Candiace Dillard Bassett is a sassy and savvy 33-year-old former Miss United States, hailing from Atlanta, Georgia. At an early age, the Real Housewives of Potomac star learned what excellence looked like from observing her parents, who served in the United States Air Force and worked in different facets of the medical field. A graduate of Howard University, she served a tenure in the White House Offices of Public Engagement and Intergovernmental Affairs, where she liaised between the White House and the African American community for President Barack Obama. She later traded in her suit and heels for the campaign trail, where she served as a staffer for President Obama’s 2012 reelection campaign. In 2013, Candiace won the crown and title of Miss United States and hasn’t looked back since. While she takes pride in her background in public service, she considers herself an artist at heart and is no stranger to performing. Her award-winning independent film debut cast her as the spicy Dr. Nicole St. Claire in Water In A Broken Glass. You can also catch her as Victoria in season two of the web series, Pivot Point and making her lead actor and co-producer debut this summer in a new independent feature called The Cure. This fall, Candiace will guest star alongside Tia Mowry as the spunky Sunita Chanel in Netflix’s Family Reunion. Music is a second language for Candiace, singing most of her life. From talent competitions to choirs to a girl group, her music journey eventually led her to the production of her first single R&B single, I See You. Forthcoming, with the help of Grammy Award winning producer, Chucky Thompson, Candiace will release her second single, the I See You Remix. The go-go hit is an homage to the city that adopted her, Washington, DC, featuring Anwan “Big G” Glover of renowned go-go group, Backyard Band. As an entrepreneur, she is the founder and CEO of Candiace Dillard Pageant Consulting, cofounder of Prima Hair Collection by Candiace Dillard, and co-owner of Chateau Salon Suites. In 2009, she also founded an organization called My Sister’s Keeper, a mentorship and women’s empowerment organization designed to give young girls the opportunity to interact with women in their communities. Candiace is married to her best friend, restaurateur Chris Bassett, whom she met while they were both working at a restaurant in downtown Washington, D.C. When she is not running her numerous businesses, Candiace can be found curled up with a good book, as reading is her favorite pastime. Don’t miss Candiace on season 5 of the Real Housewives of Potomac Sundays at 8PM EST on Bravo TV!

Welcome to the HU Movemakers Podcast (www.humovemakers.com), where we highlight folks in Howard University Culture that are blazing the trail and making moves! If you would like to apply or nominate someone  to be on the podcast, please email bio/headshot to [email protected].

Dallas Jackson was born and raised in Denver, Co and is a graduate of East High School who’s other well known alumni include Pam Grier, Don Cheadle, and Hattie McDaniel. He’s also a graduate of Howard University's School of Communications . He is a Writer/Director/Producer and President of DJ Classicz, a production company focusing on edgy young adult driven film and television projects. In 2017 Dallas was the Executive Producer along with the iconic late film director John Singleton for 10 episodes of the crimedrama “REBEL” on BET/Viacom networks. The duo also wrote the pilot script “Straight Outta Heaven” for the CW. Dallas directed and produced the teen slasher film “THRILLER” for Blumhouse Pictures/Universal Pictures which debuted on Netflix April 2019 and quickly became “trending” on the streamer for six weeks.  The film was also co-written by Jackson and stars Mykelti Williamson, RZA, and Vanessa Bell Calloway. Currently, Dallas just completed post production on the action film “Welcome to Sudden Death” for Universal Pictures. Jackson wrote and directed the movie which premieres on Netflix September  29, 2020. 

 In addition Dallas is also writing and executive producing an adaptation of the crime-thriller novel “Notorious C.O.P.” For CBS Studios which 50 Cent and T.I. are also executive producing. 

Welcome to the HU Movemakers Podcast (www.humovemakers.com), where we highlight folks in Howard University Culture that are blazing the trail and making moves! If you would like to apply or nominate someone  to be on the podcast, please email bio/headshot to [email protected].

Once a year, a collective of Howard Alumni produces several homecoming events for professionals coming to the Mecca to celebrate Howard Homecoming. Known as #GoHamHU, founders Duclas Charles, Trey Poindexter, Major Dobbins and Brandon Banks execute events throughout the week to tend to different eras from “The Mecca.” With the help of The Gifted Life and the Playmakers US, Homecoming at The Mecca (H.A.M) offers events for everyone, creating options each night for alumni to reminisce with classmates and visitors from across the nation.

