LCAE Board of directors

We are a team of individuals that know education plays a significant role in people reaching their full potential.

The values that guide our work are:

  • Integrity

  • Sustainability

  • Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

  • Innovation

  • Health & Wellness

  • Phyllis Barrett, Chairman of the Board of LCAE, is a retired civil and criminal court reporter, having served throughout the state of South Carolina for 33 years. She served as president of the SC State Court Reporters Association from 2002-2006. In her freetime, Phyllis enjoys gardening, playing mahjong, and baking.

  • Melissa Murdock, Treasurer for LCAE, is a South Carolina native who has served as a public school teacher for 10 years. Prior to the 2022-23 school year, most of those years have been spent serving Low Country students, specifically Berkeley and Charleston Counties. She is a certified yoga instructor and founder of Brown Girls Hike, which is an organization that provides opportunities for Black women and girls to experience outdoor recreation. In her free time, Melissa enjoys hiking, swimming, arts and crafts, and reading.

  • Carl Townsend is a medical professional that is passionate about serving rural and underserved communities. Whether it be providing meals to those that are struggling with the meals on wheels program or helping to bridge the academic gap with the LCAE, Carl strives to break problematic socioeconomic barriers. In his free times Carl enjoys exercising, traveling, reading, and playing the guitar.

  • Melissa Barrett, LCAE Founder and Executive Director, is a native of South Carolina. She has over 20 years of experience in teaching, in public and private sectors, in high, medium, and low socio-economic schools since 2001. Her experiences, knowledge, and passion for activism and equity led her to found Lowcountry Center for Academic Equity. When she’s not teaching, Melissa spends her time exercising, gardening, and keeping up with current events.

Photos by Sarah Dionna @ Arc Take 2