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Board Members

Leroy A. Tice, Esq., Chair

Leroy A. Tice, Esq.Appointed by Gov. Jack Markell in January 2010 to complete the term of Dr. Lillian Lowery, who resigned, and was sworn in that same month.

Leroy A. Tice, Esquire is a Delaware native and proud alumnus of Delaware State University where he earned a B.A. in Political Science and was a member of the Pi Sigma Alpha Political Science Honor Society.  Mr. Tice earned his Juris Doctor from the Seton Hall University School of Law where he served as a Public Interest Fellow in Columbia, South Carolina performing death penalty appellate work; as a Seton Hall Law Teaching Fellow with a Constitutional Law concentration; as Law Clerk to the Hon. Jose L. Linares of the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey; and was the Raymond Del Tufo, Jr. Award Winner for achievement in Constitutional Law.     

Mr. Tice is licensed to practice law in Delaware and New Jersey.  His primary practice area is personal injury with a focus on major motor vehicle collision, medical negligence and workers’ compensation.  With respect to civic roles, Mr. Tice is former counsel for the Delaware House of Representatives, Democratic Caucus; former Deputy Commissioner of the Wilmington, DE Public Works Department; and is presently the Chairman of the City of Wilmington, License and Inspection Review Board.   

In his efforts to play a role in the revitalization of Wilmington, DE, Mr. Tice is a founding partner of WTRE Partners, a real estate development enterprise focusing on market rate and affordable multi-family, mixed use projects.   He is also, the developer/owner of DE Slider Company, an acclaimed one-of-a-kind slider/small plates restaurant located in downtown Wilmington, DE.

Mr. Tice’s current non-legal affiliations include the Delaware State University Board of Trustees – Chairman and longest serving Trustee; Seton Hall University Law School Board of Visitors;  East Side Charter School Community Advisory Board; and the Philadelphia Freedom Theater Board of Directors.    

 

Dr. Debbie Harrington, 1st Vice Chair

Dr. Debbie HarringtonSworn in on September 22, 2016

Dr. Debbie Harrington – a native of Portsmouth, Va., and currently a resident of Middletown, Del. – was appointed to a six-year term by the Board to succeed former Board Member James Stewart, whose term expired Aug. 31.  

In her Army career, Dr. Harrington was an expert logistician with 25 years of experience in international multi-modal transportation systems and infrastructure, procurement, contracts, facility management and supply distribution.

After her retirement from the U.S. Army in 2005, Dr. Harrington worked in the areas of nonprofit organizational management, community development and social justice.

She has served the State of Delaware in several capacities. She served on a task force established by the state General Assembly to study education for students with visual impairments. She also works with the Delaware Department of Visual Impairment on education and employment initiatives and serves on its Rehabilitation Advisory Council.

Most recently, Dr. Harrington has worked with the Delaware Department of Education to strategically plan for the education of students with low-incidence disabilities. She also is an appointed commissioner and chairs the commission that administers the State Use Law.

She has managed the Sanctuary at Kingdom Square, a mega Baptist Church in Landover, Md., and the Resurrection Center churches in Wilmington and Middletown. At those churches, she has conducted capital planning and extensive outreach opportunities in education and economic empowerment.

She has a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Norfolk State University in Virginia, a Master of Science in National Resource Strategy from the National Defense University, Industrial College of the Armed Forces in Washington, D.C., and a Doctor of Education in Innovation and Organizational Leadership from Wilmington University.

John J. Allen, Jr., 2nd Vice Chair

John J. Allen, Jr.First appointed by the Board in 2012 to succeed Dr. Richard Barros, who stepped down from the Board in mid-2012 due to term limits. Sworn in January 10, 2013.

John J. Allen, Jr. is Delmarva Power’s vice president responsible for Kent and Sussex counties in Delaware as well as the counties of the Eastern Shore of Maryland since 2005.

An employee of Delmarva Power for 32 years, Mr. Allen’s background includes Customer Care Leadership, Organizational Training and Development, Training Instructional Design and Development, Human Performance Technology and Performance Improvement, and he holds industry certificates for Strategic Leadership. 

