Jacinta Willis is the owner of Clearing Space Wellness LLC, offering group workshops for women, primarily aimed at advancing greater self-trust and alignment with personal goals. Jacinta also works in the business sector, offering consultancy services under the company’s CSW Business Consulting division.

Jacinta received her BS in Family Science from the University of Maryland at College Park, and after working in the non-profit sector for over 10 years, decided to use her industry knowledge to help small business owners. She joined the consulting industry in 2013, assisting new business owners with defining their internal operations and developing early marketing plans.

It is her goal to empower community members, whether through group coaching workshops or as a business consultant, to enhance each person’s connectedness to their personal capacities and sense of self.

In her spare time, Jacinta is an avid mystery fan and enjoys a good movie night!

Renee Payne is a retired Shippensburg University Associate Dean of Graduate Admission. She currently volunteers at Carlisle's Employment Skills Center as an Intermediate ESL teaching assistant and for Dress for Success of Southcentral PA.
She is also a member of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Harrisburg Chapter, and a Board member of the Carlisle Victory Circle. Traveling with her husband is a major priority!

Education is Ms. Michelle Palmer-Felton’s life’s work, and she has spent the last two decades serving in the Pennsylvania public education system. Michelle spent sixteen years as a high school social studies teacher in Carlisle and Harrisburg before taking on administrative roles in the Harrisburg School District including assistant principal, principal, and Supervisor of Professional Development. Currently, Michelle is the Regional Lead for School Improvement at the Pennsylvania Statewide School Improvement Team.
Michelle pursued her education at Shippensburg University, receiving a bachelor’s degree in secondary social studies education, and a master’s degree in special education. Michelle also sought and received a Principal's Certificate through the Learning to Lead Urban Residency Program. Michelle is currently a doctoral candidate focusing her research on equity-centered school leadership. Michelle proudly served four years in the United States Air Force as a photographer before beginning her undergraduate studies.
Michelle has served the communities of Carlisle and Harrisburg in a variety of capacities as a member of the Carlisle Rotary Club and the Harrisburg Alumni Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated. Michelle has received honors for her fierce commitment to student and adult literacy by the Capital Region Literacy Council. She continues to commit by sharing her knowledge and experiences with teachers as a University of Pennsylvania, Penn Literacy Network facilitator.
Michelle is a life-long resident of Carlisle, PA, and during her free time, she enjoys spending time with her son, family, and friends. Michelle relishes any opportunity to visit the beach and enjoys dining at unique, unknown restaurants.

Safronia Perry is the CEO and owner of S. Perry Consulting & Coaching LLC. Offering services to businesses of color and women owned businesses as well as non-profit organizations. She is the mother of 2 sons, a daughter-in-love, and a grandmother of 2. She is the former executive director of Hope Station, a nonprofit organization that services low-income families. While there, she initiated and created the Cumberland County Reentry Coalition, Black Girls Chronicles, and Brother to Brother. She attended the OIC of Carlisle, Academy of Medical Arts and Business in Harrisburg, University of Phoenix, for psychology, took humanities classes through Messiah College, and graduated from Leadership Cumberland in 2018. She previously served as a commissioner for the Carlisle Human Relations Commission, president of the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission Advisory Council, member of the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission Inter-Task Force, board member of Domestic Violence Services of Cumberland and Perry Counties, member of Heart Soul committee, and member of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women Harrisburg Chapter, and the Racial Justice Coalition with the YWCA Carlisle. She is currently a board member of Leadership Cumberland, and the PA Humanities Council. Safronia serves as the chair of the Economic Development Committee and the vice-chair of the Employee Relations and Citizen Participation Committee as council member for the Borough of Carlisle. Her term expires on December 31, 2025 and she has received numerous awards for service to equity and empowerment in the Black community.

Jerry W. Stirkey has served as a team member for the past two Central PA HBCU & Workforce Fairs and will serve for its third year. 

Jerry received his BA in English with a minor in Philosophy from Shippensburg University of PA and also holds an Associates Degree in Electronics Engineering Technology.

Jerry is now employed by UPMC, Carlisle, in Supply Chain Management . He previously worked in sales in the Carlisle & Harrisburg areas. 

In his personal life, Jerry is active in local politics and serves as the Vice Chair for The Carlisle Area Democratic Committee. A proud husband of 13 yrs and father of two daughters (aged 9 & 12), Jerry is an active member of The Carlisle United Methodist Church, plays jazz, classic rock, blues & Worship music behind the drums. Jerry is also an avid automotive enthusiast.

Since its inception, Jerry was excited to serve the Central PA HBCU & Workforce Fair because “Personally, I wish that I had known more about Historically Black Colleges & Universities when I was deciding on post-secondary education, some 28 years ago. With Ms. Dorene Wilbur’s project, I knew that I wanted to help other Black high school students in a way that I wasn’t helped.”

Contact Jerry W. Stirkey at: StirkeyJW@upmc.edu

Join him on LinkedIn at: LinkedIn.com/in/jerry-w-stirkey-a4424559/

Dr. Jacquie Forbes (she/her) is an Assistant Professor of Educational Studies and Contributing Faculty in Africana Studies at Dickinson College. Prior to her work as a professor, Jacquie worked as a public high school teacher in New York City and as an administrator for a college access program in Atlanta, GA. She is a proud Spelman alumna, and credits her strong undergraduate education with preparing her for her lifelong career as an educator. Jacquie earned her PhD in Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Katharine Lively has lived in Central PA all of her her life. She grew up in Hershey, PA and attended Shippensburg University for both her undergraduate and graduate studies.

She has worked within the educational system in several school districts locally. She currently teaches 6th grade Social Studies at Lamberton Middle School.

From a young age when she worked alongside notable HBCU advocates, Katharine has worked within the Central PA area to make certain that all students have exposure and access to colleges, universities, and trade schools where they feel welcome and included.

A longtime resident of Carlisle, Pennsylvania, who relocated from McComb, Mississippi, Cortez was born on September 18th, 1989. Cortez is a former member of the United States Army and a veteran of the Iraq/Afghanistan War campaign, having honorably served his country.

Cortez is the father of two children: Jayden, 15, and Gracelynn, 13. He is also passionate about his community, helping young Black, Brown and Latino youth aspire to do great things educationally and in life. Cortez is actively involved in the community, serving in various roles with the youth football program, Iron Sharpens Iron men’s group, Bibleway Hibner Memorial COGIC, and he is an original member of the Carlisle HBCU College and Workforce Fair. One of Cortez’s proudest accomplishments was spearheading Council Woman Safronia Perry’s campaign for Carlisle Borough Council.

Cortez is a 2009 Graduate of Carlisle High School where he played football and later coached Varsity football. After serving in the military, Cortez returned and graduated from Shippensburg University in 2018 with a bachelor’s degree in political science. Cortez is currently employed with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Executive Offices of the Governor as a Network/Software Administrator. He also serves as the Head Coach of the Franklin County Tigers adult amateur football organization, where he has won multiple championships and boasts an impressive winning record.