MEET OUR FOUNDER
Daphne Martin Donaldson founded the What's Next? Program in 1999, as a new college graduate and first year teacher. She has dedicated the past 20 years to educating children as a professional educator and K-12 Human Resources Professional. She is a graduate of Southern University A&M College in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. She worked in the Baton Rouge areas her entire educational career, first as a middle school Social Studies teacher and now in the field of K-12 Educational Human Resources. She earned her Masters in Educational Leadership in 2012 from Arkansas State University. In 2016, she earned her Society for Human Resource Management Senior Certified Professional Certification. Since 2016 she has served on the Board of Directors for the American Association For Employment in Education(AAEE) as Director of Professional Development. In October 2018, she was elected to serve as the President Elect for the Board of Directors for AAEE. Daphne has written numerous blogs for AAEE and articles for various publications related to teacher recruitment and retention.
Initially the What's Next? Program functioned under the umbrella of the Avenue U YMCA in Bogalusa, Louisiana. Over the years the workshops expanded to serve high school students in other parishes. The What's Next? Program is her passion and she has volunteered her weekends to helping young people get into college or the military through tutoring and workshops. The beauty of What's Next? are the volunteers who work with Daphne to lead workshops and serve as chaperones for the What's Next? College Tour. "I've been blessed to work with the most amazing volunteers who have a shared vision to help young people develop into leaders through the opportunity of participating in the What's Next? College Tour".
In 2001, she took the first group of students on the What's Next? HBCU Tour where the students visited Southern University, Dillard University, Xavier University, Spelman and Morehouse College, Alabama State University, and Alcorn State University. Over the years participants have been exposed to Louisiana State University, Southeastern University, Grambling University, Louisiana Tech University, Tuskegee University, Auburn University, Florida State University, Florida A&M University, Bethune Cookman University, University of Central Florida, Georgetown University, Virginia Union, James Madison University, North Carolina A&T University, and Clark Atlanta University.
Initially the What's Next? Program functioned under the umbrella of the Avenue U YMCA in Bogalusa, Louisiana. Over the years the workshops expanded to serve high school students in other parishes. The What's Next? Program is her passion and she has volunteered her weekends to helping young people get into college or the military through tutoring and workshops. The beauty of What's Next? are the volunteers who work with Daphne to lead workshops and serve as chaperones for the What's Next? College Tour. "I've been blessed to work with the most amazing volunteers who have a shared vision to help young people develop into leaders through the opportunity of participating in the What's Next? College Tour".
In 2001, she took the first group of students on the What's Next? HBCU Tour where the students visited Southern University, Dillard University, Xavier University, Spelman and Morehouse College, Alabama State University, and Alcorn State University. Over the years participants have been exposed to Louisiana State University, Southeastern University, Grambling University, Louisiana Tech University, Tuskegee University, Auburn University, Florida State University, Florida A&M University, Bethune Cookman University, University of Central Florida, Georgetown University, Virginia Union, James Madison University, North Carolina A&T University, and Clark Atlanta University.
Bridget Martin - BOARD MEMBER - COLLEGE TOUR CHAPERONE
(Bogalusa High Alum/Southern University Alum)
Bridget is a 2000 graduate from Bogalusa High School and 2004 graduate from Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. She has attended the What’s Next? College Tour as a chaperone for several years and serves as Board Member for the Program. She provides assistance with developing activities for the tour as well promoting the organization and meeting with parents and local leaders by providing information about the tour. She is active member of Camphor Memorial UMC where she has assisted the youth on different activities as well as former Sunday School Teacher and Vacation Bible School Instructor. She has been employed at Independent Living Inc. for 13years as Program Coordinator. She coordinates services for people with disabilities and those that have lived longer ensuring they have a quality of life they deserve.
She is a proud mother of 14 year old son Jamarcus. She enjoys being with family, spending time with niece and nephews and quality time with friends. Favorite quote “If your mind can conceive it and you believe it you will achieve it”.
Alvarez Hertzock - COORDINATOR OF WN? CAREERS, COLLEGES, & UNIVERSITIES FAIR/ COLLEGE TOUR CHAPERONE
(Baton Rouge High Alum/ Louisiana State University Alum/ Southern University Law Center Alum
Alvarez J. Hertzock III, J.D. is a native of Baton Rouge, LA; and a graduate of Baton Rouge Magnet High School (2008), Louisiana State University, Poli Sci, B.A. (2011), Southern University, Public Administration, M.A. (2018), and Southern University Law Center, J.D. (2018). Alvarez developed a passion for education and law through his years having worked for the Louisiana Department of Education, in the Human Resources Department for the East Baton Rouge Parish School System as a Personnel Specialist, and currently as a Data Specialist for the Professional Development Center of EBRPSS. He has also worked with various academic enrichment programs throughout the community over the past 5 years; founder of the educational-based non-profit organization, the Southern Law Youth Network, helped several students earn scholarship and networking opportunities. Alvarez holds a first-degree black belt in the art of Zenshin-Ki-Do, and plays the trumpet. He has often played echo taps during veteran services alongside his father and grandfather. Alvarez plans to make a career in Education Law & Policy, and play an integral part in education reform for his community.
