adjunct faculty/professor at San
Diego City College, former adjunct faculty Mid-City Center and
faculty, San Diego City College for 7 years , Counselor/
Transportation Coordinator, Officer and Board Member for the
National Youth Sports Program San Diego City College,: former
Adjunct Faculty and general counselor at South Western College;
and Adjunct Faculty, at Palomar College.
Member- At- Large
Immediate Past President
Lei-Chala I. Wilson, Esq.
[email protected]
Lei-Chala I. Wilson graduated from San Diego State University
with a Bachelor in Arts in Economics in 1985 and a Juris Doctor
from UC Davis, King Hall in 1989. Wilson has been a criminal
defense attorney for over 25 years and was a Deputy Public
Defender for 24 years with the Law Offices of the Public
Defender, SD County. Wilson is now in private practice.
Wilson served 6 years as President of the branch and has been on
the Executive Committee since 1998.
Wilson currently serves on the State Bar of CA Executive
Committee as the Education Chair, on CABL as the
Communications Chair and on the Board of the CA Civil Rights
Coalition (CCRC).
Wilson is a past president of the Earl B. Gilliam Bar Association
(EBGBA), California Association of Black Lawyers (CABL) and
National Council of Negro Women, Inc. (NCNW) San Diego
Section.