The Graduating Class of the WH&OM Society EXCEL Leadership Academy

The Women’s Home and Overseas Missionary Society established the EXCEL Leadership Academy as an initiative to aid in succession planning on all levels of the organization: local, district, and connections.

The history-making Cohort 1 began the process in April 2024 and concluded the final session in February 2025. During each of the five interactive and engaging sessions, guest presenters, who were outstanding in various areas of leadership, and members of the EXCEL Leadership Academy Committee shared a plethora of leadership topics and components. As a follow-up to each session, participants were assessed and provided feedback on assigned tasks.

EXCEL Cohort 1 consisted of participants from across the A.M.E. Zion Church: Piedmont: Monica Hence, Tiffany Wilson; Eastern North Carolina: Venus Campbell, Shayla McMillan; North Eastern: Ashley Newton, Danea Sawyer (the Bahamas), Tracy Gilmore, KiRondi Branch, Tawanda Harris, Dr. Lavern Haughton White. Eastern West Africa: Christina Jacob; Mid-Atlantic: Alexxis Hutchinson, Nicole Adams, Nicole Kerr; South Atlantic: Crystal Burns, Rev. ShaCarolyn Stephens, Karonda Hardrick, Omerea Gordon; Mid-West: Virginia Adams, Monica Goodlet, Shontierra Smith, Latreasha Williams.

For their required collaborative group project, the participants were divided into three groups and will showcase their final leadership projects on Tuesday, April 8, 2025, at 8pm EST via Zoom. All are invited to attend. Graduation for EXCEL Cohort 1 will be held on Saturday, April 15, 2025, at 5 pm as part of the 145th WH&OM Society Anniversary in Charlotte, NC.