Karl Cureton

Co-Chiar, NIST NICE CWG, CEO CEBOT

Karl Cureton currently serves as the NICE Career Working Group Co-Chair within the U.S. Department of Commerce, National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Information Technology Laboratory (ITL)'s Applied Cybersecurity Division. As Co-Chair of the NICE Promote Career Discovery Working Group, Mr. Cureton provides leadership in advancing the national effort to broaden awareness of cybersecurity careers and support diverse learning pathways. In this role, he helps guide the group’s strategic initiatives, including identifying effective practices, filling gaps in outreach, and developing measurable strategies aligned with the NICE Strategic Plan Mr. Cureton is a visionary leader in economic development, cybersecurity workforce advancement, and international trade. As the Founder and CEO of the Council Exchange Board of Trade (CEBOT), he spearheads initiatives that foster inclusive economic growth, public-private partnerships, and innovative procurement solutions to empower minority technology businesses.

Davina Pruitt-Mentle, PhD

Lead for Academic Engagement, NIST NICE

Dr. Davina Pruitt-Mentle serves as Lead for Academic Engagement of NICE at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). Prior to joining NICE, she was a senior researcher and policy analyst for Educational Technology Policy, Research and Outreach (ETPRO) and served as the Co-PI for the National Science Foundation (NSF) supported National Cyberwatch Center (NCC). Previous to NCC leadership, she served as faculty within the College of Education at the University of Maryland, College Park, and served as Director of Educational Technology Outreach within the College of Education at UMCP from 2001-2008. She has spent over 20 years conducting research on student and educator cyberawareness, and developing programs to help increase the STEM and cybersecurity workforce pipeline. She received her Ph.D. in Educational Technology Policy from the University of Maryland, her M.Ed from Lynchburg College, and her B.S. from Virginia Tech.

Pastor Keith Davis

Co-Chiar, NIST NICE CWG, President & CEO, Camden Dream Center

Pastor Keith Davis currently serves as the NICE Career Working Group Co-Chair within the U.S. Department of Commerce, National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Information Technology Laboratory (ITL)'s Applied Cybersecurity Division. With 50 years of business and ministry experience, Pastor Keith Davis and his team are making a significant difference. Through shared passion and a clear vision, the organization he leads is rebuilding underserved communities one family at a time. His business acumen and ministry experience enable authentic servant leadership across diverse stakeholder communities and industry. He is an experienced technologist who engages with anchor institutions, federal agencies, and the private sector. He provides a prophetic voice, wise council, and thought leadership wherever and whenever needed. The power of prayer is a key component, each morning as he leads a 6 a.m. prayer team, Monday through Friday. Prayer is credited for any level of success achieved and of course hard work. Pastor Davis is a member of the National Initiative for Cybersecurity in Education (NICE). He serves on the Community Coordinating Council in the U.S. Department of Commerce as co-chair of the NICE Working Group, which promotes career discovery in multiple pathways to high-paying cybersecurity jobs. He is considered an experienced workforce development expert in apprenticeship programs. He is an award-winning leader with Cisco, having helped to develop the Cisco Networking Academy's USDOL Registered Apprenticeship Program offered nationwide. He is Director of the Cisco Networking Academy Support and Instructor Training Center in Camden, New Jersey, responsible for onboarding and supporting new academies at high schools, community colleges, and universities. The Training Center provides professional development and support to teachers and CTE instructors, ensuring they are prepared to teach the Cisco curriculum effectively and at the highest level. The organization leads the Food Justice Innovation Hub in Camden, funded by Feeding America. The Hub implements local initiatives that foster food justice, teach youth Ag-Stem, and build community partnerships to transform the local food system declared food deserts.

