21Wilberforce Board of Directors

21W representatives

Board Members

21Wilberforce relies on the dedicated support and counsel of visionary and generous individuals worldwide, not the least of which are our talented and committed Board of Directors. They provide guidance and a wealth of experience from diverse fields and backgrounds.

Meet the Board

Curtis Brown

Director / Treasurer
Biographical Summary

James Carr

Director
Biographical Summary

Ross Chandler

Director
Biographical Summary

J. Nixon Daniel, III

Director / Chairman
Biographical Summary

Darrell Dunton

Director
Biographical Summary

Simon "Trey" Hendershot III

Director
Biographical Summary

Amanda Howard

Director / Board Secretary
Biographical Summary

Suzii Paynter March

Director
Biographical Summary

David Nelson

Director / Vice Chair
Biographical Summary

Raúl Scialabba

Director
Biographical Summary

Keith Skaar

Director
Biographical Summary

Michelle Smith

Director
Biographical Summary

Knox Thames

Director
Biographical Summary

John Upton

Director
Biographical Summary

* Not pictured: Geoffrey Nwankwo (Director)

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Curtis L. Brown

Curtis L. Brown is an attorney and mediator based in Dallas, Texas, that has advised diverse business, academic, professional, civic and charitable entities for over 44 years. He has served as chair or member of the board of directors, attorney or advisor of wide variety of organizations.

Before beginning his practice of law in Dallas, Mr. Brown received his CPA license and practiced in the Denver and New York City offices of one of the largest international accounting firms where he was a Senior Tax Accountant for the 4th largest company in the United States. He served as Founding Partner of Brown, Baskin, Bickel and Brewer, Attorneys, in Dallas that represented publicly traded businesses and banks, as well as not-for-profit entities. He has served as outside General Counsel of several companies, including Interstate Battery System of America.

Curtis has served as mediator in settling disputes of all types, including large and complex legal actions. He has also lectured on various tax and legal topics, including as an Adjunct Professor of Law of Business Succession Planning at Baylor Law School, and as a guest lecturer for several other law schools. Curtis has authored legal articles, including two published by the State Bar of Texas.

Curtis served on the Judiciary Committee of the Dallas Bar Association and on the Board of Directors of the Waco Bar Association. He currently serves as a member of the Board of Directors and of the Executive Committee of the Art Center of Waco.

After receiving his B.B.A. in Accounting from Texas Tech University, he earned his Juris Doctor degree from The University of Texas School of Law and completed international law courses at The University of Oxford and the London School of Economics. 

Curtis has been a member of 21Wilberforce’s Board of Directors since March 2023.

Jim Carr

Dr. James W. Carr is currently President and Chairman of Highland Home Holdings an investment fund. Before retirement in 2019, he had served as Executive Vice President and Professor of Business of Harding University for 25 years. In 2005, Jim was nominated by George W. Bush and confirmed by the U.S. Senate to an appointment on The National Security Education Board. 

In Arkansas, he was appointed by Governor Mike Huckabee and re-appointed by Governor Mike Beebe to the Arkansas Forestry Commission. Jim was appointed to The Arkansas Higher Education Coordinating Board by Governor Asa Hutchinson where he now serves as Chairman. He has served on the Board of Directors of World Christian Broadcasting for more than twenty years. He has been awarded two gold medallion honor medals by The Martin Luther King Commission for the promotion of racial harmony. 

Dr. Carr previously served on the Board of Comsafe, a Jack Nicklaus, Golden Bear Company and now serves on the Board of the Quapaw Council of the Boy Scouts of America, The Board of the Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce and the Board of First Community Bank. 

Prior to joining the administration of Harding University, Jim served as an administrator at the American College Testing Program (ACT) and in various administrative positions at Florida State University. He has consulted with hundreds of colleges in the U.S. and abroad in the area of institutional marketing. He was born and raised in Tallahassee, Florida and is married with three children. Dr. Carr received his PhD from Florida State University. 

Jim joined the 21Wilberforce Board of Directors in October, 2022. 

Ross Chandler

Since 2010, Dr. Ross Chandler has been the Senior Pastor of First Baptist Church in Marble Falls, Texas. He joined the 21Wilberforce Board of Directors in March 2022. 

Prior to moving to Marble Falls with his family, Ross served the previous eight years in south Texas as the pastor the First Baptist Church in Hondo. Prior to 2002, Ross served under pastor Dr. Bruce Webb as the youth and college minister at Central Baptist Church in Jacksonville, Texas; before that as a college minister at Wylie Baptist Church in Abilene; and while in college as a youth minister in First Baptist Churches in the rural communities of Christine, Charlotte, and Jourdanton, Texas. He got his first job in ministry when he served as a missionary at South Padre Island in a student missions program with the Baptist Student Union (BSU). 

