17th Annual Women’s Leadership Virtual Conference

Developing Leadership Skills Through Mentorship

October 28 and 29, 2021

Schedule

Day 1 - October 28

10:00 AM – 10:15 AM

Welcome Remarks

  • Christine Mangino, President, Queensborough Community College, Women’s Leadership Conference Co-Chair
  • Mary C. Pearl, Executive Special Advisor at CUNY and Women’s Leadership Conference Co-Chair
  • Félix V. Matos Rodríguez, Chancellor, CUNY

 

10:15 AM – 10:25 PM

Greetings from CUNY Trustee

The Honorable, Mayra Linares-Garcia, CUNY Trustee and Vice President of Public Affairs and Communications, Liberty Coca-Cola Beverages

 

10:25 AM – 10:45 AM

Keynote

Reshma Saujani, Founder, Girls Who Code

 

10:45 – 10:50 AM

ETR Intern Student Introductions

  • Christine Mangino, President, Queensborough Community College, Conference Co-Chair
  • Mary C. Pearl, Executive Special Advisor at CUNY and Women’s Leadership Conference Co-Chair

10:55 AM – 11:45 AM

State Panel Discussion

  • Senator Toby Ann Stavisky
  • Assemblymember Deborah Glick
  • Assemblymember Stefani Zinerman
  • Assemblymember Phara Souffrant Forrest

Moderator: Karol V. Mason, President, John Jay College of Criminal Justice

 

11:45 AM – 12:35 PM

City Panel Discussion

  • Councilmember Selvena Brooks-Powers
  • Councilmember Inez Barron
  • Councilmember Diana Ayala

Moderator: Vanessa K. Valdés, Interim Dean, Macaulay Honors College

 

12:35 PM – 12:40 PM

Closing Remarks

  • Christine Mangino, President, Queensborough Community College, Women’s Leadership Conference Co-Chair
  • Mary C. Pearl, Executive Special Advisor at CUNY and Women’s Leadership Conference Co-Chair

Day 2 - October 29

10:00 AM – 10:05 AM

Welcome Remarks

Christine Mangino, President, Queensborough Community College, Women’s Leadership Conference Co-Chair

10:05 AM – 10:50 AM

Panel Discussion: Women Without Borders

Moderator: Mercedes C. Smith, Founder, Let’s Care More

 

10:50 AM – 11:35 AM

Panel Discussion: Using Social Media as a Leadership Tool

  • Lee Burgos, Singer-Songwriter and Ambassador for Latinas y Lideres Organization
  • Annmarie Gajdos, Founder, Welcome to Room 3228 Podcast

Moderator: Juvanie Piquant, CUNY Student Trustee

11:40 AM – 12:10 PM

Fireside Chat: How to Pin Down your Mentor

  • Glenda Grace, Senior Vice Chancellor for Institutional Affairs, Strategic Advancement, and Special Council
  • Maite Junco, Vice Chancellor for Communications and Marketing

 

12:10 PM – 12:40 PM

Mental Health Workshop

Yudy Cig, MSW, Clinical Therapist

 

12:45 PM – 1:00 PM

Closing Keynote Speaker

Speakers

Diana Ayala

Councilmember

Diana Ayala has worked for nearly two decades serving the people of the 8th District in social service agencies and government, and is a passionate advocate on issues including housing, gun violence, and senior services. Read More

Diana was born in Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico, and moved to New York City with her family as a child. Growing up in public housing after a time in the shelter system, she experienced numerous challenges that would help give her a unique voice and perspective in government and politics, and drive her passion for public service.

As a teenage mom-to-be, the father of Diana’s son was shot and killed in a senseless shooting, after which she returned to shelter. She later entered into a new relationship that proved abusive. In the face of these challenges, she found the personal strength to start her life over, enrolling in school and receiving her associate’s degree in Human Services from Bronx Community College.

She worked as a senior center director in East Harlem for seven years, and later joined the team for Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito as Constituent Services Director, ultimately becoming Deputy Chief of Staff.

