Visiting Scholars Speaker Series & Community Networking Conference

Dr. Apryl Alexander is the Metrolina Distinguished Scholar in Health and Policy and Associate Professor in the Department of Health Management and Policy at UNC Charlotte. She also is the Executive Director of the UNC Charlotte Violence Prevention Center. She received her doctorate in clinical psychology from the Florida Institute of Technology with concentrations in forensic psychology and child and family therapy. Her recent research centers on gun violence policies, such as stand-your-ground and extreme risk protection order (ERPO) laws, as well as youth crime reduction interventions and policies.

William Electric Black, aka Ian Ellis James, is a seven-time Emmy Award winning writer for his work on “Sesame Street” between 1992 and 2002. He also wrote for Nickelodeon’s “Allegra’s Window” and Lancit Media’s “Backyard Safari.” In 2022-2023, his children’s television show – “Rap-U-Cation” was optioned by FarView Entertainment. He also developed an original TV show for FarView called Dragon Clouds. In a series of multimedia projects with Doug E. Fresh, Chuck D, and Artie Green, he has campaigned for exercise and good nutrition for young children, prescription drug awareness and obesity prevention.  He is also the author of a series of Pre-K, early reader books about gun violence awareness: A Gun is Not Fun. These early childhood books, written to combat gun violence awareness and prevention, are part of an in-school pilot program (see www.Gunplays.org for his plays and children’s books on gun violence awareness). He has been a faculty member at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts in the Department of Dramatic Writing and NYU’s Summer High School Program for some 20 years.

Jon is an assistant professor of acting and playwriting in the Department of Theatre and Dance at Wake Forest University where he is also in the directing pool for departmental productions. He will be making his WFU directing debut in fall 2025 with Phil Dawkin’s play Failure: A Love Story.  A recent transplant to Winston-Salem, Jon holds a Master of Arts degree in Theatre and a Master of Fine Arts degree in Dramatic Writing from Missouri State University, and has been teaching, acting, directing, and writing for the theatre for over thirty years. After attending a four-day workshop with Augusto Boal (Theatre of the Oppressed) in 2008, Jon began working with students and community partners under the names Stop & Go Interactive and Social Invasion Theatre Ensemble (S.I.T.E.), to create bespoke, socially interventive plays (Forum Theatre) designed to engage community dialogue around important issues. Among these works are It’s Elementary, a play about various issues concerning elementary school students, performed for teachers, parents, administrators and school counselors; and Sugar and Spice and Everything Nice, a play about safety and security in the college classroom, presented for the faculty of Ozarks Technical Community College where Jon was previously employed as the head of the Theatre program.

Kimberly S. Jones, the 2023-24 North Carolina Teacher of the Year, has spent over 19 years at Chapel Hill High School teaching courses like World Literature and AP African American Studies while advocating for equity in education. A Wake Forest graduate and collaborator with organizations like PBS and Facing History, she develops culturally relevant lessons that inspire action and understanding. Recognized with numerous awards, Kimberly’s work extends beyond the classroom, mentoring teachers and shaping educational policy to empower students and drive social change.

Dr. Rebecca Palmer, DO, MPH is an assistant professor at Wake Forest School of Medicine where she serves as a pediatric hospitalist and staff supervisor in the newborn nursery. As an academic pediatrician, she is engaged in both clinical care and educational efforts for medical students and residents. She is passionate about pediatric injury prevention and completed her certification to become a Certified Car Passenger Technician. She engages in research and community engagement surrounding safe firearm storage, most recently serving on the Advisory Board for the NC Office of Violence Prevention.

David Yamane is a sociology professor at Wake Forest University. He is an internationally recognized scholarly authority on guns in America and a calming voice in our divisive national argument on the issue. An Asian American and lifelong liberal from the San Francisco Bay Area, Yamane became a first-time gun owner as a 42-year-old and began a 12-year journey into the complex world of firearms in America leading to the publication of Gun Curious: A Liberal Professor’s Surprising Journey Inside America’s Gun Culture in 2024. Having one foot outside and one inside gun culture allows him to speak with compassion across our paralyzing differences.