Ross grew up in south Texas, where his parents and grandparents were public school educators, coaches, and farmers. Being from south Texas, he was raised in a deeply Hispanic culture (his high school was 97% Hispanic), and he has a deep affection for and connection with Latin America and the Hispanic culture.  

Ross holds a bachelor’s degree from Hardin-Simmons University (where he now serves on the Board of Trustees), a MDiv from George W. Truett Theological Seminary, and a D.Min from Truett Seminary (2017).  

Ross is married to Meaghen, whom he met at the First Baptist Church of Poteet, Texas, when they were both in the second grad. They have been married for 23 years and have two teenage daughters.

J. Nixon Daniel, III

Nixon “Nix” Daniel is the managing partner of Beggs & Lane, a Pensacola, Florida-based law firm that represents a broad and diverse client base, including major corporations, businesses, professionals, non-profit organizations, and individuals.

A Florida native, Nix has practiced law in Pensacola for over 40 years. He has tried over 100 cases to verdict and has been involved in many others which were settled at mediation or otherwise prior to trial. His litigation experience includes both the representation of defendants and plaintiffs.

Nix holds a J.D. (With Honors, Order of the Coif) from the University of Florida College of Law, Gainesville, Florida, and a B.A. (Magna Cum Laude) in Economics from Wake Forest University, Winston Salem, North Carolina.

In October 2018, Nix joined the 21Wilberforce’s Board of Directors, where he previously served as Vice Chair and as Chairman since March 2022.

Darrell Dunton

Darrell Dunton is the Co-Founder and Chief Creative Officer of Admarc, an advertising and creative design company in Midland, Texas. Admarc was launched in 1983 by Darrell and two colleagues, Kent Randel and Joe Milam, around the dream that good design could meaningfully impact people’s lives.  Since then, Admarc has opened offices in Dallas, Lubbock and Amarillo.

Within his field, Darrel specializes in brand design and strategy, design and concept artist for all media, and identity development and execution. His work has earned him wide acclaim – from Addy Awards to International Film Festival of New York and CLIO – in many categories and media. 

Darrell and Barbara, his wife of 42 years, live in Midland, Texas. They have 3 children and 9 grandchildren.

Darrell is highly involved in a wide array of civic and community initiatives. He serves on many boards locally and nationally such as: The Baptist Standard, The Life Center, Watch & Pray Ministries International, Red River Ministries, and Fuel the Fire. He has also been involved as a volunteer in the Tenth District NSAC, AAF, AIGA, and the American Heart Association. He has served as a member of 21Wilberforce’s Board of Directors since its founding in 2014.

Simon "Trey" Hendershot III

Simon W. “Trey” Hendershot, III, is the managing shareholder at Hendershot Cowart, P.C., a law firm based in Houston, Texas, where Trey leads the firm’s business law, healthcare and regulatory group. 

Trey is a native Texan, born and raised in Gonzales, Texas.  He received his undergraduate degree from Texas A&M University (B.B.A. in Business Management).  While attending Texas A&M University, Mr. Hendershot was a member of the Fightin’ Texas Aggies Band and the Corps of Cadets. He was named Distinguished Military Graduate and upon graduation, received a commission as an Infantry Officer in the United States Army. He also served as a Judge Advocate General Officer for the 36th Brigade 50th Armored Division, Texas Army National Guard.

Trey received his law degree from South Texas College of Law and is admitted to practice before the United States District Court throughout districts in Texas and before the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, United States Tax Court and United State Court of Military Appeals. He is also a member of the American Health Law Lawyers Association and Health Law Section of the Texas State Bar.

He currently lives in Fort Bend County, Texas with his wife, Cherie, and three daughters.  Trey is active in Sugar Creek Baptist Church and active with multiple charities. He also serves as Chairman of the Board of Trustees for Fort Bend Christian Academy. He has been a member of 21Wilberforce’s Board of Directors since October 2020.

Amanda Howard

Amanda Howard retired after many years of teaching elementary and middle school students in Alabama, Kentucky, and Florida. She holds a master’s degree in Elementary Education from Jacksonville State University as well as certifications in Middle School education. 

Amanda currently lives in Brookhaven, GA where she serves alongside her husband, Barry, as they assist the Church at Wieuca in redeveloping their property and relaunching as a mission church to better minister to the current Buckhead community. 

