Meet Dr. McCullough

Dr. Karla L. McCullough

Founder & CEO of Tri-K Group. A nationally recognized strategist, organizational transformation consultant and thought leader with more than 20 years of leadership experience strengthening organizations and creating measurable community impact.

Dr. Karla McCullough, Ph.D., founder of Tri-K Group

Dr. Karla L. McCullough is a nationally recognized strategist, organizational transformation consultant and thought leader with more than 20 years of leadership experience dedicated to strengthening organizations, advancing equitable systems and creating measurable community impact. As Founder and CEO of Tri-K Group, she partners with government agencies, foundations, educational institutions, nonprofits and businesses to build organizational capacity through strategic planning, leadership development, health and race equity-centered training, grant development and program evaluation. Her work equips organizations to improve performance, secure sustainable funding and implement lasting solutions that strengthen both mission and bottom-line results.

In addition to leading Tri-K Group, Dr. McCullough serves as Executive Director of the Juanita Sims Doty Foundation, where for more than 16 years she has championed youth development and systems change through innovative initiatives that expand opportunity and strengthen communities. She has trained thousands of leaders nationwide, including federal, state and local agencies, universities, nonprofit organizations and businesses and has partnered with institutions such as the University of Notre Dame, the University of Missouri, Howard University, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Office of Family Assistance and the Administration for Children and Families to improve organizational effectiveness and advance people-centered policies and practices.

A published researcher and nationally sought-after speaker, Dr. McCullough is the co-creator of the Humanity-Informed Policy and Practice Lens and the creator of the Humanizing Factors Framework. Through her research, consulting and executive leadership, she helps organizations translate evidence into action, informing policy, strengthening organizational practices and driving strategic decisions that produce measurable, sustainable outcomes. Her work continues to shape leaders and institutions committed to building stronger organizations, thriving communities and lasting systemic change.

Credentials & roles

Scholarship meets executive leadership

Ph.D., Urban Higher Education

Jackson State University (Cohort 8). Dissertation: Examining the Impact of Corporate-University Partnerships on Higher Education Institutions.

Fortune 500 Executive

Years of leadership and executive positions, building the strategic planning and management foundation that anchors Tri-K Group's practice.

Executive Director, JSDF

Leads programming at the Juanita Sims Doty Foundation to improve outcomes for youth and families of color across the South.

The team

Meet the Tri-K Group team

Meet some of the multidisciplinary professionals committed to measurable impact.

Dr. Rodney Washington, Ed.D., Senior Researcher and Evaluator · Consulting Plus

Dr. Rodney Washington, Ed.D.

Senior Researcher and Evaluator · Consulting Plus

Dr. Rodney Washington is an experienced program evaluator and research professional with a strong background in higher education and health systems. He has served in key academic and research roles at Jackson State University and the University of Mississippi Medical Center, where he contributed to advancing data-driven decision-making, program assessment and organizational effectiveness.

With expertise in program evaluation, research design and outcomes measurement, Dr. Washington supports organizations in understanding program impact, identifying areas for improvement and strengthening overall performance. His work emphasizes the use of rigorous, evidence-based methods to inform strategic decisions and enhance the effectiveness of programs serving diverse populations.

Throughout his career, Dr. Washington has been committed to translating data into actionable insights that improve policies, practices and organizational outcomes. His evaluation work helps institutions build stronger systems, demonstrate measurable impact and make informed decisions that advance long-term sustainability and success.

Dr. Nikisha Ware, Ph.D., Executive Strategist & Grant Writer · Divergent Life Solutions

Dr. Nikisha Ware, Ph.D.

Executive Strategist & Grant Writer · Divergent Life Solutions

Dr. Nikisha Ware is a nationally certified Parent Coaching Professional, workforce strategist and advocate with more than 25 years of experience helping individuals, families, schools and organizations navigate change and build resilience. As Chief Impact Strategist of Divergent Life Solutions and founder of Thrivewell Consortium™, she specializes in helping parents move from overwhelm to stability through practical tools that strengthen emotional wellness, financial confidence and personal leadership.

Throughout her career, Dr. Ware has led initiatives impacting thousands of families and has helped secure and manage millions of dollars in public and private investments supporting education, workforce development and community well-being. Her work bridges the gap between personal growth and real-life challenges, equipping people with the skills needed to navigate adversity, relationships, parenting, work and life transitions.

Known for her relatable style, humor and ability to make complex topics accessible, Dr. Ware empowers parents to create stronger family systems built on communication, trust, healthy boundaries and intentional decision-making. Her message is simple: stable parents build stable homes and small shifts can create lasting change.

Georgia Mason, Client Experience Coordinator

Georgia Mason

Client Experience Coordinator

As Client Experience Coordinator for Tri-K Group, Georgia is committed to delivering exceptional service and ensuring every client interaction reflects the firm's values of professionalism, responsiveness and excellence. A recent high school graduate who ranked among the top ten in her class, she brings a strong work ethic, outstanding organizational skills and a genuine passion for helping others.

Ms. Mason is an accomplished student leader; was a member of the National Honor Society, captain of her high school soccer team and a participant in Rush United Soccer Club. She also completed research as a Base Pair Scholar at the University of Mississippi Medical Center and founded a private piano instruction business after providing free music lessons through the Briarwood Arts Center.

Research that informs practice

Grounded in systems theory

Dr. McCullough's doctoral research examined how corporate-university partnerships reshape the organizational systems of higher education institutions, viewed through Albrecht's systems theory and its technical, social, administrative and strategic subsystems.

The finding that drives her consulting: every element of an organization's system shifts when one part changes. Equity work, done well, has to account for the whole, which is exactly how Tri-K Group approaches every engagement.

4
organizational subsystems analyzed, technical, social, administrative, strategic
2
institutions studied, one majority, one minority, for maximum-variation insight
3
methods triangulated, observation, document review and interviews
What guides the work

Values at the center

The principles behind every Tri-K Group engagement.

01

Humanity first

We center the dignity and humanity of the people every system is meant to serve.

02

Systems, not symptoms

Lasting change means transforming policy, practice and procedure, not patching what's visible on the surface.

03

Honest conversation

We host fair, candid and effective dialogue on race and equity, the kind that builds trust instead of defensiveness.

04

Capacity that stays

We build the skills and confidence of your people so progress continues long after the engagement ends.

05

Evidence & experience

We pair research and data with lived experience, because both are essential to getting equity right.

06

Community ownership

The people closest to the challenge help shape the solution, including the youth themselves.

The journey

From corporate leadership to community transformation

A career that braids executive discipline, scholarship and a lifelong commitment to equity.

Fortune 500 era

Executive leadership

Builds strategic planning and management expertise in leadership and executive roles at major corporations.

2010

Founds Tri-K Group

Launches her consultancy to bring executive rigor and cultural fluency to equity and systems-change work.

Doctoral study

Ph.D. in Urban Higher Education

Completes doctoral research at Jackson State University on corporate-university partnerships and organizational systems.

Today

Executive Director, JSDF & national trainer

Leads foundation programming, directs "Choose to Grow," and trains leaders nationwide while developing a new humanity-centered framework.

Let's build something that lasts

Whether you're rethinking a program, a policy or a whole system, Dr. McCullough and the Tri-K Group are ready to partner with you.