Jerry Saunders, Sr.
Chief Executive Officer

Saunders has more than 34 years of youth and community development experience.  He has engineered community development initiatives and produced successful collaborations between corporations, educational institutions, municipal services, enforcement agencies, health agencies, civic groups, religious institutions, and social service organizations.  Prior to joining APDS in April 1997, Saunders served ten years as Executive Director of the Eldon W. Ward YMCA Branch of Central Ohio.

Jerry has extensive history of volunteering his time and resources to community oriented health and wellness organizations.  He served 15 years as a Commissioner of the City of Columbus Recreation and Parks Department, 6 years on the Board of Trustees for Franklin County Children Services, 4 years as an officer on the Franklin County Board of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities, 6 years as inaugural Chairman of After-School All-Stars Columbus Board of Trustees, 4 years as Chairman of the 100 Black Men of Central Ohio and 4 years as a member of the Board of Directors for the 100 Black Men of America, Inc.  Saunders served as a founding member on the Board of Trustees for Mid Ohio Stranger Abduction Alert (AMBER Alert), Governance Board for Columbus Africentric Early College School, and a member of Columbus Neighborhood Safety Working Group.

Jerry currently serves as Chairman of Compassionate Communication Central Ohio Board of Trustees.  He is a member of the Columbus City Schools Education Foundation Board of Trustees, serves on The Ohio State University Youth Violence Prevention Advisory Board, Pickerington Schools 21st Century Advisory Board, and a member of Community Properties of Ohio ‘Bridges Out of Poverty’ Steering Committee.

The Oberlin College graduate is the recipient of numerous awards including the National Black Women’s Think Tank Man of Purpose and Courage Award, Living Legend Award from Youth Connections Inc., and The 100 Black Men of Central Ohio, Inc. Community Service Award. Saunders received the prestigious Paul Harris Fellow of The Rotary Foundation from Columbus Rotary.   Jerry is the recipient of the Columbus Urban League Award of Excellence, 100 Black Men of Central Ohio Mentor of the Year, and Greater Columbus Community Helping Hands, Inc. 2011 Ambassador of Health and Wellness Award.

Dr. Richard Moriba Kelsey,  Executive Director Emeritus

Baba Kelsey co-founded APDS in 1988 along with his wife Dr. Barbara Kelsey. Dr. Kelsey served as Executive Director of APDS from 1988 to 1997. Dr. Kelsey’s extensive education includes a Doctorate of Philosophy (Counselor Education, Adult Education and Vocational Education) from The Ohio State University; Master Degree in Education (Counseling and Adult Education) from Kent State University; and a Bachelor of Science (Elementary Education) from Tuskegee University. Dr. Kelsey is a Licensed Psychologist and Clinical Counselor, a certified Rites of Passage Trainer and a certificated K – 12 Teacher and Guidance Counselor. Dr. Moriba C. Kelsey brings years of experience and education to APDS and the African/African-American community. His lifelong objective is to provide the highest quality of services possible to the African Community.  Dr. Moriba Kelsey was previously employed as an Elementary School Teacher, School Counselor, Ohio State Supervisor of Measurement and Evaluation in Guidance, Counselor, Educator, and Psychologist.

He is one of the founders of the African Center for Study and Worship, Co-founder of the Africentric Personal Development Shop, Inc., and one of the founders of the Africentric National Rites of Passage United Kollective.

Among his many publications are African Genius Writings, Africentric Rites of Passage, and Worldview Differences in Blacks and Whites.

Dr. Kelsey has numerous awards and honors and is a member of the Association of Black Psychologists, National Alliance of Black School Educators, Association for the Study of Classical African Civilizations, Tuskegee University Alumni Association, and the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity.

Terehasa C. Lee-MChunganji, LICDC, ICADC, OCPSII
Clinical Director

Terehasa has 30+ years of administrative experience in Alcohol and other Drug Treatment and Prevention Services. She has worked in outpatient, residential, grass roots and correctional settings. Her skills come from many different cultural groups with emphasis on Youth, African and Native American Populations. She specializes in working with high risk populations with a special interest in women’s issues and gang intervention. As a clinician and administrator she has developed a stellar reputation in her work with both adults and youth receiving numerous awards. Currently she serves as Clinical Director for APDS as well as the CBT Coordinator for the Ohio Department of Youth Services. Terehasa is the author of a curriculum entitled “The Hero’s Journey to Self Mastery” which is an interactive journal directed at assisting clients in seeing themselves as the Hero in their recovery process. She has numerous certifications and credentials that support her work. She travels and shares her insights in lectures throughout the U.S. She is the proud mother of 4 adult children and active grandmother of 15.

Carol Stegall, LCDCII/ICADC/RA, Counselor

Carol began her relationship with APDS as the part-time Administrative Generalist in November of 2000, and moved into the position on a full-time basis by January of 2001.  Carol demonstrated great commitment and dedication to fulfilling her administrative responsibilities, while working to meet the requirements for Registered Candidate status.

In March 2003, Carol’s new Registered Candidate status combined with previous experience with non-profit agencies that provide services to individuals at risk, unlocked the door for her to come on board in the capacity in which she serves today as Alcohol & Other Drug Counselor Facilitator and Prevention Services Facilitator.

In 1977, Carol attended Northern Michigan University with a declared major in Secondary Physical Education, and a Health minor.  With a strong commitment to service, Carol updated her CDCA certification on March 20, 2007 and became a Registered Applicant as of September 25, 2006. Carol earned her Associates degree at Columbus State Community College on September 11, 2009, and returned to Columbus State in the spring of 2010 where she earned her Certification for Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor II licensure.