Mr. Allen attended Lincoln University and Southwest Bible College & Seminary and holds Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in Theology.                                   

Mr. Allen is a member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., Sigma Beta Delta International Honor Society for Business, Management and Administration and is also a 2006 graduate of Leadership Maryland.

In civic and community service areas, Mr. Allen serves on the Executive Board of the Greater Salisbury (Md.) Committee, Salisbury Wicomico Economic Development, the Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore and the Maryland/D.C. Utilities Association. He also serves as a board member of Nanticoke Health Services, the University of Maryland Eastern Shore Board of Visitors, the University System of Maryland Foundation, Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Lower Eastern Shore, as well as a member of the United Way of Delaware Kent & Sussex Advisory Council.

Margie Lopez Waite, Treasurer

Margie Lopez WaiteAppointed by the Board in September 2018

Margie Lopez Waite succeeded Charles McDowell, who stepped down from the Board due to term limits.

A Class of 1990 alumna of Delaware State University, Ms. Waite – a resident of Bear, Del. – is currently the Head of School of the Las Americas ASPIRA Academy in Newark, Del., a post she has held since 2009. Prior to that she taught Spanish in the Appoquinimink School District.

Before her years as an educator, Ms. Waite held an ascending number of posts with MBNA America Bank in Wilmington, Del., from 1990 to 2006 – culminating in the last nine years as a Senior Vice President overseeing a variety of areas.

Ms. Waite earned a Bachelor of Science Degree (Magna Cum Laude) in Marketing from Delaware State University in 1990 and a Master’s Degree in Secondary Education from Wilmington University in 2008.

The Honorable Michael N. Castle

The Honorable Michael N. CastleFirst appointed by Gov. Jack Markell in mid-2012 to succeed Dr. Calvin T. Wilson, whose six-year term expired.

Michael N. Castle is a former two-term Delaware governor (1985-1992) and a nine-term U.S. Congressman (1993-2011) representing the First State. He has also served as lieutenant governor (1981-1985), state senator (1968-1976) and state representative (1966-1967). During his state Senate years, he was the minority leader from 1975-1976. In total, Mr. Castle served as an elected public servant for 40 years.

As a Congressman, Mr. Castle served as the chair of the House Subcommittee on Education Reform, in which he played a major role in shaping the No Child Left Behind legislation signed into law by President George Bush. He also forged enacted legislation designed to improve the quality and relevance of education research through new standards of scientific rigor.

An attorney and member of the Delaware Bar and the Washington D.C. Bar, Mr. Castle is currently a partner of DLA Piper, a government affairs practice that maintains offices in Wilmington, New York City and Washington, D.C.  During his legal practice years, he was an associate attorney and later a partner of the Wilmington law firm of Connelly, Bove and Lodge from 1964-1975. He also served from 1965 to 1966 as a Delaware deputy attorney general.

Mr. Castle has a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics from Hamilton College in Clinton, N.Y., and a Juris Doctorate from Georgetown University Law Center of Washington, D.C.

He was born and raised in Wilmington, Del., where he currently lives with his wife, Jane.

William W. Collick

William CollickSworn in on September 21, 2023

Bill Collick’s legacy at Delaware State University includes the most coaching wins in the history of the Hornet’s football program and a successful stint as the university’s Director of Athletics.

For 12 years, Collick guided the DSU football program through the most celebrated period in team history.  During his tenure, the Hornet’s posted an overall record of 81-48 and captured five Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) championships.  Collick’s teams averaged nearly seven wins per season and his winning percentage (.628) was among the tops in Division 1-AA from 1985-1996.  In addition, his 44 wins in the MEAC conference ranked second in the history of the league at the time of his retirement.

During his tenure as Head Football Coach, in the 1990’s, Collick’s teams would be the subject of some outstanding football comeback wins. The outstanding comebacks would begin with a win over MEAC rival Bethune-Cookman as the Hornet’s would storm back to win 56-42 after trailing the Wildcats 26-6 at half-time. Furthermore, in the same year Delaware State would storm back to defeat Liberty University and former NFL Head Coach Sam Rutigliano 38-37 after trailing 37-9 at the onset of the 4th quarter. In 1991, Delaware State would upset the 1-AA Champions Youngstown State in Alumni Stadium 33-29, coming from behind in the 4th quarter to win. The above trend would carry over in the 1992 season as Delaware State would defeat Grambling University 45-42 and legendary Black College and NCAA Coach Eddie Robinson at the Silver Dome in Detroit, Michigan. The Hornet’s would score in the 4th quarter to win 45-42 after trailing big in the game.