(Baton Rouge High Alum/ Louisiana State University Alum/ Southern University Law Center Alum
Alvarez J. Hertzock III, J.D. is a native of Baton Rouge, LA; and a graduate of Baton Rouge Magnet High School (2008), Louisiana State University, Poli Sci, B.A. (2011), Southern University, Public Administration, M.A. (2018), and Southern University Law Center, J.D. (2018). Alvarez developed a passion for education and law through his years having worked for the Louisiana Department of Education, in the Human Resources Department for the East Baton Rouge Parish School System as a Personnel Specialist, and currently as a Data Specialist for the Professional Development Center of EBRPSS. He has also worked with various academic enrichment programs throughout the community over the past 5 years; founder of the educational-based non-profit organization, the Southern Law Youth Network, helped several students earn scholarship and networking opportunities. Alvarez holds a first-degree black belt in the art of Zenshin-Ki-Do, and plays the trumpet. He has often played echo taps during veteran services alongside his father and grandfather. Alvarez plans to make a career in Education Law & Policy, and play an integral part in education reform for his community.
Jamecia Jackson - COLLEGE TOUR CHAPERONE
(Zachary Alum/Southern University Alum/ Louisiana State University Alum)
Jamecia Jackson is a Licensed Master Social Worker with the East Baton Rouge Parish School System in Baton Rouge, LA. She received her Master’s degree from Louisiana State University in 2016. Jamecia has dedicated her life to empowering young people and serving others. She is a passionate, empathetic, and energetic young lady who has many years of community service experience. Jamecia believes that with God all things are possible and that knowledge is power.
Devin Guillory - COLLEGE TOUR CHAPERONE
(McKinley High Alum/Stanford University Alum)
Devin Guillory is a Senior Data Scientist at Etsy, where he architects machine learning systems to power search, recommendation, and advertising products. Through his work, Devin has found that diverse representations are central to effective machine learning, as incorporating various perspectives and sources of truth has been consistently shown to outperform homogenous systems. Devin’s research in the overlapping fields of Computer Vision, Natural Language Processing, and Information Retrieval has led to publications and presentations at prestigious AI conferences such as KDD and RSS. He has also received a patent for a novel approach to generating hierarchical classifiers for image and text data. His work designing AI systems for e-commerce companies as a founding engineer at Blackbird eventually resulted in a high profile acquisition by Etsy.
Devin hold Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Electrical Engineering from Stanford University, where, in addition to being a student-athlete, he designed perception systems for self-driving cars. Devin is currently attending University of Southern California studying for his Doctorate.
(McKinley High Alum/Stanford University Alum)
Devin Guillory is a Senior Data Scientist at Etsy, where he architects machine learning systems to power search, recommendation, and advertising products. Through his work, Devin has found that diverse representations are central to effective machine learning, as incorporating various perspectives and sources of truth has been consistently shown to outperform homogenous systems. Devin’s research in the overlapping fields of Computer Vision, Natural Language Processing, and Information Retrieval has led to publications and presentations at prestigious AI conferences such as KDD and RSS. He has also received a patent for a novel approach to generating hierarchical classifiers for image and text data. His work designing AI systems for e-commerce companies as a founding engineer at Blackbird eventually resulted in a high profile acquisition by Etsy.
Devin hold Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Electrical Engineering from Stanford University, where, in addition to being a student-athlete, he designed perception systems for self-driving cars. Devin is currently attending University of Southern California studying for his Doctorate.
Lakita Tate is a professional Special Educator that volunteers with our organization for online support of Special Education Families and leads our Kreation Time sessions to show students how to take hobbies and make it a business. She has over 20 years of experience in Special Education and is dedicated to children. She is a graduate of Southern University.
Andrea Mathis is a professional educator who volunteers with our organization for online virtual tutoring and career counseling for What's Next? Education participants. She's been education for over twenty years serving in the role of speech therapist, assistant principal and principal. She had dedicated her live to helping student grow at different levels.