Dr. Jeffrey Shears
Co-Chair
Jeffrey Shears is a Professor in the School of Social Work Department at The University of Charlotte. Dr. Shears earned his BSW and Masters in Education Administration from North Carolina A&T State University and his PhD in Social Work from the University of Denver.
His research interest is men (fathering, multicultural issues, HIV and AIDS) and quantitative research with an emphasis on data sharing among social service agencies.
In addition, Dr. Shears has an extensive list of academic publications on fathering featured in national and internationally refereed journals. He is co-author of the acclaimed “What all Dads Should Know” (Createaspace Publishers, 2011).
Dr. Matisa Wilbon
Co-Chair
Dr. Matisa Wilbon is a wife, mother, author, speaker, educator and consultant. She earned her B.A. in Anthropology/Sociology from Centre College in Danville, KY. She received her Master’s and Doctorate degrees in Sociology from The Ohio State University.
A tenured associate professor, she teaches university courses centered on her research interests: introduction to sociology, crime and the media, juvenile delinquency, race and ethnicity and structural inequality.
Dr. Jeff Gardere
M.Phil., M.S., D.Min., Ph.D., ABPP “America’s Psychologist”
Dr. Jeff Gardere, better known as “America’s Psychologist”, was born in Manhattan and raised in Crown Heights, Brooklyn. His parents were born in Haiti. Dr. Jeff attended Brooklyn Technical High School and earned his BA from The University of Rochester.
He earned a Masters degree from Columbia University, and a Masters and Ph.D. in philosophy and clinical psychology from the George Washington University.
Dr. Janice Kelly
Chair, Department of Communications at Molloy College
Dr. Janice Kelly has an earned doctorate from Columbia University, Teachers College in Communication and Education. She serves as a board member on Fathers Incorporated and the editorial board for the Center for the study of Men and Masculinity at Stony Brook University.
She conducts workshops on ‘Family, School, and Community Engagement,’ ‘Inclusive vs. Command Language: Building Bridges through Effective Communication,’ and ‘Diversity and Multigenerational Training.’
Dr. David Miller, M.Ed.
CEO and Chief Visionary Officer; Dare to Be King
Baltimore native, David Miller, has received international acclaim for Dare to Be King: What If the Prince Lives. Armed with a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from The University of Baltimore and a Master’s degree in Education from Goucher College, Miller frequently leads conversations with men and boys focused on boyhood, fatherhood, parenting, mental health, managing anger, decision making, and alternatives to violence.
Miller has provided extensive training for juvenile justice, youth development, and mentoring organizations in the U.S. and abroad.
Dr. Cassandra Bolar
Professor, University of West Georgia
Dr. Cassandra Bolar is a healthy relationship advocate who truly believes in the capacity for change and positive transformation for couples.
She brings a wealth of experience in counseling, relationship education, and research, and she has been making contributions to the field for the past twelve years.
Lorenzo N. Hopper, MPH, PhD
Assistant Professor; Department of Public Health Sciences at the University of North Carolina
Lorenzo N. Hopper is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Public Health Sciences at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. The common theme across his degree programs, service, and scholarly interests is health equity.
This theme connects his passions for public health with a specific interest in improving maternal and child health (MCH) and student health outcomes.
Dr. Hopper teaches both undergraduate and Master of Public Health graduate courses. Lorenzo’s areas of research interest include fatherhood, men’s health, and the pursuit of health equity. Special populations include children and first-generation students.
Past Research Fellows
Dr. Stacey Bouchet
Past Research Fellow
Dr. Stacey Bouchet is a dedicated advocate and researcher with over a decade of experience. As a Senior Consultant for Fathers Incorporated, she co-authored the acclaimed training program “What About Dad,” equipping service providers to engage fathers effectively.
Dr. Bouchet’s tenure as Executive Director of Women In Fatherhood highlighted her commitment to removing barriers for low-income fathers and promoting positive images of men of color. Recognized as a “Champion of Change” by the White House, her work continues to inspire change.
