Shewanee D. Howard-Baptiste, PhD

Dr. Shewanee Howard-Baptiste is an Associate Professor and Interim Program Director for the Master of Public Health at The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga in the Department of Health and Human Performance. Dr. Howard-Baptiste has been teaching at the secondary and collegiate level for almost twenty years. Her teaching and research interests center on the experiences of developing ways for communities to live healthier by developing innovative, collaborative, and interprofessional initiatives that make college campuses and communities together healthier. She currently serves on the Board of Directors at CEMPA Community Care, Chattanooga Preparatory School, and the Community Foundation of Greater Chattanooga. She is also an active member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., an international service organization that focuses on education, economic and political empowerment, and physical and mental health. She values collaboration, shared governance and making sure all voices are sitting at the table to make collective decisions. She considers it an honor and a privilege to work with students in any capacity.

Gloria Dubose

Gloria is the Director of Community Outreach at the Bethlehem Center, a nonprofit organization in South Chattanooga that works to empower inner city youth and families through education, leadership development, discipleship, and economic empowerment. During her time at the Bethlehem Center she has overseen the adoption of Faith & Finances, created by the Chalmer’s Center. She has also overseen the creation of the Alton Park CommUNITY Urban Farm and Community Market. Gloria is a proud Moc alumni who speaks English, French, and Spanish. She is working to become a writer and speaker that shares her story so that others don’t have to make the same mistakes.

Pastor Ternae Jordan Sr.

Dr. Ternae T. Jordan, Sr., a second-generation minister, grew up in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and received a Bachelor of Science degree with a major in Business Education and a minor in Religious Studies from the University of Tennessee.  He received a diploma from the Harvard School of Divinity, Leadership Institute; and, the Huntington College, Huntington, Indiana, conferred upon him the degree of Doctor of Divinity honoris causa (‘as a mark of honor’) in recognition of his leadership and compassion to serve his community.  Dr. Jordan began his first pastorate at the Bethlehem Baptist Church in Chattanooga, followed by 15 years of service at the Greater Progressive Baptist Church in Fort Wayne, Indiana.  He is currently the Pastor of Mt. Canaan Baptist Church, Chattanooga, Tennessee.  He is also a New Church Catalyst with the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board (TBMB). Dr. Jordan is a world traveler, preaching and teaching in Jamaica, Italy, Israel, Kenya and South Africa.

Dr. Jordan is the founder of Stop the Madness National, Inc., an anti-violence program that provides cultural, spiritual, and recreational alternatives to at-risk youth. He serves on several boards and works on many community-shaping initiatives.  Most importantly, he is devoted to serving God and family.  His wife, Angela Faye Jordan, is his partner in ministry and they have three children: Ternae Jr., DeJuan, and JaMichael; and, three grandchildren (Deanna, JaMichael Jr. and Nason).  Dr. Jordan is compassionate, has a great sense of humor and portrays the Fruit of the Spirit.

Katherlyn Geter

Advocate, passionate, community leader and public servant. All these words and more describe Katherlyn Geter. Katherlyn is the Executive Director of Purpose Point Community Resource Center, a local non-profit that serves families and individuals in the areas of early childhood education and health. She also serves as District 5 Commissioner for Hamilton County. Katherlyn holds a degree in human service management from the University of Tennessee of Chattanooga and has more than 20 years of experience overseeing programs that help people understand community services and health insurance including Medicare, Medicaid, and the Federal insurance marketplace. Her extensive work and compassionate commitment to people have earned her to be recognized not only locally, and state-wide but nationally as a White House, “Champion of Change,” which was part of President Obama’s, “Winning the Future” initiative for the work around the Affordable Care Act. Most recently, she was recognized and awarded as Political Official of the Year 2020 by the National Association of Social Workers (NASW)/Southeast Tennessee Branch. Katherlyn is the proud of mother of two sons (Jack and Austin) and is faithfully committed to the work within her church where she serves as the health/wellness leader as well as her work in the community with other faith-organizations and service organizations.

Paulo Hutson

Paulo was born in Darlington, South Carolina in 1989. At the age of 10 he and his family moved as missionaries to Managua, Nicaragua--where his mother is from. In Nicaragua, his parents oversaw an elementary school, feeding centers, planted churches, and hosted medical mission teams. After Paulo graduated from Nicaraguan Christian Academy, he moved to the United States to attend University.

Paulo is a graduate of Lee University, in Cleveland, Tennessee where he attained his Bachelor of Arts degree in Marketing and Communications in 2012, and is currently pursuing his Master of Business Administration from Strayer University. Upon his graduation, Paulo decided to move back to Nicaragua and serve as the Director of Communications for his parents’ missions organization where he was able to develop communications strategies between Nicaragua and the United States and increase participation with medical, construction, and faith-based missions to the rural areas of Nicaragua.

In 2014, Paulo moved to Chattanooga, Tennessee after accepting the role of Translation analyst for Unum Group. As the Translation Analyst for Unum Group, he conducted qualitative and quantitative research for the enterprise to enhance consumer-facing programs for Spanish speaking clients. He also oversaw the production of multicultural marketing collateral and prepared the sales team for the acquisition and retention of multicultural markets.

Because of the philanthropic environment Paulo was raised in, it was fundamental to him that the work that he produced made a positive and lasting impact on the communities he serves. It was in 2016 that Paulo recognized a business opportunity where he could utilize his multicultural background and benefit the multicultural market. In the Spring of 2016, Paulo opened A Medida Communications LLC, a full-service marketing and communications agency focused on Government, Insurance, Finance, and Healthcare industries targeting the general and multicultural market. Since 2016 Paulo has provided marketing services and communication strategies to the Center for Disease Control, SAHMSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration of the Federal Government) Energy Star, The National Guard, and multiple local, national, and international non-profit organizations.

Paulo is an executive board member of the Children’s Advocacy Center and is an active volunteer and committee member for several organizations in the Chattanooga area such as Cempa Community Care, La Paz Chattanooga, The Kidney Foundation of Chattanooga, and United Way.