Under Coach Collick, a total of 63 Delaware State players earned All- American First Team honors; eight were named to various All-American teams and more than 20 signed professional football contracts.  Additionally, some of Collick’s former players have joined the ranks of high school and college gridiron coaches as well as careers in law enforcement, higher education, and business.

Working with his coaching staff and the DSU administration, Collick was instrumental in ensuring that the vast majority of his players earned degrees.  Also, an increasing number of Hornet players obtained advanced degrees during his tenure.

Bill Collick also earned the respect of his college coaching peers.  As a member of the American Football Coaches Association, he was appointed to serve on the NCAA Football Rules Committee as well as serving as Chairman of the MEAC Ethics Committee under Commissioner Charles Harris.

Prior to accepting the head football job, Collick served as DSU’s Wrestling coach and led the team to the school’s only MEAC wrestling title in 1984.

When appointed as Delaware State’s Director of Athletics in 1995, Coach Collick immediately committed himself to improving athletics facilities and support services for all Hornet athletes.  He co-founded The Hornet Club, an athletic fund raising organization for alumni and friends of the program.  Collick also helped organize the first annual Delaware State Celebrity Golf Tournament which became the major fund raiser to benefit DSU athletics.

Collick is well known for efforts on behalf of many charitable organizations throughout the area, including United Way of Delaware, the Delaware Arthritis Foundation, Faith Elementary School, Westside New Beginnings, YMCA, Muscular Dystrophy, and Big Brothers of Delaware. He is currently a board member of the non-profit organization (Pathways to Success) and the MERIT program, as well as, the Cape Henlopen School District, Habitat for Humanity, the Lewes Historical Society and the Rosa Health Center.

Collick has earned degrees from Wesley College (Associates Degree), University of Delaware (BS), and Wilmington College (M.Ed.).

In 1992, Collick delivered the speech at the University of Delaware’s College of Physical Education, Athletics and Recreation graduation ceremony.  He was chosen as a speaker after being selected as Outstanding Alumnus of the university.

Collick is a member of the following Halls of Fame: MEAC, State of Delaware Athletics, African-American (Delaware), Delaware State University as well as being named coach of the year in the MEAC, the Henlopen Conference and from the regional corporation of Nike clinics.

After leaving Sussex Technical High School in Georgetown, as the Dean of Students and Head Football Coach, Collick would return to his high school alma mater to take those same positions at Cape Henlopen High in Lewes.   Coach Collick has a history of re-establishing floundering schools and football programs by way of unifying groups of people towards common goals of excellence.  He is married to the former Nancy Gooch and they are parents of a daughter Dana and a son Billy, as well as grandparents of granddaughters Jaia, Ma’Kena, and Harper.

Norman Griffiths, Esq.

Sworn in on January 30, 2018 

Norman Griffiths served for 32 years as an in-house legal counsel for DuPont, retiring in June 2015. While advising DuPont officials and their clients on numerous areas of law, he also served 20 years (1992-2012) on the Wilmington City Council – 16 years as an elected councilman and four years as the council president. During that period, he served as the chair of the council’s Finance, Public Safety and Cable Communications committees.

The new University trustee brings abundant board experience with him. He has served on the boards of Delaware Technical Community College, the Riverfront Development Corporation, Wilmington Downtown Visions, Christiana Care Health Systems, Wilmington Economic Development Corp., and others.

He currently serves on the boards of Village of St. John, Inc., Salesianum High School, Delaware Solid Waste Authority, Westside Family Healthcare, Inc., and on the Governance Committee of Christiana Health Care.

Mr. Griffiths earned a 1980 Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from American University and a 1983 Juris Doctorate from Catholic University, Columbus School of Law, both schools in Washington, D.C. He currently is a member in good standing in the District of Columbia Bar.

