2026 Panelist & Moderators

Percy Bell is a compelling and grounded actor known for his emotional range, authenticity, and commanding on-screen presence. He is also an up and coming narrator, with several works available on Audible. A native of Epps, Louisiana, Percy discovered his passion for storytelling after earning his Bachelor’s degree in Athletic Training from Nicholls State University, during which he also served as an athletic trainer for the New Orleans Saints. Though he began his professional career in sports medicine, his love for performance ultimately led him to pursue acting full-time.

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After relocating to Nashville, Percy immersed himself in acting classes and workshops, quickly gaining recognition for his talent and professionalism. His dedication paid off when he secured representation and began booking national commercials, print campaigns, and film roles.

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Percy’s star continues to rise with standout performances, including a series regular role as Duke in County Rescue, Great American Family’s first original TV series, notable appearances opposite Samuel L. Jackson in The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey on Apple TV+, and his most recent feature, Sinners—directed by Ryan Coogler and starring Michael B. Jordan—marks a major milestone in his career. He is recurring as fire fighter Watkins, in 9-1-1: Nashville.

Dr. Kevin Billups is a highly experienced Urologist and Men's Health Specialist with over 30 years of dedicated practice in the field. His focus is on Men's Health and Sexual Medicine, and he is an authority in managing both erectile dysfunction and testosterone deficiency as symptoms of chronic medical conditions such as diabetes, obesity, hypertension and heart disease. He uses a unique approach that combines traditional medication with lifestyle changes, such as improved nutrition, exercise, sleep and mindset. He also has a special interest in investigating the impact of nutrition and lifestyle on the management of prostate cancer and benign prostate enlargement.

Dr. Billups graduated from Harvard University and The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. He completed his Urology residency at the Johns Hopkins Brady Urological Institute and then pursued a fellowship in Urology, Sexual Medicine and Vascular Physiology at the University of Virginia. He is also certified as a Diplomate of the American Board of Lifestyle Medicine. Dr. Billups is currently President and Chief Clinical Officer for Meharry Health Network as well as the Director of Men’s Health & Lifestyle Medicine and Professor of Internal Medicine & Urology at Meharry Medical College in Nashville, TN. 

Pastor Derrick L. Boseman is a respected pastor, author, mentor, and community leader whose work has impacted lives for more than three decades. Born in Anderson, South Carolina, to Leroy and Carolyn Boseman, he is the eldest brother of Chadwick Boseman and Kevin Boseman.

He is the Founder and Senior Pastor of Tribe of Judah Outreach Church in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, where his ministry is recognized for authentic outreach, transformational teaching, and compassionate community engagement. Holding degrees in Theology and Biblical Studies from New Life Theological Seminary, Pastor Derrick has dedicated his life to mentoring emerging leaders while advocating for mental health awareness, educational access, entrepreneurship, and youth development.

Beyond ministry, Pastor Derrick has led numerous community initiatives focused on mentorship, violence prevention, leadership development, and restoration. Alongside his wife, Lady Trista Abraham-Boseman, he has helped create programs that empower youth and strengthen families throughout Middle Tennessee.

Today, Pastor Derrick serves as Principal and Co-Founder of Boseman Family LLC, a company centered on storytelling, cultural legacy, and community impact. He is also preparing for the release of his upcoming memoir, a deeply personal reflection on faith, resilience, brotherhood, and the life lessons shared with Chadwick throughout their journey together.

Kevin Boseman is a New York City-based theatre performer, choreographer and director. Classically trained in both dance and voice, he also studied acting at the esteemed Atlantic Acting School. He was most recently seen onstage in the seventh edition of 54/54/54 at the legendary 54 Below.  

Mr. Boseman began his professional career dancing soloist roles with the legendary Martha Graham Dance Company and dancing principal roles with the world-renowned Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. He made his Broadway debut in the revival of Equus, and he has been featured in the Broadway National Tours of Disney’s The Lion King, Shrek The Musical, and The Color Purple among others. He has choregraphed and directed productions at South Coast Repertory Theatre, Barrington Stage Company, National Black Theatre, Ojai Playwrights Festival and Syracuse Stage.  