Since it’s inception, #GoHamHU has planned over 40 events with 10,000+ guests. The #GoHamHU team utilizes a family approach to its partnerships and hopes to have every homecoming event produced by Howard alum. #GoHamHU intends to continue Howard’s rich legacy of black excellence and providing quality entertainment for notable celebrities and fellow Bison who visits the nation capital for the best homecoming celebration on Earth. Remember, life is about options.

Follow @GoHamHU to see what they have in store for homecoming Welcome to the HU Movemakers Podcast (www.humovemakers.com), where we highlight folks in Howard University Culture that are blazing the trail and making moves! If you would like to apply or nominate someone  to be on the podcast, please email bio/headshot to [email protected].  

Steve Owens graduated from Howard University in 2006 (BA, Marketing), NYU 2008 (MA, Music Business). Steve worked in music from 2006-2015 (Epic, Def Jam, Atlantic, Warner Chappell, and for various managers and agents including fellow Bison Chris Hicks of Noontime Publishing). Owens is currently a Senior Account Executive for Experiential Marketing at Burrell Communication with a focus on music  and festival properties for Toyota. Steve Owens is the founder of the Gifted Life and started #1000Bottles (+ other homecoming parties) in 2011, Trill Grill Fest in 2014, and Brunch Kings 2015. Most recently, Owens pivoted to Ivey + Allen, black / HBCU alum owned candle company during the pandemic when in-person events weren't viable. Welcome to the HU Movemakers Podcast (www.humovemakers.com), where we highlight folks in Howard University Culture that are blazing the trail and making moves! If you would like to apply or nominate someone  to be on the podcast, please email bio/headshot to [email protected].   

CHARLIE LEWIS: Charlie is an associate broker at The Corcoran Group, the leading luxury residential real estate firm. He is a Gold Council Member (Top 4% of 2500 employees). Through www.charlielewisnyc.com Charlie provides a destination for buyers, sellers, developers and investors. In 2016, Charlie launched the Love the Way You Live brand further expanding his mission to change the landscape of people’s lives beyond real estate.  As a Howard Alum, Charlie has developed/supported the following, including but not limited to:  Engagement: - Alumni Speaker Series – of distinguished scholars, experts, activists, authors & artists; - Howard Admission & Recruitment team - 73 fairs, visited over 15 top tier schools in Greater NYC reaching 1,000+ students/parents; - Bi-Monthly Networking Events (In the 5 Boroughs) Happy Hours, “Bison Who Brunch”, Bison Family Picnic, Bounce Skate, & La Marina Summer Party; - Inaugural Harvard vs. Howard --Alumni Reception/Fundraising & Strategic Meeting with Digitas (Digital Agency) regarding opportunities for students; Christmas Party w/4 HBCUs; - London Student Acceptance Day & Panel Discussion; - Region I Virtual Bison Spirit Week -Covid 19; - Pipeline for Howard graduates in the NY job market, for entry level & internships; - Athletics events w/Columbia, Rutgers, Stony Brook, Hampton and Harvard; - Eagle Academy alliance to increase the number of Black males at HU; and - Five Annual Accepted Student Day & Freshmen send-off events  Fundraising: - Raised over $40k for “Between the World and Me” Reception w/ Ta-Neishi Coates; - “School of Business” 50th Anniversary Reception at Moody’s; First Bison Art Show—featuring all Bison artist raised $10k Bison Art Show –featuring Rod Terry –raised $5k; Collaborate with Tao Omega Chapter, AKA Sorority Inc, scholarship $1k; Book Scholarship Fundraising Dinner -  In Memory of HU Alum Keison Griffith-Roberts raised $1.5k;and  #BisonWrite Event -150th Project- $1k. Service:  Transition Team for New HUAA Structure; "God Loves We Deliver” -delivered meals to cancer and HIV patients; and Created housing referral service for HU interns.  Education: - Region I Chair 2018-2020, Past President of HU Alumni Club of Greater NY 2015-2018  QUENTIN JAMES: A native of Greenville, South Carolina, Quentin James is the Founder & President of The Collective, including its four legal entities, as well as the co-founder of Vestige Strategies, LLC. Before launching the Collective in 2016, Quentin led a team of Vestige Strategies’ consultants in securing victory for Dr. Keith Rowley as Prime Minister of Trinidad & Tobago in 2015. Previously, Quentin was the Black Americans Director for the Ready for Hillary PAC. In that role, Quentin directed the PAC’s outreach to the black community across the United States, and helped recruit over 50,000 African American grassroots donors and over 3 million grassroots supporters.  Formerly the National Director for the Sierra Club’s Sierra Student Coalition, the nation’s largest youth environmental organization, Quentin directed the organization to train, empower, and organize youth to run effective campaigns that resulted in tangible environmental victories and developed leaders for the environmental movement. From 2009-2013, Quentin served as a National Board Member for the NAACP, the nation’s oldest and largest civil rights organization. Quentin is the founder of Inclusv, a diversity hiring initiative and was named one of the 2017 NBC Blk28 under 28 and named one of the 2018 Root 100 Most Influential African Americans. Welcome to the HU Movemakers Podcast (www.humovemakers.com), where we highlight folks in Howard University Culture that are blazing the trail and making moves! If you would like to apply or nominate someone  to be on the podcast, please email bio/headshot to [email protected].  

