Board of Directors
Shanelle Smith
Founder & President
Shanelle Smith is a native of Kansas City, Missouri and graduate of Fisk University, a historically black college in Nashville, Tennessee. With over 15 years as a public school educator, Shanelle has served in number of roles. Currently, she is the Associate Principal of African Centered Prep at Southeast High School and the English Methods Instructor for the Kansas City Teacher Residency. A huge component of her love for education is rooted in her HBCU experience, which led her to establish HBCU Walking Billboard.
Chantell Garrett
Vice-President
A Dillard alumnus, Chantell is a the Diversity and Inclusion Manager at the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City. In her role at the Kansas City Fed, she leads outreach efforts for business, community and labor leaders, and women, minority and emerging bank leaders. She founded the nonprofit R.U.B.I.E.S. Inc. (Realizing yoUr Best In Every Situation) to support girls who aspire to be first-generation college graduates. She is a member of the University of Missouri-Kansas City’s African American Leadership Alliance, is involved in the Big Brothers Big Sisters’ Diversity Task Force, Avila University’s Alumni Board and recently was appointed to Teach For America of Greater Kansas City’s Champion Board.
Patricia Smith
Treasurer
Patricia Smith is an Accountant at Centerpoint Medical Center. She holds a Master’s Degree in Business Administration with a BS in Business Finance. Patricia is highly organized and detailed oriented with advanced problem-solving skills. She specializes in senior accounting functions and has years of experience in client contracting, accounting, and billing. Her honesty, integrity, and professionalism are qualities many people appreciate. Personal interests include volunteering her services in financial aspects and spending time with family and friends.
Betti Givens
Secretary
Betti Givens is an alumnus of Lincoln University, a historically black college in Jefferson City, MO. Currently, she serves as the Coordinator of Student Programs at 20/20 Leadership. She is a creative spirit with an unmatched passion for service to young people. In addition to over a decade in youth services, she is a published author, phenomenal crafter, and dedicated baseball mom.
Kimberlee Jones
Governance & Compliance Committee
Kimberlee and her family relocated to Kansas City. In her time here, she has become connected to various circles of black excellence to provide her keen insight and share her love for the HBCU experience. An alumnus of North Carolina A & T, she is a member of their local alumni association and a recent inductee into the Kansas City Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated. She brings a wealth of marketing knowledge and a host of youth-centered ideas to the table.
Sidney Smith
Fund Development Committee
Sidney is the CEO of Swope Ridge Geriatric Center in Kansas City, Missouri. An alum of the University of Missouri-Kansas City, Sidney still finds the value in the need for students to be informed about HBCUs and seriously consider them as their college of choice. Having a knack for people and an interpersonal niche, Sidney serves HBCU Walking Billboard as an ally and advocate.