Meet the Team
At Urgent Academy, we are privileged to have a dedicated and dynamic founding team that is committed to empowering young minds and fostering positive change in our community. Each member brings a unique blend of expertise, experience, and passion to our mission of providing exceptional educational experiences for our students.
Saliha Nelson, EdD
FOUNDER | CEO
Dr. Saliha Nelson is a visionary leader and founder of Urgent Academy. With an impressive career spanning over 25 years, Dr. Nelson has been deeply committed to enhancing out-of-school time experiences for youth, grounded in positive youth development principles. As an accomplished non-profit executive, youth development practitioner, and community coalition-builder, she is fueled by an unwavering dedication to amplifying opportunities that empower urban youth to transform their lives and communities.
Dr. Nelson holds a Bachelor of Science in Social Policy and Education from the prestigious Northwestern University. Additionally, she possesses a Master of Education in Community and Social Change and a Doctor of Education in Applied Learning Sciences, both earned from the esteemed University of Miami.
Henry Crespo, Sr.
BOARD MEMBER
Henry Crespo, Sr. is the President The Development Firm, a full-service workforce and community development firm, specializing in helping clients meet their diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) hiring, staffing, vendor, and supplier goals. With over 20 years of experience in the community development industry, Crespo’s clients have included the Miami WorldCenter, All Aboard Florida, Coastal Tishman and Power Design. Past achievements also include leading the 79th Street Corridor Neighborhood Initiative. He has also managed the development of affordable single, multi-family and senior housing development projects.
A long-time advocate for community progress and urban revitalization, Henry maintains deep ties to his community through his volunteer service. Currently, Henry serves as President/Founder of URGENT, Inc., a non-profit organization dedicated to youth and community development.
Michael Wohl, Director
BOARD MEMBER
A second-generation real estate developer, Michael Wohl is recognized as an industry leader and innovator for his over three-decade record of performance, integrity, creativity, and implementation across numerous submarkets and product types in Florida. His training and prior practice as an attorney provide him with invaluable skills, experience, and perspective in negotiating, documenting, and closing acquisitions and sales of real estate assets.
In the past two decades as the co-founder of a leading Miami-based housing firm, he has built and operated a residential rental portfolio of over 60 communities and 10,000 apartment units, the majority of which are still owned. Wohl holds both a Bachelor of Arts and Juris Doctor degrees from Syracuse University.
Graylyn Swilley-Woods, PhD
CHAIRWOMAN | BOARD MEMBER
Dr. Graylyn Swilley-Woods, is the director of the GMCVB’s Black Hospitality Initiative (BHI). She is responsible for leading BHI’s mission of advancing opportunities and increasing workforce participation for African Americans and Black people of African descent in Greater Miami and Miami Beach’s visitor industry through scholarships, talent development and job referral programs.
Dr. Woods has more than 25 years of experience in community engagement, economic development and higher education. Most recently, Swilley-Woods served as executive director of the Overtown Children and Youth Coalition.
Swilley-Woods received her Ph.D. from Antioch University. She received a Master of Arts degree from The Ohio State University in Africana Studies, a Master of Arts in Leadership and Social Change at Antioch University and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Pittsburgh.
Emily Gunter
BOARD MEMBER | SECRETARY
Emily Diane Gunter is the Founder of the Rites of Passage Youth Empowerment Program. Emily has dedicated her life to empowering young minds. A dynamic and inspirational speaker, Emily's passion for education extends beyond the boardroom. With a background as a math teacher, retreat, and seminar leader, and published author of "Superlearning 3000," she brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to her endeavors.
Emily's journey has been nothing short of remarkable.
A trailblazer in the field of mathematics, she earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Mathematical Statistics from American University, Washington, D.C. Her passion for knowledge and exploration has taken her on a world tour, traversing Tibet, India, Egypt, the UK, Stonehenge, Glastonbury, Paris, 42 states across America, Belize, Mexico, the Caribbean, and the Virgin Islands.