Our Program Team

Nadia K. Selby
Chief Financial Officer and Program Director - New York

​Nadia K. Selby believes in and understands the critical role caring adults play in the development of a child. Nadia received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Human Services from University of Massachusetts Boston. In addition to working with  Adventure Girlz, Nadia currently serves as the Managing Director of Program for Citizen Schools New York -- a national non-profit that mobilizes teams to enable public middle schools in low-income communities to provide a longer learning day rich with opportunities -- where she coaches emerging leaders and supports program for over 600 middle school students. Nadia is also a proud member of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority Inc.; a historic Black sorority focused on enhancing the quality of life for women through community service, civil, and social action.

Barbara L. Jones
Program Director - South Carolina

Barbara L. Jones is passionate about promoting and growing the sport of tennis to our youth, especially those in the underserved rural areas. She is a board member of the South Carolina, United States Tennis Association (USTA) and is the Southeast area director. She serves on the Diversity and Inclusion Committee. Barbara is a former vice-president of the Low Country Youth Tennis Association. Locally, she is the St. George Junior Team Tennis Coordinator and Executive Director of the St. George Youth Sports League (SGYSL). Under Barbara's direction, SGYSL received the 2012 South Carolina Community Tennis Association Award of the Year. She also received the 2010 South Carolina Junior Team Tennis Coordinator of the Year Award. Barbara practiced nursing for 32 years as a pediatric nurse practitioner and registered nurse with the New York City Department of Health and the New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation. After retiring in December 2000, she became an adjunct clinical instructor at New York University in their Graduate Nurse Practitioner Program. In 2005, Barbara and her husband, Grady, relocated to St. George, South Carolina. They have four children and four grandchildren.

Norene Johnson
Director of Literacy Innovation

​Norene Johnson is a strong advocate for young women having the drive and effort to achieve their dreams despite the obstacles and hardships they may face on a regular basis in their life. As a graduate of Brooklyn College with a Baccalaureate in English, Norene has done a great amount of volunteer work with children from low-income communities to instill in them that where they grew up does not have to put limitations on their overall success in life. Whatever her students' dreams, Norene provides coaching so those dreams can become a reality. Additionally, she encourages young women to build their personal networks to include others who see their potential and can push them towards excellence. Norene has learned first hand from having strong women in her life such as her mother, her grandmother and her aunt who is a Principal at a primary school in Jamaica, West Indies. 

Our Board of Directors

Dr. Moriska V. Selby (President)
Alfatah Moore
Aysha Upchurch
Colin Stokes (Vice President)
Jennifer Blackmon (Secretary) 
Jessica C. Graham