University Schools Advisory Board

The Advsiory Board serves to provide greater collaboration, visibility, outreach and research opportunities in order to provide high quality early childhood, elementary, middle and high school education in our University Schools.

Dallas Geer

Dallas Geer is the Chief Financial Officer for The Poplar Foundation. He received his Bachelor’s and MBA degrees from the University of Tennessee Knoxville. Dallas currently serves as a board member of the University Middle School Parent Network (UMPN), Memphis River Parks Partnership and Memphis Athletic Ministries. He also serves as co-chair of the City and World Serve Team as Redeemer Church in midtown Memphis. Dallas and his wife Blair have two boys in the University School system.

Dr. Stephanie Ivey

Dr. Stephanie Ivey is a Professor with the Department of Civil Engineering and Associate Director of the Division of Transportation and Logistics with the Center for Applied Earth Science and Engineering Research. She also directs the Southeast Transportation Workforce Center at the University of Memphis and the West Tennessee STEM Hub, a regional K-12 outreach initiative. Her research includes focus on community livability, transportation operations, and transportation planning and policy.  Dr. Ivey also has a lengthy and nationally recognized research record focused on STEM and transportation education and workforce.  She is a member of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis Transportation Industry Council and the Transportation Research Board Standing Committee on Maintenance and Operations Management. She serves on the board of the Greater Memphis IT Council and TennSmart.  She also serves as faculty advisor for the University of Memphis student chapter of the Institute of Transportation Engineers and is part of the ITE International STEM Committee.

David McKinney

David McKinney is the Vice President of Communications and Public Affairs for AutoZone where he is responsible for AutoZone’s corporate communications, public and media relations, charitable giving and government relations. McKinney is very active in the local community and serves on the Board of Trustees for the University of Memphis and the Board of Directors for the Tennessee and California Retailers Association. McKinney is also on the Tennessee Governor’s Council for Judicial Appointments and Tennessee Financial Literacy Commission. McKinney has earned two degrees from the University of Memphis, a Bachelor of Business Administration in 2004 and a Juris Doctorate in 2007. He and wife Shanea are also University Schools parents and active supporters. 

Helen Stearnes

Helen Stearnes serves as the University Schools faculty representative, and currently teaches Biology and AP Environmental Science at University High School. Helen is a cerftified secondary science teacher with endorsements in Biology and Earth Science, and has been teaching at the secondary level for 17 years. When not in the classroom, Helen serves as one of the University High School track and field coaches. Helen is a proud parent of students at University Middle School and University High School. 

Lauren Spires

Lauren Spires is the Assistant Director of the Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury’s Office of Research and Education Accountability. In this role, she supports a team of analysts who provide accurate and objective research to the Tennessee General Assembly, primarily focused on education policy in Tennessee. Lauren has authored and co-authored multiple award-winning reports primarily focused on higher education policy. With over 10 years of experience in state government, Lauren previously served as legislative assistant to a state senator serving part of Memphis and as Deputy Chief Government Relations and Policy Officer for the University of Memphis. Lauren earned an associate degree in Communications from Volunteer State Community College, a bachelor’s degree in political science from Middle Tennessee State University, and a Master of Public Administration from Tennessee State University. She is currently pursuing her PhD in Public Policy and Administration from Tennessee State University, and she is a 2022 graduate of the Tennessee Government Management Institute. Lauren and her husband live in Nashville with their daughter and cat.

Nichole Scarboro

Dr. Nichole Saulsberry-Scarboro is a native of Memphis, Tennessee and a Campus School graduate.  Nichole is a Campus School parent and has led efforts to increase university faculty grantsmanship, increase college access and success, improve mental health outcomes for youth and their caregivers, increase employment opportunities for entry-level workers, improve collaboration among human and social services agencies to more efficiently and effectively assist clients as they move themselves to economic self-sufficiency, promote education as a civil right and personal responsibility, create more financially savvy Tennesseans, improve healthy living habits, and increase exposure to STEM coursework and careers.  

In addition to her extensive and varied work experiences, Dr. Saulsberry-Scarboro is a formally trained Educator.  She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Education from Emory University, a Master of Science degree in Curriculum and Instructional Leadership from University of Memphis and a Doctor of Education degree in Educational Leadership from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Jamia Stokes

Jamia Stokes is the Associate Dean for Student Success at Rhodes College.  She has 18 years’ experience working in higher education, and she finds purpose in working in roles dedicated to supporting students.  Prior to joining the Rhodes community, she served as the Director of Advising and Student Services in the College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.

She earned her Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and her PhD from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville.  Jamia is married to Eric Stokes. Together they have two children, Kendalyn and Evan. 

Jennie Verner-Chair 

Jennie Verner is a Government Relations Advisor with Butler Snow’s Memphis Office where she represents the interests of a variety of clients at the Tennessee General Assembly and with local government. Jennie previously served in government relations and policy roles with the University of Memphis, Tennessee State Collaborative on Reforming Education (SCORE), and the Tennessee General Assembly. Jennie is passionate about educational equity and the research mission of the University Schools. Jennie holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Louisiana State University. She calls both Memphis and Nashville home and in her spare time, Jennie enjoys travel, cooking, and spending time with her dog, Judy.   

Michael Whaley

Michael is the Shelby County Commissioner for District 5, representing East Memphis and Cordova.  Michael serves as the Tennessee Director of Leadership for Educational Equity (LEE) where he works with current and former teachers to build their civic engagement and leadership. Michael was also the Founder and Executive Director of Memphis College Prep, a kindergarten through fifth grade public elementary school. He is active in several local community and civil boards, including Shelby Farms Park, the Downtown Memphis Commission, and Let’s Innovate Through Education (LITE). 

A native of Dallas, Texas, Michael holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Public Policy from Southern Methodist University.