Board of Directors

Mike Krzyzewski, Chair and Founder

Jamie Spatola, Vice Chair

Luis Hernandez, Treasurer

Jazmin Garcia Smith, Secretary

Elizabeth Aldridge

Chair of the Advancement Committee

Seth Jernigan

Valerie Anderson, Ph.D.

Valerie joined the Emily K Center as Chief Program Officer in 2017 and was promoted to Chief Impact Officer in 2022. Valerie transitioned to an Executive Director role in 2024 and Chief Executive Officer in 2025. She earned her B.A. from Yale University and her M.A. and Ph.D. in Developmental Psychology from Duke University.

Favorite late-night college snack: Ramen, of course!
Best advice ever received about education: Get your education. Once you get it, no one can take it away from you. (Thanks, mom.)

Dr. Tonya Armstrong

The Armstrong Center for Hope

Nate Branscomb

Dorothy C. Browne

Donnell Cannon

Patrick Cummings

Chair of Building Committee

Connie Gomez-Joines, Ph.D.

Doug Kahn

Patrick Kurz, Ex Officio

Daisy Magnus-Aryitey

Code the Dream

Joel Marcus

Joshua Mbanusi

Chair of Programs Committee

John McCann

Partners for Performance

David Morris

Michael Best and Friedrich LLP

Max Perkins

Gianelly Vargas Santos

Emily K Center Alumna

Manuel Viera, Ex Officio

Immaculate Conception Catholic Church

Tomeka Ward-Satterfield