Thurgood Marshall College Fund convened staff to chart the future of student success

April 7, 2026

The Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) hosted The North Star Summit: Writing the Next Chapter recently at the Capital Hilton in Washington, D.C. The comprehensive all-staff strategy session aligned the organization’s leadership and personnel around four key performance indicators (KPIs) and core values.

The summit  featured a robust agenda centered on organizational vision, revenue ecosystems and operational excellence. Dr. Harry L. Williams, president & CEO of TMCF, delivered the keynote address that outlined the new TMCF and moderated several high-level panel discussions throughout the day.

“It’s a new day but it’s a bright day,” Dr. Williams said. “We take the duty of advocacy seriously because it’s so important to the lives of so many people.”

The summit provided a comprehensive look at the future of the organization:

  • Aisha Brown, chief operating officer and chief strategy officer, discussed the organizational framework consisting of four values and four KPIs.
  • Members of the leadership team discussed the revenue ecosystem. Featured speakers included Dr. Clara Ross Stamps, chief marketing and communications officer; Jonathan Sandville, chief development officer; Dr. Lawrence Chatters, senior vice president of strategic initiatives and capacity; and Aisha Brown.
  • Jason Hundley, executive vice president of finance & operations; Tamara M. Thompson chief programs officer; and Jacqueline Powers, vice president of scholarships; addressed operational rigor, scholarship scale and finance.
  • A focus on impact and culture featured Dr. M.C. Brown II, executive director of the Dr. N. Joyce Payne Research Center; and Farrahdia Mirambeau, assistant vice president of human resources.
  • Staff received a printed copy of the 2025-2030 strategic plan to clearly see the organization’s goals and aspirations over the next several years. 

The afternoon concluded with a group photo, followed by an operational roadmap to ensure the vision discussed was effectively put into practice.

Beyond strategy, the summit emphasized staff appreciation with dedicated giveaway segments and interactions to foster internal community and culture.

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