ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT
ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT!
Faith Kelley, MD
Class of 2001
I started attending FTHCS in 2nd grade when it was still Full Gospel Christian School after my parents saw it as the right place for my sister and me to be educated in a Christian environment that also valued our racial identity. From my first day in Sis. Tina Glover’s class until I graduated, several things were clear to me about my school and teachers: I knew I was loved, I knew I had to give my best, and I knew that I would always have homework! From the Heart Christian School taught me how to think critically, be creative, study smartly, present myself well, be proud of who I was, and most of all, to know and trust Jesus for myself. These skills fueled my success as I pursued the dreams that my loving teachers and church family encouraged me to pursue. I do not know where I would be without their conscious and unconscious support.
After graduating as Valedictorian of the FTHCS Class of 2001, I graduated Summa Cum Laude from Xavier University of Louisiana in New Orleans with a Bachelor of Science degree. I received my medical degree from The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences and furthered my education at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Western Psychiatric Hospital where I completed an Adult Psychiatry Residency, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship, and Public Service Psychiatry Fellowship. After my training, I decided to return to the DC area for work so I could reconnect with my church, because there’s “no place like home!” For the past 10.5 years, I have worked as an Attending Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist at Children’s National Hospital in Washington, D.C. where I am the Medical Director of the Psychiatry Consultation Clinic and the Mood and Trauma Disorders Clinic.
Since my return to the area, I have served as Assistant Ministry Head and then Ministry Head of the Health and Healing Ministry and as a member of the Nursery Ministry. I have also had the pleasure of serving on the FTHCS Board of Education where we support the Headmaster in the operation and direction of the school.
Most importantly, I am the proud wife of Bro. Peter Kelley, who I met at FTHCM. We have been married for seven and a half years and are the proud parents of Timothy (a current FTHCS student) and Titus (a rising FTHCS student). It has been a significant honor to see and be a part of the generational success of our church and school family. From my experience witnessing the faithfulness of God starting as a 2nd grade student to now being a Board Member and a parent of a FTHCS student, I have confidence that God is faithful to complete the good work that He has begun in our school if we will put our hands to the work, so let us rise and build!
Ayinde Hinton
Class of 2019
My name is Ayinde Hinton. I graduated from FTHCS in 2019. After graduation, I attended Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) where I graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Computer Engineering Technology. While at RIT, I worked as a tutor in electronics, researching methods for digitally tracking small high-speed projectiles like tennis balls, and played for the school’s archery team. I am preparing to take on a systems engineering position with the Department of Homeland Security as soon as my clearance is approved.
Major Highlights
Senior of the Year Finalist: Each year, the University of Pittsburgh chapter of Omicron Delta Kappa, the national leadership honor society, recognizes one recently graduated or graduating senior from the university for meritorious leadership and extracurricular activities, that exemplifies the type of student who the University aspires to produce, and who inspires others to strive for similar conspicuous attainments. The award recipient’s name is engraved on a stone in the ODK Leadership Walk between the Cathedral of Learning and the Heinz Memorial Chapel. In my last undergraduate year, I was named as a finalist for the award. The link below leads to a biography put together about my time at Pitt and highlights some of my involvement in the Pitt community through my final year.
https://www.studentaffairs.pitt.edu/news/senior-of-the-year-finalist-jahari-mercer/
The Pitt News 2017 Silhouettes Feature: Each year, The Pitt News, which is the University’s student newspaper, selects members of the Pitt community to highlight in their yearly edition of the Pitt News Silhouettes. Individuals highlighted can include members of the University and/or members of the community surrounding campus. In 2017, I had the opportunity to be highlighted in the Pitt News Silhouettes and was able to talk about my experience and involvement at Pitt from my first and second years of my undergraduate program.
https://pittnews.com/article/126932/silhouettes-2017/jahari-mercer/
SGB Executive Vice President Election Article: During elections for the University Student Government Board (SGB), the person who receives the most votes among those students who run for board becomes the Executive Vice President of SGB, serving as the president in the event of the president’s absence. Because I received the most votes among students who ran for the board at the time, I served as the Executive Vice President of SGB for the 2018-2019 school year. If you scroll down slightly past the video in the article below, you will see my name mentioned along with the other elected members of the board. I am also quoted in this article, expressing my excitement over the results.
