Bobby H. Washington - Executive Director

Bobby has been a resident of Fayetteville for four years, returning after a 27 year Air Force career as an Intelligence Officer.  Bobby has served in a variety of command and staff officer jobs including assignments in Asia, Europe, Middle East, and several U.S. tours. Upon retirement from the Air Force, Bobby took a consulting position with Booz, Allen, and Hamilton of Washington, DC and later a strategic planning and consulting position with McClendon Systems Automation of Vienna, VA.  During his stay in the Northern VA/Wash DC area, he founded The Center For Research and Educational Initiatives, providing mentoring and educational support assistance to Washington, DC and Prince George County, MD public schools.  

Bobby's educational background includes a BS in History from Fayetteville State University, and an MS in Human Relations and Management from Abilene Christian University (with course work at Eastern Washington State).  Bobby completed the Harvard Senior Executives Fellow Program in residence in 1999 and is a PhD candidate pursuing a degree in Applied Management and Decision Sciences with a specialty in Leading Community-Based Organizations.  While serving in the Air Force, Bobby taught National Security Management at the University of South Carolina, Columbia, for four years in a special duty assignment.

His previous non-profit board experience includes Member, Board of Governors, Casa De Esperanza, Yuba City, CA and Member, Board of Directors, Center for Educational Initiatives, Stafford, VA.

Catrina G. Murphy, PhD - Programs and Research Director

Catrina Goodwin Murphy moved to Fayetteville in 2004.  She attended Duke University where she obtained an A.B. degree in Sociology as well as a K-6 Elementary Education Teaching Certificate.  Catrina obtained a M.A. degree in Elementary Education from Appalachian State University in 1996.

After teaching for three years in the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County School System, Catrina served as the Programs Coordinator for the Office of Minority Affairs of the Wake Forest University School of Medicine, and later as the Director of the Office.

While in Winston-Salem, she served as a Board member for AIDS Care Service and CERTL (Center of Excellence for Research, Teaching and Learning).  She was a charter member of the United Way Young Leaders. In 2006, Catrina earned a Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration from the University of Virginia Curry School of Education.  She, along with her husband and two sons, are members of Friendship Missionary Baptist Church.

Karl W. Merritt - Operations Director 

Karl moved to Fayetteville in 2002 with his wife, Denise.  At that time, Denise was on active duty in the Army.  She retired in 2011 and they chose to make Fayetteville home. 

By way of employment, Karl served in the U.S. Navy, retiring in 1991.  He was in the Navy's Supply Corps.  Among his assignments were these: Instructor and Head of the Leadership and Management Department, Navy Supply School, Athens, Georgia; Comptroller, Naval Supply Center, Charleston, South Carolina; Senior Supply Officer, USS OGDEN (LPD-5) homeported in San Diego, California; Comptroller, Commander Mine Warfare Command, Charleston, South Carolina. Karl followed his naval career by serving two years as Assistant Pastor, then seven years as Pastor of Mount Olive Baptist Church in Stafford County, Virginia.  In 2003, he joined Hobgood, Jones and Assoicates Real Estate (Fayetteville) as a REALTOR.  Karl left real estate in 2009 to volunteer full-time with Great Oak.