A Chat in the Garden with Monique AJ Smith

Benita C. Gordon is an educator, learning designer, education entrepreneur, and microschool founder with more than 20 years of experience leading and designing learning across K–12 schools, microschools, professional learning, workforce development, and community-based programs.

As founder and CEO of Global Education Concierge, Gordon works at the intersection of education, innovation, and entrepreneurship, helping educators and organizations rethink how learning is designed, delivered, and experienced. Her career has included roles as a classroom teacher, teacher leader, department chair, dean, family engagement leader, curriculum designer, and professional learning facilitator.

Gordon hosts The Education Concierge Podcast, now in its 11th season, has presented at national and international education conferences, including ISTE/ASCD, and has delivered a TEDx talk. She is currently pursuing an Ed.M. in Education Leadership, Organizations, and Entrepreneurship at the Harvard Graduate School of Education.

A native of Lawrenceville, Virginia, Gordon is a proud graduate of Hampton University, a certified CIAA baby, and a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. Across every chapter, she remains committed to educator leadership, student agency, innovation, and creating what education can become.

Join us on A Chat in the Garden with Monique A. J. Smith. Listen to our guest’s career path, her advice for others & current initiatives...A Chat in the Garden with Monique A.J. Smith, where Significance Blooms. Listen via Spreaker, Spotify, iHeart Radio, Amazon Music/Audible, or www.chatinthegarden.com. This is Season 13. Seasons 1 - 12 can be found on 200plus.expert.

Iva Forbes is the Co-Owner and General Manager of the Metro Atlanta Valkyries, a women’s tackle football organization based in McDonough, Georgia, preparing for its inaugural 2027 season in the American Women’s Football League (AWFL).

As General Manager, Iva plays an integral role in building the organization from the ground up, overseeing player recruitment, sponsorships and partnerships, community engagement, media outreach, and team operations.

Her passion for women’s sports drives her commitment to creating more opportunities for women in tackle football while increasing the sport’s visibility throughout Metro Atlanta. She has helped establish relationships with local businesses, community organizations, and other women’s sports programs to strengthen the Valkyries’ presence both on and off the field.

Iva’s long-term vision includes reducing financial barriers for players, creating opportunities for athletes to be compensated, and developing a girls’ tackle football program that provides the next generation with an earlier pathway into the sport.

Join us on A Chat in the Garden with Monique A. J. Smith. Listen to our guest’s career path, her advice for others & current initiatives...A Chat in the Garden with Monique A.J. Smith, where Significance Blooms. Listen via Spreaker, Spotify, iHeart Radio, Amazon Music/Audible, or www.chatinthegarden.com. This is Season 13. Seasons 1 - 12 can be found on 200plus.expert.

Amari Jackson is a native of Portsmouth, Virginia, where she graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School. She went on to attend Virginia Commonwealth University, where she was a member of the Track and Field program and earned a degree in Broadcast Journalism. Originally aspiring to become a sports reporter, Amari discovered a passion for the administrative and developmental side of athletics.

Amari began her career in sports administration as a McLendon Fellow with the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), where she oversaw student-athlete programming and contributed to initiatives designed to enhance the student-athlete experience.

She currently serves as the Assistant Director of Student Engagement and Programming at the University of Tulsa, where she supports student development, engagement initiatives, programming, and recruitment efforts. Through her work, Amari continues to build meaningful experiences that connect student-athletes and students with opportunities for personal, professional, and leadership growth.

Her journey from student-athlete and aspiring sports journalist to athletics administrator reflects her passion for sports, storytelling, mentorship, and creating opportunities for others to succeed.

Join us on A Chat in the Garden with Monique A. J. Smith. Listen to our guest’s career path, her advice for others & current initiatives...A Chat in the Garden with Monique A.J. Smith, where Significance Blooms. Listen via Spreaker, Spotify, iHeart Radio, Amazon Music/Audible, or www.chatinthegarden.com. This is Season 13. Seasons 1 - 12 can be found on 200plus.expert.

Godwin Dooley joined Duke Athletics in August 2023 and currently serves as Executive Assistant to the Vice President and Director of Athletics. In this role, she manages the Director’s travel, electronic communications, and correspondence, and provides support for committees, speaking engagements and special projects. She also serves as a liaison to external organizations including the ACC, NCAA and other entities connected to the Director of Athletics.

Prior to her current role, Dooley served as Assistant Director for Employee Engagement and Experience, overseeing onboarding for coaches and staff, coordinating New Devils: New Employee Workshops and leading engagement and professional development initiatives across the department.

Dooley originally joined Duke Athletics as a McLendon Fellow, supporting the Senior Associate Director of Athletics for People, Culture & Community. Her fellowship included rotational experience across External Affairs, the Iron Dukes, Duke Future Initiatives and Athletics Facilities and Game Operations.

Before arriving at Duke, Dooley worked at the NCAA as a women's basketball postgraduate intern, assisting with the planning and execution of the 2023 NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Championship.

