Next Innovative Clinical Research
Latoya M. Howery-Hinton MPH
LaToya Hinton-Howery, MPH serves as CEO and Research Director of Next Innovative Clinical Research, overseeing multi-specialty research sites in Houston and Chicago. Under her leadership, these facilities have become pioneers in expanding clinical trial access to underrepresented minority populations.
With 13 years of pharmaceutical research experience, including positions at prestigious institutions like Northwestern University, Rush University, and The University of Chicago…LaToya brings extensive expertise across multiple therapeutic areas, including:
– Women’s Health
– Dermatology
– Gastrointestinal
– Cardiovascular
– Respiratory
– Oncology
Her academic credentials include a Bachelor’s degree in Health Administration from Governors State University and a Master’s in Public Health from Benedictine University. She is currently pursuing her Doctorate in Public Health at American College of Education, building upon her foundation as a Medical Assistant.
LaToya is passionate about mentoring healthcare professionals in clinical research, sharing her insights on both entering the field and managing successful research sites. Her mission is to bridge the gap between clinical research opportunities and medical professionals eager to advance scientific discovery.
Board Members
tia foster
President
Tia Foster is a healthcare leader and Director of the Project Management Office at Northwestern Medicine, where she oversees strategic initiatives that advance patient care, operational excellence, and system transformation. With over 15 years of experience across clinical operations and healthcare technology, Tia is recognized for her ability to turn complex challenges into actionable solutions.
In her professional role, she partners closely with executive and clinical leaders to align strategy with execution, leading cross-functional teams to deliver measurable, high-impact outcomes across the organization. Her leadership is grounded in collaboration, accountability, and a strong commitment to continuous improvement.
As President of the Board, Tia is passionate about giving back and strengthening the communities she serves. She is especially driven by her role as a wife and mother of four daughters, who inspire her to lead with purpose, integrity, and impact.
Kenya Joyce Hatch
Vice President
Kenya Joyce Hatch is a nonprofit leader, strategist, and fundraiser committed to advancing equity and opportunity for children, youth, and families in Chicago. She serves as Executive Director of The Beautiful Seed Foundation, which supports girls and young women through mentoring, leadership development, and wellness programming.
Kenya is also the Head of Development at the Community Education Network/It Takes a Village Family of Schools, where she leads fundraising strategy, donor engagement, marketing, and major campaign initiatives that support early childhood, K–8 education, and community-based programs across Chicago.In addition, she provides development and strategic planning support to community organizations on the West Side and South Side, helping them strengthen their fundraising capacity, build sustainable partnerships, and expand impact.Kenya holds a BA in Education from Northern Illinois University, an MBA from Howard University, and recently completed a Doctor of Ministry degree at Howard University School of Divinity.
Dr. odion clunis
Secretary
Dr. Odion Clunis, MPH, DrPH, is a public health scientist with deep expertise in healthcare operations, electronic health record systems, health regulations, and suicide-prevention research. A Chicago native, he is a distinguished alumnus of the University of Illinois Urbana– Champaign, Indiana University Bloomington, and Walden University. With more than a decade of federal service, Dr. Clunis has consistently advanced initiatives that strengthen public health infrastructure and promote the well-being of special populations through evidence-based practice, strategic oversight, and operational excellence.
Jessica Jones Purnell
Treasurer
Jessica Jones-Purnell is a finance and operations leader with over 15 years of experience in nonprofit and corporate finance, strategic planning, budgeting, grant compliance, and operational leadership. She has managed multimillion-dollar budgets, strengthened internal controls, and partnered with executive leadership teams and boards to support organizational growth and sustainability. Jessica holds a Master of Science in Accountancy (Taxation) from Purdue University Global, an MBA in Finance from Roosevelt University, and a BBA in Management from Robert Morris University.In addition to her professional work, Jessica is passionate about mentoring and empowering young women through financial literacy and budgeting education workshops offered on weekends.
Dr. Paviella Foster
Board Member
Dr. Paviella D. Foster, Ed.D., is a Chicago-rooted executive whose work sits at the intersection of violence prevention, workforce development, and youth development. A native of the city’s Southside, she has spent more than 14 years building, restoring, and reimagining the systems that serve communities most often left behind — bringing a practitioner’s instinct, a scholar’s rigor, and an unshakable conviction that economic opportunity is upstream violence prevention.
Dr. Foster earned her B.A. in Law Enforcement and Justice Administration from Western Illinois University, her M.A. in Mental Health Counseling from Argosy University, and her Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership from National Louis University. Her dissertation, “An Examination of Community Members’ Reactions to Violent Viral Media and their Perceptions of its Impact on Black Communities,” reflects the throughline of her life’s work: an unwavering attention to the conditions, narratives, and structures that shape Black life in this city.
Matt Howery
Executive Director
Matt Howery is a workforce development and community engagement professional with more than 10 years of experience helping individuals overcome barriers to employment and connect to meaningful career opportunities throughout the Chicago area. He specializes in employer engagement, job readiness training, career coaching, workforce outreach, and building partnerships that create pathways into high-demand industries such as healthcare, construction, logistics, and customer service. Matt has worked closely with job seekers on resume development, interview preparation, job placement, and long-term career retention while also organizing hiring events, apprenticeship information sessions, and community-based workforce initiatives. Known for his hands-on leadership style and strong relationship-building skills, Matt is passionate about empowering individuals, strengthening communities, and creating opportunities that lead to long-term economic growth and stability.