E-board Bios

Sean Rouse
Sean F. Rouse, a native of Detroit, received his Bachelors of Science in Computer Science from Tennessee State University. He is the President and founder of the Detroit HBCU Network. He is currently employed as the IT Coordinator for the New St Paul Head Start Agency in Detroit, MI.

Over the years, he has served and held executive positions with the Detroit Northwestern High School Alumni Association, as well as the Tennessee State University Alumni Association, Detroit Chapter. Sean's passion involves mentoring talented youth living in underserved communities. He currently is Chair of the TSUAA-Detroit Chapter’s Recruitment and Scholarship Committee.

Jennifer Smith
Jennifer R. Smith holds a B.A. in Mass Communication/Public Relations from Grambling State University and a M.S. in Sports Management from Georgia State University. Jennifer is the President and Founder of Closing the Gap Detroit. She has 15 years of corporate philanthropy, community relations, and youth programming experience. The birth of her organization was fueled by her passion to ensure that students had a “road map” to navigate through the expensive and sometimes confusing college process.

To name a few significant positions Jennifer has held, she has been the former COO for the Michigan Roundtable for Diversity & Inclusion, Exec. Director of Boys Hope Girls Hope of Detroit, Assistant VP/Community Relations Manager of the Charter One Bank Foundation of Michigan, and the Director of Community Relations for Pepsi Beverages Company. She is also a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated.

Franklin Wilkerson
Born in Detroit, MI Franklin understood at an early age the importance of education and how it is the key to unlock the doors of opportunity and a better quality of life. He graduated from Southfield High School, then attended Morehouse College and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree majoring in Business Administration in 1992.

Working in various roles including sales and entrepreneurship, while living in multiple locations throughout the country, hard work and dedication has been a mainstay in Franklin’s life. In 2009, he moved back to the Detroit area and began working as a FedEx Field Sales Consultant. Currently, he is a FedEx Health and Science Sales Executive specializing in time and temperature sensitive shipping needs. In addition, he recently launched a new business called the “Wilkerson Sales Agency, LLC” focusing on providing professional sales support for small to medium sized businesses.

Mr. Wilkerson is married to Carolyn Wilkerson, a registered nurse who is a clinical manager at Fresenius Dialysis Clinic located in St. Johns Hospital. He has three wonderful children. His son Taylor is 17, daughter Miranda is 11, and son Landon is 4.

Anthony Neal
After graduating from Alcorn State University with a Bachelor’s of Art in Political Science, Anthony continued his education at the University of Maryland. There, he earned his Master’s Degree in Public Management with a concentration in Public Policy and Private Enterprise. Anthony returned to Detroit in 1994 and became active an active member of the Alcorn State University Detroit Alumni Chapter and currently serves as President.

Anthony’s involvement with the Detroit HBCU Network began in 2006 and he has been an active member since. He participates in over 30 college fairs during the recruitment seasons and is involved with several panel sessions sharing his HBCU experiences with students and parents. Anthony serves as Recruitment Director for the DHN. Anthony is currently employed as Operations Manager with the Greater Detroit Resource Recovery Authority.

Charles Philpot
Charles Philpot is a lifelong resident of Detroit, Michigan. He graduated from Eastern High School, (Detroit), Alabama A & M University (Economics) and Wayne State University (Family and consumer Economics). After working in Pharmaceuticals as a manager for 35 years, Chuck retired in December, 2006.

Since his retirement, Charles has devoted most of his time working with youth organizations, community associations, church groups, AAMU University Detroit Alumni Chapter, and the Detroit HBCU Network. Currently, Charles is President of Change Agents of America. Charles speaks locally and nationally on Leadership Development, Teamwork, and Goal-Setting. Additionally, Charles is a former professional athlete and a member of Alabama A & M University Athletic Hall of Fame in Baseball and Football. He has been married to Caroal Philpot for 50 years and has two daughters.