A native of North Carolina, Dooley holds two master’s degrees in Business Administration and Sport Administration from Ohio University. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Sport Administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Join us on A Chat in the Garden with Monique A. J. Smith. Listen to our guest’s career path, her advice for others & current initiatives...A Chat in the Garden with Monique A.J. Smith, where Significance Blooms. Listen via Spreaker, Spotify, iHeart Radio, Amazon Music/Audible, or www.chatinthegarden.com. This is Season 13. Seasons 1 - 12 can be found on 200plus.expert.

Tina Jolley-Smith serves as the Assistant Athletics Director for Compliance and Senior Woman Administrator at Savannah State University. Tina provides leadership in compliance education, eligibility oversight, and student-athlete welfare initiatives while advocating for equitable opportunities and a positive collegiate experience. Through her work, she remains committed to fostering leadership, excellence, and holistic development within intercollegiate athletics office.

She is passionate about creating opportunities for student success, promoting ethical decision making, and fostering environments where student-athletes can excel academically, athletically, and personally.

In her role, she oversees NCAA compliance, educates coaches and student-athletes on regulations, and works to ensure integrity and accountability across the athletics department.

With a passion for leadership, mentorship, and creating transformational experiences for student-athletes, Tina has built her career around helping others succeed both on and off the field. Her work extends beyond compliance, focusing on student-athlete development, mental health and wellness initiatives, gender equity, leadership programming, and community engagement.

Driven by a deep belief in the power of sports to change lives, Tina aspires to continue ascending to executive leadership positions within intercollegiate athletics. Her long- term goal is to help shape the future of college sports through strategic leadership, innovative student-athlete support programs, and a commitment to fostering inclusive and thriving athletic communities.

Above all, Tina is grateful for the unwavering support of her wife and the joy brought by their two dogs, who keep life both grounded and entertaining. Together, they enjoy building a life centered on family, service, and shared experiences. As she continues to pursue opportunities for leadership and growth in intercollegiate athletics, Tina remains committed to leaving a legacy of integrity, empowerment, and excellence for future generations of student-athletes and athletics professionals.

Join us on A Chat in the Garden with Monique A. J. Smith. Listen to our guest’s career path, her advice for others & current initiatives...A Chat in the Garden with Monique A.J. Smith, where Significance Blooms. Listen via Spreaker, Spotify, iHeart Radio, Amazon Music/Audible, or www.chatinthegarden.com. This is Season 13. Seasons 1 - 12 can be found on 200plus.expert.

This episode is a replay from Season 4. Natasha Oakes, was the former Senior Associate AD at North Texas University. She is now the Deputy AD/SWA at West Virginia University.

Join us on A Chat in the Garden with Monique A. J. Smith. Listen to our guest’s career path, her advice for others & current initiatives...A Chat in the Garden with Monique A.J. Smith, where Significance Blooms. Listen via Spreaker, Spotify, iHeart Radio, Amazon Music/Audible, or www.chatinthegarden.com. This is Season 13. Seasons 1 - 12 can be found on 200plus.expert.

Tamara Satterfield, M.S., is a counselor, educator, and student-athlete advocate. She is also the  founder of First Chance U, which helps young people discover their purpose, prepare for their future, and reach academic, athletic, and personal success.

For the past five years, Tamara has worked specifically with student-athletes in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools — the 14th-largest school district in the United States. In this role, she has supported students and families as they navigate athletic identity, academic expectations, post-secondary planning, and the social-emotional realities that come with balancing school and sport.

Her professional journey has taken her into counseling offices, classrooms, weight rooms, athletic departments, and family spaces — helping student-athletes recognize their strengths, clarify their goals, and build confidence in who they are becoming. No matter the setting, her mission has remained the same.

Believing that every young person deserves to be supported, prepared, and believed in, Tamara founded First Chance U to ensure student-athletes have access to personalized guidance, NCAA eligibility support, academic planning, and holistic development — especially for families who need clarity and direction.

Too often, talented students miss opportunities not because they lacked ability, but because they lacked information, structure, and guidance. Her passion is to change that.​

​Tamara is committed to helping student-athletes discover who they are, build strong academic and athletic direction, and develop the confidence and life skills needed for success. Her goal is to guide them in maximizing their college and career opportunities while encouraging them to step courageously into the future. She wants every student-athlete and their family to feel prepared, empowered, and option-ready when the time comes.

Join us on A Chat in the Garden with Monique A. J. Smith. Listen to our guest’s career path, her advice for others & current initiatives...A Chat in the Garden with Monique A.J. Smith, where Significance Blooms. Listen via Spreaker, Spotify, iHeart Radio, Amazon Music/Audible, or www.chatinthegarden.com. This is Season 13. Seasons 1 - 12 can be found on 200plus.expert.

Dr. Ingrid Wicker McCree is a transformational leader and innovative strategist whose
influence extends across higher education, sports tourism, amateur, and professional sports.
With more than 30 years of leadership experience, Dr. Wicker McCree has built a distinguished
career as a student-athlete, coach, educator, athletics administrator, and executive leader. In
2008, she made history as the first woman to hold the permanent position of Director of Athletics
at North Carolina Central University (NCCU). During her 14-year tenure, she successfully
guided NCCU’s transition from NCAA Division II to NCAA Division I Football Championship
Subdivision (FCS), leading the development and implementation of the university’s first
comprehensive strategic plan for reclassification.

