Board Members
- Meet Our Board Members
Dedicated Leaders Opening Doors to Opportunity
The Board of Open Doors Higher Education Alliance brings together experienced leaders who share a commitment to expanding access to education, removing financial barriers, and creating meaningful opportunities for students, families, and communities.
Through strategic leadership, professional expertise, advocacy, and community partnerships, our board members help guide the organization’s mission and long-term impact.
- Founder & Chief Executive Officer
Fredericka Mack
Dr. Fredericka L. Mack is the founder and president of Open Doors Higher Education Alliance, an organization dedicated to expanding educational opportunities and reducing financial barriers for deserving students. Raised on Chicago’s West Side in a family with limited financial means, Dr. Mack became a young mother and worked multiple jobs while pursuing her education.
Her journey to becoming an accomplished educational leader reflects her faith, perseverance, and determination to create a better future for herself, her family, and others. Dr. Mack brings a diverse professional background in education, law, corrections, and public service. Her career has included serving as a legal assistant, probation and parole assistant, correctional officer, classroom teacher, assistant principal, and principal. She also spent several years serving as a principal in residential school settings and currently leads a public-school recovery academy.
Throughout her career, she has been a dedicated advocate for students with disabilities and a champion for equitable access to high-quality education. Her passion for service extends beyond schools. Dr. Mack advocates for survivors of domestic violence, supports individuals and families experiencing financial hardship, and works to create opportunities for those who need encouragement and assistance.
She is also preparing to publish her forthcoming novel, Open Doors: From the West Side of Chicago to Leading Lives of Hope. A devoted woman of faith, wife, mother of four, grandmother of seven, daughter, sister, and aunt, Dr. Mack has spent her life working hard, serving others, and helping people recognize their worth and reach their full potential. She is a compassionate and powerful leader who believes everyone deserves access to opportunity, support, and hope.
- Board Member
Anne Cobb
Anne Cobb serves as a Board Member of Open Doors Higher Education Alliance.
Her complete professional biography will be added soon.
- Founding Board Member
Sharif D. King
Sharif D. King, professionally known as “King Sharif,” is a creative and media strategist, journalist, host, speaker, educator, and media entrepreneur dedicated to expanding access to education, leadership, and opportunity through storytelling and community engagement.
With more than 15 years of experience spanning media, higher education, nonprofit initiatives, live events, and strategic communications, Sharif has built a career centered on amplifying underrepresented voices, creating meaningful partnerships, and developing programs that connect education, media, and community impact.
Sharif holds degrees from Five Towns College, SUNY Old Westbury, Syracuse University, and Delaware State University. He also earned a Certificate in the Business of Entertainment from New York University.
Drawing from his own educational journey and cross-sector experience, Sharif believes higher education should be accessible, collaborative, and transformative for every student. As a Founding Board Member of Open Doors Higher Education Alliance, he is committed to expanding educational access, strengthening mentorship opportunities, fostering career readiness, and building partnerships that empower students, families, and communities to thrive.
Beyond his board service, Sharif is the founder of Sharif D. King Global, a platform dedicated to leadership, media, education, entrepreneurship, and social impact. Through his work, he seeks to inspire the next generation of leaders to create meaningful change through education, innovation, and service.
- Board Member
Christina Lewis.
Christina Lewis. serves as a Board Member of Open Doors Higher Education Alliance.
Her complete professional biography will be added soon.
- Public Relations Director
Janoah Rhodes
Ms. Janoah Rhodes is a devoted advocate for students with special needs, families, and equitable educational practices. As a mother of four, she brings both personal insight and professional commitment to ensuring that students with diverse learning needs receive fair, inclusive, and appropriate support within educational systems.
Ms. Rhodes has professional experience working in social services, where she assisted families in navigating critical benefits related to housing, food security, and community-based supports. Her work has centered on helping families access resources that promote stability, dignity, and opportunity—particularly for those facing economic hardship.
An active member of her church and community, Ms. Rhodes is deeply committed to service and outreach, regularly supporting efforts that uplift less fortunate families. She is especially passionate about expanding access to higher education for all students, including those who have historically been marginalized or overlooked.
- Director of Marketing
Renardo Mack
Renardo Mack is an award-winning media and marketing professional with over 20 years of experience in television production and brand storytelling. He served as a producer with the National Basketball Association (NBA), where he created impactful content and earned an Emmy Award for his work on NBA Cares (Katrina Relief).
Renardo has produced content for major networks including ESPN, NBC, ABC, BET, TNT, and Lifetime. As President of Bull’s-Eye Production Inc., he has led multimedia campaigns for elite athletes and high-profile clients.
He brings creativity, leadership, and strategic vision to his role as Director of Marketing.