Blog Archives

Dr. Mel Currie serves as a Cybersecure Growth Coach to the Peake Fellowship based on his unique background of innovation locally, nationally, and internationally. Growing up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania he witnessed the powerful impact when a community engages and supports its sparks of creativity. Dr. went on to serve as president of his local community association near Baltimore, Maryland.

Dr. Currie began his career as an economic analyst with Gulf Oil before teaching high school and college math in Düsseldorf, Germany, Auburn University, and University of Richmond. He went on to serve in various roles at the National Security Agency (NSA) including Chief of the Cryptographic Research and Design Division. Dr. Currie was elevated to Defense Intelligence Senior Level and received the NSA Director’s Distinguished Service Medal prior to retirement.

Dr. Currie received a BA in Mathematics and Economics from Yale University and an MS and PhD in Mathematics from the University of Pittsburgh. His published works include a popular math book, Mathematics: Rhyme and Reason, and a novel, Just Before Too Late.

Sonny Delfyette brings decades of broadcasting expertise to the nationwide upskilling of local businesses with the Peake Fellows and the i-HELP (Higher ed Enterprise Leadership Program) Community Navigators. Sonny currently hosts afternoon programming for KCBI, a faith-based radio station in Dallas-Fort Worth. His career spans both faith-based and secular radio where he co-hosted the Mo’Nique Show in 2008 with Oscar-winning actress, Mo’Nique Hicks.

Sonny has served communities across the U.S. including Los Angeles, Kansas City, Detroit, West Palm Beach, Virginia Beach, Baltimore, and New York State. He began his career on two of his hometown radio stations in Wheeling, West Virginia. In each region, Sonny has developed his distinctive approach to outreach and engagement based on listening as the foundation for strong communities and collaboration.

Dr. Gleason brings more than three decades of experience in diagnostic radiology and Naval service as a healthcare practitioner and teacher to his role with the Mary S. Peake Fellowship. In addition to his current role as a radiologist in private practice in the Seattle, WA area, Dr. Gleason served as a Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Washington. While serving in the U.S. Navy, Dr. Gleason did his internship and residency at the Naval Medical Centers in Portsmouth, Virginia and San Diego, California. He then served as a radiologist at Naval Hospital Bremerton in the Puget Sound.

Now a resident of Bainbridge Island, Washington, Dr. Gleason grew up in Rochester, New York and earned an MD from the University of Rochester School of Medicine and a BA in Chemistry from Haverford College. His experience supports the Peake Fellowship’s role in catalyzing civilian and Defense Industrial Base innovation within the bounds of data privacy for community health resources.

Dr. McCoy brings more than two decades of experience in higher education and industry partnerships to her role with the Mary S. Peake Fellowship. he co-developed the Peake Fellowship’s Higher Ed Enterprise Leadership Program called i-HELP which is now rolling out with support from the U.S. Commerce Department. She currently serves as leader of the Tougaloo College partnership with Brown University which is celebrating its 60th year. She also serves as Tougaloo College’s Director of Career Readiness, Innovative Leadership-Quality Enhancement Plan, and Faculty Development. In previous Tougaloo roles she led the College’s internship programs.

Prior to Tougaloo, Dr. McCoy served as Academic Dean for the parent of the New England Business College (NEBC). NEBC now forms the online education program of Cambridge College, a national leader in non-profit adult learning. Previous roles also included Doctoral Mentor and Adjunct Professor for Online Programs at Capella University, Professor of Psychology for Strayer University, and Graduation Coach for Hinds Community College.

Dr. McCoy earned a PhD in Urban Higher Education at Jackson State University, an MS in Counseling Psychology from the University of West Alabama, and a BA in English and Journalism from the University of Alabama.

CDR Tiffany Duffy (Ret.) completed her U.S. Coast Guard career developing a comprehensive and uniform approach to environmental regulatory requirements for maritime operations in U.S. waters. She is currently a Senior Director of Operations at CSX, an approximately $15 billion railroad industry leader. She leads efforts in the safe movement of 1,848 trains and more than 3.5 million carloads of products and raw materials a year.

Tiffany Duffy began her 24 years of Coast Guard service after a neighbor suggested that she join. She graduated from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy with a BS in Marine Environmental Science before entering the maritime transportation domain as a federal government regulator on foreign and domestic vessels. She earned an MS in Chemical Engineering from the University of Southern California, CMD Duffy applied her learning to her work on multilateral missions and treaties which neutralize chemical weapons, reduce air emissions, cut greenhouse gasses , and reach carbon neutrality. Throughout her career CDR Duffy has benefited from mentors and offered coaching whenever possible, and continues that role for the Peake Fellows.

Frankie Smith is a business innovator building on 7 years of roles in finance & accounting. He sees his strongest skill as bringing together a range of people and ideas to solve problems that matter. After working for a publicly traded retailer while earning his MBA and undergraduate business degrees, he is beginning a career in consulting across industries with Grant Thornton in the CFO Advisory Practice.

In addition to using his experience to mentor others, Frankie has actively benefitted from mentorship through his career. In 2022, Frankie was selected for the Thurgood Marshall Leadership Institute where he received coaching from subject matter experts across multiple industries. Frankie earned both a Bachelor and a Master of Business Administration degree with a concentration in Accounting from Savannah State University. For the Peake Fellowship, Frankie has a passion for coaching Fellows who want to create new business models for the future.