The Pentagon Project is a forthcoming non-profit organization focused on liberating Black women from financial hardship through scholarships, resources, and opportunities in the areas of education, leadership, community, spirituality, & health leading to empowered women, and through those women - empowered communities.
The Pentagon Project was founded by four Tennessee State Alumnae - (right to left) Marsheila J. Hayes, Evelyn J. Shropshire, Fredrica M. Piphus , & Sherrae M. Hayes.
Fredrica M. Piphus
In 2008, Fredrica graduated Magna Cum Laude from Tennessee State University with her B.S. in Psychology. After working for organizations in both the corporate and non-profit sectors, including
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc. and the YMCA of Cincinnati, she completed her M.B.A. in Leadership and Non-Profit Management at Lipscomb University in 2011.
Fredrica is committed to serving and empowering women; she currently serves as a Residential Supervisor with Mercy Ministries.
Evelyn J. Shropshire
Evelyn is a native of Detroit, MI and has devoted her life to being an educator in her hometown and is currently teaching English at Chandler Park Academy High School. A proud alumnus of Tennessee State University, Evelyn graduated summa cum laude in December 2008 and is currently obtaining a MA in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Detroit Mercy.
In her free time, Evelyn can be found cheering on her CPA Eagles at any athletic events or mentoring all of she and her husband's "surrogate" children.
In the future, Evelyn desires to obtain an Ed.D to further her plight in enhancing the education system for miniority students.
Marsheila Joy Hayes
Marsheila Joy graduated Magna Cum Laude from Tennessee State University in 2008 her B.S. in Speech Communication & Theater. Her experience as advertising manager for TSU’s student newspaper The Meter led to her recruitment into the Gannett Co. Inc. Talent Development Program where she served as a digital sales specialist for the Tallahassee Democrat. In this role Marsheila specialized in leveraging online advertising and social media to increase market share and build the brands of national and local businesses.
She has since been promoted to digital account manager for the Tennessean and additionally serves as a corporate recruiter for Gannett Co., Inc.
Outside of work, Marsheila believes in spreading joy to the lives of others whenever and however possible. She is a mentor for the YMCA Building Futures Program, an active member of Buena Vista Church of Christ.
Sherrae M. Hayes
Sherrae is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in African American and African Studies at Michigan State University. She is a graduate of New York University, receiving her master's degree in Africana Studies - January 2010. Hayes is a native of Cleveland, Ohio and a proud alumna of Tennessee State University where she obtained her B.A. - Speech Communications degree in May 2008 (Summa Cum Laude). Her research interests include the ways in which African-American history and culture are transferred to African-American youth and how this transference can in turn shape their perceptions of themselves and their possibilities.
She has worked for several non-profit organizations and educational institutions, including The City College of New York (New York City), YouthBridge-NY (New York City) Uncommon Schools (Brooklyn), Global Elevation (Brooklyn), the NAACP (Cleveland), The Urban League (Cleveland), Facilitating Leadership in Youth - F.L.Y. (Washington D.C.). She is an active member of her local and global community volunteering with various groups, including The Renaissance Group (South Africa).
Hayes’ future objectives include the goals of securing a professorship in the field of African American Studies or related fields after obtaining her Ph.D. as well as launching and directing her own non-profit organization for inner-city, minority students providing them with a firmer sense of history, legacy, and leadership.
A Truly Liberated Woman...
Dr. Sandra Waters Holt has served the faculty and administration at Tennessee State University (TSU) for 35 years in a way that beautifully complements the school's motto, “enter to learn, go forth to serve.” Angela Carroll, Miss TSU 1995, compared her to “an oak tree who shares the shade.”
Dr. Holt is currently an Associate Professor of Communications and Director of the University Honors Program. Every year she intends to apply for promotion and remembers after the deadline has passed. She finds the success of students to be her greatest reward. The Honors Program at TSU is one of the oldest in the country and is known for graduating outstanding students. She is affectionately called “Dr. Mom” by her students.
As an educator committed to both scholarship and service, she is the epitome of a liberated woman. In recognition of her lifelong commitment to empowering students, The Pentagon Project awards an annual $500 book scholarship to a Black, female undergraduate student at Tennessee State University in her honor.
You can help The Pentagon Project financially liberate young women, like Camille, by donating to our scholarship fund.
Any monetary investment or resource donated will be used to help change a woman's life.
