Gamma Mu Lambda Chapter Brother Spotlight
In this space we shine the spotlight on a different member of the Gamma Mu Lambda Chapter who embodies the excellence of our chapter. This month we feature the newest members of the Gamma Mu Lambda Chapter.
THE FOUR PHARAOHS OF LUXOR
Bro. Dekywan Debose
Bro. Dekywan Curry Debose was born June 26th, 1987 in the “Motor City”, Detroit, Michigan to Elcanon and Brenda Debose. After a few years in Detroit, his parents moved to the city where he would spend most of his childhood—Sanford, Florida.
As a child, he enjoyed playing baseball and running track. In his youth, Dekywan also developed his musical talents by learning the piano and drums, which he played at his local church. He attended a performing arts school where his passion for singing and public speaking blossomed.
After graduating high school, Dekywan left his hometown to pursue his bachelor’s degree in Broadcast Journalism at the illustrious Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU). During his time on the Hill, he participated in student media as an anchor for the FAMU TV-20 Live at Five broadcast and a writer for the FAMUAN. During his senior year, he won a College AP award for his documentary Fishing for Answers which highlighted the impact of the 2010 BP Oil Spill on local businesses in the fishing and restaurant industries.
Dekywan began his professional career with the state of Florida in 2014 as the Students Working Against Tobacco (SWAT) Coordinator at the Department of Health (DOH) in Leon County. During this time, he collaborated with middle and high school students to promote the dangers of tobacco use and to inform their peers of the deceitful tactics used by tobacco companies to convince youth to use their products.
After three years with DOH, he accepted a position as the Cultural and Linguistic Competency and Social Marketing Coordinator with the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF). In this position, he worked with youth, families, and community stakeholders throughout the state to promote the System of Care model which sought to transform the state’s child mental health programs and to provide services that improve the lives and mental health of Florida’s children and families.
In August of 2019, Dekywan began working at his alma mater as the Director of Development and Marketing for the FAMU College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Institute of Public Health where he oversees all fundraising and marketing campaigns for the College.
Dekywan is the father of three children. His own journey through fatherhood has cultivated his interests in instilling the value and significance of being a father into others, especially young men. He aspires to be a mentor to African American fathers and young men. Dekywan is engaged to Ashley Leon.
As a volunteer, Dekywan continues to fulfil his passion for youth advocacy by assisting with community outreach initiatives and health fairs in Leon, Seminole and Miami-Dade County. While at these events, he seeks to engage youth in constructive dialogue regarding how the decisions they make now can greatly impact their futures. Aside from his advocacy work, he enjoys creating music, traveling, and attending sporting events.
Bro. Bertony Bornelus
Bro. Bertony Bornelus was born and raised in Miami, Florida. He serves as the Information Technology Coordinator for the College of Science and Technology at Florida A&M University and a part-time Applied Cybersecurity Adjunct at Tallahassee Community College.
He graduated from Florida State University in 2010 with a Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology and from Florida A&M University with a master’s degree in Computer Science with a concentration in Cybersecurity. He is an accomplished coder and programmer who enjoys using and teaching my skills to contribute to thrilling technological advances.
He is an active member of the Historic Mt. Olive Lodge # 5 Free & Accepted Masons, Prince Hall Affiliated, and John G. Riley Consistory# 207, Prince Hall Affiliated. I also serve as the 2nd Vice President for St. James # 26 Holy Royal Arch Masons, Prince Hall Affiliated.
He also volunteered for the Leon County Guardian ad litem program advocating for disenfranchised children’s best interests. He seeks to be a transformative change agent by leading my community and supporting those less fortunate.
Bro. Cyrus C. Calhoun
Bro. Cyrus C. Calhoun III is a native of Tallahassee, Florida. He is the son of Cyrus, Jr. and Clothelia Calhoun. He has a stepmother, Gwenda Calhoun, one older sister, Carmen Nelson, and a brother-in-law, Jeffery Nelson Jr.
He received his Bachelor of Science in Political Science/International Relations from Florida
A&M University (FAMU) and a Master of Science in Applied American Politics & Policy from Florida State University. He is a proud Third Generation FAMU graduate. Cyrus has studied abroad in Ghana, West Africa, and Cuba. His research topics included the Malaria epidemic in West Africa and steps to eliminate its spread, and the Afro-Cuban community and the U.S. blockade on Cuba’s economy, respectively. While in each of the countries, he took up learning the languages of Spanish and Twi, the dialect of the Akan language in Ghana.
Upon graduating from FAMU, he served in the Florida Legislature for five years as both a District Legislative Assistant and District Senior Executive Secretary in the St. Petersburg/Tampa-Bay area for House District 70, and the Tallahassee-Big Bend area for House District 8. Working in this field, he was responsible for coordinating legislative town halls, assisting legislators in securing millions of dollars in state funding to provide to state-run facilities and not-for-profit organizations, and even assisted the legislator in passing legislation that expanded opportunities for black farmers to obtain growth licenses in alternative medicine.
He later served as the Corporate Communications Specialist for one of the largest alternative medicine companies in the nation, Trulieve. During this time, he served as a key individual in delivering internal and external communications and partnered with staff across multiple departments on the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion committee, and the Environmental, Social & Governance committee.
Mr. Calhoun currently serves as the Marketing & Business Development Associate at Thomas Howell Ferguson P.A. CPAs where he manages content creation, proposal writing, professional development services, social media management, and corporate communications. He also serves as the firm representative for the Classroom Connection program in partnership with the Greater Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce and John G. Riley Elementary School. Cyrus also participates in the BEACON program within Access Tallahassee, which enables young professionals to assist high school juniors and graduating seniors in applying for scholarship opportunities and FAFSA.
Cyrus’ community affiliations and memberships include: New Zion Primitive Baptist Church,
New Leaders Council of Tallahassee, Florida Politics’ Rising Stars 30 Under 30 Honoree,
Knight Creative Communities Institute of Tallahassee (KCCI), TCC Take Stock In Children, The Florida A&M University National Alumni Association, The Florida State University Black Alumni Association, The Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce-Access Tallahassee, and a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., the Gamma Mu Lambda Chapter.
Bro. De’Garryan Andrews
Bro. De’Garryan Andrews is a native of nearby Havana, Florida. He was educated in the Gadsden County school system, attending Havana Elementary, Havana Middle, and Havana Northside High School; class of 2003. He is a graduate of The Florida State University, spring class of 2008. Upon graduation, Bro. Andrews moved to Los Angeles, California where he attended The American Musical and Dramatic Academy and Tasha Smith Actor’s Workshop. In 2010, when his mother fell ill, he moved back to Havana to help care for her. That fall he was given an interview with Crossroad Academy Charter School of Business and was hired as the 5th and 6th grade Language Arts instructor. At the end of his first year, Bro. Andrews was recognized as Rookie Teacher of The Year. During his 13-year tenure, Bro. Andrews has also been recognized as Teacher of the Year 2013-2014, Super Scorpion April 2014, and one of Florida’s High Impact Language Arts teachers 2014-2015, and Teacher of the Year 2018-2019.
Bro. Andrews currently serves as the Academic and Culture Interventionist at Crossroad Academy and balances his acting career. He is represented by Beth Saunders with Evolution Talent Agency in Atlanta, Georgia. Bro. Andrews is a loving husband and father, as well as a youth mentor. He loves spending time with his family and friends, watching movies and television, traveling, eating, and reading in his spare time.