In her current capacity, Diana has been instrumental in crafting legislation that has become law, from expanding tenants’ rights to cracking down on the sale of synthetic marijuana (K2). Diana has worked hand-in-hand with constituents to address issues ranging from housing, homelessness and mental health, to schools, immigration, and gun violence. She is a partner with the people, and a strong voice and aggressive champion for what she believes in.

Diana lives in East Harlem with her life partner, Frankie. She has four children and three grandchildren, and also lives with two rescued dogs and three cats.

Inez Barron

Councilmember

Inez Barron was elected to the State Assembly in November 2008, following a distinguished career of public service in the NYC Department of Education. Inez is the daughter of George and Margaret R. Smith, who raised her to ‘put God first.’ Inez credits her parents with instilling in her the value of education and pride in her African culture. Their encouragement to her was ‘always give your best, do your best, be your best and expect the best.’ Inez Barron is the wife of the Honorable Charles Barron, New York City Council Member of the 42nd Council District, and they have the distinction of serving simultaneously as the legislative representatives of virtually the same region. Charles and Inez are the parents of two sons, Jelani Johnson and Jawanza Barron. Read More

For nearly fifty years, Ms. Barron has been actively engaged in protesting against civil and human injustices such as segregation, discrimination, apartheid, exclusion of Africa from the NYC curriculum, police misconduct and environmental racism. She first became involved in the struggle for human rights in 1960 when she joined the protest demonstrations in Brooklyn held in solidarity with those boycotting southern businesses engaged in discrimination.

Inez has a long history of community activism. Through participation in various community organizations, she has been involved in closing a store selling illegal drugs, stopping the construction of a wood-burning incinerator that would have spewed tons of particulate matter into the air, ending the use of coal-burning furnaces in public schools, and supporting the tenants of Starrett City and Meadowbrook in their quest to maintain affordable housing.

Inez was born in the Fort Greene Projects of Brooklyn and attended the New York City public schools. She is a graduate of Hunter College of the City University of New York (Bachelor of Science in Physiology) and Bank Street College of Education (Master of Science in Reading and Special Education). For a brief period, Ms. Barron utilized her science training and worked in the radioisotope laboratory of a major hospital.

Ms. Barron began her career with the New York City Board of Education in 1967. She holds the philosophy that children should be valued and motivated to achieve, and teachers have a responsibility not only to provide the skills necessary to be life-long learners and become productive and critical members of society but also to challenge and stimulate children’s thinking.

For 18 years, Inez held various instructional positions, including classroom teacher (elementary, junior high school and college levels), reading teacher and math lab teacher. As a teacher at PS 41K, Inez was instrumental in the cooperative planning and implementation of the first NYC model for school-based management/shared decision making and was selected by her colleagues to present the concept at U.S. Congressional hearings in Washington, D.C., and at the UFT Conference in St. Croix, Virgin Islands. For the remainder of her 36 years with the Department of Education, Inez held a variety of administrative and supervisory positions, including teacher trainer, district coordinator for early childhood, executive assistant to the community superintendent, and assistant principal; she retired as a principal.

Inez served as vice president of Dynamics of Leadership, Inc., a leadership development corporation founded by her husband, Councilman Charles Barron, with the purpose of empowering people by developing their leadership skills. She developed curricula for various leadership workshops and conducted training sessions at colleges, churches, civic organizations and corporate conferences in several states across the nation. She is a founding member of Operation POWER (People Organizing and Working for Empowerment and Respect), a grassroots organization whose objective is to transform society and advocates the equitable distribution of goods and resources.

Since 1976, Inez has been an active member of the House of the Lord Church in Brooklyn, where the Rev. Dr. Herbert Daughtry is pastor and has espoused a holistic ministry encompassing the spiritual, political, social and health dimensions of life. Inez is a member of the Trustee Board, as well as a member of the Gospel Choir and served as chairperson of the House of the Lord Church Department of Education, which operated the House of the Lord Elementary School.

Inez’s commitment of service to the communities of East New York, Brownsville, and Canarsie continues as she assumes the office of Assemblywoman and represents constituents of the 40th District with emphasis on education, health care, economic development, housing and environmental justice. Inez is an advocate of improving transparency and accountability in government.