Dr. Wilma Mishoe

Dr. Wilma MishoeSworn in January 25, 2020

John Ridgeway

John RidgewaySworn in on June 16, 2016

John Ridgeway is currently the corporate manager of Toyota’s Eastern Territory Service Center, which is based in Owings Mills, Md. Prior to arriving at Toyota in 2006, Mr. Ridgeway spent two years as a senior vice president of Customer Service and Support for Bank of America. He also previously held director posts for Sears, Roebuck and Co. All told, the Delaware State University alumnus brings 24 years of corporate experience to the Board.

During his undergraduate years at then-Delaware State College, Mr. Ridgeway earned a B.A. in Business Administration.

Chip Rossi

Chip RossiSworn in June, 16 2022

Chip Rossi is the Global Compliance & Operational Risk (GCOR) Operations Executive at Bank of America, one of the world’s leading financial services companies. In this role, Chip leads the oversight and execution of compliance operations for the GCOR organization.

Chip also represents the bank as the Delaware Market President, working to connect businesses, families and individuals to Bank of America’s banking and investment teams. He also leads the effort to direct the bank’s resources in the state to address local priorities and help build strong communities.

Formerly, Chip was the Consumer and Global Wealth & Investment Management (GWIM) Chief Risk Officer. In that role, he managed risk for the company’s business lines that serve individual clients with deposit, card, auto, home mortgage and investment-related products and services. He was responsible for providing independent risk oversight of the Consumer and GWIM businesses.

Chip began his career as a college intern and joined the company full-time in 1989 as a participant in the Management Development Program. He has held management positions at all levels in Collections and Credit, and also led the Loss Prevention team with accountability for credit and fraud losses. He later became the Credit & Underwriting executive for the company’s credit card portfolio, where he focused on the alignment of credit and risk strategies to ensure appropriate balance growth and risk mitigation. He was also Preferred Products executive, responsible for developing and managing consumer products that help make financial lives better for mass affluent customers and that reward clients for their relationship with Bank of America. Products included deposits, credit card, first mortgage, home equity and auto.

Chip serves on the boards of the Delaware State Chamber of Commerce, Delaware State University Foundation, ChristianaCare Health Services, the Grand Opera House, Habitat for Humanity of New Castle County, and Year Up Greater Philadelphia and Wilmington. He also serves on the William Penn High School Advisory Board, Delaware Technical Community College Development Committee and The Delaware Business Roundtable.

Chip graduated from Gettysburg College, where he majored in Management. He and his family live in Wilmington, Delaware.

Dr. Marlene Saunders

Marlene SaundersSworn in on November 30, 2023

Dr. Marlene A. Saunders, a DSU alumna and a longtime faculty member at her alma mater, has entered into a new chapter at Delaware State University by becoming a member of the institution’s Board of Trustees.

During the Board’s Nov. 30 Retreat meeting on campus, Board Chair Leroy Tice officially administered the Trustees Oath to Dr. Saunders, who was appointed to a six-year term on the governance body by Gov. John Carney. Dr. Saunders fills the Board seat previously held by former Trustee Lois Hobbs, who completed her two Board terms in January 2023.

Dr. Saunders’ relationship with her alma mater began more than 50 years ago when she enrolled as an undergraduate at then-Delaware State College, where she earned a 1967 Bachelor of Arts Degree. She followed that up by earning a 1972 Master of Social Work from the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Social Work.

After working in the social work field for a number of years, Dr. Saunders began her DSC teaching career in 1985 as a social work faculty member. She later completed a Doctor of Social Work in 2001. Her full-time faculty service continued at DSU until her retirement in 2014; Dr. Saunders also taught as an adjunct between 2014 and 2020.

A licensed social worker in the State of Delaware, Dr. Saunders is well-known among that professional community throughout the state and beyond. She has received the 2007 Service Provider Award from the Delaware Department of Corrections, the 2008 Social Worker of the Year Award from the Delaware Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers, and the Humanitarian Award from the Wilmington Chapter of the NAACP. In 2021, the National Association of Social Workers recognized her as a Social Work Pioneer.

Dr. Saunders is a resident of Bridgeville, Del., where she has served as a Town Commissioner since 2020.

