Our Board of Directors
Roxson Welch - Board Chairperson
Ms. Welch is a career educator with a distinguished record of community service. She currently serves as the Executive Director of the East Baton Rouge Parish Family and Youth Service Center. She is a former East Baton Rouge Councilwoman.
She earned her Master of Education from Louisiana State University, where she also earned her bachelor’s degree. She is a native of Baker, Louisiana.
Dr. Tyre’ Jenkins
Dr. Jenkins is a 2021 graduate of Xavier University, where he completed his Doctoral degree in Educational Leadership in Urban Education. He graduated from Glen Oaks High School in 2010, where he worked with College & Career Coach Lucretia Perego to create a plan for his future. He attended Southeastern Louisiana University, where he obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in English, Literature, and Languages. In 2017, he obtained his M.Ed in Leadership and Policy Studies from the University of Kansas shortly before pursuing his doctoral degree.
Dr. Jenkin’s research focuses largely on the parental academic influence in relation to single Black mothers and their children. He is the founder of Coaching Kings, a nonprofit which seeks to mentor students of all levels on their educational journeys. Dr. Jenkins was recently added to Louisiana’s Early Childhood Education board.
Dr. James Henderson
Dr. James Henderson became the University of Louisiana System President Jan. 1, 2017. Prior to this role, he served as president of Northwestern State University from 2015 to 2016.
In his first year as president, the university increased overall enrollment and improved its retention rate by nearly three percent. Northwestern State worked to strategically develop new programs that give students access to high demand skills and give employers in the region a competitive advantage. Henderson was previously chancellor of Bossier Parish Community College from 2009 - 2014. In that time, BPCC grew its enrollment by more than 84 percent and increased annual certificate and degree completions by 90 percent. From 2011-2013, BPCC was among the five fastest growing community colleges in the nation with enrollments of between 5,000 and 9,999.
A native of Shreveport, Henderson is a Northwestern State alumnus. He earned a Master of Science in Administration from the University of West Florida and a Doctor of Management from the University of Maryland - University College. The Hendersons have three children, Reagan, Nicholas and Alexander.
Jennifer Parks
Ms. Parks is the owner of The Learning Tree at Oak Grove. She has been a long time supporter of Career Compass’ work.