Mr. Boseman has served as guest lecturer in prominent university arts programs, including CalArts, Howard University and Purchase College. In November 2025, he launched Dark Mondays with Kevin Boseman, a weekly podcast that examines how theatre reflects the world around us. Dark Mondays can be found on Apple Podcast, iHeart Radio, Spotify and YouTube. Mr. Boseman most recently collaborated with Shakespeare’s Globe (UK) to present Deep Azure by Chadwick Boseman for their 2025-26 season.

As Principal and Co-Founder of Boseman Family LLC, Mr. Boseman helps lead the family’s creative and philanthropic initiatives across entertainment, publishing, education and community impact, with a focus on legacy-building, artistic excellence and cultural stewardship. He currently resides in Brooklyn, NY where he is working on a memoir.  

Millard Darnell Collins, Jr. graduated from Xavier University of Louisiana with a B.S. in Chemistry, then pursued a career in medicine at Meharry Medical College. Since graduating from Meharry, and completing training in Family Medicine, Dr. Collins has held several administrative positions in undergraduate and graduate medical education, including Clerkship Director, Residency Program Director, Associate Dean of Student & Academic Affairs. He also completed a Mini Fellowship in Geriatrics at UCLA and is a Harvard Macy Scholar. He served previously as Chair and Professor of the Department of Family & Community Medicine at Meharry, and as the Interim Residency Program Director for the Division of Preventive and Occupational Medicine. Under his leadership, he implemented a Division of Rural Medicine and the continued the Fellowship Program in Sport Medicine. He is the recipient of several national medical and community awards. He presents at national state conferences including the National Medical Association. He is well published. 

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Dr. Collins serves in leadership capacities for various organizations; medical director for skilled nursing facilities and assisted living facilities, a hospice company, and a clinic serving the underserved Hispanic population of Nashville and beyond.  He also lends his visionary and clinical abilities to various medical spas and organizations focusing on recovery.

Dr. Collins and his wife LaTandra, have two daughters, Mary (21) and Lauren (18). He was born in New Orleans, LA to the late Millard D. Collins, Sr. and Dianne Joseph Collins.

Donna Caldwell,, has been a working member of the entertainment industry for over thirty years, with extensive experience in public relations, artist development, music clearance, supervision and licensing.

Donna spent 15 years at Paramount Television’s Music Division. At Paramount TV (now CBS Studios) she placed music in Paramount’s network, syndicated and cable television programs, including “Girlfriends,” “The Game,” “Medium,” “Frasier” and four “Star Trek” series.

As VP of Programming for Nashville WIFT, she provides educational opportunities

for our members via seminars, master classes and internships with local

production entities. She spearheaded the WIFT Academy mentorship program and

is supervising the launch of WIFT’s new female-centric streaming channel, FLAG TV.

An entertainment industry professional with over 31 years of experience across marketing, production, sales and branding, Brett Dismuke currently serves as General Manager/Head of Content of AMC Networks brands ALLBLK and WE TV. Prior to being appointed to this role in December 2020, Dismuke served as Chief Content Officer of ALLBLK where he oversaw content acquisition and development of original programming. During his tenure as Chief Content Officer, Dismuke’s focus on original programming spawned several breakout hit series for the streaming service including nighttime soap opera, A House Divided, and action-packed thriller, Double Cross.

Before returning to ALLBLK (formerly UMC) to helm the subscription video on demand platform, Dismuke maintained his own entertainment outfit, So Chi Entertainment; served as President/COO of The Swirl Group, President of Moguldom Entertainment, and as Senior Vice President of Acquisitions and Urban Programming for RLJ Entertainment's One Village studio.

Through partnership with Swirl Films in 2014, Dismuke formed The Swirl Group, a collaboration that established the company as the leading destination for urban independent production in North America with over 80 productions in their catalog. This multifaceted outfit was devoted to offering high-quality production value at low costs with a scope of work that included production of independent features and multi-camera content, casting, budget creation, scheduling, post-production, talent relations and distribution. With the solid foundation, So Chi Entertainment continued the legacy, priding itself on developing the highest quality productions, developing the most interesting content, and acquiring the best product available within its genre.

