#accesswomenleaders
DR. ROCHELLE FORD
DEAN, ELON UNIVERSITY
SCHOOL OF COMMUNICATIONS
Panel Moderator
In June 2018, Rochelle L. Ford, Ph.D., APR, became the dean of the School of Communications at Elon University, with about 1200 students majoring at the undergraduate level in strategic communications, media analytics, journalism, sport management, communication design and cinema and television arts and in corporate communications, organizational analytics and interactive media at the graduate level. From 2014-2018, she was a tenured professor and the chair of the Public Relations Department in the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University, responsible for all undergraduate and graduate public relations programs at this PRWeek top-ranked university. She also served as a Provost Faculty Fellow at Syracuse University responsible for co-chairing the University’s Middle States Accreditation process and implementing aspects of the Academic Strategic Plan. Having served as a faculty member at Howard University for 16 years, Dr. Ford has mentored hundreds of African American public relations professionals and championed the diversity agenda within the public relations industry through her research, grants, teaching and service. She is the co-editor of a two volume book series through IGI Global about the sustainability of Historically Black Colleges and Universities. In August 2014, she was inducted into Arthur W. Page Society and completed, with grant funding from the PRSA Foundation, an award-winning research study about diversity and inclusion best practices at Page Society member organizations.
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A nationally sought after speaker, she has given hundreds of special presentations on multicultural communications and diversity, coordinated a series of teleconferences and podcasts on diversity and inclusion, and served as a Fulbright Specialist in the Gambia West Africa. Dr. Ford has established and has written a monthly column “Diversity Dimensions” for Public Relations Tactics, an award-winning trade newspaper. Her scholarship on diversity has appeared in the New York Times, book chapters and refereed business and communication journals. She has received the Public Relations Society of America National Capital Chapter’s Diversity Champion Award, PRSA’s national D. Parke Gibson Multiculturalism Award for pioneering work in diversity in public relations, The Plank Center for Leadership in Public Relations’ Milestones in Mentoring Award and the National Black Public Relations Society’s Founders Award. She attended Howard University (BA ’93), University of Maryland at College Park (MS ’95), and Southern Illinois at Carbondale (PHD ’99). She holds a graduate certificate in higher education administration from Harvard and in gerontology from University of Maryland. She is the mother of two sons, Michael and Malik Larkin, and a daughter, Raven Ford.
LAVERN DELANEY
CHIEF NURSING OFFICER/VP OF PATIENT CARE SERVICES @ALAMANCE REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER
Panelist
LaVern Delaney serves as chief nursing officer and vice president, patient care services, Alamance Regional Medical Center. Delaney, who assumed this role in December 2013, has responsibility for nursing, rehabilitation, and operative services for Alamance Regional Medical Center, MedCenter Mebane
Delaney joined Cone Health in June 2005 as a nursing department director for 3300 Intermediate Care, and in 2007 was named director of nursing services for the cardiovascular and critical care service line.
Delaney earned a master’s degree in business administration and health administration from Pfeiffer University, Misenheimer, North Carolina; a master’s degree in nursing from the University of Virginia, Charlottesville; and a bachelor’s degree in nursing from University of Virginia, Charlottesville.
Delaney is a board-certified nurse executive by the American Nurses Credentialing Center. She was named a 2016 Great 100 Nurses in North Carolina recipient and graduate of the GE Health Management Academy, Chief Nursing Officer Fellowship. Delaney serves as the chair of CrossRoads, a sexual assault response and resource center, and is a board member of HealthShare Credit Union.
Dr. ROSLYN M CRISP
PEDIATRIC DENTIST @ ROSLYN M. CRISP & ASSOCIATES PEDIATRIC DENTISTRY
Panelist
As the team leader, Dr. Roslyn Moore Crisp has more than 30 years of experience in dentistry. She knew from a very early age that dentistry was her career ambition. A native of Burlington, Dr. Crisp graduated from Walter M. Williams High School. Following high school, she attended and graduated cum laude from Spelman College in Atlanta, Ga. After receiving her doctorate of dental surgery degree from the University of North Carolina School of Dentistry, she remained in Chapel Hill and completed a two year residency program, completing her Masters of Science degree in pediatric dentistry. She further distinguished herself by becoming a diplomat of the Academy of Pediatric dentistry and has a hospital affiliation with Alamance Regional Medical Center (Burlington, NC).
Dr. Crisp is the proud mother of two sons, Alex and Ben. Her hobbies and interests are varied. She enjoys music, art, travel and sports. Most of all, she enjoys learning new things. She believes in giving back to the community through volunteer efforts, especially as they pertain to the improvement of dental health.
SAMANTHA ETTUS
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
The Pie Life
An inspirational work/life fulfillment expert and entrepreneur, Sam has worked with thousands of professionals at all stages of their careers. From senior executives who are deeply entrenched in decades of habits, to entrepreneurial leaders who are unbounded by anything but their own insecurities, to aspiring recent graduates – they all share a common life-changing experience when they listen to Sam.
Sam has recently thrown herself back into entrepreneurial waters with the launch of Park Place Payments, a company that is changing the lives of women across the country while disrupting the payments industry.
Since earning her undergraduate and MBA degrees from Harvard, Sam has also become a sought after motivational speaker, a bestselling author of five books, an entrepreneur, and a writer for Forbes and TODAY. Her most recent book, The Pie Life: A Guilt-Free Recipe for Success and Satisfaction, was published last fall.
Sam makes frequent national television appearances on media outlets including NBC News, The Doctors, Good Morning America, Access Hollywood, and the TODAY Show. She has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, USA Today, Inc., Fast Company and Success Magazine.
Sam is co-founder of the Los Angeles Women’s Collective aimed at electing more women to higher office. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband and three children.
MAGHON TAYLOR
CALLIGRAPHER, OWNER OF
ALL SHE WROTE NOTES
Panelist
​Maghon Taylor is the she behind All She Wrote Notes, a calligraphy and hand lettering studio based in Elon, North Carolina. Her work has been featured on many blogs and publications and she was named the Best Calligrapher in the South by Southern Weddings. Maghon has partnered to letter items and host events with national retailers such as West Elm, Neiman Marcus, Kendra Scott, Anthropologie, and Swoozies, as well as dozens of local businesses across North Carolina.
Maghon’s favorite part of her business is teaching and she has taught more than 5,000 students how to spread happiness through their handwriting with her traveling lettering workshops and her online classes. She is also the author of Happy Hand Lettering releasing in Fall of 2019 and has a second book in the works.
She is crazy about her business, but she most enjoys doodling around her home that she shares with her husband and middle school sweetheart Chris, and their two year old son, Vance.
CRYSTAL O'NEAL
LAW ENFORCEMENT PROFESSIONAL
@ GRAHAM POLICE DEPARTMENT
Panelist
Crystal is a law enforcement professional, educator, and volunteer. By day, she serves as a Sergeant at the Graham Police Department where she has almost 18 years of experience in the patrol, investigations, and support services divisions. As the sun sets, you can often find her at Elon University where she teaches students about the criminal justice system. The rest of her time is consumed by her large family and her volunteer work with the General Federation of Women’s Clubs. She loves live music, yoga, and Instagram hedgehogs.
