2017 Michael Tilford Conference

Bakari Sellers

CNN Political Analyst, Lawyer & Activist

Bakari Sellers made history in 2006 when, at just 22 years old, he defeated a 26-year incumbent State Representative to become the youngest member of the South Carolina state legislature and the youngest African American elected official in the nation. In 2014 he was the Democratic Nominee for Lt. Governor in the state of South Carolina.

Earning his undergraduate degree from Morehouse College, where he served as student body president, and his law degree from the University of South Carolina, Sellers has followed in the footsteps of his father, civil rights leader Cleveland Sellers, in his tireless commitment to service taking championing progressive policies to address issues ranging from education and poverty to preventing domestic violence and childhood obesity.

His impressive list accomplishment in addition to having served on President Barack Obama's South Carolina steering committee during the 2008 election, Sellers is widely considered to be a rising star within the Democratic Party and leading voice for his generation. That coupled with his uncommon ability to reach across the aisle and get things done has led to numerous accolades including being named to TIME Magazine's 40 Under 40 in 2010 as well as 2014 and 20015 "The Root 100" list of the nation's most influential African-Americans and has provided commentary and analysis to CNN and MSNBC including multiple appearances on Hardball with Chris Matthews and Morning Joe. He now currently serves on AIPAC's National Council. He has served as a featured speaker at events for the National Education Association, College Democrats of America National Convention, the 2008 Democratic National Convention and, in 2007, delivered the opening keynote address to the AIPAC Policy Conference in Washington, DC.

Sellers practices law with the Strom Law Firm, LLC in Columbia, SC and is a Political Commentator at CNN. He is married to Dr. Ellen Rucker-Sellers.

Dr. Teresa Clounch

Assistant Vice President of Student Affairs for Student Life/Title IX Coordinator at Fort Hays State University

Dr. Teresa Clounch serves as the Assistant Vice President of Student Affairs for Student Life/Title IX Coordinator at Fort Hays State University. She provides leadership for the Student Life Cluster within the Division of Student Affairs which includes the functional areas of inclusion & diversity, student union, bookstore, dining services, student involvement, performing arts series, fraternity/sorority life, residential life, new student orientation and transition programs, parent and family programs, student conduct, and Title IX.

She currently serves NASPA as the Corporate Sponsor Liaison for Region IV-West. As a first-generation college student who is a Head Start alumna, she has higher education experience at a community college, a women's college, regional university, independent university, and a research university. She holds an Ed.D. in Educational Policy & Leadership from the University of Kansas, an M.S. in Student Personnel Administration from Emporia State University, a B.S. in Business Administration from Emporia State University, and an A.A. in Business Administration from Allen Community College.

The 2017 Program (PDF) is available for download.

" The Voice Project" - Justin Greenleaf, Brett Whitaker, Kaley Klaus, and Seth Kastle

Butler County Community College

• Crystal Jackson Aluko
• Cory Teubener

Emporia State University

• Jason Brooks
• Sheryl Lidzy

Fort Hays State University

• Amanda Fields
• Kate McGonigal, Chair
• Mehran Shahidi

Johnson County Community College

• Star Trisconia

Kansas State University

• Madai Rivera
• Zelia Wiley

Pittsburg State University

• Ananda Jayawardhana
• Deatrea Rose

University of Kansas

• Saida Bonifield
• Jennifer Hamer

University of Kansas Medical Center

• Marla Herron
• Jennifer Keeton
• Todd Moore

Washburn University

• Patricia Dahl
• Danielle Dempsey-Swopes
• Miguel Gonzalez-Abellas

Wichita State University

• Deanna Carrithers
• Marche Fleming-Randle
• Alicia Sanchez

The 2017 committee list (PDF) is available for download.

The 2017 Post-conference Survey (PDF) is available for download.