Ms. Barron’s accomplishments have been cited in Who’s Who Among American Teachers and her service to the community has been acknowledged by scores of honors, awards, citations and plaques.

Inez’s affirmation is ‘I believe God.’

Selvena Brooks-Powers

Councilmember

Selvena N. Brooks-Powers represents the 31st District which includes the communities of Arverne, Brookville, Edgemere, Laurelton, Springfield Gardens, and Far Rockaway. She was elected in a special election in February 2021. Read More

A fierce advocate for equity in city resources, Selvena Brooks-Powers helped to secure $95 million in restoration to fund the 116th Precinct, expand the Cure Violence program into the 105th Precinct, and establish a permanent COVID-19 vaccine site.

A dedicated public servant for 17 years and lifelong resident of Southeast Queens, Selvena Brooks-Powers is the proud daughter of immigrant parents and devoted to fighting for what’s right and delivering results. As a community organizer, Selvena drove high-impact initiatives on critical issues, including education, voting rights and empowerment, racial and economic justice, relief efforts post-Hurricane Katrina, M/WBE opportunities, and workers’ rights

Lee Burgos

Singer-Songwriter and Ambassador
Latinas y Lideres Organization

Singer-songwriter, Lee Burgos came to prominence after releasing her first single, Feel So Lost in 2015. Hailing from the Dominican Republic and raised in NYC, Lee’s influences range from various cultural backgrounds and legends such as Aretha Franklin and Camilo Sesto as well as Laura Pausini and Lauryn Hill, to name a few. Read More

Lee quickly grabbed the attention of various tour managers and served as opening act for Latin Grammy Award winners, Manuel Medrano and Vicente Garcia and for Billboard’s Top Selling Latin Artist, Myriam Hernandez. Simultaneously, she was recognized by the Dominican Republic’s Chamber of Deputies and asked to compose and record the official song of the Dominican Infantile Constitution.

In 2019, Lee released her critically acclaimed debut compilation album, Lee Burgos: Unplugged, which garnished high praise as she pays homage to the late, Juan Gabriel and Celia Cruz amongst her very own top singles, Quiéreme un Poquito, Me Haces Falta, Feel So Lost, and Tú.

Lee headlined her own sold out concert titled, The Lee Burgos Experience, was invited to headline the sold out, RAW Artists Premiere Concert event, and released Travesura whose premiere was announced on The Beast Billboard in Times Square. Most recently, she released her latest single Me Acostumbré with high praise from her fans and spectators.

Yudy Cig, MSW

Clinical Therapist

Professional Life Coach, Author, Master Trainer and Speaker, Clinical Social Work Intern, Media Contributor and Founder of Vida en Alto. Read More

For more than a decade, Yudy has developed, coordinated, and taught several supporting healthy family and relationship projects to government agencies, hospital, and community organizations. As a result of rigorous work and meaningful collaborations, more than twelve thousand families have been served with workshops, conferences,, employment, and counseling support resources.

In response to the demands for culturally relevant Latinz mental health support, Yudy launched Vida en Alto with the purpose to inspire and educate people to transform their lives. Through my radio shows and TV appearances, she has entertained and educated more than two million listeners and viewers weekly. Her message embodies a healthy lifestyle and helps audiences achieve personal growth, family harmony, and overall well being.

Lisa Dominguez

Founder
Spa O and Launch It

Lisa is an industry leader and most recently had to pivot with COVID-19 business closures affecting her business. In the summer of 2020, Lisa launched SpaO skin care beauty line, providing everyone with the at home care they need. Lisa has been a long time sought out expert for skincare, beauty, and inner balance and her goal is to continue the expansion of her brand. Like when SpaO on the Go was launched, this is another venture that will provide the opportunity for everyone to create an at home spa experience. Currently, the line carries 4 products available in the spa and online. Read More

As an entrepreneur Lisa is now teaching salon and spa aspiring entrepreneurs through her “Launch It” course. The course is set up into modules that covers what it takes to start a business in the wellness spa industry.

