Links in the News

Michelle Jordan, Huntsville’s Director of Planning, is leaving her position with the City to become the executive director for Top of Alabama Regional Council of Governments, known as TARCOG.

Jordan has served Mayor Tommy Battle’s administration since 2009 in key leadership roles to include Director of Planning, Director of Economic Development and Legislative Affairs, and Director of Community Development. She has managed oversight of planning functions for long-range planning and GIS, code-enforcement, home assistance programs, business recruitment, as well as representing the City at the State Capitol in issues pertaining to municipal government.

“Michelle has been the consummate professional in every role we’ve asked her to take on,” said Mayor Battle. “She has been integral to Huntsville’s planning and growth, and her vision and forethought has made our city a great place to live, work and play. Thanks to Michelle and the leadership of this administration, we can be proud that we’ve built a strong planning department who will continue to work together in a team-oriented approach to ensure the best for our city.”

While Mayor Battle says the City will miss Jordan’s leadership, he is pleased she will be joining an affiliate agency. “We recognize Michelle has the opportunity to do the same exemplary work for TARCOG and North Central Alabama, and we look forward to continuing to work with Michelle as she leads regional efforts to improve quality of life.”

Jordan says her new role will allow an active partnership with the City of Huntsville. “I learned something new in all three roles with the City, and I am grateful to Mayor Battle for the experience and his support,” she said. “I will still be a member of this team, just in a different capacity. I am looking forward to this opportunity where I can continue advancing this outstanding region in new and meaningful ways through the many lessons learned with the City.

TARCOG works with 45 municipalities and five counties in North Alabama. Jordan assumes her new role as the non-profit’s Executive Director on June 24.

Greater Huntsville (AL) Chapter member, Link Belinda Savage-Edwards, MD, FAAN, AQH was one
of 3 delegates selected from Alabama and among more than 200 American Academy of
Neurology (AAN) members who attended nearly 295 meetings with congressional offices
recently at the 17th annual Neurology on the Hill in Washington, DC. The delegates educated
new members of Congress on the value of complex, neurologic care, as well as advocated for
sustained funding for the National Institutes of Health, the BRAIN Initiative, and the Patient-
Centered Outcomes Research Institute. In addition, delegates highlighted the impact of high
drug costs on neurologic patients and the need for step therapy reform to preserve the
neurologist-patient relationship.

NASA has a long history of groundbreaking achievements. One woman who has gone where no woman has gone before – Jody Singer is the first female director of the Marshall Space Flight Center. TODAY’s Hoda Kotb has her story, and meets the female engineers who serve alongside her. 

Decatur City Schools promoted two veteran employees to deputy superintendents, while the search for a principal at Austinville Elementary is ongoing.

The school board — in a unanimous vote — transferred Yvette Evans from human resource supervisor to deputy superintendent of instruction, and Dwight Satterfield from supervisor of school operations and school safety to deputy superintendent of school safety and student services.

Evans and Satterfield, who are both former principals for DCS, will have their salaries increased said Superintendent Michael Douglas.

Dr. Yvette Johnson Evans was inducted into Greater Huntsville Chapter of The Links, Incorporated in 2004.  Dr. Evans has been very instrumental in acquiring programming grants for Greater Huntsville, as well as, spearheading the chapter's Weekend Scholars Program centered around the Services To Youth Facet.

The past year has been a transformative time for Mrs. Lakiesha Hawkins. Link Hawkins, a recent graduate of NASA’s Mid-Level Leader Program, spent 8 months at NASA Headquarters in Washington DC, developing an in-space propulsion strategy for the Agency’s mission to the Moon and on to Mars.  Upon her return to Huntsville, she was awarded the Outstanding Leadership Medal, NASA’s second highest honor, and was promoted to serve as Chief of Avionics Systems Integration. In April, 2018, Mrs. Hawkins will be recognized as the Florida A&M University-Florida State University Mechanical Engineering Alumni of the Year.

Dr. Cynthia M. Smith has been selected to receive the 2018 Legacy Legends Award from the Beacon Hill Worship Center of Madison, Alabama.  The Legacy Legends Award honors distinguished women who are game changers, rule breakers, and trailblazers in North Alabama who are among a class of extraordinary women living each moment of their lives to inspire and empower others while changing the world.  This achievement for Dr. Smith and others will be celebrated at the the Beacon Hill Annual Women’s Empowerment Day on Sunday, March 25, at 5:00 p.m.

