Meet Graduate! Philadelphia

Malik Brown is a seasoned leader with a unique portfolio of cross-sector experiences. His work and impact span multiple industries, including business, nonprofit, and higher education. At Graduate Philadelphia, Malik is responsible for developing strategic, cross-sector relationships (business, government, higher education, and nonprofit) in order to advance the mission of adult degree attainment, workforce readiness, and inclusive economic development. In his previous role as the associate vice president of workforce solutions & community impact for Peirce College, Malik was responsible for building workforce development solutions, cultivating strategic partnerships, and driving community impact.

Prior to joining higher ed, Malik was part of the executive team at Diversified Community Services. He was responsible for the adult and family services division of the organization. Malik partnered with colleges and universities, city and state officials, corporations, and foundations to help working adults and families across the region achieve economic wellbeing and financial stability. Over the course of his career, Malik has worked in finance, customer relationship management, and diversity and inclusion. His time with national organizations like Inroads, Accenture, and the United Way has provided him with a broad range of management insights and capabilities—and a passion for serving working adults and nontraditional populations.

Malik is a passionate advocate and champion of social and economic mobility for non-traditional learners. To make a difference and give voice to important regional issues, Malik also serves on several nonprofit boards and regional steering committees. He serves on the board of directors of ACHIEVEability and the Settlement Music School, and on the Education and Talent Steering Committees for both the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce and the Main Line Chamber of Commerce.

Malik is a life-long learner. He strongly believes in ongoing career development, sponsorship, and life coaching for those who are most disconnected from opportunity. He is a servant leader who is dedicated to the personal and professional development of others.

Malik attended Clark University in Worcester, MA where he earned his BA and MBA.

Sena Owereko [Seh-nah Oh-were-echo], M.S., DMC, CTC, CMSC is a global facilitator, senior strategist, and award-winning, multilingual professional with over 20 years of combined experience in higher education administration, advising, diversity student recruitment, career services, training, consulting, and program management. She has served as the Director of Client Relations and Career Services for the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL); assisting in delivering career-aligned education advising, advisor training, and prior learning assessment information to a diverse portfolio of clients including Fortune 100 companies.

Sena has served as the Director of Strategic Initiatives for Peirce College, Director of Admissions (CPLS), Assistant Director of Graduate Admissions, & Associate Director of Multicultural Admissions for Saint Joseph’s University (PA), and the International Cooperative Education Coordinator for Drexel University (PA). Sena O. is a former Executive Board Member of Daddy University Inc., as well as a former Board Member for Good Shepherd Mediation Program and Schools Without Borders. She is also a Philadelphia 190th District Image Award Recipient.

Sena O. is a passionate life-long learner and holds both an M.S. in Training & Organizational Development, with a concentration in Adult Learning, and a B.A. in International Relations from Saint Joseph’s University (PA). She earned a certificate in Marketing Strategies for Business Leaders from Cornell University and a certificate in Design Thinking and Innovation from Harvard Business Online. She holds Diversity Management Certification (DMC), Corporate Trainer Certification (CTC), and Change Management Specialist Certification (CMSC) designations from the Management and Strategy Institute.

Originally from Ghana, West Africa, she is proud to call Philadelphia home. She is a published writer and most proud of being a parent of 3 phenomenal emerging leaders.

Steve Evans is the Vice President of Development and Institutional Advancement at Graduate Philadelphia. He is responsible for the organization’s revenue pipelines and developing new lines of business. He has held senior management and fundraising positions in workforce development, higher education, and social services.

Throughout his career, Steve has focused on justice, peace and human dignity. He has led and assisted in a variety of projects that have impacted our national policy and regional services.

·       Assisted in the production of Deadly Deception, an Academy Award Winning Documentary highlighting the environmental and human cost of nuclear weapons production.

·       Partnered with the Delaware State Bar Association to write and pass the Delaware CarePlan Act that allowed families to support their loved ones with disabilities in their estate plans without jeopardizing their government benefits.

·       Served as the first Director of Development for RHD to integrate fundraising into homeless shelters, health clinics, art studios, education, mental health, public housing, LGBT services and much more. RHD operates 168 programs serving 40,000 clients in 28 states.

·       Managed the development efforts and expansion of Year Up Greater Philadelphia and Wilmington to Close the Opportunity Divide. The Center for High Impact Philanthropy at the University of Pennsylvania analyzed the program and concluded that the students “more than earn back the resources invested in them in less than two years after completing the program. Moreover, success breeds success: higher starting salaries tend to continue and compound, leading to higher earnings for the rest of their lives.”

·       Served as the Senior Director of Institutional Advancement at Peirce College and tripled the college’s fundraising results in the first year. In addition, Steve helped create Career Bridge that allows displaced and low-wage adults to enter college with no money down, earn up to 25 college credits debt free, earn an accredited credential and industry-recognized certification and achieve family sustainable wages in as little as six to nine months.

Steve holds a B.S. in Economics from Allegheny College and International Affairs degree from the Austro-American Institute in Vienna, Austria.

Baxter G. Gamble, Jr. is an educator, master trainer, and coach specializing in helping others develop knowledge to enhance productivity, effectiveness, and life satisfaction. For over 25 years he has worked within education (elementary, secondary, and postsecondary), NPOs, and corporate America assisting with program development and implementation, designing curriculum/instruction, technology guidance, DEI training, and coaching adult learners. The combination of these backgrounds and experiences has made him a very capable change agent who, in all his roles, seeks better ways to perform what is considered the normal routine and add a little zest to the process.

For 7 years he has headed BrainTrust Educational Consulting (BTEC), a consulting and coaching service that has serviced hundreds of very satisfied clients. The social service arm of BTEC is College Knowledge, Inc. which allows him to do what he enjoys most — working within the community. Baxter can often be found interacting with elementary and high school students speaking on the importance of career development in relation to college preparation. Planning college trips during Spring breaks for 10th – 12th graders is his greatest joy as the experience forms a real connection that turns on the lights for those youngsters who participate. It is his pleasure to assist parents with getting and keeping their student in school with the goal to get that college diploma.

Mr. Gamble possesses a Type 75 Administrative Certificate, M.A. in Educational Administration and Leadership and a M.A. in Education and Human Development, with an emphasis on Educational Technology Leadership, and a B.A. in Occupational Psychology. He has held highly visible leadership and consulting positions serving as a Consulting Administrator with Chicago Community Learning Centers and the Southland Health Care Forum, Educational Advisor with the Council on Adult Experiential Learning, Citywide Program Director with the Chicago Public Schools, Associate Director of the Career Development Center at the Illinois Institute of Technology, Associate Director of Advising and Admissions with the City Colleges of Chicago, and Sr. Consultant/Training Manager with marchFIRST, Inc.

His interests are traveling, architecture, theater, and researching conspiracy theories. Baxter is an avid fan of horror and science fiction media (movies, books, podcasts).