Board of Directors

With a degree in International Marketing from The University of Alabama at Tuscaloosa and an advanced certificate from the University of Chicago’s Accelerator Program, Jennifer Gist has amassed more than a decade of experience in the corporate world. Namely, as a senior Midwest regional communications director for Team Rubicon, a prominent non-profit organization; sales & marketing director for a Midwest food company; founder/owner of a Chicago-based fashion outlet and regional communications director for a non-profit disaster recovery organization. She was selected as one of the country’s Top 100 Urban Entrepreneurs by the CashFlow Organization. In addition, Jennifer holds awards from Black Enterprise Magazine’s $10K Elevator Pitch Competition and the National Black MBA Association’s $10K Whiteboard Challenge. She is a founding MHF Board member and serves as Board Secretary.

Sylvia Gist has a wealth of experience at various levels of education. Holding bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Chicago State University and a Doctor of Philosophy degree from the University of Chicago, her teaching experience transgresses secondary, post-secondary, and higher education levels. Her administrative experience includes department chair of technology education and dean of the College of Education at Chicago State University. Among her publications is her book, Educating a Southern Rural Community:  A History of Education of Blacks in Holmes County, Mississippi, 1870 – 1993. She is a founding MHF Board member and serves as President and Executive Director.