Alfonza "Pep" Hamilton is an American football coach who is the quarterbacks coach for the Los Angeles Chargers. He was previously the head coach and general manager of the DC Defenders of the XFL. A native of Charlotte, North Carolina who graduated from West Charlotte High School, Hamilton played quarterback from 1993 to 1996 at Howard University. While at Howard, Hamilton earned the team's scholar-athlete award in 1995 and 1996.Hamilton started his coaching career at Howard University, where he served as the team's quarterbacks coach before becoming the team's offensive coordinator. Hamilton coached in the National Football League for the New York Jets and San Francisco 49ers before taking a position as quarterbacks coach for the Chicago Bears on March 5, 2007.In 2010, Hamilton was hired by the University of New Mexico Lobos after Tee Martin left for the Kentucky Wildcats and was named co-offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach. However, after Ron Turner left Stanford for the Indianapolis Colts, Hamilton left New Mexico before the start of the season to be the wide receivers coach at Stanford. In 2011, he was promoted to offensive coordinator under new head coach David Shaw. In 2013, Hamilton was named as the new offensive coordinator of the Indianapolis Colts, after former OC Bruce Arians left to become the head coach of the Arizona Cardinals. The move reunited Hamilton with former Stanford starting quarterback Andrew Luck, tight end Coby Fleener, and wide receiver Griff Whalen.[3] Hamilton turned down an offer to become the offensive coordinator of the Virginia Tech Hokies, citing a desire to be reunited with his former protégé Andrew Luck. On December 30, 2014 the Oakland Raiders interviewed Hamilton concerning their coaching vacancy, but opted to hire Jack Del Rio. On November 3, 2015, the Colts fired Hamilton. In January 2016, Hamilton was named as the associate head coach and quarterbacks coach for the Cleveland Browns. In 2017, Hamilton was signed by the Wolverines to a four-year $4.25m contract. In February 2019, Hamilton joined the XFL's DC Defenders to be their head coach and general manager for the 2020 XFL season. In April 2020, Hamilton joined the Los Angeles Chargers to be their quarterbacks coach for the 2020 NFL season.

Welcome to the HU Movemakers Podcast (www.humovemakers.com), where we highlight folks in Howard University Culture that are blazing the trail and making moves! If you would like to apply or nominate someone  to be on the podcast, please email bio/headshot to [email protected].

Antoine Bethea, 3X Pro Bowler, Super Bowl Champion is an alum of Howard University. The 14 year NFL Veteran was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts in the sixth round of the 2006 draft. Heading into his 15th season in the NFL, Bethea led all DB’s in tackles in 2018. The Indianapolis Colts and Arizona Cardinals Walter Payton Man Of The Year recipient, Bethea’s journey has been of the ultimate underdog. Welcome to the HU Movemakers Podcast (www.humovemakers.com), where we highlight folks in Howard University Culture that are blazing the trail and making moves! If you would like to apply or nominate someone  to be on the podcast, please email bio/headshot to [email protected].   

Antoine Bethea, 3X Pro Bowler, Super Bowl Champion is an alum of Howard University. The 14 year NFL Veteran was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts in the sixth round of the 2006 draft. Heading into his 15th season in the NFL, Bethea led all DB’s in tackles in 2018. The Indianapolis Colts and Arizona Cardinals Walter Payton Man Of The Year recipient, Bethea’s journey has been of the ultimate underdog.

The HU Movemakers Podcast (www.humovemakers.com) highlights folks in Howard University Culture that are blazing the trail and making moves! If you would like to apply or nominate someone  to be on the podcast, please email bio/headshot to [email protected].   