Jocelyn Stewart

Sworn in on March 15, 2018

Jocelyn Stewart directs the community investment effort for Barclaycard US. Since the company’s founding in 2000, she has developed its community strategy and managed Barclays volunteer and financial resources to achieve Barclays’ community goals. She has created innovative partnerships with Johns Hopkins School of Public Health and the National Institutes of Health to create and evaluate entrepreneurship programs. She is also responsible for Barclaycard US compliance with the Community Reinvestment Act which is audited by the FDIC.

Prior to joining Barclays, Jocelyn worked for First USA Bank, where she started and led the event marketing department,  generating over one million new credit card accounts per year. She also founded and led “At Your Request,” a value-added concierge service for credit card customers.

Jocelyn is active in the community as the Chair of the Board for Teach for America Delaware and the Summer Collaborative, Vice Chair of East Side Charter School and on the Land Bank of Wilmington Board, Wilmington Leaders Alliance and Bright Spot Ventures. She was appointed by the Governor of Delaware to serve the Delaware State University Board, the Judicial Nominating Committee, Early Education and the Economy Committee and was past Vice Chair of the Early Childhood Council. She is a trustee on Christiana Care Health Services.

Bernadette Dorsey Whatley

Sworn in on March 15, 2018

Bernadette Dorsey Whatley is a Managing Director with more than twenty years of experience in Operations at JPMorgan. Roles have included Operations Manager, Chief Administrative & Communications Officer, and Program Manager. After spending her entire career in the Corporate & Investment Bank, Bernadette accepted a mobility opportunity to join Asset & Wealth Management (AWM), and more specifically Wealth Management (February 2016), where she is responsible for US Private Bank Client Onboarding markets across the East Coast.

At JPMorgan, she is active Mentor and also serves on the AWM Operations People Committee. In addition, she is Co-Chair of the Communications Committee within the AWM Black Leadership Forum (BLF). In 2017 she was recognized as a Rising Star by the Harlem YMCA Black Achievers in Industry (bai) program. Prior awards for her community service and JPMC leadership have included the Walnut Street (Wilmington, Del.) YMCA Black Achiever Award, JPMC Super Star Award, YMCA recipient of the Evening of Style Award, United States Volunteer Service Award from the President’s Council on Service & Civic Participation, and finally Diversity MBA Magazine Top 100 Under 50 Diverse Executives Award. Bernadette believes that “to those whom much is given, much is required”; hence, her commitment to serving in various leadership capacities at JPMorgan as well as within her local community.

Bernadette was born and raised in Delaware, and is a proud graduate of University of Delaware, where she earned degrees in Business Administration with a concentration in Finance (1992) and a Master of Business Administration (1998). She also holds a Series 99 license.

Bernadette resides in Bear, Del., with her husband, Hiram. In her leisure time she enjoys spending quality time with family and friends. She is an active, Diamond Life member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., a public service organization.

Dr. Devona E. Williams

Dr. Devona E. WilliamsSworn in on March 1, 2012

Dr. Devona E. Williams has over 25 years of experience in the fields of public policy, planning and public affairs with corporate, government and nonprofit sectors.

She is the founder of Goeins-Williams Associates (GWA), a successful performance management consulting business designed to help organizations achieve greater productivity in strategic work environments. The list of GWA clients includes AstraZeneca, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Christina Health Systems, the DuPont Corporation, the State of Delaware, and many others.

Dr. Williams’ professional experience spans the administration of public programs, the management of corporate public relations, policy issues, strategic planning, organizational and executive leadership. Her experience also includes executive appointments with the DuPont Corporation, as well as service as a U.S. Presidential Intern with the Office of Management and Budget, NASA and the EPA.

She holds a Ph.D. in Urban Affairs and Public Policy from the University of Delaware, with specialization in social policy, program planning and analysis. Dr. Williams is a former assistant professor and instructor for the University of Delaware’s School of Urban Affairs.

She is a frequent keynote speaker on business, diversity, leadership, motivation and success. She is author of the new release, The Intentional Consultant: How to grow and sustain a consulting practice, and is a contributing author of the inspirational book Remarkable Women.