An avid golfer and tennis player, Amanda also enjoys playing the piano and singing, spending time with friends, traveling, and closely following the adventures of 23 nieces and nephews. 

Amanda joined the 21 Wilberforce Board in 2022. 

Suzii Paynter March

Suzii Paynter March has a lifetime of experience in Christian leadership, organizational leadership and public advocacy. Since September 2019, Suzii has served as the Executive Director of Prosper Waco, a Texas initiative focused on increasing health, education and financial security. Prior to this position, Suzii spent more than 20 years leading Texas and national Baptist denominational groups.

Suzii has held advocacy and leadership roles with the Texas Baptists, Southwest Educational Development Laboratory, the Christian Life Commission, the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, and Pastors for Texas Children. Through these endeavors and her affiliations with many other associations and groups, she has worked on issues ranging from religious liberty, education to poverty to prison reform. Suzii’s recent work with Pastors for Texas Children has been recognized for advancing education funding in the 2019 legislative session. For ten years, she has helped vulnerable people recover from and prevent predatory lending.

She has been honored as a distinguished alumnus of Baylor University and holds an honorary doctorate from Dallas Baptist University. Her personal honors include recognition for her work in Christian ethics, cross-cultural and women’s leadership. In addition to her Baylor and doctorate degrees, Suzii holds a master’s degree in education from Stephen F. Austin University.

She joined the Board of 21Wilberforce in 2021.

David Nelson

David Nelson has been a licensed attorney in the state of Texas since 1978. In 2002, he founded Signature Investor Group for the management of private equity investments in energy and environmental technologies which he continues today along with litigation support primarily in oil and gas.

He earned his law degree during his eleven year tenure with Republic National Bank of Dallas. He exited banking in 1983 as a Vice President in the Metropolitan Lending Division to assume corporate counsel duties for an energy company. He served as Trust Counsel for Baptist Foundation of Texas and CEO and Chairman of Concord Trust Company, a Texas regulated trust company servicing the charitable donor trusts of the Foundation.

David is a graduate of Baylor University with a B.A. degree in mathematics. Following undergraduate studies, he earned a Master of Computing Sciences degree from Texas A&M University and a J.D. from Baylor University School of Law. In law school, he served as President of the Moot Court Society, received the Leon Jaworski Moot Court Scholarship, and was elected the Phi Delta Phi Graduate of the Year.

Elaine, his wife of 53 years, and David reside in Dallas, Texas. They have a daughter, Harlan, living in Dallas with three grandchildren. David and Elaine have been active in Park Cities Baptist Church for over 40 years as well as serving on boards of numerous charitable and ministry organizations. David and Elaine have a philanthropic appetite which includes having established several endowed scholarships and a goal of increasing financial donations annually.

In 2015, David joined the 21Wilberforce’s Board of Directors, where he served as Chairman from 2017 to March 2022.

Raúl Scialabba

Dr. Raúl Scialabba is an Argentine lawyer and businessman who for the past 40 years has held a number of key leadership positions with Baptist and other Christian organizations.

He currently serves as the President of the SBA (Argentine Bible Society) and is a member of the Council Board of the Salvation Army of Argentina. He has served as President and is currently the Vice President of the Argentine Baptist Association (Asociación Bautista Argentina) (ABA), a young association that since its inception has supported BWA and its various ministries. He has been involved in the leadership of the Union of Baptists in Latin America (UBLA) in different responsibilities and has held uninterrupted positions in BWA since the 1980s. In these almost 40 years, he has participated in numerous commissions and committees, as president and as a member. He led the 10th Youth Baptist World Congress (1984) and the 17th Baptist World Congress. He has served as a representative at the BWA Executive Committee, as BWA Vice President representing Latin America (2000-2005), and currently is a member of the Religious Freedom Commission and Resolutions Committee.

Dr. Scialabba is committed to religious freedom for all, both in Argentina and globally. In addition to being a voice for Baptists in different areas of government, Dr. Scialabba currently serves as President of the Argentine Council for Religious Freedom (CALIR), a position he twice previously held.

Dr. Raúl Scialabba and his wife Silvia have three children and five grandchildren. They live in Buenos Aires, are members of Once Baptist Church in the city, where they lead the Centro Bautista Recoleta (Recoleta Baptist Center) mission. Dr. Scialabba joined the 21Wilberforce Board of Directors in October 2020.

