Category: bio

Ray Howard is a native of Winston-Salem, North Carolina. He relocated to San Antonio, Texas in 2007 following a distinguished affiliation as Program Director and Senior Researcher with the Center for Minority Health at the University of Pittsburgh’s Graduate School of Public Health. He is recent retiree from the Texas Educational System. Prior to his retirement, he served as Executive Director of Continuous Quality Improvement and Curriculum Management for the School of Medicine at University of Texas Rio Gande Valley (UTRGV), preceded by several years as Senior Educational Development and Program Evaluation Specialist for University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio, an undergraduate professor of public health, organizational leadership and U.S. health care systems at the University of Texas at San Antonio. He has served on several local, state, and national boards and committees throughout his career to develop or improve social and human services and health education programs targeted to vulnerable populations. His academic focus is minority health, economic and social disparities. Since his retirement, he has devoted considerable participation in civic engagement and social justice efforts, and actively pursues collaborative opportunities to increase the awareness and preservation of African American and Afro-Mexican History and Culture in the Texas Rio Grande Valley.

Family:

Married 49 years (Ruth Dawkins Chiles)

3 sons, Michael Joel II, Jonathan Brooks, and Dr. Robert Dwayne

3 grandchildren, Michael III, Christopher James, Olivia Grace

Pet, Lady, Chocolate Lab.

Schools:

University of California, Hayward- 1971-72

Oakwood College, 1972-75, BS.

Rutgers University, 1979-1981, Ed.M.

Career:

Church School Teacher, Indianapolis, Indiana; Hillside, New Jersey

Public School Math Teacher, East Orange, New Jersey

Public School, Assistant Principal, Montclair New Jersey

Public School Principal, Montclair New Jersey,

Public School, Personnel Director, Montclair, New Jersey

Leader 2 Leader State Mentor for Administrators

Adjunct College Professor, Caldwell University

Retired

Born in Gary, Indiana, I graduated from West Side High School in 1970, Oakwood College1975 (BS degree in elementary education), and earned a master’s in education degree from Purdue University Northwest in 1989.

I taught elementary school for 9 years at Lake Region Conference, 1 year in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and 29 years for the Gary Community Schools retiring in 2014. I have since enjoyed driving a school bus for Merrillville and Crown Point, IN schools. 

My husband of 43 years, David Patrick Thomas Sr, and our children Koree and Kendall have been my strong and loving support through my bout with breast cancer in 1996, my volunteer work with the American Cancer Society and the Pink Ribbon Society Inc. where I serve as chairman of the board participating in annual activities to support the fight against breast cancer. We remain active at our home church, Mizpah SDA in Gary, IN.

Purette D. Bethea-Mills is a 44 year retired Adventist educator who graduated in 1975 from Oakwood University, attended Pacific Union College, Southwestern Adventist University, the University of South Carolina. She received her Master’s Degree from Strayer University and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from North Central University. She has worked in 7 regional conferences and 3 non-regional conferences

          Mrs. Mills is a K-12 certified guidance counselor, administrator, K-8 choral director, classroom teacher, and English & Physical Education instructor. She has taught every grade from pre-Kindergarten to 12^th grade in 9 SDA conferences and lived in 14 U.S. cities. Post retirement, she lives in Gainesville, Florida.

           She has been a Children’s Ministries  presenter/facilitator for the North American Division of the General Conference of SDA since 1989. She facilitated Sabbath School & parenting seminars nationally and internationally. She has three wonderful adult sons, Aaron Todd Mills, Arell Tory Mills, and Arion Tevon Mills, and a daughter-in-love, Margaret, with 5 wonderful grandchildren.

          Her burden is to see children saved in God’s kingdom and that is why her passion is and has always been to use exciting and fun methodologies to lead every child to Christ.

