Advisory Board
Meet the members of the Modern Parents Magazine Advisory Board.
Dr. Julian Stafford
American educator and retired urban school superintendent
Dr. Julian Stafford brings extensive experience in public school administration and urban educational leadership. His career includes serving as an Area Superintendent for the Orleans Parish School Board in New Orleans, Louisiana, and as Superintendent of New London Public Schools in Connecticut.
Career and notable roles
- Orleans Parish School Board: Served as Superintendent of Area III for the New Orleans public school system in the mid-2000s, with responsibilities in school administration and personnel oversight.
- New London Public Schools: Served as superintendent of the public school district in New London, Connecticut.
Education and advanced study
Dr. Stafford earned a bachelor’s degree in history from North Carolina A&T State University and a master’s degree from the University of Minnesota. He continued his education at Harvard University, where he completed a doctorate, and pursued postdoctoral studies at the University of Oxford.
His background in district leadership offers a perspective on the connection between schools, families, and student learning.
Carrie Jasper
Retired federal education leader and family-engagement advocate
Before her retirement, Carrie Jasper served as Director of Outreach to Parents and Families in the Office of Communications and Outreach (OCO) at the U.S. Department of Education. Her work connected families with information and resources to support their children’s education.
Career and community engagement
- U.S. Department of Education: Supported national initiatives related to student literacy, Title programs, and awareness of federal summer meal programs.
- Family and community advocacy: Continued her engagement in education following her federal career, including service on the Advisory Board of the Maryland English Language Learner Family Involvement Network (MELLFIN).
Modern Parents Magazine partnership
Carrie Jasper established the partnership between the U.S. Department of Education and Modern Parents Magazine. She was instrumental in developing the Parent Power Forums in partnership with publisher Carol Alexander-Lewis.
Her experience in parent outreach and family-school partnerships brings a national perspective to the Modern Parents Magazine Advisory Board.
Dr. Myrna Nickens, MD
Cardiologist, medical educator, and women’s heart-health advocate
Dr. Myrna Nickens is a cardiologist based in Jackson, Mississippi, recognized as the first female interventional cardiologist to practice in the state. Her career spans more than four decades in medicine, including clinical practice, teaching, and public education about cardiovascular health.
She has served as Professor of Medicine in the Division of Cardiovascular Diseases at the University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC). Her work emphasizes cardiovascular disease prevention and women’s heart health, with attention to the needs of African American communities and disparities in care.
Professional contributions and recognition
Dr. Nickens combines patient care with medical education and community health awareness. Her leadership has included a focus on preventive cardiology and heart disease in women.
She received the 2008 Mississippi Majesty Award celebrating African American Living Legends. A Mississippi legislative concurrent resolution commended her career and community service in connection with that honor.
Her medical expertise adds a perspective on health education and family well-being to the Modern Parents Magazine Advisory Board.
Dr. Belinda V. Alexander, MD
Board-certified internal medicine physician and community-health advocate
Dr. Belinda V. Alexander is an internal medicine physician based in Biloxi, Mississippi, with more than 30 years of medical experience. Her primary care practice focuses on adult patients, bringing together clinical expertise, compassionate listening, and a commitment to community well-being.
Practice and community service
She practices with Memorial Physician Clinics at Internal Medicine Pass Road in Biloxi. Her leadership experience includes service as Chair of the Outpatient Primary Care Department at Memorial Hospital at Gulfport.
Her community work includes serving as Medical Director for the Gulf Coast Community Ministries medical clinic, supporting access to volunteer care for local residents.
Recognition
Dr. Alexander was featured in a Gulf Coast Woman Magazine cover story celebrating physicians for exceptional patient care and service. The 2024 feature highlighted her 26 years of internal medicine practice on the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
Her perspective on adult health and community care supports the Advisory Board’s connection to family well-being.
Paula Cushenberry
Behavioral health professional and youth-and-family services leader
Paula Cushenberry is a Louisiana-based behavioral health professional who serves as Director of the Families in Need of Services (FINS) program at the 23rd Judicial District Court’s Ascension Office in Gonzales.
Professional experience
Her leadership in FINS centers on supporting young people and their families. The program connects families with services and early intervention resources to help prevent juvenile delinquency and strengthen family relationships.
She is a graduate of Louisiana State University and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree and a Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Curriculum and Instruction. She is listed in the National Plan and Provider Enumeration System (NPPES) NPI Registry. Her background includes behavioral health support in Louisiana.
Community involvement
Alongside Lloyd Cushenberry, she supports community initiatives, including LEAD youth empowerment efforts. Her work reflects a commitment to helping young people and families access support and opportunities.
Her experience in family services and community engagement brings a perspective on youth development and family well-being to the Modern Parents Magazine Advisory Board.
