Meet The Board
Tiara Allen
Founder, President
Tiara Allen was born in Oakland, CA. She attended San Jose State University (SJSU) and earned her bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice with a minor in sociology in 2019. While attending SJSU, Tiara hosted over 12 events and engaged with over 2,000 high school students in the City of San Jose. In addition to her involvement at SJSU, Tiara also became a member of the NAACP and Emmanuel Baptist Church. She moved to Florida to obtain a Master’s Degree in Social Work. Her goal is to be a Juvenile Rehabilitation Program Coordinator in Orange County Florida. As a leader in her community and university, Tiara worked tirelessly to inspire African American and Latino High School Students. She wanted them to know that anything is possible and they can make a difference in the world.
Jazmin Henry
Co-Founder, Vice President
Jazmine Henry was born and raised in Sacramento, CA. In 2017, she earned an Associate’s Degree in Liberal Arts from Cosumnes River College. She then transferred to San Jose State University (SJSU). While at SJSU, Jazmine joined Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc. She also obtained her Bachelor’s Degree in Hospitality, Tourism, and Event Management in 2019. She is an active member of St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church and is a part of the Sacramento Metropolitan CAD GWMA Choir. Jazmine has always had a passion for cooking. As part of her future restaurant, she plans to create a program for youth who have the same culinary passion.
Schafaris Turner
Secretary
Born and raised in Chicago, IL, Schafaris is a two-time alumna of the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, earning both her Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Sport Management. Experiencing growing up in a low-income community, Schafaris witnessed first hand how lack of resources and mentorship can negatively affect black and brown kids, specifically in the area of college access. This is why she has a passion for giving back and helping expose young adults to the world of college and receiving a college education. She currently works as a University Admissions Counselor and mentors both high school and college students. Schafaris is a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc.
Nakim Benson
Graphic Designer
My name is Nakim Benson . I graduated from San Jose State University in 2018 as a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Incorporated with a Bachelor's of Science Degree in Business Administration. I was born in Riverside, California, raised in Chino Hills, California, and currently reside in Lake Elsinore, California. I am a graphic artist and a strong advocate for self-growth, strengthening/healing your mindset, as well as working together to achieve excellence. My favorite quote at the moment is by Albert Einstein, "The significant problems we face cannot be solved at the same level of thinking we were at when we created them."
Rhonda Jacobs
Treasurer
Rhonda Jacobs is an elementary school educator with over 20 years of teachings experience. She is currently president of San Jose Alumnae Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc. as well as the chapter’s charitable arm, the Xi Zeta Zeta Educational Foundation ( a non-profit organization). Rhonda is an active member of Emmanuel Baptist Church in San Jose, where she participates in the choir and food outreach ministry and serves as a Bible Study teacher. Rhonda holds a Bachelor of Arts from UCLA and she recently completed coursework for her Masters of Arts in Educational Leadership at National University.
Donna Davis
Public Relations
Donna Davis was born and raised in Sacramento, CA where she attended Montessori school for the majority of her life. In 2019, she graduated from San Jose State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Linguistics, a certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL), and earned a minor in African American studies. She continued her education at the Montessori Institute of San Diego where she studied primary education for children ages 4-6. She is now a full-time Montessori teacher to 31 children in El Dorado Hills, CA. Aside from teaching, Donna has been a semi-professional ballet dancer and enjoys sewing in her free time.