Darren is the Founder and Chief Mastermind of Melanated Masterminds. Originally from Philadelphia, Darren pursued his undergraduate studies at Hampton University and obtained his Master of Arts in Teaching from Relay Graduate School of Education. His education journey began after a career as a military officer in the U.S. Army. As a Teach for America Corps Member in Delaware, he transitioned into the classroom, teaching middle and secondary English and Language Arts. Darren has taken on various leadership roles throughout his career, including Athletic Director, Grade Team Leader, Instructional Coach, and Director of Curriculum and Instruction at Freire Charter School Wilmington.

In addition to leading the work at Melanated Masterminds, Darren serves as an Adjunct Professor and Program Manager for the Recruitment and Retention of Diverse Educators at Delaware State University. In his role at DSU, he spearheads initiatives to attract, support, and sustain a diverse educator workforce, emphasizing recruiting and nurturing Black male educators. Darren also leads the Master of Arts in Equitable Curriculum and Instructional Leadership program at DSU, a graduate program created to develop teacher-leaders who seek to redesign an education system grounded in truth, justice, and equity.