State Board of Regents, Chair, Regent Sanford's career includes responsibilities as classroom teacher, teacher of guidance, assistant principal and principal of New York City Schools. Under her administration, Public School 21, The Crispus Attucks School, earned a reputation of an outstanding inner-city school for pupil achievement, teacher morale and special programs for gifted and talented students. She received Honorary Doctorates from Mercy College and the Bank Street College of Education. In 1995, Regent Sanford received The Josephine Shaw Lowell Award for her work in empowering low-income communities. As chair of the Regents' Committee on Low Performing Schools, Regent Sanford produced "Perform or Perish," a report that examined and outlined the impact of failing schools in New York State. This report laid the foundation for the formulation of new educational policies. Regent Sanford has extensive experience as speaker for civic, social, professional, education and philanthropic organizations throughout the United States. Regent Sanford is currently the co-chair of the Committee on Closing the Performance Gap which is in the process of scrutinizing the access gap in education in New York State. She also developed the concept of a Board for the Education for People of African Ancestry and has been instrumental in its development and growth. The program has received nation-wide recognition.

Franklin Bonilla

Hunter College, CUNY, Emeritus; is the Thomas Hunter Professor of Sociology, Emeritus at Hunter College of the City University of New York (CUNY) From 1973 to 1993 Professor Bonilla was the director of CUNY's Centro de Estudios Puertorriquenos and Professor in CUNY's Ph.D. Programs in Sociology and Political Science. Between 1988 and December, 1995 he served as Executive Director of the Inter-University Program for Latino Research. The IUPLR is a consortium of ten university based research centers concerned with the situation of Latinos in the United States. Within IUPLR he has been the principal coordinator of the working group on Latinos in a Changing U.S. Economy. He continues to serve on its National Advisory Board. Prof. Bonilla's current research, writing, and advocacy efforts are focused on promoting a vitalizing of Latino academic and policy research capabilities, connection of these resources to their counterparts in the countries of origin of the principal Latino communities in the US, and especially bringing Latino voices and perspectives into the U.S. foreign policy arena. Work on substantive policy issues seen as vital to this effort include economic and especially labor market dynamics, migratory movements, access to and diversification of higher education, notably in research agendas and practice, and coalition building within and across ethnic and other boundaries separating disadvantaged populations. Charting ongoing processes of transnationalization as they bear on key institutional orders - economic, political, civil, and cultural - figures centrally in this agenda.

Traditional African Priest and culturalist, is the artistic director of the ISHANGI FAMILY AFRICAN DANCERS, which he founded in 1958. His expert leadership has molded a dynamic group, that tours extensively throughout the United States, the Caribbean, Africa and Europe. The ISHANGI FAMILY AFRICAN DANCERS have performed twice before the World Body of the United Nations (in 1965 and again in 1980 when he received the 1980 World Peace Medal for outstanding work in the arts, communications, education and furthering the understanding of the importance of culture.) Baba Ishangi is a traditionalist, folklorist, African dancer, percussionist, and choreographer, yoga instructor, lecturer on African philosophy, culture, history, and the arts, storyteller, sculptor, nutritionist, poet, family counselor, and spiritual advisor. The name "ISHANGI" means gatekeeper, and defines Baba as caretaker and preserver of the culture, and way of life of his noble ancestors. His focus is the appreciation and understanding of African culture, i.e. history, philosophy, lifestyle and the arts.

Yale University, Emeritus, The College Board; is the John M. Musser Professor of Psychology, Emeritus at Yale University. At the time of retirement (June 30, 1991) he held a primary appointment as John M. Musser Professor of Psychology and secondary appointments as Professor, Institution of Social and Policy Studies, Professor of Child Psychology, Child Study Center, and Professor of Epidemiology and Public Health, at Yale University. He earned the Doctor of Education degree in Child Development and Guidance from Teachers College, Columbia University. Professor Gordon has been awarded the Masters of Arts degree (honorary) from Yale University, the Doctor of Humane Letters degree (honorary) from Yeshiva University, from Brown University, and from Bank Street College. In May 1993 he was awarded the Teachers College Medal for Distinguished service to Education by Columbia University, in May 1994, he was awarded an honorary Doctor of Science degrees from Mount Holyoke, and in May 1998 he was awarded an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from Howard University.

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