Born in Jamaica, Anna-Lysa Gayle has always had a passion for documenting events happening around her. She started documenting her life, as soon as she could form real sentences. Since then, she remained committed to her passion for storytelling.  At 11 years old, she moved to the United States to Brooklyn, New York. As she moved to other parts of the east coast, her love for journalism only intensified. In 2009, she enrolled at Howard University where she studied Broadcast Journalism. During that time, she secured internships with companies like WTOP-FM, FOX5 DC, CNN and more. She was also selected for competitive programs like the Meredith-Cronkite Fellowship, the T-Howard Foundation, the CBC-UNC Diversity Fellowship, MTVU, ONA student newsroom and NABJ’s student multimedia project.  She started her career at WHSV-TV in Harrisonburg, Virginia before moving on to WLKY-TV in Louisville, Kentucky, for nearly three years. While in Kentucky, she received an award from the Associated Press for her continuing coverage of a case involving four young men (coined the Misidentified Four).  In July 2016, she joined WJLA-TV where she continues to tell stories that she hopes will leave a lasting impact. She is currently a three-time Emmy award-winning journalist. She earned two Emmy awards for her role in a special report on the National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) and her role in a newscast on the Silver Spring explosion, which left seven dead.  In 2018, she received her third Emmy for her role in ABC7’s coverage of the Congressional baseball shooting in Alexandria, Virginia. She has also received a community award, known as the ‘Distinction of Hope Award’.  You can watch Anna-Lysa Gayle at 10 p.m. on WJLA’s 24/7 News channel (formerly News Channel 8) & 11 p.m. on ABC7 news, from anywhere in the DMV. You can also follow her journey on her website AnnalysaGayle.com. Welcome to the HU Movemakers Podcast (www.humovemakers.com), where we highlight folks in Howard University Culture that are blazing the trail and making moves! If you would like to apply or nominate someone  to be on the podcast, please email bio/headshot to [email protected].

Welcome to the HU Movemakers Podcast (www.humovemakers.com), where we highlight folks in Howard University Culture that are blazing the trail and making moves! If you would like to apply or nominate someone  to be on the podcast, please email bio/headshot to [email protected].   Lloyd Freeman is a Partner and Chief Diversity Officer at the firm. Lloyd concentrates his practice in the area of commercial and complex civil litigation in state and federal courts in both New Jersey and Pennsylvania. He has represented clients in trials, arbitration and mediation in both states.  Lloyd has experience in commercial and complex matters involving consumer fraud, real property, franchise, business torts and other issues related to business and contractual disputes. Lloyd has also litigated a number of disputes involving merchants and the sale of goods governed by Article 2 of the Uniform Commercial Code (“UCC”).  A member of Archer Discovery Strategies – the firm’s practice group dedicated to eDiscovery litigation and document management practices – Lloyd has extensive experience managing electronic discovery in complex state and federal matters. In the fall, Lloyd teaches e-discovery and digital evidence to upper-level students at Drexel University’s Kline School of Law in Philadelphia, PA.  As Chief Diversity Officer, Lloyd carries out the firm’s vision to grow diversity and inclusion in the legal profession, as well as implements policies and procedures, and fosters programs to promote diversity throughout the firm.  He does this by promoting diversity and inclusion in the recruitment, hiring, retention and promotion of Archer attorneys, which includes maintaining an ex-officio position on the Personnel and Hiring Committees while serving as Chairman of the Diversity & Inclusion Committee. Most recently, Lloyd planned and hosted the firm’s first diversity retreat featuring two days of workshops on unconscious bias, cultural competencies, inclusive practices and emotional intelligence. In addition, he develops and nurtures key partnerships to drive strategic diversity and inclusion marketing, as well as business development initiatives.   Accordingly, Lloyd serves as a trusted advisor to firm executive management and the Office of the President.  A longtime champion of diversity and inclusion in the profession and at Archer, Freeman created Archer’s affinity group, L.E.A.D. (Lawyers Encouraging Archer’s Diversity) in 2012 and coordinated the firm’s summer associate program for the past three years, resulting in the most diverse summer associate classes in the firm’s history. Freeman himself was a summer associate at Archer and also received an Archer diversity scholarship while in law school. He is the first person of color to rise through the ranks from summer associate to partnership status.  Outside of the firm, Lloyd served as president of the Garden State Bar Association and has written articles and spoken at conferences on the importance of diversity and inclusion.  Lloyd has used his influence as a social justice advocate in the cannabis space as well.  He has spoken at press conferences with the governor, met with state leaders and written pieces urging the decriminalization of marijuana in New Jersey.  Prior to joining the firm, Lloyd served as an intern to the Honorable Jerome B. Simandle, S.U.S.D.J, and as an extern to the Honorable Joseph E. Irenas, S.U.S.D.J., both of the District of New Jersey.