Roneagle Spotlight: Dr. Sheryl Kennedy Haydel
Dr. Sheryl Kennedy Haydel, class of 1987, has been named Dillard University’s Director of Communications and Marketing. She brings a unique breadth of experience and education to the position. Kennedy Haydel’s communications career spans 25 years, including working in print journalism, public relations and in higher education.
Kennedy Haydel’s storytelling is rooted in her time as a newspaper reporter, where she began at the Austin American-Statesman (Austin, Texas) in 1992, and matriculated to The Chicago Tribune, The Detroit News, and Detroit Free Press, where she was a business reporter from 1999-2001.
She earned a B.A. in Journalism from Clark Atlanta University and throughout her professional career, has continued her education. Kennedy Haydel was an Inaugural Chips Quinn Scholar, a program that promotes diversity in the newsroom. She also holds degrees from the University of Maryland–College Park (M.A. in Journalism), University of Wisconsin (MBA, with a concentration in Marketing), and the University of Southern Mississippi (Ph.D., in Mass Communication and Journalism.)
Kennedy Haydel has taught at Delgado Community College, Southern University at New Orleans, University of Southern Mississippi, Tulane University and Xavier University of Louisiana, where she was an assistant professor in the Department of Communications from 2008 until 2017.
She is a New Orleans native, with deep ties to Dillard. Her parents (Coach LaBaron Kennedy and Jean C. Kennedy, class of 1960) and sister (Sonia J. Kennedy, class of 1984) are graduates of the University. Kennedy Haydel is a member of the Public Relations Society of America, Public Relations Association of Louisiana, American Journalism Historian Association, the National Association of Black Journalists and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. For 13 years, she has been married to David M. Haydel, McDonogh 35 class of 1988. They have two children together.
Roneagle in the Spotlight: Dawana M. Johnson
Dawana M. Johnson was the Salutatorian from the Class of 1990. Presently, she is employed by Citi where she has built a 23 year career. Until 5 months ago, she had been in Internal Audit where she held various positions with the last dual roles including that of Senior Audit Manager with domestic and global responsibilities for specific audits within the Mortgage and Retail businesses and serving as Chief Audit Executive for a legal vehicle. Dawana was recently promoted and is now in the Anti-Money Laundering (AML) Project Management Office (PMO) in the newly created role as the Citi AML Global Head of Plan Documentation. In this role, she is responsible for establishing the Documentation Utility within the AML PMO.
Dawana is specifically focused on meeting AML regulatory commitments by overseeing and guiding the production of thousands of high-quality artifacts which satisfy independent reviewers, including Compliance Testing, Internal Audit and regulators. Through the development and execution of required training plans, she will also assist in strengthening these skills globally within AML and with respective business partners to help mitigate execution risk and successfully demonstrate completion of project milestones. This position capitalizes on the documentation skills Dawana developed as an Internal Auditor with Citi and she will continue to maintain the following certifications: Certified Internal Auditor (CIA); Certification in Control Self-Assessment (CCSA); Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist (CAMS); Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE); and Certification in Risk Management Assurance (CRMA).
In preparation for a career in Corporate America, Dawana matriculated in Business School at Washington University in St. Louis where she was an Ervin Scholar. While New Orleans is always in her heart and she returns frequently, she now lives in the Dallas-Fort Worth area after having also lived in New York City and Tampa.
Dawana supports various volunteer organizations that include Big Brothers Big Sisters, MegaCARE, the humanitarian ministry of The Potter’s House, and the Junior League of Arlington (JLA) where she is the Back to School Kick-Off (BTSKO) Committee Chair. As Committee Chair, she and her committee were responsible for sourcing and managing the 900 volunteers needed to provide backpacks and services to 10,000 students in preparation for their first day of school. This initiative is a partnership between the Arlington Independent School District, The Jerry Jones Foundation, JLA, NAACP, The Salvation Army and the Churches of Arlington.
Dawana is also a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated where she serves on the Membership and Reclamation Committee, the Economic Development Committee and the Audit Committee.
