Our Staff

Since 2022, Karriem Edwards has served as President of the South Carolina Center for Fathers and Families. Under his leadership, the work of fatherhood throughout the state has increased and impacted more fathers, accentuating his banner, “Serve More Dads Better.” Seeing double-digit growth in the impact of key programs and services offered to dads, Karriem has established leadership training programs, financial accountability and management policies, and innovative fundraising initiatives that provide a foundation to equip the Center’s five regional fatherhood partners and, ultimately, transform the lives of thousands of fathers and children every year.

Previously, Karriem held the position of Vice President of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Broward County in Florida. He is a philanthropic leader with more than 20 years of proven success in program development, training, management, and fundraising. Karriem has an enthusiasm and drive to carry his nonprofit experiences to the realm of fatherhood programs and engagement. He is a graduate of Florida A&M University and the Social Enterprise Institute at Harvard Business School.

Scott joined the Center in 2019 as the Director of Finance. He oversees the finance and accounting functions for the Center and statewide fatherhood organizations. He provides financial oversight, implementation and compliance. A graduate of Wofford College, Scott recently served with The Greyson Group as their assistant controller.

Kiki joined the Center in January 2014. Previously, she worked with the South Carolina Department of Education, Office of Adult Education. Kiki is a veteran of the Air Force, in which she served as a human resources manager. Serving as the Director of Organizational Development and Operations, Kiki is responsible for internal operations, staff and team development, Center human resources and development, workflow management of Center projects, and also acts as a liaison with the executive directors at each of our six statewide fatherhood organizations. She holds a master’s degree in organizational leadership.

Judy has consulted with the Center staff since January 2011. She researches, prepares and submits local, state, and federal government and foundation grants, state and national corporate grants, and United Way grants. As grants manager she ensures that program activities are implemented in accordance with successful grant proposals, facilitates grant implementation meetings, and prepares extensive funders' reports.

Marc supports our network of fatherhood organizations across the state and manages several projects for those organizations and the Center. He supports program growth and training for local programs, with local fatherhood programs, identifies programming and personnel issues, assists in educating external audiences, and helps coordinate and plan special Center events. Marc came to the Center at the start of 2016 after serving as student services manager at USC's Darla Moore School of Business since 2011.

Dawn directs the Access to Men's Healthcare component in three program sites. She also provides health education, direct care and treatment for fatherhood participants and forms partnerships with local healthcare providers for continuation of services and treatment for program participants. She designed the Men's Health curriculum and is often called upon to provide insight on the challenges of reaching out to low-income men and addressing their unique health needs.

Joel is responsible for developing data-based decision making and evaluative inquiry agency-wide. He leads information management, data interpretation, and data use. He also conducts and disseminates research and evaluations to support continuous quality improvement and to help advance the local, state and national research base in fatherhood. Joel has over 20 years of evaluation experience in the areas of education, public health, and child welfare. He received his doctorate in psychology from the University of South Carolina and worked for 10 years as a Research Assistant Professor at the Center for Child and Family Studies in USC's College of Social Work. He most recently served as the Senior Director of Research at The Evaluation Group.

Shana joined the Center in 2024 as a Data and Quality Manager. She is responsible for monitoring multiple data management systems and data collection processes for the Center and statewide fatherhood organizations. She also provides statewide technical assistance and works closely with the Center’s programming team on process improvements of programmatic operations, procedures, and outcomes. Shana is a recent retiree from the State of South Carolina after 31 years of service. During her tenure, she served as an Information Systems and Business Analyst, Director of Quality Assurance, Data Coordinator, and executive level administrative support. She has a wealth of experience in data management, data analysis, quality assurance, process improvement, and IT help desk support. Shana holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of South Carolina as well as a master’s degree from South Carolina State University.

Tana joined the Center in March 2020 after having retired as General Counsel of the South Carolina Department of Disabilities and Special Needs. Her background has been in the field of child welfare and has worked previously with the Children’s Law Center and the South Carolina Department of Social Services. Tana will provide oversight and technical assistance for Jobs not Jail and provide ongoing technical assistance and training to local program staff on legal issues.

Dr. Lawrence Ford joined the leadership team in the role of Director of Marketing and Communications in 2023. He brings more than two decades of non-profit leadership to the Center with global experience in the areas of publishing, media, events, public relations, and education. He has lived and worked on three continents conducting training programs, establishing mission centers, and managing aid distribution. Additionally, Dr. Ford is an adjunct professor in the graduate school at Columbia International University (CIU), mentoring Ph.D. students in ministry leadership programs. His education includes the University of California San Diego, Columbia International University, Dallas Theological Seminary, and Liberty University.

Jerell currently serves as Senior Program Manager. He joined the Center in November of 2022 as Program Manager for the fatherhood programs. Jerell came to the center from Midlands Fatherhood Coalition where he served as an Intervention Specialist. Wesley has served in the non-profit community for more than 10 years in human services and case management. Wesley is also a Chaplain in SC Army National Guard. Wesley invests his time serving the homeless population in Kershaw and Sumter counties. He received his MDIV and MA in counseling from Columbia International University. Wesley has worked for various organizations promoting and advocating for self-sufficiency, family reunification, bringing resources to poverty communities, and advocating mental health awareness.

LaTonya joined the Center in 2023 as Program Manager for Ready 4 Life, an initiative dedicated to engaging youth in South Carolina. She previously held the position of Family First Prevention Services Program Coordinator with the SC Department of Social Services. She has worked in government and non-profit communities for over 15 years, facilitating and implementing intervention programs for children and families. LaTonya’s unwavering passion lies in her dedication to serving these vulnerable populations and providing them with invaluable support to overcome the seemingly insurmountable challenges they face. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from Columbia College and her Master of Arts degree in Human Resources Development from Webster University.

Denise joined the Center in 2024 and serves as an Administrative Assistant. She assists the Center in all areas of organization, compilation, and support. She is responsible for administrative duties for the Center’s Team, Board of Trustees, extended consultants, contractors, supporting office management, and managing day-to-day office operations. She is a graduate of the University of South Carolina. Prior to joining the Center, she worked 10 years serving as an administrative professional in the school system. Denise brings with her a fierce passion for father’s rights. This position combines her executive and administrative experience with her excitement to make a difference in the lives of fathers and families.