Meet The Team

Tina Pierce, PhD

Dr. Tina Pierce is a dynamic leader in education, civic engagement, and social impact. Raised in a resilient working-class family, she learned early that hard work and education open doors; values she instills in her four children, Andrew, Malcolm, Catherine, and Michelle. As the Founder of WORTH LLC and Co-Founder of the WORTH Foundation she empowers individuals and communities through evidence-base leadership programs. Serving in her second term on the Columbus Board of Education, Dr. Pierce amplifies student and community voices. In 2020, she created the Dr. Tina Pierce Social Justice Scholarship to provide funding to Columbus City School graduates who have demonstrated a commitment to community engagement, social justice, or political activism. In creating the scholarship, she envisioned the formation of sustainable connections between current and past Columbus City Schools leaders. Dr. Pierce continues to leave an indelible mark on our community and beyond.

Andrew Pierce

Andrew Pierce is a results-driven leader who seeks to use community perspectives and strategy to create coalitions for change. A dual graduate of The Ohio State University's John Glenn College of Public Affairs and current J.D. candidate at the University of Virginia School of Law, Andrew is a firm believer that education is the key to success. With 10+ years of experience in workshop facilitation, course design, and organizing, he joins our foundation to assist communities in reaching their highest potential.

Malcolm Pierce

Malcolm Pierce is a third‑year Morrill Scholar and Mechanical Engineering undergraduate at The Ohio State University. He serves as a Research Assistant in the Materials at Extremes Laboratory, where he investigates additively manufactured materials for aerospace applications and has contributed to the field through multiple conference presentations and accepted conference papers. In addition to his research, Malcolm is an active member of the National Society of Black Engineers at Ohio State, where he has held several executive board roles and continues to support initiatives that advance diversity in STEM. He is deeply committed to strengthening the student experience on campus, actively contributing to programs that provide academic, professional, and community support for underrepresented engineering students. Malcolm brings genuine passion to this work, striving to help his peers thrive, persist, and find belonging throughout their college journey.

Ivory Kennedy Jr.

Ivory L. Kennedy Jr., a proud Dayton native, is a dedicated educator, practicing historian, and advocate for comprehensive American History education & Civil Engagement. Ivory began his career teaching middle school Social Studies & Language Arts focusing on American History. Currently Ivory serves as the Middle Childhood Education Program Manager, teaching & training pre-service educators; equipping them with the knowledge, skills, and professionalism needed to create inclusive and equitable learning environments for students emphasizing historical literacy. Additionally, he serves a 1/3 of the Educators for Democracy Team for the Institute for Common Power, an organization wholly dedicated to education as a foundation for creating an inclusive democracy across the United States.

Ivory continues to inspire and empower educators and students alike, connecting history with current events. His dedication to honoring the nations complex past, teaching truth of the marginalized narratives, and shaping a more just and equitable future remains unwavering. Through his teaching, scholarship, and advocacy, Ivory L. Kennedy Jr. embodies the transformative potential of education in hopes to simply “do his part” in contributing to a more perfect union.
 

Suzan Mchao

Suzan Mchao is a servant of Christ, a community connector, and an advocate for the African diaspora. As a community engagement legislative analyst for Columbus City Council, Suzan connects over 900,000 constituents to their nine Councilmembers. 

Suzan spent her early childhood in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania before returning to Columbus, OH.  She also spent time in Washington D.C. interning for Senator Sherrod Brown then with The Home Depot’s Government Relations Department through the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation. Now, she is a liaison to the African community, businesses, and faith-based organizations, coalescing her commitment to her culture and devotion to the Lord in her work.

Named the youngest class member of the OSU Black Alumni Society’s Buckeyes Under 40 Class of 2025, Suzan received a Stephanie Hightower Public Service, Education and Non-Profit Award for her accomplishments in Columbus and beyond. That same year, she was also featured in the 19th Edition of Who’s Who in Black Columbus. Aside from her work in faith-based and political spaces, Suzan is committed to guiding the next generation of leaders and has mentored young professionals from her alma mater, The Ohio State University, to achieve this goal.