WOMEN OF COLOR AWARD WINNERS


As a teacher, Ms. Francis realized the difficulties involved with getting students excited about math. Her experience encouraged her to seek ways to increase interest and sustain students’ engagement in mathematics. Her belief is that sustainable educational change will occur by establishing and sustaining university-school- community partnerships.


Ms. Francis discovered her love of teaching and mathematics while living in Jamaica. After receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree in mathematics from the University of the West Indies at Mona, Ms. Francis accepted the chance to teach math at her former high school. This is where she became passionate about learning and teaching. Soon after, she earned a postgraduate degree in education to become a licensed teacher. When the opportunity arose to teach high school math in Lithonia, Georgia, Ms. Francis gladly accepted the position.


MANAGERIAL LEADERSHIP – INDUSTRY


2014


Ms. Francis has come a long way since her days in Jamaica, and created a successful career. She has worked with teachers in Indiana communities who have a history of low student performance in mathematics. The students improved their knowledge of statistics, and developed positive attitudes toward mathematics. Ms. Francis has spent more than 200 hours designing and implementing mathematics and science instructional units with K-6 students in the form of spring and summer camps.


Ms. Francis is a prominent and active leader at Indiana University. She served as a member of the agenda committee for the School of Education during 2013-2014, as an elected representative of the faculty on policy council from 2012-2014, and is currently a member of the Faculty Affairs/Budgetary Affairs committee. Her activities give her a voice concerning important policy and budget decisions concerning the university.


technology solutions and business consulting services across a wide range of government agencies and programs, including Temporary Assistance to Needy Families, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Medicaid eligibility, child care, child support enforcement, and child welfare.”


As a winner of the Women of Color STEM Managerial Leadership Award, Ms. Mills-Brinkley has been recognized for her “excellent negotiation and relationship management skills with the ability to inspire teams to outperform expectations.”


Nicole Gardner, vice president, global business services, lauds Ms. Mills-Brinkley for her most recent achievements. “Her efforts resulted in a 100 percent year-to-year growth in sales and eight times planned revenue and gross profit.”


Shelley Mills-Brinkley Partner and Global Integration Executive IBM Corporation


ne wonders whether Ms. Mills-Brinkley expected, as a graduate student, to soar to the heights she would reach as a professional.


O


A 14-year veteran of IBM and now a partner, IBM Global Business Services, she has taken her passion for social services, dived into the corporate world, and transformed lives — the lives of her young mentees and most important, the lives of the nation’s citizens most in need.


A widely acknowledged “deep subject matter expect in the field of social work,” Ms. Mills-Brinkley is considered by IBM as “a visionary, forward-thinking executive focused on the public sector with 30-plus years [of] transforming and improving social services delivery that enhances the lives of citizens and communities.”


She has enjoyed “outstanding success selling and delivering www.womenofcolor.net


But it is not only her colleagues or corporate leadership who attest to her abilities and character. Her young protégés speak glowingly about her, as well.


Alex Freidin, now manager, Grant Thornton, LLP, global public sector, espouses the admirable qualities of Ms. Mills-Brinkley.


“My first job after earning my graduate degree was working for Shelley on a proposal to help a state transform its unemployment insurance modernization system. Just on this one engagement alone, Shelley showed me the ropes [in] the corporate and consulting environments.


“Over the next five years, I supported her in delivering transformative IT solutions to several other public sector clients across the country. Shelley was always easy to talk to and had an interest in my professional growth. I make note of this because in a company with over 400,000 employees, it is [often] rare to find an executive who pays close attention to the advancement of employees new to the corporate world.


“Shelley stressed that to be successful in a multi-cultural, global workforce, I would need to understand the


WOMENOFCOLOR | FALL 2014 41


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80  |  Page 81  |  Page 82  |  Page 83  |  Page 84  |  Page 85  |  Page 86  |  Page 87  |  Page 88