David Lewis
Louisiana educator and school administrator
Mr. David Lewis brings more than three decades of experience in education, including extensive service as an assistant principal and principal. His career spans public school leadership across metropolitan New Orleans and surrounding Louisiana parishes.
School leadership
He retired as Principal of Plaquemine High School. His prior principalship experience includes Lake Pontchartrain Elementary School, John H. Martyn Alternative School, East St. John High School, Edna Karr High School, and L.W. Higgins High School.
His experience leading elementary, alternative, and high schools offers a perspective on school administration, student development, and the relationships between families and educators.
Education and recognition
- Dillard University: Bachelor’s degree; recognized through induction into the university’s Sports Hall of Fame and receipt of the Bleu Flame Award.
- Tulane University: Teacher certification.
- Xavier University of Louisiana: Master’s degree in Education Administration.
His background in educational leadership contributes to the Modern Parents Magazine Advisory Board’s focus on connecting homes, schools, and communities.
Patrice Moore
Dean of Arts and Humanities, Delgado Community College (Retired)
Patrice Moore retired as Dean of the Arts and Humanities Division at Delgado Community College in New Orleans, Louisiana. She retired after 24 years of service to the institution, leaving a record of dedication to faculty, staff, and students.
Academic leadership
As dean, her responsibilities included academic program development, faculty hiring, division budget management, and participation in developing academic policies. Student success was central to her work in higher education.
Celebrating her service
Colleagues honored her career with a retirement reception at the Isaac Delgado Fine Arts Gallery on the college’s City Park Campus.
Her experience in academic leadership brings a higher-education perspective to the Modern Parents Magazine Advisory Board, with a focus on student success and educational opportunity.
Dr. Florence Townsend
Psychologist and children’s mental-health advocate
Dr. Florence Townsend is a retired psychologist based in Chicago, Illinois, whose professional background includes leadership with the Association of Black Psychologists (ABPsi) and public service in children’s mental-health advocacy.
Professional roles and advocacy
- Association of Black Psychologists: She has served as Midwest Regional Representative for the national association. Her work reflects a commitment to African-centered psychology, the mental-health needs of Black communities, and equity in psychological practice.
- Illinois Children’s Mental Health Partnership: She has served as a member of the partnership, which brings together professionals and state agencies to strengthen children’s mental-health services and advise on statewide priorities, including early childhood mental health.
Academic Scope
As an instructional faculty member, she translates complex psychological models into foundational courses, teaching core pathways such as Child Psychology, General Psychology, and Human Growth and Development.
Pedagogical Philosophy: Her classroom instruction is noted for connecting standardized academic curriculum to the realities of community mental health and navigating adult transitions.
Community Advocacy
Public Forums & Policy Panels: Dr. Townsend routinely extends her academic voice into civic spheres. Notably, she has served as a specialist panelist for The Cook County Commission on Women’s Issues, presenting research and strategic frameworks on "Coping Skills the Mature Woman Needs to Manage Mental Health".
Senior Network Direction: Reflecting her academic focus on life-stage development and crisis intervention, she has directed the Messiah Senior Action Network / CRS Senior Action Network, translating developmental psychology theory into community-wide support programming.
Her experience contributes a perspective on cultural responsiveness, children’s emotional well-being, and family support to the Modern Parents Magazine Advisory Board.
Kevin R. George, Ed.D.
Louisiana educator, former superintendent, and higher education leader
Dr. Kevin R. George brings more than 28 years of experience in Louisiana education, spanning the classroom, school and district leadership, state-level support, and higher education. He began teaching in Terrebonne Parish in 1999 and went on to serve as a principal, district supervisor, and superintendent.
School and district leadership
He served as Superintendent of Schools for St. John the Baptist Parish from 2013 to 2019, where the district’s performance rating rose from a "D" to a "B." His earlier roles include principal of Thibodaux High School, principal of L.E. Rabouin High School (in the wake of Hurricane Katrina), supervisor of middle and secondary schools in Lafourche Parish, and district support leader at the Louisiana Department of Education. He also served as CEO of New Beginnings School Foundation and as Chief Schools Accountability Officer for New Orleans Public Schools.
Higher education and current work
As Director of the University Laboratory School at Louisiana State University from 2021 to 2025, he led the school to National Blue Ribbon recognition in 2022. He is now Superintendent-in-Residence at Zearn, where he works with Louisiana superintendents and their teams on math instruction.
Education and service
- University of Holy Cross: Ed.D. in Executive Leadership (2025)
- Nicholls State University: Master of Education in Education Leadership, Bachelor of Science in Marketing, and Bachelor of General Studies
- Service: chaired the Louisiana Department of Education’s Artificial Intelligence Task Force (2024) and the Commission on Assessment Review and Use in Public Schools (2017); has presented at national conferences on instructional improvement
His experience across classrooms, districts, and universities contributes to the Modern Parents Magazine Advisory Board’s focus on connecting homes, schools, and communities.