During the 2017-2018 Links Year, Dr. Smith was also the recipient of the Outstanding Service Award of the National Coalition for Black Development in Family and Consumer Sciences, and the The Woman of the Year Award of the Psi Alpha Zeta Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta, Incorporated of Madison, AL. 

Dr. Cynthia M. Smith is an active professional and is a member and holds office in a number of national organizations.  She is the national president of Alpha Kappa Mu National Honor Society, serves on the prestigious Council for Accreditation of the American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences, and is a member of the 2017-2018 Nominating Committee of the Association.  She serves on the Executive Board of the National Coalition for Black Development in Family and Consumer Sciences, and is a member of the Nominating Committee for the Board on Human Sciences.  As a distinguished professional in Family and Consumer Sciences, Dr. Smith’s bio is featured in the book, African American Contributions to the Human Sciences.  Dr. Smith was inducted into The Links, Incorporated, Greater Huntsville Chapter in 2007.  She currently serves as chairman of  The Arts facet.

Dr. Jeanette Jones, Immediate Past President and Charter Member of Greater Huntsville Chapter of The Links, Incorporated will be awarded the Jarena Lee "Herstory" Award for pioneering Spirit in STEM Education.  On March 3, 2018, the Ninth Episcopal District AME Women in Ministry will hold its first-ever Jarena Lee “Herstory” Awards Brunch.  This event will celebrate the life and legacy of this pioneering woman of God, the Reverend Jarena Lee.  She was the first woman licensed to preach in the African-Methodist Episcopal Church by Bishop Richard Allen—in 1719—nearly 200 years ago.

Dr. Jones, University Distinguished Professor,  is the Director  of the Center for Biomedical, Behavioral and Environmental Sciences , Faculty Senate President and member of the University Board of Trustees at Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University in Huntsville, Alabama.

Mrs. Madelyn Jeneene Suttle, Financial Secretary, Greater Huntsville Chapter, The Links, Incorporated was appointed to serve as a Commissioner for the Alabama Women’s Commission, representing Congressional District 5.  She is one of 10 members appointed by the Governor and will serve a five-year term, ending in 2023.  The Commission is a continuing vehicle for the determination of effective policy and legislation in areas affecting Alabama’s women.  Its purpose is to improve and advance the lives of women in the State of Alabama. It may study, make recommendations, educate, and promote constructive action on issues related to women which may include economic development, education, employment, health, legal rights, political participation, and quality of life.  Mrs. Suttle, an aerospace engineer at NASA Marshall Space Flight Center, is a charter member of the Greater Huntsville Chapter of The Links, Incorporated.  She earned her BA degree in mathematics from the University of Alabama in Birmingham and a MA degree in management from Florida Institute of Technology on Redstone Arsenal in AL.

     Alabama Governor Bob Riley appointed Dr. Delores Johnson Price, former Interim Dean and then, chairperson, of the Department of Curriculum, Teaching and Educational Leadership, to an important state board beginning January 2010 through January 2013 on the Women’s Commission of Alabama.

     The Commission was created to help determine “effective policy and legislation” in areas impacting the women of Alabama.   Governor Riley stated that “my appointee will make important decisions that directly affect the citizens of Alabama”. The Governor also noted that “his appointee was chosen in part because of the importance his administration has placed on honesty and integrity”.

      During her tenure on the board, Price served as Secretary  and Vice-Chair of the Commission and annually sponsored a chartered bus with women from Alabama A & M University and the Greater Huntsville Chapter Links, Incorporated to attend the Impact Luncheon Event in Montgomery (AL) to honor women in the state and focus on financial Literacy.  She chaired the committee to write guidelines to create a “Junior Commission” for women under 40 years of age to be mentored by Commissioners.  Afterwards, she personally sponsored and mentored two Junior Commissioners from the Eighth congressional district.

     Although, Dr. Price has retired from the Alabama Women’s Commission after eight years of service, she has been appointed and currently serves on the Alumni Board of her Alma Mater, University of Evansville (Evansville IN) for a three year term.  She is also a graduate of Loyola University Chicago and Harvard Principal’s Academy. She is the mother of two children and one granddaughter.  She has been a member of the Greater Huntsville Chapter Links, Incorporated since 2005.