In addition to locating and securing new content, Dismuke oversaw strategic planning, financial management, branding, and product lines for So Chi Entertainment. Over the last few years, he has acquired and/or produced several films and series; most notably 35 & Ticking, a theatrical comedy starring Kevin Hart, Meagan Good, Wendy Raquel Robinson and Nicole Ari Parker; What My Husband Doesn't Know, a musical stage play written and directed by David E. Talbert and starring Morris Chestnut, Michelle Williams and Tiffany Haddish, Back to the Goode Life, a critically-acclaimed comedy starring Kyla Pratt, London Brown, Lahmard Tate and Kelly Jenrette; and the resurrection of the award-winning reality series, The Braxtons. 

A graduate of the University of Southern California, Brett Dismuke’s career path has included roles at Motown, PolyGram Group Distribution, Universal Music and Video Distribution, Hollywood Records, UrbanWorks Entertainment, First Look Studios, and Image Entertainment. His list of projects supervised includes Jay-Z, Brian McKnight, Mary J. Blige, Mike Epps, The Cosby Show and Ultimate Fighting Championship; as well as numerous award-winning independent films.

A native of Chicago, Dismuke currently lives in Los Angeles where he enjoys time as an empty nester, as his son graduated college on the East Coast.

 Max Fata is a Nashville-based film entrepreneur, producer, and content creator specializing in scripted short-form entertainment. As the founder and CEO of Amazing Things Media and HelloDrama, Max develops original microdrama series designed for today’s mobile-first audiences, combining emotionally charged storytelling with the fast-paced viewing habits of platforms like TikTok, YouTube, and Facebook. 

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Before moving into film production, Max built a digital media career creating viral entertainment content and growing online communities to hundreds of millions of viewers. His videos on social, especially on Meta, have generated over a billion views. That experience gave Max a deep understanding of the hooks, characters, and cliffhangers that turn casual viewers into loyal audiences. 

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Today, Max oversees the development, financing, production, and distribution of original scripted series, working with actors, filmmakers, brands, and entertainment partners to bring ambitious stories to life. Through HelloDrama, he is helping build a new model for independent filmmaking, producing compelling, high-quality entertainment at the speed of social media while keeping strong characters and accessible storytelling at the center of every project. 

Millena Gay is an award-winning producer, director, actress, and storyteller whose work celebrates resilience, legacy, and the transformative power of human connection. A graduate of the UCLA Extension Directing Program, where she completed her directing certification with honors, Gay combines decades of experience in front of the camera with a dynamic vision behind it. As an actress, her television credits include All My Children, One Life to Live, The Guiding Light, General Hospital, and The Young and the Restless. Her transition into directing has been marked by a distinctive cinematic voice that blends emotional authenticity with compelling visual storytelling.

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Gay is the founder of HoneyPeach Productions and has produced award-winning narrative and documentary projects, including Golden Hearted, the acclaimed documentary chronicling the extraordinary life and legacy of Congresswoman Ambassador Diane E. Watson. Her work often highlights stories that inspire, educate, and preserve important cultural histories while amplifying underrepresented voices.

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As co-director and producer of Ruby's Heart, Gay collaborated with Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Obba Babatundé to craft a heartfelt dramedy exploring grief, healing, family, and second chances through humor and compassion. The film has received multiple festival honors and continues its successful international festival run as an Official Selection of the 2026 International Black Film Festival, following previous recognition at major festivals including the Pan African Film Festival.

Jennifer "Jenny" Garner is a makeup artist and groomer with more than 18 years of experience crafting polished, camera-ready looks for film, television, live broadcast, fashion, and print.

A Nashville native, Jenny started out working with models on runway shows and print campaigns before finding her calling in the fast pace of television and film. Since then, her work has spanned a wide range of major productions, with recent credits including The Piano Lesson, Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist, and Disney's live-action Moana. She is currently Key Makeup Artist for ABC's 911Nashville.

For more than seven years, she has also been a core member of the NFL Network's hair and makeup travel team, preparing on-air talent for live broadcasts and marquee events such as Thursday Night Football and the Super Bowl.

In 2022, Jenny joined IATSE Local 798, the union representing professional makeup artists and hairstylists in film, television, theater, and entertainment.