Keith Skaar

After graduating from Baylor University with a BS in Petroleum Geology in 1984, Keith worked for numerous independents developing prospects in various basins covering the domestic U.S.  In 1992, Keith began a career as an exploration geologist working the Permian Basin for Independent Petroleum firms establishing commercial discoveries and production throughout the Permian Basin.  In November of 2016, Keith started Augustin Exploration, LLC to continue identifying and developing oil and gas reserves in the Permian Basin. Keith has been sought out as a featured speaker/lecturer/keynote for numerous industry conferences including the AAPG, Houston Geologic Society, Emerging Shale Plays, and WTGS amongst others.
 
A bachelor until the age of 43, Keith married Kari (Welker) Skaar in 2005 and they have two children, Nathan (age 10), and Maggie (age 8).   Keith serves as a Trustee of First Baptist Church in Midland and Wayland Baptist University.   Keith also serves on the board of other charitable organizations including Rock the Desert, and Watch and Pray Ministries, both in Midland.   An avid golfer, Keith is a stockholding member of Midland Country Club and the Petroleum Club of Midland. 

Keith joined 21Wilberforce in July 2014 as a founding member of the 21Wilberforce Board of Directors, where he continues to serve as Secretary of the Board.

Michelle Smith

Michelle Smith serves as Chief of Staff and Communications Director at the Federal Reserve in Washington, D.C., where she has worked for over two decades.

Prior to joining the Federal Reserve, Michelle served in the U.S. Department of the Treasury as Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs (and other positions), and before that as Deputy Press Secretary to U.S. Senator Lloyd Bentsen (Texas).

Michelle holds B.A. in Journalism/Business and a Master of International Journalism from Baylor University.

She lives in Northern Virginia with her family. She joined the 21Wilberforce Board of Directors in April, 2019.

Knox Thames

For two decades, Knox Thames has promoted the rights of religious minorities and combated persecution, working at the intersection of global affairs, religion, and human rights.

An accomplished foreign policy expert with in-depth knowledge on a range of international affairs issues, his career has taken him to the State Department and two different U.S. government foreign policy commissions. Most recently, Knox served across two administrations as the Special Advisor for Religious Minorities in the Near East and South / Central Asia at the U.S. Department of State. The first to serve in this special envoy role, he received a civil service appointment in September 2015 to lead State Department efforts to address the situation of religious minorities in these regions.

Starting in July 2020, Knox left the government to embark on a book writing project based on his experiences and joined the Institute for Global Engagement as a Senior Fellow. He is also a Senior Visiting Expert at the U.S. Institute of Peace, contributing to the Middle East and Religion & Inclusive Societies teams. Both positions are possible thanks to the support of the Templeton Religion Trust.

During his 20-year career in government, Knox also served at the U.S. Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (the Helsinki Commission), the U.S. Commission for International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), AmeriCorps VISTA, and the U.S. Army War College as an Adjunct Research Professor.

Knox has written widely, including multiple contributions to ForeignPolicy.com, along with articles appearing in TIME, Newsweek, CNN.com, the Times of London, the Harvard Human Rights Journal, the Yale Journal of International Affairs, Christianity Today, and the Georgetown Journal for International Affairs. And he literally wrote the book on religious freedom advocacy, being the initiator and lead author of a first-of-its-kind handbook, “International Religious Freedom Advocacy: A Guide to Organizations, Law and NGOs,” published by Baylor University Press.

He received a Bachelor of Arts from Georgetown College (KY), a Juris Doctorate with honors from American University’s Washington College of Law, and a Master’s in International Affairs from the School of International Service at American University. In addition, he studied at Jagiellonian University in Kraków, Poland.

Knox joined the 21Wilberforce Board of Directors in March 2023.

John V. Upton, Jr.

Executive Director | Baptist General Association of Virginia (BGAV)

Since November 2001, John Upton  has served as the Executive Director of the Baptist General Association of Virginia (BGAV) and the Virginia Baptist Mission Board (VBMB). He has been a member of the 21Wilberforce Board of Directors since October 2020.

In July 2015 he completed a five-year term as President of the Baptist World Alliance that began July 31, 2010. Prior to becoming president of the BWA, he had been a member of the BWA General Council and the Executive Committee. He had also served on the Baptist World Aid Committee, the Commission on Christian Ethics and acted as the chair of the Congress Program Committee. Prior to being elected executive director of the GBVA and VBMB he served as the group leader of the Mission Mobilization Group of BGAV.  Earlier he was pastor of Urbanna Baptist Church in Urbanna and he and his wife, Deborah, served as missionaries in Taiwan through the Southern Baptist Convention’s Foreign Mission Board (now International Mission Board).

John, a Norfolk-born Virginia native, is a graduate of Averett College (now University) in Danville, VA, and Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY. The Uptons have two sons, Christopher and Richard; a daughter, Emily; and eight grandchildren.