Program Manager

A native of Detroit, Michigan, Armica is a graduate of Kennesaw State University with a Bachelor of Science | Sports Management degree and a minor in Sports  Marketing. She also holds a Master of Science in Education | Sports Administration degree from the University of Miami.

Her professional affiliations include the North American Society of Sports Management, Sports Marketing Association, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated, and the National Association of Realtors.

Her philanthropic affiliations include Founder and President of Transition 360 Foundation Inc., and Executive Director of NBA Power Forward Paul Millsap’s, Paul Millsap Foundation.

Lead Advisory Member

Kylia Carter is native of Corinth, Mississippi, and currently the Business Manager for her son NBA Power Forward Wendell Carter Jr. Mrs. Carter holds a Bachelor of Business Administration, Banking & Finance, and Managerial Finance Degrees from The University of Mississippi. She received a Master of Education, Higher Education Administration and Student Services from The University of Mississippi as well. 

Mrs. Carter is an Author, Real Estate Investor, and Member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated.  

In 2020 The Carter's founded A Platform² Foundation — Andre’s Platform (Wendell’s middle name). The foundation will lead programs and initiatives focused on being a resource for kids that look like him in areas of social injustice, education, financial literacy, and character development.

Advisory Committee

Evan List is Vice President and Financial Advisor in Berstein’s New York office. Over the past 14 years, he has dedicated his practice to partnering with dynamic and diverse clients. These include non-profit organizations, unique and complex wealthy families, as well as their respective trusts, estates, foundations, endowments, and pension plans. Delivering comprehensive planning, thoughtful solutions, and tailored investment advice to suit their unique needs. Evan works closely with his clients’ trusted tax and legal advisors on a wide range of matters, including tax and estate planning, concentrated stock positions, and the sale of privately held businesses.

List joined the firm as a private client associate in 2008 and was promoted to senior pirate client associate in 2010 before being named to his current role in 2012. He previously worked as a fixed income sales and trading intern at UBS. List holds a BA in economics and politics (magna cum laude) from Brandeis University. In the community, he serves on the board of several organizations, including Rooftop Films, Bend the Arc, MNDFL Educate, and the Brandeis University Finances Committee. Evan lives in Larchmont, NY with his wife, Kate, and three beautiful children, Jacob (7), Charlie (4), and Sophie (15 mo).

Advisory Committee

Dr. Ross is a native of Columbus, Ohio, and currently is a Professor of History and African American Studies at the University of Mississippi.  Dr. Ross holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Stillman College, in History. He received a Master of Arts degree in Black Studies, a Master of Arts Degree in History, and a Ph.D. in History from The Ohio State University.

Dr. Ross is the author of, Mavericks, Money, and Men: The AFL, Black Players, and the Evolution of Modern Football, which was published by Temple University Press in 2016. And Outside the Lines: African Americans and the Integration of the National Football League, which was released by New York University Press in 1999.  

His teaching interests include 20th Century U.S. History, African American History, and Sport History.   His responsibilities include research, teaching numerous courses in History and African American Studies as well as advising students, and facilitating off-campus programs.  He has appeared on ESPN’s “Outside the Lines” and on ESPN Radio and given several interviews for local television and print media.

Advisory Committee

Valeria Beasley Ross is a former resident of New Albany, Mississippi.  She attended Northwest Junior College on a Basketball Scholarship.  Several years after completing two years of Junior college Valeria enrolled at the University of Mississippi. In 1998 Valeria graduated from the University of Mississippi with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Sociology, a Bachelor of Arts in Public Administration, and a minor in African American Studies. In 2001, Valeria completed her Master’s in Social Science with a minor in Gender Studies. She is currently working on completing her doctoral degree in Higher Education. Her research focuses on the impact of culturally competent faculty on the persistence and retention of students of color using an anti-deficit framework.

Valeria has dedicated the majority of her career to the University of Mississippi, working in roles to support increased diversity, equity, and inclusion.  She worked for several years as an Associate Dean of Students.  In this role, she managed multiple student life-centered areas of the University and she has direct connections to the University’s increased diversity and inclusion-focused work.  She was instrumental in the development of the Center for Inclusion and Cross-Cultural Engagement and the erection of the James Meredith Monument. Under Ross’s advisory role,  the student body government leadership rewrote its by-laws with the purposed intent of diversifying its senate. They additionally rewrote their mission statement to demonstrate their commitment to inclusion and equity for all students and led the University’s efforts to remove the Mississippi flag which included the confederate symbol to be removed from campus.  Valeria recently transitioned to a role working with the Dean and Associate Dean for the Office of the Dean of the College of Liberal Arts where she has started work to increase the number of faculty of color and to support faculty development of inclusive syllabi and classroom instruction.  

Valeria has more than 20 years of experience working on a college campus, and though very committed to higher education, service, and student success her greatest joy comes from having a healthy spiritual life and spending time with her family and friends. Valeria is the daughter of Mary Williamson Beasley and the late Tommie Lee Beasley both of New Albany, Mississippi.  She is married to Dr. Charles Professor of History at the University of Mississippi.  They have two phenomenal children, Courtney Shae Ross and Tonell Shae