STAFF
Board Members & Staff
Veronica Watkins
Bod - Treasurer - Seceretary
Veronica Watkins is a native of Jackson, Mississippi. A daughter of a preacher caused her to move from Mississippi, to Texas, to Indiana her sophomore year of high school. After high school Veronica attended Anderson University where she met her husband of twenty years, Samuel. They have three beautiful children, Marquise 21, Da’Marcus 19, & Monica 17. While attending Anderson University Veronica found her gift and passion for helping and serving others.
Veronica’s passion helped her obtain positions with several nonprofit organizations. She has over 25 years of experience managing and leading others. She has served as a Program Director of a residential facility for at risk teen girls, Program Supervisor of a residential facility for mentally retarded adult men, Program Coordinator for Behavioral Health & Psychological Services, and as a Respite Houseparent for at risk children and teens.
In 2011, Veronica started working for Centaur Gaming. Centaur owns two casinos, Hoosier Park & Indiana Grand. Veronica started with Hoosier Park in Marketing as a Guest Services Supervisor & Casino. While working at Hoosier Park Veronica’s gift for leading others did not go unnoticed. After 2 years of supervising in Guest Services she was promoted to a Senior VIP Casino Host, after 2 years of being a Senior VIP Casino Host, she was promoted to the Human Resources Training Instructor. A year later, she was asked to transfer to Indiana Grand Racing and Casino, located in Shelbyville, Indiana. Currently, Veronica is the Relationship Marketing Executive for Indiana Grand.
Carolyn Gentle-Genitty, PhD
BOD - Chair
Dr. Gentle-Genitty is a passionate educator and servant leader who excels in leadership and curriculum development. She is service and student driven. She is a national truancy expert, sitting as president of International Association of Truancy and Dropout Prevention. She is the co-founder of the INSA (International Network for School Attendance). She is an award winning teacher, researcher, and service scholar. As a national book and journal author, app and model developer. She has and continues to make impact around the world for youth through her work and publications under philosophy of student bond = student success. Her model for teaching theory S.A.L.T. Theory and the copyrighted Perception of School Social Bonding (PSSB) instrument are examples. She is now focused on school absenteeism and establishing a field of study in the US and with INSA colleagues worldwide.
Francis Bowen, PhD
BOD - Research committee
Dr. Bowen is a mission-driven researcher who thrives on mentorship and exploring creative solutions for his community using AI and machine learning. Leveraging his diverse entrepreneurial background, Dr. Bowen finds fulfillment in building and scaling solutions, regardless if it is at the algorithmic or company level. As an assistant professor at Butler University, Dr. Bowen develops new curriculum with the intent of inspiring his students to gain new perspectives through data. His award-winning research spans a variety of fields including supply chain management, robotics, and educational psychology. Dr. Bowen proudly serves on boards for the University of Indianapolis and the Supply Chain 4.0 Network. He holds a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Purdue University as well as an MBA from Butler University.
Andrew Morton, Esq.
Foundation Legal Counsel
Andrew Morton is a Partner and Chair of the Sports and Entertainment Law Practice at Handler Thayer LLP, where he serves as philanthropy and public policy counsel to high-profile public figures engaged in the nonprofit sector. Prior to joining Handler Thayer, Andrew practiced with the Political Law and Government Relations groups of Latham & Watkins LLP, and Foley & Lardner LLP. In those roles, he advised the firm’s nonprofit and commercial clients in the areas of corporate governance, compliance and Board oversight, as well as legislative strategy and public policy engagement. A frequent speaker on international human rights and immigration law, Andrew has testified before the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, and appeared in national media outlets including CNN, ABC World News Tonight, National Public Radio, the New York Times and the Washington Post. Andrew earned his J.D., cum laude, from the University Of Pennsylvania Law School, where he served as a member of the Board of Editors of the University of Pennsylvania Law Review and Co-Chair of the Equal Justice Foundation. Andrew also attended the University of Maryland, earning an M.P.P. in international security and economic policy from the School of Public Affairs, and a B.A., magna cum laude, in economics and Spanish.
Anna
Sutter
director of Program management
Anna Sutter is an energetic & innovative education advocate with five years of invaluable experience as a school counselor in Indianapolis where she used a radically student-centered and data-driven approach to support Hoosier youth. Anna held the role of Director of School Counseling where she led a team of youth serving educators and mental health professionals and managed an award-winning, comprehensive student services program for over 1,800 students. Not only does she hold passion in education, but Anna also gets fired up over mental health, civil rights, and politics. She is a proud advocate for education reform & policy and has testified before the Indiana House of Representatives and Senate education committees. Anna holds a Masters in School Counseling and Bachelors in Psychology, both from Butler University. She’s been involved with various nonprofits in the Indianapolis area, including Brooke’s Place for Grieving Young People and College Mentors for Kids. Anna lives in Fountain Square with her two cats Otis and Salina.
Taylor
Massey
Implementation Specialist
Taylor Massey is a creative professional in the field of education, with a proven track record of success in roles ranging from educator to school culture specialist over the past 7 years. With a deep commitment to fostering positive school cultures, Taylor has committed herself to adopting a restorative approach and equipping students with the necessary tools to manage their emotions effectively. Taylor has collaborated closely with Arts For Learning Indiana, Camp Canopy, and Teach For America leaders to offer students a diverse range of enriching experiences. Her passion for relationship building is evident in her belief that every child deserves a champion. Holding a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and Early Childhood from University of Southern Indiana, Taylor advocates for equitable, high-quality education for all students. Committed to ensuring that every child has a successful school experience, Taylor is driven by her desire to make a positive impact on our youth as they are the future leaders of tomorrow.
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