Her work has appeared on networks, studios, and streaming platforms including Netflix, BET, NBC, Hulu, ABC, Lifetime, Disney, and CMT. Known for her versatility, professionalism, and eye for detail, Jenny brings creativity and a collaborative spirit to every set, helping bring each production's vision to life. 

 Dr. Dokubo Melford Goodhead is a graduate of the University of Nigeria, Georgia State University, where he took an MA in Film, and the University of Washington, where he took an MFA in Creative Writing and a PhD in English.

His areas of specialization and scholarly interests include theory and criticism; African and African Diaspora literatures; postcolonial Studies; British literature; creative writing; environmental literature; world literature; food studies; cinema; theatre; art.

He taught at Spelman College and was Associate Director of the African Diaspora and the World Program there. He is currently an Assistant Professor of English at Fisk University.

In addition to book chapters, his articles have appeared in several scholarly journals across four continents. As a poet, he has published poems in several journals and his volume of poems, Mourning, was published by the Cornerstone Press of the University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point in 2022. 

Eric Hamilton is an award-winning filmmaker, AI visionary, and technology executive who is redefining how feature films are conceived, produced, and distributed through artificial intelligence. As the Founder, President, and Executive Producer of EHAMX Studios, Hamilton has established one of the industry's most ambitious AI-native film studios, creating cinematic stories that combine cutting-edge generative AI with traditional filmmaking principles.

In just a short period, Hamilton has completed five feature films, secured four distribution agreements, and earned fourteen international film awards. His films have been recognized for excellence in science fiction, action, dramatic storytelling, and independent filmmaking, including Best Film at the LA Sun Film Festival. His work has also received honors from the New York International Film Festival, LA Film Awards, The IndieFEST, Best Shorts Competition, International Movie Awards, World Class Film Awards, and numerous other festivals around the world.

Hamilton is the creator of the expanding EHAM Cinematic Universe, which includes EHAM Classified, EHAM Ascension, EHAM Supremacy, and EHAM Confederacy, along with the award-winning urban drama Dog or Die. His films explore the intersection of artificial intelligence, government secrecy, human identity, race, technology, and the future of society through visually ambitious, emotionally driven storytelling.

Known for his distinctive cinematic style, Hamilton blends blockbuster-scale visuals with intimate human narratives while pioneering rapid AI-powered production workflows. His filmmaking philosophy embraces artificial intelligence not as a replacement for creativity, but as a force multiplier that enables independent filmmakers to tell larger, more cinematic stories with unprecedented speed and efficiency. This approach has positioned EHAMX Studios at the forefront of the emerging AI filmmaking movement.

Hamilton's work gained national attention when CBS News profiled his AI-generated music artist Sadie Winters, highlighting his innovative use of artificial intelligence in entertainment and introducing his creative vision to a nationwide audience. The feature established him as one of the leading voices exploring the future relationship between AI, storytelling, and popular culture.

Before launching EHAMX Studios, Hamilton built a distinguished career spanning more than three decades in technology and digital innovation. He held leadership positions at Google, Yahoo!, Cisco Systems, Dow Jones, and other Fortune 500 organizations, leading initiatives in analytics, digital platforms, artificial intelligence, and emerging technologies. His rare combination of executive leadership, technical expertise, and cinematic vision gives him a unique perspective on the future of entertainment.

Today, Eric Hamilton continues to push the boundaries of independent filmmaking by proving that AI-assisted production can deliver award-winning feature films capable of competing on the global festival and distribution stage. Through EHAMX Studios, he is helping shape a new era of filmmaking where innovation, technology, and compelling storytelling converge to redefine what independent cinema can achieve.

 Kyla Jade is a powerhouse vocalist, producer, arranger, and storyteller whose career spans Broadway, television, symphony stages, and concert halls across the country. Best known as a finalist on Season 14 of NBC's The Voice and for her portrayal of both Evillene and Aunt Em in the First National Touring Company of The Wiz's 50th Anniversary on Broadway, Kyla has captivated audiences with her extraordinary vocal ability, authentic storytelling, and dynamic stage presence. 

