NFBPA MENTOR Program

2023 Application Window Is Closed

“Many of our nation's most respected executives, in both the public and private sectors, cite the support, influence and encouragement of a mentor as a contributing reason for their success. As an organization dedicated to grooming Black administrators for the challenges of senior management positions in the public sector, the National Forum for Black Public Administrators is firmly committed to fostering mentoring relationships that will increase career opportunities for the "next generation of Black public managers."

With this commitment in mind, in 1987 NFBPA launched the Mentor Program, a unique program designed to positively impact the professional development of emerging public administrators. The program is an intensive, eight-month initiative with a two-fold focus. First, emphasis is placed on skills building, with specialized workshops offered during two group meetings. The second, and equally important, focus is embodied in informal interaction between mentors and protégés throughout the program period.”

2023 Program Participants

Abraham Araya
Supervisor
King County Natural Resources and Parks
Wastewater Treatment Division
Seattle, WA

Tanya Washington Bostic
Student Development II
Advising Department
Palm Beach State College
Riviera Beach, FL

Lucas Daniel Boyce
Assistant to the County Administrator
Orange County Government
Orlando, FL

Stephanie Dawn Calip
Administrative Support Tech
City of Oklahoma City, OK
Oklahoma City, OK

Mara Nicole Cardenas
Equity, Inclusion and Belonging Manager
Department of Natural Resources and Parks
King County, WA
Seattle, WA

LaShawn Robinson Gardiner
Planning & Community Development Director
City of Forest Park
Forest Park, GA

Lavay Vaughn Glynn
Research Assistant I
University of Delaware

Shirley Sims
Interim Program Manager
National Forum for Black Public Administrators (NFBPA)
Washington, DC

Claudelle Sonja Norma Hazell
Senior Management Analyst
Public Works Department
City of Fort Lauderdale
Fort Lauderdale, FL

Anthony Howard
Assistant TRIO Director
Key Point Alliance Inc.
Atlanta, GA

Kelly L. Ingram
Human Resources Representative
City of Greensboro
Greensboro, NC

Oluwaseun Zainab Iyoha
Water Customer Service Supervisor
City of Phoenix
Phoenix AZ

Vanessa Joseph
Elected City Clerk
Office of the City Clerk
City of North Miami
North Miami, FL

Shayla Desiree Lee
Assistant to the City Manager
City Manager’s Office
Sugar Land, TX

Mary Elizabeth Lennon
Commissions Administrator
Human Rights Commission
City of Greensboro, NC
Greensboro, NC

Annestelle Banks Lewis
Accounting Associate III
Department of Financial Services
City of Austin
Austin, TX

Micah Tiana McDuff
Graduate Student
Texas Southern University
Pasadena, TX

Autumn M. Mitchell
Policy Manager
Board of Commissioners
Franklin County
Columbus, OH

Lydia I. Osinowo
Community Involvement Coordinator
Houston Health Department
Houston, TX

Jehan Y. Pitt
Public Policy Fellow
National Forum for Black Public Administrators
Washington, DC

Ke’Ryne B. Smith
City Management Intern
(General Government)
City of Duncanville
Duncanville, TX

DeAndrea Lashai Watson
Administrative Specialist
Citizens Investigative Board
City of North Miami
North Miami, FL