Aliya Nelson; attorney with the law firm of Taylor English
With nearly 20 years of experience, Nelson guides clients through a wide-range of corporate, entertainment and licensing matters. “As we embark on CTH’s growth into new media, we are thrilled to have legal talent like Ms. Nelson,” said Ty Jones, Producing Artistic Director of CTH. “Aliya’s broad experience with media and corporate litigation allows her to specifically guide CTH through matters material to intellectual property and proprietary content. Since live theater is on pause, CTH needs the skilled guidance of Ms. Nelson as we pivot to the digital/virtual space.”
Among Nelson’s broad range of experience, she has represented established and start-up marketing agencies, sports, media and technology companies, directed financial institutions and real estate developers through a variety of corporate transactional matters, and has knowledge in a broad array of sophisticated entertainment and licensing matters while working with Grammy award winning artists, songwriters and producers.
“I am thrilled to be joining the Classical Theatre of Harlem, a company I feel is the changing the face of American theater.”
Nelson is also actively engaged in civic, charitable and philanthropic organizations. She has served as the executive director of a non-profit think tank and advocacy group founded to encourage economic and political activity, as well as address issues faced by people of color within the United States and Africa. She is a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and Jack and Jill of America, Inc.
Nelson earned her undergraduate degrees from Rutgers College and her law degree from the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, Yeshiva University.
Dr. Terri Cooper, Deloitte’s Vice Chair of External DEI
Terri is currently Deloitte’s Vice Chair of External Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) where she focuses on fostering Deloitte’s external brand and helping to drive market facing efforts.
Terri has a personal passion and commitment to growing and developing talent at all levels. As chief inclusion officer, Terri drove Deloitte’s strategy to recruit, develop, and advance a diverse workforce and foster an inclusive environment. Terri led Deloitte’s inaugural Inclusion Summit and Day of Understanding, which fostered courageous conversations on DEI topics. She advanced inclusive leadership at all levels and establish inclusion as a core leadership capability.
Terri has more than two decades of experience working in various capacities of the life sciences and health care industry, including participating in a broad range of strategic advisory services. She has created new global operating models; supported the integration of development, regulatory, and drug safety functions in a number of Life Sciences company mergers; restructured all aspects of the research and development (R&D) value chain; and driven increased cost and efficiency measures.
Terri serves as a frequent speaker on diversity, equity, and inclusion issues and trends. She spearheaded the State of Inclusion annual research as well as represented Deloitte at Davos, Fortune’s Most Powerful Women, and Women Leaders Global Forum. She was named to Crain’s 2019 New York Notable Women in Accounting. She is a board member for the Simmons University Institute for Inclusive Leadership Strategic Board of Advisors.
She holds a Joint Honors Bachelor of Science Degree in Chemistry and Pharmacology and a PhD in Pharmacology from the University of London, UK.
Patrick Bradford, Board Chair, founding partner of Bradford Edwards & Varlack LLP
Patrick A. Bradford, New York City, NY, is a practicing attorney specializing in complex commercial litigation. He is a founding partner of Bradford Edwards & Varlack LLP. His practice areas include antitrust, securities, employment, environmental and qui tam (whistleblower) actions. He also handles government and corporate investigations, including international FCPA matters. He represents clients in federal and state courts throughout the country, and before government regulators, including the Federal Trade Commission, the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Department of Justice. He has taught “Antitrust Law” as an Adjunct Professor at Fordham Law School, and “Law & Technology” at Columbia University. Patrick is an honors graduate of Harvard College (1986) and the New York University School of Law (1989). He is a former President of the NYU Law School’s Law Alumni of Color Association. He currently serves as a Senior Director of the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, a member of the Diversity Corporate Committee of the Public Theater/New York Shakespeare Festival, interim Board Chairman of the Classical Theater of Harlem, and Trustee of the Lighthouse Opera Company. He has previously served as Board Chairman of the New Professional Theater, and as Trustee of the Negro Ensemble Company, Theater Development Fund, Theater Communications Group, and the Shakespeare Society.