Future of McDonogh 35
At an emergency meeting on, August 23, 2017 the McDonogh 35 Alumni Association voted to seriously review and consider the possible operation and management of McDonogh 35 Senior High School in a capacity that provides the best quality education that has been afforded its graduates. A press release was submitted to the media regarding our intentions. A volunteer advisory committee is currently in place and meeting to review options of management. Should it be decided by the Alumni Association to create a management organization under the guidelines of the OPSB, several steps are required. The first step would be to form a separate non-profit from the Alumni Association (which will replace the volunteer committee). A minimum of three persons are required to be a part of the non-profit (with one having a legal background, one with a business background and one with an educational background). More people can and should be a part of the committee to form the non-profit including parents, staff and community members. If there are any persons interested who would like to be a part of the committee or have recommendations to nominate someone for consideration to be a part of the committee, please contact Yvette Alexis ’85’, by October 15, 2017, at yalexi@cox.net. In addition to the above, members of the Alumni Board of Directors are meeting with individual Orleans Parish School Board Members to dialog with them about the future of McDonogh 35. A report will be submitted once those meetings have been completed.
Roneagle in the Spotlight: Judge Tiffany Gautier Chase
Judge Tiffany Gautier Chase is a native of New Orleans and 1988 graduate of McDonogh #35 Senior High School. While at McD #35 she revitalized the Future Attorney’s Club. In Tiffany’s senior year at McD #35, she participated in the Executive Internship Program which allowed her to attend court hearings, work at a law firm and attend law school classes at Tulane University School of Law. She is the daughter of Adella Gautier, “Adella Adella the Storyteller,” who is a 1965 graduate of McD #35. Tiffany received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy from Loyola University and her Juris Doctorate from Loyola School of Law.
Judge Chase had the honor of being selected as a judicial law clerk at the Louisiana Supreme Court where she served a total of 7 years. She also worked as a lawyer representing people who were injured by others. Judge Chase has served as judge of Division A of Civil District Court for the Parish of Orleans since May 2007. In 2010, she worked with the Louisiana Bar Association-Access to Justice Committee to create Civil District Court’s Self-Represented Litigant Help Desk, the first self-contained legal help desk in a Louisiana court. There are now eight Help-Desks across Louisiana that are modeled after this one. Judge Chase was appointed in 2013, by the Louisiana Supreme Court as Chairperson of the Louisiana Court Security Committee. She serves as Louisiana’s Delegate to the American Bar Association-State Court Trial Judges Committee; serves on the District Court Rules Committee; Executive Committee of the District Judges’ Association, Louisiana Judicial Council and previously served as co-chair for two years of Louisiana Judicial College- Louisiana State Bar Association Summer School. In 2010, Judge Chase received the President’s Award from the Louisiana State Bar Association, honored by Family Services of Greater New Orleans and received the Corporate Pro Bono Institute’s Award for her work with the Self Help Desk.
New Principal: Ms. Toni Pickett
Ms. Toni Pickett has been appointed to School Leader of McDonogh 35 Senior High School for the 2017-18 school year. Ms. Pickett brings over 19 years of experience as an educator – serving as school principal for ten of those years. In November 2016, she joined the OPSB as Assistant Director of Academics. During this time, Ms. Pickett has demonstrated exceptional leadership skills and effective instructional support for our direct run schools. Her work ethic reflects a dedication to student achievement, commitment to students and families, and a genuine respect for the work of school staff. Ms. Pickett is a native of New Orleans, LA and has expressed her understanding of the rich culture and tradition of McDonogh 35. We welcome Ms. Pickett to our school family and look forward to working with her to provide our students with solid instructional support and guidance to succeed. Please join us for A Meet & Greet to welcome Ms. Pickett to the Roneagle Family.
First Roneagle Yearbook-1928
Source: CreoleGen
Hail King Zulu!
Congratulations King Zulu 2017, Adonis C. Expose, Class of 1986.
Photo Credit: La Shonda Anderson
Charter School Discussion with Supt. Henderson Lewis
Supt. Lewis made a presentation to the Alumni Association regarding the possibility of converting McDonogh 35 and the four network schools ( McMain, Bethune, Franklin Elem. and Mahalia Jackson) to charter schools authorized by OPSB. Many alumni members asked questions and commented after the presentation. We will continue to stay engaged in this matter and discussions will occur to determine the best move for McDonogh 35, its students, and our legacy.