Bulldog Class Notes for Aug. 3, 2023

Sharing Good News about Alumni of South Carolina State University!

Phebian Davis-Culler

Class of 1994

As a clinical assistant professor of accounting in Clemson University’s Wilbur O. and Ann Powers College of Business for the past six years, Phebian Davis-Culle r followed the expected focus of clinical faculty: first teaching, then service, followed by research.

Her drive to excel in all areas of her role recently resulted in a groundbreaking promotion in the college. In February, Davis-Culler learned that she had become the first faculty in the Wilbur O. and Ann Powers College of Business to earn a clinical promotion, making her a clinical associate professor when her promotion takes effect in August 2023.

In addition to teaching accounting classes, Davis-Culler manages the School of Accountancy’s advisory board and served as the faculty advisor for the past five years with Beta Alpha Psi, the financial information honor organization.

Davis-Culler earned a bachelor's degree in accounting from SC State in 1994. She also received advanced degrees Clemson University in 1996 and Florida Atlantic University in 2017.

Capt. Eric T. Jones

Class of 1998

Capt. Eric T. Jones has been named commander of the U.S. Coast Guard Base in Charleston.

Previously, he was the product line manager at the Coast Guard’s Surface Forces Logistics Center Long Range Enforcer Product Line.

Jones graduated from SC State in 1998 with a degree in mechanical engineering technology. He also holds Master of Science degrees from George Washington University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Jerrell Moore

Class of 1997

Houston- and Tupelo, Mississippi-based Cadence Bank has announced the appointment of Jerrell Moore as executive vice president and chief diversity officer.

Moore joins the company from Google, for which he held multiple roles in human resources. Most recently, he helped lead the execution and delivery of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) strategy for Google Cloud. Prior to that, he served as head of global inclusion, responsible for leading Google’s internal community partnerships, including its 40,000 employee resource group members.

Prior to joining Google, Moore was vice president and head of DEI at Assurant, a Fortune 500 global provider of risk management products and services. There he created and led an integrated global diversity and inclusion strategy to elevate the company’s status as a place to learn and work. Moore led the company’s diversity and inclusion advisory council while continuing to shape its DEI strategy.

Moore received his juris doctor degree and master’s degree in human resources from the University of South Carolina and a BA degree in English from South Carolina State University. He currently serves on the boards of OnBoard and Trees Atlanta.

Chito Walker

Class of 1999

Deputy Chief Chito Walker is serving as interim chief of the Charleston Police Department as the city conducts a national search for the replacement of former Chief Luther Reynolds.

Walker has held various positions with CPD since 2000, beginning as a patrolman and later serving as a detective, SWAT team operator and supervisor. He was promoted to deputy chief in March 2020. He most recently served as the deputy chief of the department’s Procedural Justice and Community Policing Bureau.

He is a Greenville native and holds degrees in criminal justice and management from South Carolina State University and Webster University. He has also completed training with the FBI National Academy, the Department of Homeland Security Leadership Academy and the FBI National Executive Institute.

He is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity and also holds professional affiliations with the FBI National Academy Associates, the International Association of Chiefs of Police, the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives, the National Tactical Officer Association and the Fraternal Order of Police.

Margaret Bowens

Class of 2002

The South Carolina Department of Social Services named Mullins native Margaret Bowens Employee of the Month for July. The program recognized Bowens among seven staff members for their work exemplifying its core principles in competence, courage and compassion.

According to SCNow, Bowens serves as TANF Work Program Manager for the State Office Division of Employment Services. The South Carolina State University graduate has more than 17 years of experience and provides oversight of the program statewide.

Staff selected for the DSS Employee of the Month program were awarded lunch with the State Director, along with other honorees and a dedicated parking space.

Abdalla Straker

Class of 2009

Straight Road International has received a second grant from the Alzheimer’s Resource Coordination Center in the South Carolina Department on Aging.

The $7,250 grant supports the continued work of Straight Road’s educational program titled “Elder Financial Abuse in the Dementia Community. Over the last year, Straight Road conducted 25 workshops across the state, as well as utilizing video and website content to bring awareness to the issues of elder financial abuse and dementia.

Straight Road’s president and founder, Abdalla Straker, believes that it is critical that this issue be addressed.

Straight Road International is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that focuses on health and financial literacy. Straker is a gerontologist and alumnus of South Carolina State University who spent a decade working in corporate America.

Abdalla is the Executive Director and Resident Gerontologist at Straight Road. He spent a decade in Corporate America at Bank of America Merrill Lynch with most of his time working in Retirement Services.

Send Us Your Class Notes!

Are you an SC State graduate with good news to share?

Tell us about career changes, promotions, awards, births of children and other important milestones.

Email details to Sam Watson, SC State director of university relations: swatson2@scsu.edu.