Dear Title III Community: It is a pleasure and an honor to serve as the President of the National Association of HBCU Title III Administrators, Inc. I express my sincere gratitude to each of you as you place your confidence in me to lead this prestigious organization. I willingly accept this call to serve and am committed to serving to the best of my ability. It is my goal to deliberately engage all members of the Association, taking care to make sure that the members’ highest priority needs are served. I have by way of accepting this position committed myself to being a leader who shares power, puts the needs of others first, and helps members develop and perform as effectively as possible. That is truly my goal. I value diverse opinions; will cultivate a culture of trust; will assist in developing leaders within our community; will encourage members; will sell instead of telling; will think you, not me; and will definitely think long-term. Thus, I stand on my platform of (1) Strong Advocacy for HBCU Title III Administrators, focusing on outstanding credibility, enhanced interpersonal skills and increased knowledge; (2) Sound Professional Development for Title III Administrators, focusing on establishing and preserving the integrity of the Association, technical training on the law, regulations, and grants management/fiscal responsibility, accountability, and stewardship; and (3) Amicable Relationships with the Department of Education’s Institutional Service Program Staff and HBCU Advocates and Supporters, avoiding pushback from Department Of Education leadership and aggressive behavior as a membership and establishing partnerships, creating better communication, and building relationships. The three principles that guide my efforts are as follows: Collaboration, Cooperation, and Congeniality. As I stand on the shoulders of the leadership that has come before me, I seek to move this great organization forward. I stand ready to accept the advice and guidance of our Presidents’ Advisory Board and honor their support, and welcome the advocacy of this group, as well as NAFEO, UNCF, and the Thurgood Marshall Foundation. I believe the new Executive Committee stands ready to conduct the necessary business of the Association and to serve the entire Title III community, as we work together for the good of the whole. I believe it is our time! Let us come together, work together, and succeed together! Sincerely, Dr. Demetria Johnson-Weeks President |