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Kyla has toured and shared the stage with legendary performers, including Patti LaBelle, EGOT Jennifer Hudson, Wynonna Judd, and many others. As a longtime featured soloist on B.E.T’s “Bobby Jones Gospel her face and sound have graced numerous live shows and recordings. Her signature blend of Gospel, Soul, Jazz, R&B, and Broadway continues to connect with audiences of all backgrounds. 

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In addition to her performance career, Kyla serves as a producer, vocal arranger, and arts advocate. She is currently a member of the SAG-AFTRA Nashville Local Board and the founder of Love Jade, Inc., a creative entertainment company dedicated to producing impactful musical experiences and supporting artists. 

Ron grew up in the Memphis projects surrounded by gun violence. In September 1985, just three days after Ron’s mom cheered him on from the stands during a college football game, she was shot by a single bullet meant for his cousin. Ron joined a gang and served time in prison. But remembering his mother’s faith in him eventually inspired him to change. Ron became a gang interventionist and co-founded an organization to mentor young men coming out of prison. Ron believes the way to make communities safer is by giving them the resources they lack and the proper training on how to use guns.

Trusted and transformative leader known for driving change at the intersection of

culture, business, and community impact. A visionary leader helping others to lead

authentically and reshape the cultural economy.

22+ years storybook career working in community, ad agency, and amplifying top brands in major industries like tourism, historical, automotive, museums, housing, gaming, healthcare, wireless, higher education, tech, quick service restaurants.

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National award-winning creative known for amplifying brands that amplify culture and communities that they impact. She became the CEO of MOJO Marketing + PR in 2014, helping to merge business innovation, creativity, and servant leadership. MOJO thrives on amplifying culture and impact with market takeovers in media exposure, energetic integrated campaigns and memorable experiential events for our clients. Most recently, her second impact driven brand, Destination CULTURE as a game changer to the travel and tourism industry.

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Her claims to fame range from civic leadership, community ecosystems, while curating national brand campaigns for Harvard MGB, Tennessee Titans, NIH CEAL, Sigma Gamma Rho, Sorority, National Museum of African American Music (NMAAM), Cares ACT campaign with The Equity Alliance, Tennessee State Parks, New Orleans Multicultural Tourism Network, The Cupcake Collection, MetroPCS, United States Postal Service, HCA Healthcare, Hiller Plumbing Heating Cooling & Electrical, Mr. Roof and many more.

 Terra Strong Lyons is an accomplished actress, acting coach, wife, mother, and proud SAG-AFTRA member whose career spans television, film, theater, and digital media. Her television credits include FBI, 9-1-1: Lone Star, Law & Order: SVU, NCIS: Los Angeles, Bosch: Legacy, and Netflix’s Beauty in Black. Her theater work includes productions of Once on This Island and Pearly.

As an acting coach and mentor, Terra specializes in self-tape preparation, audition technique, and helping actors deliver authentic, compelling on-camera performances. Having experienced firsthand how self-tapes have transformed the audition landscape, she is passionate about helping performers remain visible, versatile, and prepared as the industry continues to evolve across film, television, voiceover, digital media, and emerging platforms.

Terra is also the host of the Mommy Actor Podcast, a platform exploring the unique experience of building a career in entertainment while navigating motherhood. With deep ties to Tennessee and a growing presence in the state’s entertainment community, she is passionate about creating opportunities, sharing knowledge, and helping performers build sustainable careers—while continuing to pursue her own work across the industry.

Carolyn McDonald began her film industry career in the advertising/publicity division of Warner Bros Television, before joining Cinecom Entertainment as a Creative Executive. She served as Executive Vice President of Danny Glover’s Carrie Productions, where she was the executive producer of TNT’s Emmy & Image Award-nominated “Freedom Song” (written & directed by Phil Alden Robinson) and HBO’s “America’s Dream”, co-starring Wesley Snipes & Jasmine Guy, which won 4 Cable Ace Awards and an NAACP Image Award for Best Made-For-TV Movie. McDonald also produced, co-wrote, and directed “P.N.O.K.”, featuring Glover, Elle Fanning and Tina Lifford, and co-wrote “Return of the Sweetbirds” for 20th Century Fox. She now creates, write and produces a diverse array of projects in various mediums & platforms. 