Craig Disesa

NIST NICE CWG Ecosystem Project Leader, Executive Director, Virginia Education Opportunity Alliance

Craig serves as the Founder and Executive Director of the Virginia Education Opportunity Alliance, an organization committed to empowering parents and expanding innovative education options in Virginia. VEOA is implementing a demonstration project designed to empower parents of Richmond Public School students to advocate for innovative and alternative education opportunities. By equipping parents with knowledge, leadership skills, resources, and tools, and by leveraging a professionally developed media campaign, this project will foster systemic change and create pathways to improved educational outcomes for all children in the district. The VEOA has laid the groundwork for this effort through its proven strategies and lessons learned. The VEOA's focus on education choice, stakeholder engagement, and systemic innovation has informed this project’s design and strategic goals. The demonstration project represents the next step in operationalizing the VEOA’s vision at the community level, creating a scalable model for empowering parents and transforming education outcomes.

Rev. Dr. Sylvester L. (Tee) Turner

Faith Based Leader - Virginia

Rev. Dr. Sylvester L. (Tee) Turner was born in Richmond, Virginia and is the founder of S. L. Turner and Associated Consultants that specialize in conducting trainings, facilitations, workshops and coaching in Trust Building on issues of Racial, Reconciliation, and Responsibility. He has over thirty years of experience in his field, having worked with Initiatives of Change USA, an organization that has been on the cutting edge of Trust Building work for over seventy-five years and have over thirty-five operations around the world. Tee has conducts workshops and trainings in fifteen countries, that include Europe, Africa, Australia, and Canada, in addition to communities and college campuses across the United States. Tee has been an active member in his community and has served on numerous boards and Commissions, they include the Richmond NAACP, The Richmond Slave Trail Commission, Virginians for Reconciliation, the Homeless Coalition and a founding member of the National Slavery Museum Foundation. He has received citations from the Mayor of Richmond, the Governor of Virginians and his most prized from a local Elementary School as a Community Hero. He has tried to live out his belief that I am my brother’s keeper and that we must be the change that we want to see in the world.

Ashley Soifer

Chief Innovation Officer, National Microschooling Center

Ashley Soifer is the Chief Innovation Officer of the National Microschooling Center, where she leads strategic growth, the development of new programs and outreach. Ashley guides the Center’s movement-building work. Prior to her role at the Center, Ashley served as the Chief of Staff at Nevada Action for School Options. In this role, Ashley played a critical role in designing, building and operating the Southern Nevada Urban Micro Academy, the first of its kind public-private partnership with the City of North Las Vegas. The microschool, created to combat pandemic learning loss, has received substantial national and local attention for its powerful track record of academic growth and innovation. Born and raised in Southern Nevada, Ashley is incredibly proud of, and grateful for, the diverse microschooling ecosystem in the greater Las Vegas valley. Before working in education, Ashley worked in the Las Vegas independent film community as an actor, casting director and producer. Ashley is the proud mother of three talented children, all currently microschooling. Ashley, her husband Don, and their three children enjoy traveling, playing games and learning together.

Michael King

President, Massachusetts Family Institute

Michael King is the President of Massachusetts Family Institute, a Family Policy Council in Massachusetts that works to protect First Amendment rights and propel education freedom forward in a hostile state.  For the past 4 years, MFI has been building the largest church-based learning center network in the country.  There are currently 23 church-based learning centers serving about 700 students.  With the partnership of the Herzog Foundation, the Children’s Scholarship Fund, and local churches, MFI has created an education freedom ecosystem that provides 5-day, K12 education for as low as $100/month!  They are now exploring dual enrollment options that would allow students to graduate high school with a Bachelor’s degree at a highly discounted cost.  Besides their work in education, MFI is busy protecting First Amendment rights through its Massachusetts Liberty Legal Center.  Perhaps their most notable case is protecting the free speech rights of Liam Morrison, a 12-year old, middle-school student who was sent home twice by his principal for wearing a t-shirt that promoted the biological truth that there are only two genders.  Michael is married to his wife, Ashley.  They have five children and are busy homeschooling and building their homestead.

