Alumni Spotlight

Jennifer J. Edwards, Ph.D.

Edwards has a passion to lead, encourage, and uplift. She gives back to her community through service on the Dallas/Ft. Worth FAMU Alumni Association Executive Board, Susan G. Komen for the Cure North Texas Board of Directors, and as a Seeds to STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) volunteer.  She serves on the associate graduate faculty at the University of North Texas, and recently published the book “Marriage: A Blessing and a Boot Camp.”

Edwards credits FAMU with providing a foundation of confidence, perseverance, and culture of success. She earned a bachelor’s degree in chemistry (magna cum laude) from FAMU; and a doctoral degree in communication and culture from Howard University.

Residing in Dallas with her husband and son, she takes times to train in dance, practice yoga, and running in her personal time.  Nonprofits, women, and others looking for change can connect with her by sending her a message at jennedwards.nerium.com.

Jehiel Oliver

Hello Tractor is an agricultural technology company that has developed a low-cost “Smart Tractor” for low-income farmers across Africa. Hello Tractor software pairs Smart Tractor owners with farmers texting for tractor services (think Uber for tractors).

Oliver is responsible for the overall management of the Hello Tractor team, strategy, and partnerships. He is an Echoing Green Global Fellow and has been honored with numerous awards for his work in social entrepreneurship and poverty alleviation. Most recently he hosted a panel with President Barack Obama and President Uhuru Kenyatta during the Global Entrepreneurs Summit in Kenya.

Prior to Hello Tractor, Oliver founded Aya Consulting, a boutique consulting and advisory firm. At Aya he was involved in more than a half billion dollars in impact investment transactions across ten countries, including conflict zones. Outside of work, Oliver remains active serving on the board of two impact investment funds focused in sub-Saharan Africa: Shared Interest (as board treasurer and member of the executive committee) and H4H. Oliver began his career in the U.S. investment banking and private equity industries. He studied economics at FAMU, graduating in 2005.

Brittany Claybrooks

Claybrooks is a native of Detroit, Mich., and a graduate of FAMU with a bachelor’s degree in health care management. Professionally, she serves as a health care enrollment and outreach specialist at Young Invincibles, a national nonprofit, located in Washington, D.C. that advocates on behalf of millennial adults (ages 18-34) in the areas of health care, economic development, and higher education. In addition, Claybrooks found her roots in public service in Tallahassee where she worked as an assistant community engagement coordinator at the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice, served on the executive board of the FAMU Chapter of Dream Defenders, participated in SGA as a senior senator, and volunteered on various local and state political campaigns.

She is also a recent alumnus of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Emerging Leaders program where she interned in the House Democratic Cloakroom under the office of Nancy Pelosi, former speaker and current House minority leader. Most notably though, Claybrooks is a first-generation college graduate who believes that her purpose in life is to inspire other “concrete roses” to reach for their highest potential and live the life they deserve.

Jermaine Fletcher and Jimmie Thomas

Fletcher and Thomas kicked off their Curators of Hip Hop (COHH) 2016 Tour in February, stopping in Tallahassee to promote the preservation of hip hop culture and storytelling through performance. Both Fletcher and Thomas earned degrees in journalism from the School of Journalism and Graphic Communication and strive to reach their goal through fusing film, music, education, and storytelling under the Curators of Hip Hop brand. Their  film, “The Curators” Volume 1: A Story of Independence,” includes stories and narratives of hip hop artists across the U.S., Asia, and Africa. The tour features Grammy Award-nominated artist Carolyn Malachi and gospel rapper Dee-1.

The company formed in 2009 in Hawaii and has since traveled the world, presenting at places like FAMU, The Pan African Festival, and more. Fletcher is a multimedia producer who has worked on music and video production as a contractor for Bloomberg, ESPN, CBS, MTV, PBS, and more. He is currently the international representative for COHH. Thomas is a journalist, filmmaker and entrepreneur who is currently a Montgomery County program coordinator for Building Communities Today for Tomorrow.

Jason Peat

Peat brings to Blue Infusion Technologies, LLC, a diverse background, leveraging extensive program/project management consulting experience in energy efficiency and sustainability backed by eight years of successful practice in the building construction industry. His experience includes the application of graphic and digital communication, energy management with an emphasis on sustainability incorporated into building technology, building systems, IT systems implementation, and quality analysis/controls across portfolios ranging from $4k to $120M.

In his current role, Peat is responsible for the development and management of all operational infrastructure for Blue Infusion Technologies and its flagship product, BearTek (Bluetooth Enabled Audio Regulation Technology). Their technology recently appeared on an episode of the hit NBC show “Shark Tank” and received more than $58,000 in crowdfunding from supporters on Indiegogo.

Peat earned a bachelor’s degree in architecture in 2002 and a master’s degree in architecture in 2004 from FAMU.