· Oakwood College – Graduate 1975 BA: major, English; minor, Black Studies [assistant Class Secretary; tutor English Department, 1974 and 1975]

· Lake Region Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, Chicago, IL Secretary [supported Pastor Horace L. Jones, Sabbath School Director 1976-1978] [coordinated special events: Lake Region Weekend 1977 – guest, Alex Haley]

· Haley TAT – Office of TV Producer Norman Lear; secretary to Alex Haley 1979

· Kinte Corporation – administrative assistant to author Alex Haley, Century City, California 1979 – 1981

· UCLA – Writers Program; administrative assistant, Los Angeles, 1982 – 1985

· Legal Secretary – Litigation Dept., Los Angeles, California 1986 – 2020

· Berean Seventh-day Adventist Church, Los Angeles, California, member 1979-present [Youth Sabbath School director, 1979 – 1985; Local Elder 1997 – 2018]

· Beloved Family – nephews, David Allen Cluff, NY; Dr. Robert S. Cluff, California

· Most Admired – mother, Elizabeth Jones Cluff, Oakwood Junior College, graduate 1936; father, Clifton P. Cluff, Atlantic Union College, graduate 1930 [great great grandfather, George H. Jones 1865 Civil War soldier 6th Reg. US Colored Troops]

· Delight – Family, Friends, Travel [Europe, Civil Rights tours; Monterey Peninsula]

· Joy: “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God”

Dr. Roland Hill is a distinguished leader and native of Durham, North Carolina. As the President of The Helping Hands Press LLC and The International Association of Godpreneurs Foundation, he continues to influence the future of faith-based entrepreneurship and stewardship.

Dr. Hill’s career in full-time ministry spanned over four decades, during which he made significant contributions as a pastor, professor, and Director of Stewardship and Development. A prolific author of 26 books, he is recognized for his impactful presentations across cultures and denominations worldwide.

His deep passion for Family Life, Stewardship, Theo-Economism, Preaching, and Godpreneurship has led him to global platforms where he inspires leaders and individuals alike.

Dr. Hill and his wife, Dr. Susie Hill, have been married for 49 years. Together, they are proud parents of two adult children and three granddaughters. A graduate of Oakwood University, Andrews University, and Reformed Theological Seminary, Dr. Hill’s academic journey reflects his dedication to lifelong learning and leadership.

Jason graduated from OC with an undergraduate degree in Elementary Education. His 36-year educational career encompasses 5 years of classroom teaching, 14 years as a Principal and 17 years as an Assistant Superintendent. Jason was fortunate to spend 7 years in denominational settings and 29 years in integrated suburban settings. During his career he was active in issues related to teacher evaluation, collective bargaining and minority student achievement. As an active educator Jason believed it was essential to treat all students as if they each were bound for greatness. Currently retired and residing in Huntsville, AL with his wife (Linda Willis) of 55 years, Jason enjoys golfing and spending time with his grandson, Jason III.

I was born in Oberlin, Ohio, and over the next 20 years, we lived in Washington DC, Los Angeles, Cleveland, Pine Forge, Takoma Park and Douglassville, PA.

After graduating from Oakwood, I attended Howard University School of Law, graduating in 1978.

As a member of the Wisconsin State Bar, I worked as a Staff Attorney with the Legal Aid Society of Milwaukee and then the State Public Defender Office.

From March 1980 to January 2016, I worked for the Office of Chief Counsel, IRS. I started as a Docket Attorney in Los Angeles District Counsel Office. In 1983, I transferred to the Criminal Tax Division in Washington DC, where I worked until I retired as the Assistant Chief Counsel (Criminal Tax).

After my father’s death in 2016, and until her death in 2023, I was my mother’s caregiver.

I love traveling the world, the Cleveland Browns, making cards, and reading.

Marilyn Gadson Lang, is a proud member of the Class of 1975 with majors in English and Psychology. Before graduation in 1975, she started her federal government career as a student aid at NASA, Marshall Space Flight Center and married Ronald Lang, Class of 1974.

Her career encompassed 38 years in various positions spending the last 26 years of her tenure as a training program manager, Chief, Training and Operations Division, for the US Army Corps of Engineers Learning Center.

For work or pleasure, she has visited 44 states and 15 countries, and enjoys experiencing new places and cultures. She is an avid reader and member of a book club, holds a special interest in genealogy, and has volunteered at the Oakwood University Church (Primary Sabbath School teacher, Nursing Home visitation, church receptionist, and Church Clerk) and in the Huntsville community (Crisis Call Center, Red Cross, Meals of Wheels, Youth Orchestra Board, Oakwood Academy School Board Chair, OU – JL Moran Alumni Chapter Treasurer) for decades.

Marilyn and Ronald are parents of two adult offspring: Robyn, an Accountant at OU and member of the Oakwood University Church praise team, and Ryan, a Physician.