Board of Directors

Dr. Greg Markus, Ph.D

Board Chair

Dr. Greg Markus, PhD, Board Chair Gregory B. Markus has been a professor of political science at the University of Michigan for over 30 years. He is a research professor in the university’s Institute for Social Research and a past recipient of the Socio-Psychological Prize of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the Amoco Award for Excellence in Teaching, and the Tronstein Prize.

In 2006-07 he was a fellow of the National Center for Institutional Diversity. Markus attended the United States Naval Academy and San Diego Mesa College before receiving his BA in Political Science from San Diego State University in 1970. He received his PhD from the University of Michigan in 1975. He is a veteran of 15 Ironman triathlons.

Ms. Rachael Tanner

Secretary

Rachael Tanner is the executive director of ISAAC (Interfaith Strategy for Advocacy and Action in the Community), an affiliate of the Gamaliel Foundation located in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Rachael was born and raised in Kalamazoo. She studied political science, urban studies, and Spanish at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor; earning her B.A. in 2007. At U of M she became active in organizing around the Michigan Civil Rights Initiative, an anti-affirmative action ballot initiative, and was recruited and graduated from the second class of Harriet Tubman Center interns in 2007.

After successfully graduating in 2008, Ms. Tanner returned to Kalamazoo where she was hired by ISAAC and eventually promoted to the Director in 2009. Rachael has 3 brothers, 2 sisters, and dabbles in biking, hiking, and critiquing movies.

Rev. Kevin Turman

The Reverend Kevin M. Turman is the senior pastor of the Historic Second Baptist Church of Detroit, a position he has held for over 20 years. Dr. Turman is the past president of the Michigan Progressive Baptist Convention, and currently serves as ABC-MI Region Board President and Peer Leader of a Ministry Leadership Group. He also a Navy Chaplain and a captain in the Naval Reserves.

Since 2003, Rev. Turman has been the president of Metropolitan Organizing Strategy Enabling Strength (MOSES). He holds an undergraduate degree from Harvard, a Master of Divinity from Yale Divinity School and a Doctor of Ministry from the United Theological Seminary in Dayton, OH. Prior to his work in Detroit, he served as pastor at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Boston, and before that he was associate pastor at Bethany Baptist Church in Brooklyn. Rev. Turman is married and the father of two sons.

Rev. Theodore Parker

Rev. Ted Parker is currently the Pastor of St. Cecilia’s and St. Leo’s Church in Detroit. Prior to serving in Detroit he was a member of the Crosier Fathers and served at several churches in New York including as the Pastor of All Saints Church in Harlem.

Reverend Dr. Ronald Davis

Vice Chair

Reverend Ronald Davis was born in Birmingham, Alabama and raised in New York. He received his Masters in Divinity from Princeton and his Doctorate in Ministry from Drew University. He has taught as an adjunct professor at Shaw University, and has been a Pastor at a number of C.M.E Churches including Hopp’s Memorial C.M.E. in Syracuse, NY, where he was President of the ACTS (Alliance to Communities to Transform Syracuse) organization.

Currently Rev. Davis is the Pastor of Calvary C.M.E. in Jersey City, NJ and is the Episcopal Director of Evangelism and Missions in 7th Episcopal District of the CME Church. Rev. Davis is married and the father of four children.