Meet The Board
Martin Jones
President
Martin is a native of Memphis, Tennessee. He and his wife, Angela, are both graduates of Tennessee State University. They are the parents of three sons, of which two are HBCU graduates, one from North Carolina A&T State University and the other from Clark Atlanta University.
Martin accepted his call to the ministry in 2005 and later retired from Ford Motor Company in 2022 after more than 30 years of dedicated service.
Greg Larkin
Vice President
Gregory Larkin, Vice President and charter board member of the Cincinnati Aspire Scholarship Foundation, is a Cincinnati native and a retired professional from the City of Cincinnati with 35 years of experience. A meaningful HBCU legacy strongly shapes Gregory’s life, leadership, and service. His wife, Michele (Tuskegee University), and together they have raised three sons—Kenneth ( Howard University), Matthew (Tuskegee University), and Joshua. The Larkin family remains deeply connected to the HBCU community and is committed to uplifting, supporting, and networking with others who have attended Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Their ties to Tuskegee University and Howard University reflect a lasting dedication to HBCU culture, excellence, and the generations of leaders these institutions continue to cultivate.
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Roddell McCullough
Treasurer
A native of Dayton, OH, Roddell is a 1990 graduate of the University of Cincinnati, where he majored in Marketing. Roddell has held several senior level positions in the financial services industry since 1991, most recently with First Financial Bank, where he is the Director of Community Development.
Kimbaird Avant
Secretary
Kimbaird is a Northern Kentucky University graduate with a degree in Executive Leadership and Organizational Change. With over 25 years in healthcare, he’s led efforts in regulatory compliance, project management, and improvement science.
He is a passionate advocate for HBCUs, honoring his wife Robin’s Central State University roots and family ties to Tuskegee and Prairie View A&M. His commitment to education and legacy is a driving force in helping minorities succeed.
Rodney Harris
Director
Rodney J. Harris is the founder and managing attorney at Harris Law, ltd. For more than 20 years, Attorney Harris has served people throughout the Greater Cincinnati area and the State of Ohio in both state and federal court in the public and private sector.
Jeff Larkin
Director
A native of has Cincinnati, a 1988 Graduate of The Ohio State University where he major in Civil Engineering. Jeff spent more than 35 years in the construction industry before he retired. My connection to HBCU is my daughter, who is 2013 Hampton University Graduate. Jeff has also been sponsoring young men over the past several years as they transition into college life.
André Williams
Director
Andre has a deep appreciation for the legacy and impact of Historically Black Colleges and Universities, shaped by the experiences of close friends and family who are proud HBCU graduates. Though not an alum, Andre has always felt connected to the HBCU community—celebrating its culture, championing its mission, and supporting the excellence it continues to inspire. Through these personal relationships, he has gained a heartfelt understanding of how HBCUs cultivate leadership, pride, and purpose within the Black community, and remains committed to uplifting that legacy in all that he does.