West Virginia State University Foundation Board Elects New Officers, Directors
INSTITUTE, W.Va. – The West Virginia State University (WVSU) Foundation Board of Directors has elected new officers and members for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2024.
Jennifer Herrald Oakley has been elected Chair of the WVSU Foundation Board and Dr. Sheri Sesay-Tuffour has been elected Vice Chair of the Board. They succeed Dr. Sami Ghareeb who previously served as Chair and Matt Coleman who had served as Vice Chair.
“I want to thank Dr. Sami Ghareeb and Matt Coleman for their exemplary service to the WVSU Foundation Board and for their dedicated commitment to supporting West Virginia State University,” said WVSU Foundation President Patricia Schumann. “Both have moved on to assume new leadership roles in support of the university, and they will be a valuable resource during this time of transition as we welcome the leadership of Jenifer Herrald Oakley and Dr. Sheri Sesay-Tuffour.”
Herrald Oakley is the county manager of the Kanawha County Commission, providing advice and counsel to the commissioners on effective administration and management of all governmental affairs. She has more than 24 years of government experience including facilitating and coordinating emergency response activities and public information support during county-wide emergency events at the Emergency Operations Center.
Herrald Oakley is a Magna Cum Laude Honors Graduate of West Virginia State University and holds a master’s degree in Political Science with Emphasis on Public Administration and State, Local, and Urban Politics from the Marshall University Graduate College.
Sesay-Tuffour is the CEO of the Pediatric Nursing Certification Board, the largest organization of nursing professionals who provide care for children, adolescents and young adults. Her professional experience includes more than 25 years in the association industry.
Sesay-Tuffour holds a doctorate degree in organizational leadership and a master’s in administration. She is a Certified Association Executive, Certified Credentialing Professional, and Certified Non-Profit Executive Director.
In addition to the election of a new Chair and Vice Chair, joining the WVSU Foundation Board as members are Pamela Carter, Randall Coleman and Julian Irving.
Carter had a distinguished 26-year career in the U.S. Air Force as an aircraft maintenance officer specializing in logistics. She accepted a position with Boeing in 2004, after retiring from the U.S. Air Force. At Boeing she served as Vice President of Business Development for Global Services & Support, a business unit of Boeing Defense, Space & Security.
She holds bachelor’s degrees in psychology and philosophy from West Virginia State, a master’s degree in education from the University of Maryland, and a master’s degree in national security policy resourcing from the National Defense University’s Industrial College of the Armed Forces.
Coleman has been a Community Banker in the Kanawha Valley since 1994. He currently serves as Chief Banking Officer, and interim Chief Operating Officer at The Poca Valley Bank. He leads the Bank’s Business Banking Group, Mortgage Banking Group, Treasury Group, and Operation Group.
Coleman graduated from West Virginia State University in 1997 with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Finance. He also attended the Graduate School of Banking at Louisiana State University and graduated in 2000.
Irving is the owner and operator of A Special Touch In Home Care, a senior care business that serves the senior community of the Kanawha Valley and surrounding areas from its locations in South Charleston and Huntington.
He holds a master’s degree in Health Care Administration from Marshall University, a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from West Virginia State University, and an associate’s degree in Nursing from BridgeValley Community and Technical College.
Established in 1959 to receive, manage and administer contributions for the benefit of the University, the Foundation is a public charity under the Internal Revenue Code – IRC § 501(c)(3). The West Virginia State University Foundation supports the University’s strategic vision through leadership in donor engagement and fundraising, creating a culture of philanthropy and a providing a financial foundation for future growth and sustainability.
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