A passionate youth arts advocate, Carolyn ran ‘Livin’ Reel’, the Nashville Film Festival’s At-Risk Teen Film Program, and was a teaching artist at the Cinema High School in Bronx, NY, and at the Gathering of Native American Youth Arts Camp in Sonoma County, CA.

She was a featured panelist and lecturer at the Nashville Film Festival, Film-Com, the International Black Film Festival of Nashville, and New Filmmakers LA Festival. She has also been a judge at the Nashville Film Festival, the Calgary Film Festival, the Reading Film Festival and was the jury’s Features Chairperson at the Slemani International Film Festival in Sulaymaniyah, Kurdistan. Carolyn is also a host of the New Filmmakers LA Festival-Moviemaker Magazine web series, “Stage 5”, where she interviews an array of international indie filmmakers.

In New York Film Academy’s Screenwriting Department in Los Angeles, Carolyn teaches Online Screen Story & Structure, Adaptation, Story Generation, and the Business of Screenwriting. While developing her own projects, she is growing her SOAS (Soul of a Story) writer community, as source of inspiration, delight and enrichment for lovers and creators of stories.

Baba Musa is a legendary multi instrumentalist performer and educator. He has been teaching and sharing his inspirational talents for decades.

Wendy Moten is a genre-defying vocal powerhouse known for her stunning performances on NBC’s The Voice and her signature hit “Come In Out of the Rain.”

A Memphis native, she has toured globally with legends like Kirk Whalum, Michael McDonald, Julio Iglesias, Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Martina McBride, John Oates, and Vince Gill. She has been a member of the Grammy winning Texas swing band , The Time Jumpers for six years and has performed over 35 times at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville.

A Memphis Beale Street Brass Note honoree and newest inductee into the Memphis Music Hall of Fame. Wendy blends soul, style, and timeless talent. Whether singing soul, jazz, country or pop, she continues to captivate audiences with her grace, power, and unforgettable voice. 

Having started her career as a producer, Angela Northington is a seasoned entertainment
executive & consultant with an extensive background in content strategy, content acquisitions, creative development & production, programming and multi-platform distribution.

With a specialty in building content libraries, Angela has held various posts across a number of theatrical, cable TV, streaming and other digital start-up environments on the cutting edge of diverse content distribution. Most recently as Board Member & Executive Director of arthouse theater Kan-Kan Cinema; with prior positions as SVP, Content Acquisitions & General Manager for Urban Movie Channel (now ALLBLK/AMC Networks); Revolt Media & TV, Codeblack Entertainment (Vivendi/Universal); Simmons-Lathan Media Group (Russell Simmons & Stan Lathan) where she spearheaded the company’s New Def Filmmakers initiative; and Urban Entertainment (Time Warner), which released the iconic film Undercover Brother (Universal).

No stranger to media & tech startups, in 2020 Angela also launched ENTertainment Speakers Bureau, a digital speakers platform for diverse, cutting edge industry veterans at the
intersection of Entertainment, New Media & Technology. Angela has been a previously invited guest lecturer in academic environments including Stanford, UCLA, Pepperdine, MIT, Los
Angeles City College, Santa Monica City College, Sundance Institute and New York Film
Academy; previously invited speaker at Digital Hollywood, NEXT TV, Hollywood Creative Forum;
as well as panelist & juror at numerous film festivals, film markets and other industry events.

A member of the Producers Guild of America, Angela has served as a mentor & co-chair for the Producers Guild Diversity Workshop, and previously as a mentor for IFP/Film Independent’s
Project Involve. Angela was honored in 2016 by Broadcasting & Cable/Multichannel News with the esteemed Content Acquisitions Executive Award. A graduate of University of Southern California - School of Cinematic Arts, Angela is also a member of Colour Entertainment, Alliance for Women in Media, Women in Film Los Angeles, and long served on the nominating committee for the NAACP Image Awards.

Valerie Jane Parker is an actor, writer, and producer whose work spans independent film, television, and original storytelling. Her screen credits include Jeff Nichols’ The Bikeriders, opposite Austin Butler, as well as Nashville, Dynasty, The Resident, Wrong Turn, and two seasons on Oprah Winfrey’s Greenleaf. As a filmmaker, Parker is the founder of Preacher’s Daughter Pictures, a production company dedicated to bold, character-driven stories that explore the complicated truths beneath carefully constructed surfaces.

