ABOUT
The organization's three key programs
HOUSING
FARM BUSINESS ENHANCEMENT
FOOD ACCESS
play a vital role in providing assistance and opportunities to those in need. By concentrating on these areas, IN HER SHOES, INC. is achieving significant progress in empowering individuals, families, and communities towards a brighter and more stable future.
Meet the Team
MARQUITRICE MANGHAM
CEO/Founder
marquitrice@inhershoesinc.org
Marquitrice Mangham may have a full-time residence in the Atlanta metro area, but her heart is always close to her home in Tallahatchie County, Miss. The executive director of the nonprofit In Her Shoes, Inc., is often home running her family’s 150-acre farm and managing Farmacy Marketplace, a grocery store she opened in 2022 to fill the community’s need for grocery services. Like many Mississippi Delta residents, many in the small town of Webb, Miss. often had to drive more than 20 miles to purchase fresh fruits, vegetables and meats.
Mangham’s personal experiences and professional training have prepared her to serve under-served communities in Mississippi, Georgia and Alabama in meaningful ways. Mangham, an Army veteran, holds postgraduate degrees in public administration, urban planning and law. She has been a professional community planner for more than 20 years.
Board Members
Dr. Elizabeth B. Myles
Dr. Elizabeth B. Myles, a Pattison, MS native, is Associate Director of the Mississippi Small Farm and Agribusiness Center at Alcorn State University. She also teaches as an adjunct and holds master’s degrees in education and agricultural science from Alcorn.
Vanessa Shonkwiler
Vanessa P. Shonkwiler is an economist and market research specialist with 24 years’ experience in agricultural research and marketing. She focuses on small agribusiness development, specialty crops, sustainability, and local food systems, helping stakeholders improve efficiency and profitability.
Email: V.Shonkwiler@uga.edu
S. Watson Turnipseed, ESQ
S. Watson Turnipseed, Esq., from Sumner, Mississippi, is in-house counsel for In Her Shoes, Inc. A University of Mississippi Law graduate, he runs a private practice in Mississippi and Louisiana, assists farm program participants, works his family farm, and pursues music professionally.
Benjamin Saulsberry
Benjamin Saulsberry, Public Outreach Director at the Emmett Till Interpretive Center, is a gospel singer and educator on race relations, speaking nationwide, including at Harvard Law. He studied music at Mississippi Valley State University and the University of Mississippi.
Monzella Powell
Monzella Powell, a native of Tallahatchie County now living in Webb, Mississippi, is a retired farmer and construction worker who remains active in his community. In his spare time, he enjoys carpentry and helping others.
Linda Ross Aldy
Linda Ross is an author, former reporter, editor, and TV host, and an award-winning Fortune 500 manager recognized among Mississippi’s “50 Leading Businesswomen.” She served as a state agency director under three governors and now consults on leadership, strategic planning, team building, and advocacy for public, private, and nonprofit clients.
DR. LOUTRINA STALEY-CORDELL
Dr. Loutrina Staley-Cordell is a Plant and Soil Scientist, educator, and agricultural leader with over a decade of experience in conservation, food safety, and community education. She has served as National Equity and Outreach Program Analyst at NACD, Soil Scientist and Director of Student Recruitment at the Soil Health Institute, a USDA Licensed Commodity Grader, and a STEM-focused life science teacher.
