Summer 2024 Avoyelles Rocketeers Camp featuring water-powered rockets.
Date: June 24-28
Location: Avoyelles AVAP Center in Hessmer, LA
Board MEMBERS and volunteers
What is our goal as a team?
Our board members and volunteers are the fiduciaries who steer the organization towards a sustainable future by adopting sound, ethical, and legal governance and financial management policies, as well as by making sure Project 1-Avoyelles has adequate resources to advance its mission.
Our Board of Directors
Dr. Vanessa Jackson
Dr. Vanessa Jackson
Dr. Vanessa Jackson
Dr. Vanessa P. Jackson is chair of our Board of Directors. She is a graduate of G.W. Carver in Bunkie and Southern University. She received her master’s and PhD from Michigan State University in Human Environment: Design and Management in 1998.
She was recently named Interim Associate Vice-president/Associate Provost in the UK College of Agriculture.
Mr. Emile Pitre
Dr. Vanessa Jackson
Dr. Vanessa Jackson
Mr. Pitre is a member of our Board of Directors. He is a graduate of Carver High School in Bunkie and Southern University in Baton Rouge where he received his BS in Chemistry. He received his M.S. degree in Chemistry from the University of Washington in 1969.
He is currently serving as associate vice-president at the University of Washington where he spent much of his career as an advocate for the black students. He was awarded the Charles E. Odegaard Award by the UW's Office of Minority Affairs & Diversity (OMA&D) and the Friends of the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) in 2021.
Mr. Kirby Roy
Dr. Isiah Warner
Dr. Isiah Warner
Director
Avoyelles Parish Police Jury President
Dr. Isiah Warner
Dr. Isiah Warner
Dr. Isiah Warner
Dr. Isiah Warner is a member of our Board of Directors. He is a graduate of G.W. Carver High School in Bunkie, LA. He received a B.S degree in chemistry from Southern University in Baton Rouge, LA in 1968. He received his PhD in Analytical Chemistry from the University of Washington in 1977.
After spending time at Emory University, he joined the chemistry faculty at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge. Dr. Warner retired recently as a Boyd Professor of the LSU system, Phillip W. West Professor of Analytical and Environmental Chemistry, Vice-President for Strategic Initiatives and Howard Hughes Medical Institute Professor.
Our Advisory Team
Dr. Donald G. Prier
Mr. Donald Augustine
Mr. Donald Augustine
Dr. Donald Gregory Prier is chair of the 1-AVP Advisory team. He was born in Mansura, Louisiana in 1947. He attended Our Lady of Prompt Succor Catholic School in Mansura and graduated from Mary Bethune High School in Marksville, Louisiana. He graduated from Southern University in 1975 with a degree in Chemistry and from Louisiana State University in 1981 with a doctorate in Organic Chemistry. He retired from the Dow Chemical Company as a Senior R&D Leader in 2009. He spent 4 years in the US Army Medical Corp. He is a published author of books on Avoyelles Parish African American History.
Mr. Donald Augustine
Mr. Donald Augustine
Mr. Donald Augustine
Mr. Augustine is an Advisor to Project 1-Avoyelles. He obtained his elementary education at Cardinal Cushing School in Mansura, LA. In May 1969, he graduated from Mary Bethune High School in Marksville, LA. In August, 1973, he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Secondary Education, Math/Science concentration, from Southern University in Baton Rouge, LA subsequently teaching Math at Rapides High School in Lecompte, LA. In 1975, he accepted a position in the petrochemical industry with Borden Chemical and Plastics, working as a Laboratory Technician for 19 years. He was then promoted to PVC Lab Supervisor where he spent 7 years in that position. In 2001, he began working for Formosa Plastics in Baton Rouge, Louisiana as Lab Supervisor for 6 years. Currently, he is the Chloro-Alkali/Vinyl Chloride labs Superintendent at Shintech, Louisiana LLC.Mr. Augustine is involved with several civic, religious, and social organizations in the Baton Rouge community: Southern University Alumni Federation, Southern University Quarterback Club, Knights of Peter Claver Council #12, United Men of St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, and the American Chemical Society.
Mr. Clifton Jackson
Mr. Donald Augustine
Mr. Clifton Jackson
Dr. Roy Jackson
Dr. Roy Jackson
Mr. Clifton Jackson
Dr. Roy Jackson is an Advisor to Project 1 Avoyelles and 1-Avoyelles 1Bunkie. He is a 1961 graduate of Carver High School in Bunkie. He received his BS in chemistry and a military commission as a US Army 2nd Lieutenant from Southern University in 1965.
He spent the next 2 years on active military service and received the Bronze Star for Meritorious Service in a Combat Zone for his work in South Viet Nam.
He returned to Southern University in 1967 and received an MS in organic chemistry in 1969. He then taught for 1 year in the chemistry department at Southern University before returning to graduate school. He received his PhD in organic photochemistry from the University of California at San Diego (UCSD) in 1975
In 1975, Dr Jackson joined the research and development department at Shell’s Westhollow Research Center in Houston Texas. He retired from Shell in 1999. He holds 17 US patents for his work at Shell.
Since his retirement, Dr Jackson has been active in community services both in Houston and Avoyelles Parish.
Ms Linda Rhodes
Dr. Roy Jackson
Ms Linda Rhodes
Linda was born in Pineville, Louisiana She graduated from high school in Anchorage, Alaska. She is former Buffalo Soldier member. She has been involved in community service for 20 years.