She wrote, executive produced, and stars in the psychological thriller SHED, which grew from an acclaimed proof-of-concept short that earned ten festival selections and four nominations. The feature will make its world premiere at the 2026 Nashville Film Festival. Born in Harare, Zimbabwe, and raised in the American South, Parker brings a perspective shaped by an international upbringing, a career on both sides of the camera, and years spent between Nashville and Paris. She is also an active SAG-AFTRA board member and is passionate about creating more equitable, sustainable opportunities for artists while championing filmmakers who tell ambitious stories on their own terms. 

Dr. William D. Richie, is a fellowship trained Board Certified Forensic and General Psychiatrist and he is licensed to Practice in California, New York, Tennessee, Texas, and Washington state. He provides forensic evaluations and court ordered evaluations and testimony in those jurisdictions. In addition, the offers General Psychiatric direct patient care in a variety of fora, including inpatient, outpatient, forensic inpatient, and intensive outpatient treatment settings.

He has published chapters in mental health books regarding issues of stand your ground, active shooter, and he has published articles in mental health journals, and provided lectures, nationally, and internationally regarding those topics in addition to the curious subject of the imposition of the insanity defense.

In November, he travels to Ghana for the annual Black Psychiatrists of America transcultural conference where he will continue his lecture activities. His current areas of research are the concept of “Diagnostic Inertia”, the healthcare concerns and particularly the mental healthcare concerns of boys and men with particular emphasis on those concerns as they pertain to African-American people, and the validity of certain Psychiatric diagnoses.

Though he resides in Brentwood, Tennessee, his "interests are mobile."

His most rewarding endeavor is the opportunity to raise his now 15-year-old son.

La Tanya L. Reese Rogers, Ph.D. is a higher education professional who serves as Dean of the School of Humanities & Behavioral Social Sciences; Associate Professor of Literature and Drama; and Associate Director of the W. E. B. Du Bois Honors Program at Fisk University.  She holds a doctorate degree in English and African American Drama from Howard University and two bachelor’s degrees from Washington University in St. Louis, MO, where she won the coveted Mellon Mays Fellowship.  

Dr. Rogers is a published author on subjects ranging from contemporary playwrights in the

United States to economic racism in Brazil. In April 2025, the University of Illinois UrbanaChampaign’s IOPN Press (in partnership with Afro Publishing Without Walls) released her book with Tanya E. Walker entitled the Motherhood Aesthetic in Contemporary Black American Plays.  

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Dr. Rogers is a co-founder of the Edward Alexander Bouchét National Graduate Honor Society that has chapters at Yale, Stanford, Howard, and other prominent universities across the nation.  She is an unrelenting advocate for undergraduate students and has taken more than 100 of them abroad to countries such as Italy, Spain, Ghana, and Egypt.

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Dr. Rogers has been named a 2026-2027 U.S. Fulbright Scholar in International Education to the countries of France and Senegal.  This competitive, prestigious award is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State.

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Committed to advancing her field, La Tanya Rogers is the immediate past president of the College English Association–Mid-Atlantic Group (CEA-MAG).  She currently serves as the president of the National Association of African American Honors Programs (NAAAHP), which has members nationwide.  “Dean Rogers,” as she is called by her talented Fisk faculty, is currently working on a second book related to the arts with editorial teams at Brown University Digital Publications and the University of Michigan Press.  

Dr. Terrence Schofield, also known as "Dr. T, the People’s Psychologist", is a highly respected expert in human performance and Diverse Relationships. He has been recognized nationally for his expertise and featured as one of the top Psychology experts on "Human Relationships" by Good Morning America's Contributing Mental Health Consultant, Dr. Jeff Gardere.

Dr. T is an accomplished author, having written several books on improving relationships and life, including: “Black Man in the Mirror”, "Why We Do What We Do: Improving Your Relationships and Your Life" and "Black, Married and Not Feelin' It,", which explores the high divorce rates in the Black Community in the United States.  

Dr. T has consulted with NBA players and Hollywood's elite, and he currently hosts live podcasts and relationship team-building webinars with a following of over a million supporters. He is dedicated to helping individuals improve their work and personal relationships, especially amid the new challenges of our changing world.  

