Saint Paul – Governor Tim Pawlenty today announced the appointment of Ayderus Ali, Donavan Bailey, Rosella Collins-Puoch, Robert Martin, Jr., Nnamdi Okoronkwo, and Sarah Walker to the Council on Black Minnesotans.

Ali, of Minneapolis, is a Somali court interpreter where he serves in state, federal, and U.S. Immigration courts. He has also been a linguist with the U. S. Department of Justice. His educational background includes attending the University of Minnesota, and earning a diploma (the equivalent of a two-year degree) from the Abassia Institute of Technical College in Cairo, Egypt. Ali, who is Ethiopian, replaces Mohamud Noor on the Council on Black Minnesotans as a member whose ethnic heritage is from East Africa, and is appointed to a four-year term that expires on January 6, 2014.

Bailey, of Byron, is a dispositional advisor with the Minnesota State Board of Public Defense in the Third Judicial District. He has also been a unit supervisor with Many Rivers Residential Treatment Center in Rochester, program supervisor with Rabiner Treatment Center in Fort Dodge, Iowa, and a patrol and community oriented police officer with the city of Burnsville. He is a past chair and was a founding member of the African American Leadership Council in Rochester. Bailey is completing his master’s degree in educational leadership from Winona State University, earned his bachelor of science degree in biblical studies from Faith College in Ankeny, and his associate of arts degree in law enforcement from Rochester Community College. Bailey replaces Michael Collins on the Council on Black Minnesotans, and is appointed to a four-year term that expires on January 6, 2014.

Collins-Puoch, of Woodbury, is a licensed social worker with Hamm Clinic as well as Braken Psychological Service. She is also a legal secretary with the Felhaber, Larson, Fenlon and Vogt law firm in Minneapolis. Previously, she has held a variety of positions including a case manager with Employment Action Center and Loring Nicollet-Bethlehem Community, Inc., and a family education facilitator with the Minneapolis Urban Coalition’s Smart Start Program. A licensed graduate social worker, Collins-Puoch is currently working on her doctorate degree in counseling psychology at Argosy University. She earned her master of arts degree in clinical social work from the University of St. Thomas/College of St. Catherine in St. Paul, and her bachelor of arts degree in criminal justice from St. Thomas. Collins-Puoch replaces Veronica Wirekoa-Fobena on the Council on Black Minnesotans to complete a four-year term that expires on January 7, 2013.

Martin, of Maplewood, is a partner in Anywhere Chair, LLC. His previous positions have included serving as an electrical component engineer in quality control with Multi-Tech Systems, Inc. in Mounds View, a product development engineer with 3M Company in St. Paul, and a research associate and adjunct professor at Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU) in Tallahassee. He was also an Air Force officer at Moody Air Force Base in Valdosta, Georgia. Martin earned an MBA with finance and entrepreneurship concentrations from the University of Minnesota Carlson School of Management, a master of science degree in electrical engineering from FAMU, a master of public administration degree from Valdosta State University, and his bachelor of science degree in electrical engineering from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University in Greensboro. Martin replaces Maurice Davis on the Council on Black Minnesotans to complete a four-year term that expires on January 7, 2013.

Okoronkwo, of Minneapolis, is an assistant city attorney with the city of Minneapolis. Previously, he has been a corporate attorney with Best Buy Company in Richfield, a Hennepin County District Court law clerk, a broadcast engineer with WCCO Television in Minneapolis, and a document reviewer with the Fetterly and Gordon law firm in Minneapolis. He has also served as a pro bono attorney with the Volunteer Lawyer Network. Okoronkwo earned his law degree from William Mitchell College of Law in St. Paul, and his bachelor of arts degree from Augsburg College in Minneapolis. The son of a Nigerian immigrant, Okoronkwo replaces Gloria Lamphear on the Council on Black Minnesotans, and is appointed to a four-year term that expires on January 6, 2014.

Walker, of St. Paul, is the chief operating officer at 180 Degrees, Inc., where she works with high-risk youth and adults, or those who are currently in the justice system to provide intervention. Previously, she was a research consultant with the Council on Crime and Justice in Minneapolis, executive director of the Youth Justice Funding Collaborative in New York, and the director of workforce development with the Center for Court Innovation in New York. Walker is currently working on her doctorate degree in American politics and public policy at the University of Minnesota. She earned her bachelor of arts degree cum laude from Carlton College in Northfield. She chairs Ramsey County’s Juvenile Detention Alternative to Incarceration – Disproportionate Minority Contact initiative, and is a member of the Minnesota Supreme Court Racial Fairness Committee. Walker replaces Charity McCoy on the Council on Black Minnesotans, and is appointed to a four-year term that expires on January 6, 2014.

The Council on Black Minnesotans advises the Governor and Legislature on issues of particular importance to black Minnesotans. The Council consists of 17 members, including 13 appointed by the Governor.