The Miss America Organization Board of Trustees Elects Three New Trustees
Dr. Shelley Robertson and Mary Jane Clark first directors elected from outside of the organization.
Dr. Debbye Turner Bell, Miss America 1990, also joins the Board.
For immediate release
ATLANTIC CITY – June 22, 2018 – The Miss America Organization Board of Trustees announces it has elected Dr. Shelley Robertson, Mary Jane Clark and Dr. Debbye Turner Bell as trustees to the board.
Dr. Shelley Robertson brings more than 20 years of non-profit board governance and project evaluation to the Miss America Organization. She has provided services to federal, state, and county governments, public and private foundations and other funding entities, community-based coalitions and universities. She has presented project-specific data to national and gubernatorial-appointed state task forces as well as serving as an expert presenter for the Department of Education on college educational initiatives. She has expertise in pre-K, college and scholarship evaluations. A member of the Southeast Evaluators Network, Dr. Robertson was the Principal Investigator on the United Way Resource House project, which was the 2005 National Peter F. Drucker Award for Innovation runner-up. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration as a National Merit Scholar, a Master of Arts in Applied Economics, a Doctorate in Organizational Leadership and is a member of the American Evaluation Association and the Southeast Evaluation Association.
Author Mary Jane Clark’s novels have appeared on the New York Times, USA Today, Publishers Weekly and other national bestsellers lists. With 16 books published in 23 languages, Ms. Clark brings extensive media and communications experience to the Miss America Organization. Prior to her literary success, Ms. Clark worked for three decades as a writer and producer at CBS News headquarters in New York. She covered politics as well as national and international news. She has served on the boards of FRAXA Research Foundation and Mystery Writers of America. A graduate of the University of Rhode Island, Mary Jane has degrees in journalism and political science.
Dr. Debbye Turner Bell, Miss America 1990 , is a veterinarian, journalist, corporate trainer, minister, motivational speaker, wife, and mother. Dr. Turner Bell is the Founder and CEO of Debbye Turner Bell Consulting, a faculty with the Institute for Management Studies, and an Affiliate Trainer for the TransPorter Group Inc. providing leadership development training in communications, influence, and diversity to corporate and business leaders, managers, and executives. Dr. Turner Bell was a correspondent for CBS News, the lead U.S. news anchor for Arise News and currently can be seen as an expert contributor to the show DOGS 101 on Animal Planet. She has served on the boards of the National Council on Youth leadership, Children’s Miracle Network, Missouri Division of Youth Services, Mathews-Dickey Boys and Girls Club and the National Advisory Child Health and Human Development Council. Dr Turner Bell is graduate of the University of Missouri-Columbia with a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree, as well as a Bachelor of Science degree in agriculture from Arkansas State University.
“I am thrilled that Shelley, Mary Jane and Debbye are joining us to execute on the new mission of Miss America, preparing great women for the world and preparing the world for great women.” said Gretchen Carlson, Chair of the Miss America Board of Trustees. “ Their collective talents and experience will give us a new depth and breadth of input and we appreciate their desire to advance Miss America 2.0. They join a special group of people whoare working hand in hand to make this great program even greater.”
Preliminaries for the 2019 Miss America Competition will take place September 5th, 6th and 7th at the Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City. On September 9th, a new Miss America will be chosen on the famous Boardwalk Hall stage and will air live on ABC. Tickets can be purchased at Ticketmaster.
About The Miss America Organization
The Miss America Organization, a 501(c) (4), is one of the most recognizable household names in America working to empower young women through education and service. The Miss America Organization is comprised of 51 licensed state organizations, including all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Miss America candidates contribute tens of thousands of community service hours annually and have raised over $17 million for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and Miss America scholarships since 2007. The Miss America Foundation, a 501(c) (3), provides academic, community service, and other scholarships to young women.
Follow “The Miss America Organization” on social media:
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Official website: www.missamerica.org
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