Mathews Center Welcomes Two New Board Members
At its regular meeting on February 7, 2025, the DMC Board of Directors voted unanimously to accept the nominations of Jeffrey G. Rogers and Christienne Gibson to join the Board. Both new members bring with them prior knowledge of the DMC’s programs and initiatives and a commitment to its ongoing mission to improve the civic health of Alabama, one community at a time.
Jeffrey G. Rogers is an Associate at Maynard Nexsen in Birmingham. Working primarily in the area of securities regulation, he handles matters for a wide range of business clients related to all aspects of their daily operations and long-range planning, including mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, and other strategic initiatives and financial goals. He is a graduate of the University of Alabama School of Law, where he served as Executive Editor of the Alabama Law Review and received the M. Leigh Harrison Award for “outstanding achievement in academic performance, legal writing, scholarship, and intellectual attainment.”
Rogers knows the work of the DMC well. During his undergraduate studies at the University of Alabama, he lived, learned, and worked in Walker County as a Jean O’Connor-Snyder Intern, the signature program of the DMC.
“Through my past involvement the David Mathews Center for Civic Life,” Rogers said, “I met people from all corners of Alabama who, though bringing unique backgrounds and perspectives with them, were in every case intelligent, dedicated, and civic-minded. I’m honored to have the opportunity to serve on the Board, and I look forward to continuing to engage with fellow Alabamians on important issues affecting the State, its communities, and its people.”
Christienne Gibson is Executive Director of Mobile United. She is a native of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and a longtime resident of south Alabama. She holds an undergraduate degree in art history from Bloomsburg University in Pennsylvania and a Master of Liberal Arts in ethics and leadership from Spring Hill College. Before beginning her tenure at Mobile United in 2014, Gibson worked in public relations and community engagement roles at the Centre for the Living Arts and the City of Mobile’s downtown revitalization office. As part of her work at Mobile United, Gibson serves as the administrator for Leadership Mobile, Connect Mobile and Youth Leadership Mobile, working to develop a continuum of programs for emerging leaders of all ages and backgrounds.
Gibson says her excitement to join the DMC Board stems directly from her roots: "In walking the streets of downtown Philadelphia as a child, I always felt that the words we built our democracy upon carry immense power and apply equally to all—something coded in our collective DNA and reflected in the history still living there today. Riding onto the American Village campus feels a lot like coming home. It has been my honor to work with the citizens of Mobile over the past 20 years and I am excited to see how I can serve the David Mathews Center and its mission to engage citizens in their vital work statewide."
The DMC Board and staff extend a warm welcome to our newest members and look forward to their many contributions during their terms of service.