Welcome aboard, Tara and Johnnie!
February 13, 2024
We are delighted to welcome Tara and Johnnie Welborne to our Board of Directors. The husband and wife duo bring great enthusiasm and experience to the assignment.
Johnnie serves in the US Navy as a Senior Chief of Information Technology. He is determined to foster diversity in the teaching profession. While serving in the Navy, he earned a bachelor's degree in psychology from Arizona State University and a master's degree in engineering/industrial management from Cal State Northridge. Tuition assistance from the Navy was key to his success and ability to avoid student debt, he said.
Also excited to join our board is Dr. Tara Welborne, Associate Director of Quality Engineering for Becton Dickinson, a medical technology company. Like her husband, Tara received support to earn her many degrees — in her case from the Gates Millennium Scholars Program. Her alma maters and degrees include: Old Dominion University (bachelor's degree, mechanical engineering and master's degree, engineering management), and Texas Tech University (PhD, systems and engineering management).
In addition to their professional accomplishments, Johnnie and Tara are tip-top volunteers.
In the community, Johnnie serves as the Vice President of the local chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. He has served as a percussion instructor and assistant band director at Heartbeat Music Academy, a leader of the children's ministry at Bayview Church, a youth football coach, and leader of various associations in the Navy.
Tara is actively engaged in the scholarship program with Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., contributes to the scholarship ministry at Bayview Church, and is a former tutor and mentor at Heartbeat Music Academy. She serves as Associate Director on the advisory board for San Diego State University’s Department of Mechanical Engineering and volunteers on the board of the Ebony Pearls Foundation of San Diego. Tara passionately supports middle and high school and college students pursuing careers in STEM.
Welcome aboard, Tara and Johnnie!