https://peachwort66.rssing.com/chan-60749106/all_p55.html
Engineering Ambassador: From the summer of 2019 through the summer of 2020, I worked as an engineering ambassador for the University of Pittsburgh Swanson School of Engineering. Engineering ambassadors help in the recruitment of prospective students to attend the Swanson School of Engineering by giving tours of Benedum Hall, which houses the school of engineering, and sharing their experiences with prospective students and their families. The link below is my archived profile from the school of engineering’s website.
https://www.engineering.pitt.edu/first-year/ambassadors/archived-profiles/jahari-mercer/
Why Pitt? By Jahari Mercer: The following video was one of the last things I did as an engineering ambassador. A few engineering ambassadors and I were asked to record a presentation explaining why we decided to come to Pitt, why we chose our respective engineering major, and to talk about our experiences at Pitt as well. This presentation also gives a recap of my time at Pitt and my plans after graduation as well.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wsnSlOt5Uv4
Activities & Highlights since FTHCS
2015-2016 School Year (First-Year Undergraduate)
- Began studying at the University of Pittsburgh on a full-tuition scholarship along with a scholarship from the Swanson School of Engineering and the University of Pittsburgh Chesapeake and Potomac Pitt Alumni Chapter.
- Was actively involved in the Pitt Excel program which is a program dedicated to the recruitment, retention, development, and graduation of underrepresented minority students within the Swanson School of Engineering along with being involved in the University of Pittsburgh chapter of the National Society of Black Engineers.
2016-2017 School Year (Sophomore Year Undergraduate)
- Served as a student representative on the University of Pittsburgh Year of Diversity Steering Committee. The goal of the Year of Diversity was for the Pitt community to respect, value, and appreciate diversity in all areas. The committee was comprised of students, faculty, and staff from across the University.
- Served as the Vice President of Community Outreach for the University of Pittsburgh Resident Student Association (RSA). RSA serves as a representative body within the university to identify and make known the needs of students living in university residence halls.
2017-2018 School Year (Junior Year Undergraduate)
- Worked as a manufacturing co-op engineer for Harley-Davidson Motorcycle company in York, PA as a part of the Swanson School of Engineering’s Cooperative Education program.
- Served as the Corporate Liaison Chair for the University of Pittsburgh chapter of the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE). The mission of NSBE is to increase the number of culturally responsible Black engineers who excel academically, succeed professionally, and positively impact the community.
2018-2019 School Year (Senior Year Undergraduate)
- Served as the Executive Vice President for the University of Pittsburgh Student Government Board (SGB). The purpose of SGB is to promote the concerns, interests, needs, and welfare of the student body through creative programming, supporting student organizations, and facilitating conversations between the student body and the university community.
- Served as a member of the leadership team for Pitt Excel’s B.R.O.T.H.E.R.H.O.O.D. which stands for Brothers Respecting Open Thought Helping Every-man Realize His Own Original Dream. B.R.O.T.H.E.R.H.O.O.D. is dedicated to supporting individuals who identify as men within the Pitt Excel program on a personal, professional, and academic level.
2019-2020 School Year (Super Senior Undergraduate)
- Studied abroad during the summer of 2019 as a part of the Engineering Sustainability – Island Nations: Jamaica program. This program was a 2-week cultural immersion, based in Kingston, Jamaica, to understand the complex and unique approach to sustainability in island nations.
- Made the Swanson School of Engineering Dean’s List for the Fall 2019 semester. The distinction of Dean’s List within the School of Engineering is awarded to students who receive a 3.25 or higher semester GPA during their time in undergraduate school.
- Graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Engineering in the spring of 2020 and was named a finalist for the 2020 ODK Senior of the Year award.
2020-2021 School Year (First Year Graduate School)
- Began my first year at the Joseph M. Katz Graduate School of Business at the University of Pittsburgh pursuing a Master of Business Administration on a full-tuition scholarship funded by the University of Pittsburgh and the National Black MBA Association.
- Served as one of the Vice Presidents for the Katz Operations Club. The Katz Operations club plans and facilitates programs geared towards students concentrating in the field of operations.
2021-2022 School Year (Second Year Graduate School)
- Completed an 8-month internship with PPG Industries as a Supply Chain MBA intern within the Architectural Coatings Logistics & Distribution capabilities team.
- Currently serving as the Vice President of the Katz Student Executive Board (SEB). The Katz SEB acts as the primary representative of Full-Time Master’s students to the Katz faculty and administration and plans creative programs to enhance the experience of everyone in the Katz community.