Tichi Pinkney Eppes

NIST NICE CWG Ecosystem Project Leader, Parent Advocate, CEO, Eppes Educational Enterprises

Tichi Pinkney Eppes is a seasoned education leader, equity advocate, and systems innovator with a distinguished career dedicated to student achievement, family empowerment, and community transformation. As the CEO of Eppes Education Enterprises, she spearheads initiatives that bridge educational policy with grassroots advocacy, ensuring that both students and parents are at the forefront of educational advancement. In her role as a Senior Fellow at the Council Exchange Board of Trade (CEBOT), Tichi contributes to national strategies aimed at diversifying the cybersecurity workforce. She plays a pivotal role in CEBOT's parent engagement programs, focusing on equipping families with the knowledge and tools to navigate and influence the evolving landscape of cybersecurity careers . Tichi's commitment to education is further exemplified by her tenure as a Richmond School Board Member, where she championed policies centered on high expectations, accountability, and equitable resource allocation. Her leadership emphasized the importance of community involvement and transparent communication between schools and stakeholders. Beyond her board service, Tichi has a rich background in coordinating comprehensive student support services. She has successfully implemented wraparound programs that address the holistic needs of students, fostering environments where academic and personal growth are paramount. Currently, Tichi is collaborating with a multidisciplinary team to develop an innovative school model that holistically supports both students and their families. This initiative reflects her unwavering belief in the power of integrated community engagement to drive educational excellence.

Willie Henderson

Project Team Member, Director of Outreach, CYB≡R.ORG, NICE COI Co-Chiar

Willie Henderson is a seasoned educator and passionate advocate for cybersecurity education, currently serving as the Director of Outreach at CYBER.ORG. In this role, he leads strategic partnerships and outreach initiatives aligned with the mission of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), focusing on expanding cybersecurity education and workforce development across the nation. With over 25 years of experience in public education, all at Title I schools, Willie has held various positions including STEM teacher, Master Teacher, and Campus Administrator. His dedication to education is further exemplified through his involvement with the NIST NICE K12 Cybersecurity Education Community of Interest, where he co-chairs efforts to promote cybersecurity careers among K-12 students through enhanced learning experiences and teacher professional development. Willie's academic credentials include a Master of Education in Educational Administration and Supervision from Texas A&M-Commerce. He is currently a doctoral candidate at Louisiana State University Shreveport, furthering his commitment to educational leadership and innovation. His work is particularly focused on engaging underrepresented and underserved youth in cybersecurity, striving to create accessible pathways to cybersecurity degrees and careers. Through his leadership, Willie continues to act as a vital liaison between CYBER.ORG and governmental, educational, and industry partners, driving collaboration and programmatic success in the field of cybersecurity education.

Oz Sultan

Project Team Member, COO @ Continuum, Advisor PAC / Radiologex

Oz Sultan is a seasoned strategist and technologist with over 25 years of experience spanning financial services, gaming, and emerging technologies. As the Chief Strategy Officer of Sultan Interactive Group, he leads a consultancy specializing in AI, Big Data, Digital Twin, Web3, and Blockchain solutions, with a focus on real-world asset (RWA) tokenization and the development of country-level stablecoins. Oz is an active member of the NIST NICE Career Working Group, contributing to initiatives aimed at promoting cybersecurity career awareness and exploration. He supports the group's project charter, "Unlocking Untapped Cybersecurity Potential through Faith-Based Organization and Alternative Education Pathway Ecosystems," which seeks to diversify and expand the cybersecurity workforce. In addition to his consultancy work, Oz serves as a board member of the Homeland Security Foundation of America, where he focuses on countering extremist radicalization in digital spaces. He is also a visiting faculty member at CUNY, teaching courses on Web3 Marketing and Blockchain. Oz's past experience includes architecting fintech and e-commerce systems, overseeing blockchain and cryptocurrency infrastructure projects, and launching digital platforms for institutions like JPMorgan, Moody’s, and the Economist Intelligence Unit. He has also led the development of large-scale MMO platforms on CryTek and Unity. Beyond his professional endeavors, Oz is an associate member of the Sovereign Military Order Temple of Jerusalem and maintains deep leadership connections within the Islamic faith community. His multifaceted background positions him uniquely at the intersection of technology, policy, and interfaith engagement.