Bryan Williams
Founder & President
Born in Little Rock, Arkansas and raised in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Bryan attended Arkansas State University, earning his Bachelor of Science in Metallurgical Technology. While in college Bryan was a Student-Athlete playing Division 1 Rubgy, winning three Southern Division Championships and having two National Championship appearances.
Athletics and schooling are vital parts of his life as they served as a positive outlets. As a youth, Bryan understood all too well the uphill battle he faced coming from the inner city and wanted to be able to break the mold and show others that there is more than one way to achieve goals. This mindset was the driving force to develop L.E.A.R.N. which is designed to create an avenue that provides a safe place for children and adults to develop leadership skills and utilize educational tools to be the best version of themselves.
Bryan is currently a Quality Metallurgist in the steel industry where he leads research and development projects centered around advancing the steel industry and product stability. He is a certified as both a Nuclear Lead Auditor and ISO Internal Lead Auditor. He also obtained a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt from Georgia Tech University.
S.T.E.M education was a major area of interest and intrigue and continues to be a passion of his. In addition to his main profession, Bryan is also a Premier Division 7s Rugby player for Optimus Rugby in Atlanta, Georgia.
Janice Joy Williams
Director & Treasurer
Joy is from Pine Bluff, Arkansas and received her Bachelor of Science degree in Communications from Arkansas State University. Joy has a love for weather and so she furthered her education and obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Operational Meteorology from Mississippi State University and worked as an intern at Channel 3 news in Memphis, TN.
After school, Joy realized her passion for philanthropy and service and has volunteered for a number of organizations while working for Delta Community Credit Union. She has volunteered for Posse of Atlanta, in which she helped several high school students transition to college level writing by assisting them with college level essays. Because of her financial experience, she has also volunteered for Junior Achievement of Georgia by educating middle school students on how to use financial tools in order to prepare them for the future.
Joy's motivation and inspiration for helping children and adults alike achieve their goals is why she is passionate about L.E.A.R.N. and has now devoted her career to making L.E.A.R.N. a success by helping others discover their passions.
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Dr. Cheryl Grice
Director
Dr. Cheryl Grice earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with emphasis in Human Resource Management from Upper Iowa University, a Master of Science in Adult and Continuing Education and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership and Administration both from Kansas State University.
She serves on the President’s Commission on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging, K-State Diversity Awareness Taskforce and a certified Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI) Administrator. Dr. Grice is Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt Certified, and her top five Clifton Strengths are Positivity, Relator, Input, Achiever and Connectedness.
She is a founding member of the Fairy Godmothers Fund, a member of the Little Apple Pilot Club, Philanthropic Educational Organization (P.E.O.), Vice President of the Mid-South Region for Sensible Women, Inc. (SWI) and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated.
As a graduate of the Coffman Leadership Institute, Leadership Manhattan, and Leadership Pine Bluff, she enjoys serving others. She is also a past recipient of the K-State ‘Be the Change Towards Non-Violence award and recipient of the 2017 Volunteer of the year Award for the Greater Manhattan Community Foundation and the 2019 Manhattan Chamber of Commerce, C. Clyde Jones Volunteer of the Year award.
Janice J. Collins
Director & Secretary
Janice Collins has been the owner/manager of Collins Enterprises, Inc. in Pine Bluff, Arkansas for 24 years. She has managed the operations of the business which includes computer repair, maintenance and the selling of telecommunications services.
Janice is the Mid-South Region Coordinator of the Theta Chapter of Sensible Women which is an organization that provides young girls the tools and guidance to grow as a successful women in society. She has been a mentor at The Anderson Halfway House for boys and has worked at United Way helping those in need in her community.
While working as secretary for L.E.A.R.N., she has helped tremendously with campaigns including providing clothing for the Ecole Bon Samaritain de Leogone school in Haiti.
She has volunteered in public school systems and is very creative and innovative as she has established her own business of creating balloon designs. She is very passionate about making a positive impact in the lives of others.