Nancy Best, RA, CDCA serves in the capacity of part-time Office Generalist as well as a substitute Treatment and Prevention Facilitator.  Nancy originally joined the APDS team as a volunteer, with hard work and determination and a love for helping people, she became a permanent employee.  She was born and raised in Westerville, Ohio and a graduate of Westerville South High School.  Nancy is a graduate of Columbus State with her Associates Degree in Applied Sciences: Mental Health, Chemical Dependency and Mental Retardation and is currently working on her BA in Social Work.

Robert Russell, LCDCII/ICADC/SWA/RA

Robert serves as a Treatment and Prevention Counselor. He received his Associates Degree with a focus on Social Work from Clark State Community College and is currently pursuing his Bachelor’s Degree in the field from Kentucky State University. Robert has been providing drug and alcohol counseling for six years and has experience working with clients with mental health issues. He believes that no one who is using drugs wants to be in the situation they are in but the addiction controls them. His passion is to try to reach individuals who want and need help overcoming these issues. He loves his work and vows to continue for the rest of his life. Robert brings the facts and reality of addictive behavior and above all hope for the clients. He is a recovering addict himself, has three wonderful children, eight grandchildren, and is also married.

Dawn McDougal, LCDCII/ICADC/RA

Dawn serves as a Treatment and Prevention Counselor. She earned her Associate’s Degree in Chemical Dependency, Mental Health, and Mental Retardation from Columbus State Community College. Dawn is currently pursuing her Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice with a focus on addiction at the University of Cincinnati. She has over 5 years of volunteer experience working with different agencies in the community, including Faith Mission and Vision and Vocational Services. Dawn also served as an intern at Franklin County Family Drug Court and at OSU East Talbot Hall. Dawn believes in the work we do at APDS because she believes that everyone has what it takes to become their very best and that some need guidance, directions, and assistance with reaching their goals and dreams. She wants to be a part of helping other’s reach their full potential. She has the desire to help change the community in which she lives. Dawn has lived in Columbus, Ohio for 15 years, has three children and is also a grandmother. She attends World Harvest Church.

Antonio Brown, Maintenance and Security Officer

‘Tony’ was born and raised in Columbus, OH and is a graduate of Linden McKinley High School.  Tony is married with two teenage sons.  His main focus at APDS is to unify the neighborhood to promote a clean environment for the community.

Charmaine Jordan, Office Manager

Charmaine graduated from Eastmoor High School and is currently pursuing her Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Human Resource Management at DeVry University. She has over 16 years of experience in customer service and administrative services. Charmaine is a returning employee to APDS who strives to always lend a hand and step in where ever needed. She has a desire to help anyone and everyone. Originally born in Queens, New York City, Charmaine has lived in Columbus for 23 years and is the mother of two children.

Keandra Hampton, Office Generalist

Keandra was born in Fairbanks, Alaska and raised in Tampa, Florida. With an Associate Degree from The Academy of Court Reporting in Paralegal Studies and several years of experience in Customer Service, Keandra brings an optimistic outlook as well as relevant experience and an ability to analyze situations critically. She enjoys the work we do at APDS because it is gratifying to see the positive changes in the people that attend our programs. Recently she rejoined the workforce after 13 years of coordinating and organizing the lives of her husband Parris and three children.

Patrice Palmer, MSW, CDCA, RA Treatment and AOD Facilitator

Patrice earned her Bachelor and Master Degree in Social Work from The Ohio State University, where she was awarded the “Most Outstanding Student of the Year” awarded 2009.  Patrice presently is pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in criminal Justice, with a focus on addictive studies and deviant behavior at The Ohio State University.  Patrice has certifications in HIV/AIDS awareness, CPR, and CBT Techniques, and holds an Ordained Elder Licensure of Ministry from Higher Ground Always Abounding Assemblies, Inc in Columbus, Ohio, under the Leadership of Bishop Dr. Sherman S. Watkins, where she attends church.  Ms. Palmer is an active Board member for Jessie’s World as well as Program Developer and Lead Facilitator for Chosen4Change, Inc.  Ms. Palmer is an OBB counselor as well as motivational speaker.  Ms. Palmer suggests that the process of change is durable for all those seeking a different direction in their lives.  Ms. Palmer declares that she has a mandate on her life by God: to assist men, women, and youth in the process of change through CBT & MI techniques, breaking the cycle of abusive patterns, thoughts, and behaviors, one life at a time.  Ms. Palmer confirms that change is durable and she is willing to work with clients as they transition into the positive direction and reach goals necessary to maintain and stabilize lives.  Patrice has five wonderful children and 2 grandsons. 

Chandra Rains, Independent Contractor

Chandra has worked at APDS over ten years and is now a business owner who consults APDS in fiscal and auditing duties as an independent contractor. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Technical Management from DeVry University with concentration in Accounting. She has 8 years of experience in fiscal management, 6 years of experience in executive management, and 14 years of experience in behavioral health care services and management. She is a deeply accomplished and results-driven management executive with an extraordinary cross functional management background. She brings to APDS a remarkable talent in leading others to achieve operational and service delivery excellence with a sound attitude toward results, and a competitive and innovative approach to industry business practices and trends. She is highly motivated by internal standards of excellence. Chandra enjoys the work we do at APDS because it provides a tangible purpose to work hard for the people in need in our community.

Robert C. Polite, M.D., Independent Contractor

Dr. Polite serves as Medical Director and is an independent contractor with more than 12 years of medical experience. Board certified by the American Osteopathic Board of Family Physicians. Licensed by the Ohio State Medical Board since 2006, Dr. Polite has been a member of the American Academy of Family Physicians. He is a member of the American Osteopathic Association, Ohio Osteopathic Association, National Medical Association, Columbus Medical Association, American Society of Addiction Medicine, and the Aerospace Medicine Association.