Under her leadership, NCCU Athletics experienced unprecedented growth and success. The
department increased its operating budget from $2 million to $15 million, increased fundraising
by 65% during her final five years, and enhanced academic achievement with student-athletes
achieving a cumulative GPA above 3.0 and an APR of 984. Competitive successes included four
MEAC Men’s Basketball Championships and NCAA Tournament appearances, a MEAC
Football Championship and Celebration Bowl appearance, and the 2014 HBCU Men’s Tennis
National Championship. She also led major facility enhancements, including football stadium
renovations, arena upgrades, and new technology investments. Her leadership experience
includes service on the NCAA Division I Council, NCAA Research Committee, NCAA Division
II Volleyball Committee, FCS Football Regional Ranking Committee, North Carolina Sports
Hall of Fame Board, Durham Sports Commission Board, and the Local Organizing Committee
for the 2029 World University Games.

Today, Dr. Wicker McCree serves as Founder and CEO of WM Leadership & Legacy Coaching,
LLC, helping leaders and organizations strengthen strategy, leadership capacity, and
organizational effectiveness. She also serves as Senior Associate Director at the Duke Sports
Sciences Institute, advancing strategic initiatives, community engagement, and innovative sports
performance programming. A highly respected consultant and advisor, she serves as Vice
President of The PICTOR Group, President-Elect of WeCOACH, Chief Operating Officer of
Advancing Beyond in Sports (ABIS), and as an NCAA Peer Reviewer for institutions
transitioning to Division I membership.

An accomplished global ambassador for sport and education, Dr. Wicker McCree has
represented the United States internationally. As a member of North Carolina’s World University
Games Bid Committee, she presented strategic elements of the state’s bid for the 2027 World
University Games to the International University Sports Federation (FISU) in Brussels, Belgium.
She also volunteered with the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee during the 2024
Paris Olympic Games and created international experiences for HBCU volleyball student-
athletes and coaches through opportunities in Europe, the Caribbean, and Southern Africa.

Join us on A Chat in the Garden with Monique A. J. Smith. Listen to our guest’s career path, her advice for others & current initiatives...A Chat in the Garden with Monique A.J. Smith, where Significance Blooms. Listen via Spreaker, Spotify, iHeart Radio, Amazon Music/Audible, or www.chatinthegarden.com. This is Season 13. Seasons 1 - 12 can be found on 200plus.expert.

This episode is a replay from Season 10, August 2023. Brandy Gresham was Assistant Director of Athletic Counseling and is now Assistant Director of Performance Psychology and Wellness Services at University of Michigan Athletics.

Join us on A Chat in the Garden with Monique A. J. Smith. Listen to our guest’s career path, her advice for others & current initiatives...A Chat in the Garden with Monique A.J. Smith, where Significance Blooms. Listen via Spreaker, Spotify, iHeart Radio, Amazon Music/Audible, or www.chatinthegarden.com. This is Season 13. Seasons 1 - 12 can be found on 200plus.expert.

Shauniece Steele serves as the Athletic Director at Walnut Hills High School in Cincinnati,
where she leads one of Ohio’s premier high schools. A passionate advocate for education-based
athletics, she is committed to creating an environment where student-athletes develop as leaders,
competitors, and individuals through meaningful relationships, high expectations, and
transformational experiences.

A proud Walnut Hills High School graduate (Class of 2010), Shauniece embraced every
opportunity as a student, lettering in volleyball, indoor track, and outdoor track while helping
capture multiple state and national championships. She was also actively involved in the
Marching Blue & Gold, student government, and numerous student organizations. She continued
her academic and athletic career at the University of Akron on academic and athletic scholarships, earning Academic Honor Roll recognition and contributing to the 2013 Mid-American Conference Championship Track & Field team. Her leadership extended beyond athletics through Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. and the National Pan-Hellenic Council, where she served in executive leadership roles that further shaped her commitment to servant leadership and student development.

After serving in several roles throughout Cincinnati Public Schools, Shauniece returned to her
alma mater with a passion for providing student-athletes the same life-changing opportunities
that shaped her own journey. A lifelong learner, she earned a Master of Science in Sport
Administration from the University of Cincinnati and holds the RAA, RMAA, CAA, and CMAA
professional certifications through the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators
Association. An active leader in athletic administration at the regional and state levels, she has
been recognized with the SWOADA Middle School Athletic Director of the Year Award, the
SWOADA Citation Award, and the OIAAA Bruce D. Brown Award for outstanding leadership
and service.

Join us on A Chat in the Garden with Monique A. J. Smith. Listen to our guest’s career path, her advice for others & current initiatives...A Chat in the Garden with Monique A.J. Smith, where Significance Blooms. Listen via Spreaker, Spotify, iHeart Radio, Amazon Music/Audible, or www.chatinthegarden.com. This is Season 13. Seasons 1 - 12 can be found on 200plus.expert.