Dr. Angela Riley received her bachelor’s degree in Biology at Belhaven College in Jackson, Mississippi. She earned a medical degree from the University of Tennessee College of Medicine and went on to complete an Internal Medicine residency at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis, TN, where she was the Chief Medical Resident.  While in residency, Dr. Riley worked at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital where she was a part of the Pediatric Oncology Education Program and assisted in the administration of anesthesia to patients undergoing procedures.  Dr.

My name is Lee Nickels.  I am married to my wife, Mary, and we have 5 children, 2 girls and 3 boys.  I grew up in Columbus and graduated from New Hope in 1998 and then went on to Itawamba Community College for 2 years.  After ICC,  I moved on to Mississippi State and graduated there in 2003 with my Banking and Finance degree.  I started out selling cars at Columbus Nissan for about 4 years from 2003-2007 and then moved to Horn Lake, MS.  I worked for ServiceMaster by Stratos, New York Life Insurance, and Neal Cannon State Farm Insurance while in Horn Lake.

Dr. Stanley K McCrary is a 1978 graduate of Pickens County High School in Reform, AL. That same year he joined the United States Navy. While in the Navy he earned an associate degree in Computer Science at San Diego Mesa College in San Diego, CA which at that time was the largest community college in the United States. His leadership skills helped him to be elected President of the Student Union. He retired in 1998 after proudly serving his country for 20 years in the Submarine Service.

Priscilla Gardner King is a multi-line insurance agent with Shelter Insurance Companies in Columbus, MS.  She has served in this capacity since January 1998.  In January 2007, she became an adjunct professor at Mississippi State University/Finance and Economics Department where she teaches insurance courses. She is also a United States Army Veteran.

Janie E. H. Ashcraft is a native of Greenwood, MS and has lived in Columbus since 2009. She completed her undergraduate degree in Banking and Finance from Northeastern University in Boston, MA and spent three years post-grad working for FDIC in Boston before relocating closer to home.  Janie is currently pursuing her Master’s Degree in Licensed Professional Counseling from Grand Canyon University. She has two cats, Juno and Tristan, and enjoys spending time with her friends and family, napping, working out and traveling when possible.

Dr. Jackson Akwaowo works as an Equal Opportunity Manager for the Department of Defense. He focuses on affirmative employment for historically underrepresented groups in the federal government through outreach with colleges and universities in Mississippi and Alabama. He presents at local and state events on topics that include: special hiring authorities, disability management, performance improvement, and communicating across differences in the workplace.