Akilah A. Martin serves as an Assistant Vice President for the Gardner Institute. In this role, Dr. Martin serves as one of the leads for the Institutional Transformation Assessment project.

Akilah A. Martin, Ed.D., began her higher education career pathway as a TRiO advisor with Lone Star College, and she continued in higher education, holding positions in admissions, student activities, and advising. Akilah served as the Alvin Community College’s director of dual enrollment and then the director of college and career pathways, championing pathways reform for the institution. In 2020, Akilah became the first Black dean of students in Alvin Community College’s 70-year history. Dr. Martin last served on a campus as dean of student transition and academic engagement at Texas Southern University, and most recently served as a strategy director with Complete College America. Akilah holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Southwest Texas State University, a master’s degree in Counselor Education from Texas Southern University, and a doctoral degree in Educational Leadership – Higher Education from the University of Houston–Clear Lake.

As an Assistant Vice President for the Gardner Institute, Dr. Martin serves as one of the leads for the Intermediaries for Scale project, funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

As a first-generation college student who struggled to find her academic stride, during her junior year in undergraduate school at (Southwest) Texas State University, she finally realized that she could be successful in college. During that year, she joined the first African-American Sorority founded in 1908, Alpha Kappa Alpha, Sorority, Inc., and she learned the value of time management, which led her to academic success for the first time ever! Akilah went on to earn a Master’s degree from Texas Southern University in Education and a doctoral degree in Educational Leadership from the University of Houston – Clear Lake.

As an only child to parents who did not pursue higher education, Akilah’s educational journey developed within her a passion for students who have been able to succeed beyond their environment and circumstances. Her passion is evident in how she serves students, ensures their sense of belonging, and roots for their success in and outside of the classroom! Akilah has managed to positively impact students for over 20 years through her Student Services work as a student activities coordinator, academic advisor, director of programs, adjunct faculty, and Dean of Students. Akilah’s passion and experience with K-12, community colleges and universities has now led her to the Gardner Institute, where she brings her knowledge, strengths, and skillset to help cultivate relationships and influence policies that will significantly impact the educational experience of students across the states.

Akilah is mom to her 17-year-old high school senior! She enjoys creating memories (outside as much as possible despite the Houston heat) with family and friends. Traveling has become more of an interest, and she loves Christmas movies.

As Special Assistant to the President at Elon University, Mr. Whittington provides strategic leadership for the President on projects and initiatives assigned by the President in all areas of the campus.

Formerly, Gerald Whittington was the Senior Vice President for Business, Finance and Technology at Elon University serving from January 1992 to June 1, 2019. He also served as the Corporate Treasurer of the Elon University Board of Trustees and Corporation.

He was the Vice President for Business and Finance at Agnes Scott College and has served in the administration at the University of Virginia, Duke University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

In 2018, Mr. Whittington was named the national Distinguished Business Officer by the National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO). This is the highest and most prestigious award and honor offered by NACUBO.

He has an undergraduate degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and an MBA from Duke University. Mr. Whittington is regularly a national speaker on the topics of higher education finance, institutional planning and construction. Additionally, he is a member of NACUBO and SACUBO and is a finance and administration evaluator for the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

Oscar R. Miranda Tapia is a Research Associate at the Belk Center for Community College Leadership and Research and a Policy Intern at North Carolina Independent Colleges & Universities. He is also a PhD student and Provost Fellow at NC State University, pursuing a degree in Educational Leadership, Policy, and Human Development, with a focus on higher education opportunity, equity, and justice. Prior to his doctoral studies, Oscar led the first-generation initiative at Elon University. He is a co-author of Connections are Everything: A College Student's Guide to Relationship-Rich Education and holds a bachelor’s degree from Elon University and a master’s degree from Harvard University.