Board Members
Beverly Burks, M.B.A.
Chair
Mayor Burks was sworn in as the mayor of Clarkston in November 2020. Clarkston is home to residents from over 50 countries and is known as ‟the Ellis Island of the South.” Mayor Burks works tirelessly to develop affordable housing solutions, support businesses and residents, create community-centric policing, leverage partnerships, and reduce health disparities. For over 17 years, Mayor Burks worked for several Fortune 100 companies as a business consultant and technical manager. She is currently the director of Community Engagement at the Fulton-DeKalb Hospital Authority and is responsible for partnerships, grant management, and programs.
Commissioner Robert Patrick
DeKalb County CEO Seat Appointee
Robert Patrick was elected as DeKalb County’s District 1 Commissioner and took office on January 1, 2021. Patrick is no stranger to public service; he brings extensive experience to the DeKalb County Board of Commissioners. Several months after taking office, Commissioner Patrick was appointed by DeKalb County CEO, Michael Thurmond, as the first commissioner to serve on the Decide DeKalb Board of Directors. Also, after one year in office, his BOC colleagues elected him to serve as the Presiding Officer. Prior to his election, Commissioner Patrick served as a council member with the City of Doraville for eight years. Robert also served as both the Vice-President and President of the DeKalb Municipal Association, took part in North End transportation studies, the Doraville Comprehensive Plan Update, the creation of the first Parks and Walkability Master Plan, and the first Buford Highway Livable Centers Initiative. Robert holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Georgia. He and his wife Mary have been proud residents of DeKalb County for over a decade; together they share three wonderful kids, Robert Jr, Kate, and Sylvia.
Shatrina Cosby, B.A.
Parliamentarian
Shatrina Cosby is Vice President, Account Management & Development at Purchasing Power®. She has over 20 years of strategic business-to-business leadership experience, including business process outsourcing, relationship management and process improvement, through partnering with notable Fortune 100 clients. A DeKalb County native, Ms. Cosby earned her bachelor’s degree in business from Georgia Southern University. She currently serves as Fundraising Chair of DeKalb’s National Pan Hellenic Council and is on the executive board of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Stone Mountain-Lithonia Alumnae Chapter. Ms. Cosby is an advocate for community service and spends her spare time volunteering with organizations throughout the Atlanta metro area.
Jada Bussey-Jones, M.D., F.A.C.P.
Dr. Bussey-Jones is a professor of medicine and the vice chair for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Department of Medicine of Emory University’s School of Medicine. She also serves as the chief of Grady General Medicine and the assistant dean for Professional Development for Emory School of Medicine at Grady. Dr. Bussey-Jones has expertise in minority health and health equity, as well as patient and provider education. She has developed initiatives that address disease prevention for vulnerable populations, as well as curricula on cultural competence, disparities, and the social determinants of health.
Rhonda Cooper, R.N., M.S.N./N.E.D.
Rhonda Cooper is an accomplished nursing leader with over 20 years of professional nurse experience, including extensive expertise in school health services, public health collaboration, and population-based student wellness initiatives. She currently serves as Senior Nurse Coordinator for Wrap Around Services/Student Health Services in the DeKalb County School District, where she provides clinical oversight, professional guidance, and strategic support to consultant nurses and school-based nursing staff in advancing safe, healthy, and equitable learning environments. Ms. Cooper collaborates closely with the Department of Public Health to support communicable disease surveillance and emergency preparedness and leads the implementation of evidence-based health practices in accordance with Georgia school health laws, the Georgia Nursing Practice Act, and National Association of School Nurses (NASN) standards of school nursing practice.
Jewel L. Crawford, M.D.
SERVICE