Christen Hartley Duhé, Ed.D., APR
President & Executive Director
In September 2022, Christen Duhé joined the Gulf Coast Community Foundation as President and Executive Director, where she has the privilege of connecting people, passion, and philanthropy to strengthen communities across the Mississippi Gulf Coast. She is passionate about helping individuals, families, businesses, and organizations find meaningful ways to give back and believes some of the greatest opportunities for lasting impact begin with strong relationships, collaboration, and a genuine love for the community we call home.
Prior to joining the Foundation, Christen served as Associate Vice President of Institutional Relations at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College. She began her career at the Mississippi Gulf Coast Chamber of Commerce, where she was the first Director of Coast Young Professionals (CYP).
A lifelong Mississippi Gulf Coast native, Christen grew up in Bay St. Louis and now calls Gulfport home with her husband, David, and their daughter, Vivienne. Their household is rounded out by Chief, a very well-fed cat, and Minnie, a very energetic Cavapoo.
Christen is a proud three-time graduate of The University of Southern Mississippi,To the Top!, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in public relations, a master’s degree in mass communication, and a doctorate in Higher Education Administration. She earned her Accreditation in Public Relations (APR) in October 2015.
Lisa Birmingham
Director of Grants and Scholarships
Lisa Birmingham joined Gulf Coast Community Foundation in September 2005 as manager of Donor Relations and now serves as director of Grants and Scholarships.
She oversees the Foundation’s grantmaking and scholarship programs, ensuring each process is carried out with exceptional care, accuracy, and a commitment to serving donors, nonprofit organizations, and students. She possesses an extraordinary depth of knowledge about GCCF’s history, charitable funds, and community relationships, making her a trusted resource for colleagues, donors, and community partners.
A lifelong resident of the Mississippi Gulf Coast, Lisa has dedicated her career to serving others through nonprofit organizations and schools. She has long believed in the power of volunteerism and finds great fulfillment in connecting generous people with opportunities to make a lasting difference in their communities.
Outside the office, Lisa treasures time with her husband and their growing family, which includes four sons, a grandson, and a great-granddaughter. She is also a trained horticulturist whose expertise in greenhouse cultivation and plant care is well known. She also enjoys crafting, cooking, traveling, spoiling her two Yorkies, and exploring the open road with her husband on their Harley-Davidsons.
Dr. Shanta Rhodes
Director of Grants & Scholarships
With more than 20 years of experience in education and leadership, Dr. Shanta Rhodes’ professional journey has taken her from the classroom to executive leadership, where she has focused on strengthening organizations, developing leaders, and creating opportunities that make a lasting difference for the people and communities they serve.
She earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Elementary Education from Jackson State University and a doctorate in Educational Leadership and Administration from The University of Southern Mississippi. Her certifications include Elementary Education K-8 – Mississippi Department of Education; Career Level Administrator; Career & Technical Administrator – Mississippi Department of Education; and National Board Certified Teacher – National Board for Professional Teaching Standards.
Throughout her career, she has served as an assistant superintendent, federal programs director, and instructional leader, with expertise in curriculum, instruction, professional development, educational leadership, and federal programs/grants management and program implementation.
Shanta is a native of Jackson, Mississippi, and has called the Mississippi Gulf Coast home for more than 20 years. She enjoys traveling, cooking, baking, attending live music events, spending time at the beach, and creative writing. Giving back is important to her, and she is active in the community through Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
Tiffany D. Bell
Director of Donor Relations
Tiffany D. Bell serves as director of Donor Relations at Gulf Coast Community Foundation, where she works to strengthen relationships with donors, nonprofits, and community partners who are committed to improving the quality of life in South Mississippi.
Tiffany brings more than two decades of leadership experience in nonprofit management, donor relations, administration, and community service. Previously, she served as Executive Director of the Women’s Resource Center and is known for her ability to lead with purpose, build meaningful relationships, and help move important community initiatives forward.
She is a 2019 graduate of Leadership Gulf Coast and has been recognized four times as one of Gulf Coast Woman Magazine’s “Top 100 Women to Know.” Tiffany has also served as an Honorary Commander for the 81st Training Wing at Keesler Air Force Base. As a veteran, she understands the importance of helping military service members stay connected to the local community.
Tiffany has received two lifetime achievement honors, including the Tony Santucci Lifetime Achievement Award from The Coast Observer and the 2024 Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award for volunteer service, presented during the Biden Administration. She was also inducted into the Best of Mississippi Awards Hall of Fame in 2025.
While Tiffany is grateful for the many awards and honors she has received, her greatest accomplishments are her two sons, Brieyon and Brandon, and her grandchildren, Leonidas and Israel. She believes deeply in service, community, and creating a legacy that will continue for generations.
Kimberly Jones
Communications Manager
Kimberly B. Jones serves as the Communications Manager for the Gulf Coast Community Foundation. Previously, she was the Communications and Marketing Specialist at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, where she worked for 31 years.
Kimberly earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism from The University of Southern Mississippi and an Associate of Arts degree from Hinds Community College. Her skills span a range of areas, including editing, writing, photography, graphic design, and project management. She has served as a member and board member of the College Public Relations Association of Mississippi and as a member of the National Council for Marketing and Public Relations. She received several accolades from both organizations.
Community involvement is a cornerstone of Kimberly’s life. For several years, she was the communications and social media strategist for Stone High School’s band, Stone High Pride. She is actively committed to animal welfare, volunteering, along with her younger son, with Wild at Heart Rescue in Vancleave and fostering cats and dogs for many years for the Stone County SPCA.
Kimberly is also a proud mother and says, “My three children are my greatest accomplishments.”
Rodger Wilder
H. Rodger Wilder is of council with Balch & Bingham, LLP, in the firm’s Gulfport, Mississippi, office, where he has practiced law for over 48 years.
Rodger earned his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Mississippi State University in 1970 and his Juris Doctor from the University of Mississippi School of Law in 1977.
He is a past president of the Mississippi Bar Association, the Mississippi Bar Foundation, and the Harrison County Bar Association. He is also a member of the American Bar Association and is a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation, a Fellow of the Mississippi Bar Foundation, and a Fellow of the National Conference of Bar Presidents. In 2010, he was recognized by the Mississippi Business Journal as one of Mississippi’s Leaders in Law in its inaugural class.
Rodger has also been active in numerous community and civic activities. He was a founding member of the Gulf Coast Community Foundation in 1989 and has continuously served in various leadership positions with the Foundation. He also was a founding member of the Gulf Coast Business Council and the Knight Nonprofit Center. In 2006 he was voted one of South Mississippi’s Outstanding Community Leaders by The Sun Herald and The Journal of South Mississippi Business. The Mississippi Gulf Coast Chamber of Commerce awarded him its 2024 Pat Santucci Sprit of the Gulf Coast Award, and in 2026, CASA of South Mississippi recognized him as their Outstanding Community Professional.