Throughout his career, Dr. T has held various roles, including twenty years of Associate and Senior Pastoral ministry, motivational speaker, senior minister in multiple church organizations, national diversity and reconciliation executive minister at Promise Keepers, diversity, equity, and inclusion trainer, and sought-after college lecturer and speaker at academic institutions and Executive Leadership teams across the USA. He holds a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology.  

Currently, Dr. Schofield serves as the Associate Provost of Diversity and Associate Professor of Psychology at Trevecca Nazarene University in Nashville, Tennessee, where he also fulfills the role of a diversity executive.  He has dedicated 15 years of service in academia as a mental health clinician and as a senior pastor committed to enhancing marriages, families, and diverse relationships. 

His current areas of specialization reflect a fervent commitment to fostering inclusion, equity, and growth. In addition, Dr. T’s expertise includes facilitating African-American marriage and family relationships, conducting workshops on racial and cultural awareness, delivering executive administrator training, and providing comprehensive diversity training. 

In addition to his writing, Dr. T has collaborated with Dr. Rahn Bailey, the former President of The National Medical Association, on a major mental health collaborative journal article focusing on intimate partner violence among African Americans. He also serves on the Diversity Board of the Association of Applied Sports Psychology, which provides mental health practitioners for the USA Olympic/Paralympic teams.

Abigail Smith is a 16 year old mental health and youth activist and passionate reader. Reading inspires her creativity and keeps her connected to the emotions and issues teens face today, which is why she became a voice for those experiences. She believes in using her platform to spark change, create safe spaces for honest dialogue, and break the silence around conversations many are too afraid to have. Through her advocacy, Abigail works to empower young people, challenge stigma, and inspire others to embrace openness, resilience, and growth.

Kaleisha Walker is an unapologetic Christian and a Nashville-based casting director, producer, actress, director of production, and entertainment professional with experience spanning film, television, marketing, radio, and media. She currently serves as the Casting Director, Producer, and Director of Production for HelloDrama, a Nashville-based micro-drama production company, where she has been an integral and instrumental part of the company and its growth for more than two and a half years. 

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Kaleisha has contributed to countless productions and has appeared in 100+ acting projects, ranging from background and supporting roles to lead roles. Her experience on both sides of the camera gives her a unique perspective and a comprehensive understanding of what it takes to bring a project from concept to screen – especially in the rapidly evolving vertical drama industry. 

She is also the founder and owner of K-Walk Film Production Services, where she passionately helps filmmakers cast talent for their productions. In addition, Kaleisha is a local television host for “Bless Your Heart,” as well as a red carpet host, which affords her the opportunity to interview celebrities, actors, artists, filmmakers, and entertainment professionals at various events. 

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A 2011 graduate of Southeast Missouri State University, Kaleisha earned her bachelor's degree with a major emphasis in Public Relations and a minor emphasis in Fashion Merchandising. She is a humbly proud first-generation college graduate. 

Originally from Cape Girardeau, Missouri, Kaleisha made a faith-driven move to the Nashville, Tennessee area in 2021. She is passionate about storytelling, helping others, developing creatives, and building meaningful industry connections. Her personal mission is simple: use her God-given gifts, experience, and platform to encourage, connect, educate, inspire, and empower others to pursue their dreams and bring visions to life. 

Bobby Yan is an eight-time Emmy Award winning director, writer, visual effects artist and editor. First getting his start in music videos, Bobby directed some of the world’s biggest music artists in numerous genres from Hip Hop, Pop, Rock to Gospel, working with major labels such as Sony, Warner Bros, and Universal Records. He has directed over one hundred music videos and commercials.

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A child of Chinese immigrants, Bobby was born and raised in New York City, before later moving to New Orleans, LA. The juxtaposition of these two different cultures and environments became a heavy influence in Bobby’s style and expression. From his love of music to videogames and pop culture, his work has a highly visual and fun aesthetic style that pops out on the screen, while his personal and more intimate work in his short films tackles topics and stories from a world view perspective, often exploring topics of ethnicity & heritage, gender & sexuality and self-identity.