Dr. William Allen / Gloria Jackson

      Dr. William B. Allen has a B.A. from Pepperdine College and a Ph.D. in government from Claremont Graduate School. During his graduate study, he became a Fulbright Fellow, in which role he taught French university students American culture, while completing a dissertation on Montesquieu and the American founding. He has served as a member of the National Council for the Humanities and as member and chair of the United States Commission on Civil Rights. Dr. Allen, Professor of Political Science at Michigan State University, is currently on sabbatical leave. Dr. Allen was Dean and Professor at James Madison College, Michigan State University. Previously he taught at Harvey Mudd College in Claremont, California. He is the former Director of the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV). Recognized for excellence in liberal-education on the 1997 Templeton Honor Roll (individually and institutionally), he also has been a Kellogg National Fellow and received the international Prix Montesquieu.
      His newest book is Habits of Mind: Fostering Access and Excellence in Higher Education (with Carol Allen; Transaction Publishers, 2003). He has published recent scholarship on higher education, citizenship, Machiavelli, ideas of global community, religious liberty and other topics. Dr. Allen is married to Carol M. Allen, a Research Specialist at MSU and formerly Associate University Librarian at the University of Virginia (Charlottesville). He has two adult children, one a professor of classics and Dean of Humanities at University of Chicago, the other an attorney in practice in Washington, D.C.

      Gloria Jacksonis a great-granddaughter of Dr. Booker T. Washington. Gloria holds an undergraduate degree from San Jose State University and a law degree from UCLA. She has worked as a counselor and a mortgage broker and she has practiced law in Los Angeles. She was blessed to travel extensively when she worked as a flight attendant for American and Continental Airlines. She is the Founder and President of the Booker T. Washington Inspirational Network, Inc. (BTWIN) and it is Gloria's belief that it was not by accident that she was born into the bloodline of Booker T. Washington. She, instead, believes that it was a God given gift to provide her a platform from which to share with others the profound spiritual and economic wisdom and the liberating truth embodied in the words and actions of her great-grandfather. An informal speaker for many years on the life and legacy of her greatgrandfather, she has now formally organized her speaking, with others, in an effort to speak out about and to counter the twisted and distorted view that many are taught about her great-grandfather in this politically-correct age. She has a passion to challenge and inspire individuals to strive to live by the powerful values-based ideals set forth by her great-grandfather. Whether it is through public speaking or writing, Gloria's aim is to inspire others to use the full arsenal of their God-given gifts and talents to build productive lives of which they can be proud.
      Gloria's book, co-authored with her cousin Sarah Rush, Timeless Treasures - Reflections of God's Word in the Wisdom of Booker T Washington, was released in April 2006. The book was written as a tribute to their great-grandfather and his legacy. Gloria is currently an attorney and a real estate broker, and resides in Los Angeles where, in addition to her responsibilities with BTWIN, she runs a real estate investment firm.