Prior to launching her own venture, Lisa managed several spas and gained hands on experience complimenting her numerous degrees and certifications in massage therapy, esthetics, and cosmetology. You can catch her on Telemundo TV as the network’s leading skincare and makeup specialist and in Skin Inc. Magazine, the leading publication for everything skincare, as a trendsetter in the space.

She continues to pursue her passion of helping people live their best lives by showing them how to take care of themselves both inside and out. Lisa was raised by an entrepreneur herself, her mother, who instilled in her the discipline and courage needed to make her business dreams a reality. Sharing what she has learned on her journey is something she takes much pride in and is her contribution to amplifying communities of color.

Lisa resides in New Jersey, with her two children.

Annmarie Gajdos

Founder
Welcome to Room 3228 Podcast

Annmarie Gajdos is a Slovak-American activist, content creator, and world explorer. In 2020, she graduated from Macaulay Honors College at Baruch College as her class Valedictorian with a BBA in Computer Information Systems, a concentration in Management of Musical Enterprises, and double minors in New York City Studies and Business Law. She aspires to work as either an entertainment or international human rights lawyer. Furthermore, she has professional experience in healthcare, finance, entertainment, and technology. Read More

Annmarie uses social media to promote self-care, foster inclusivity, and share underrepresented stories with her peers. As an avid traveler and self-proclaimed music aficionado, she has been profiled by many news outlets, including but not limited to: ABC’s Tiempo, the Wall Street Journal, Queens Public Television, Break Through Tech, Her Campus x Neutrogena, and the Times Square Alliance. She is also an ardent advocate for female empowerment and political advocacy, having worked with NYC Votes as a We Power New York City Ambassador during the 2020 presidential election. Furthermore, she founded and hosts the Room 3228 podcast with her two best friends from college in order to create a safe space for youth to discuss the issues that impact them as diverse New Yorkers.

For further information, she can be found on Instagram and LinkedIn

Deborah J. Glick

Assemblymember

Assemblymember Glick chairs the Assembly’s Committee on Higher Education, which oversees all private and public higher education institutions, student financial assistance, and professional licensing. In this role, she is a strong advocate for increased support for higher education, as well as professional licensing reforms. Glick also serves as the Chair of the Assembly Intern Committee, and on the Ways and Means, Rules, and Environmental Conservation Committees. Glick was born and raised in Queens, New York, and has lived in Greenwich Village for over 40 years. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree from Queens College and a Masters of Business Administration from Fordham University.

Mayra Linares-García

CUNY Trustee
VP Public Affairs and Communications
Liberty Coca Cola Beverages

Mayra Linares-Garcia B.A., was appointed by Governor Andrew Cuomo as a member of the Board of Trustees of The City University of New York on June 15, 2016 and reappointed in June 2021 for a term to expire June 30, 2027. Read More

Mayra Linares-Garcia is a skilled public affairs and communications strategist with more than 15 years of experience across all levels of government.

As the Vice President of Public Affairs and Communications for Liberty Coca-Cola Beverages, she is proud to be a leading voice that bridges communities and their leaders with one of the world’s most recognizable brands. Mayra is responsible for enhancing relationships and generating results among local organizations, business owners and elected officials – all to help the public better understand Liberty Coca-Cola Beverages’ commitment to the community.

Mayra is a current Trustee of The City University of New York’s (CUNY) Board, where she is committed to making CUNY a college system accessible to all New Yorkers. Along with her colleagues in early 2019, she assisted in appointing the first Latin-American CUNY Chancellor.

In 2011, Mayra was appointed by Governor Andrew M. Cuomo as the Director of Latino Affairs where she advocated for issues that impacted Latinos from access to education, affordable housing and health and employment. In this role, she helped established the New York State Office of Trade and Tourism in Puerto Rico.

Mayra was also the Founder and CEO-president of the MayLin Group. Inc., a public affairs & community relations firm that specialized in corporate and community partnerships. She also served as a Democratic District Leader for the 72nd Assembly District from 2001 until 2011.

Mayra graduated from Marymount Manhattan College with a B.A. in Political Science and Community Leadership. She is a Latina of Dominican and Puerto Rican descent originally from Washington Heights and currently lives in the Marble Hill neighborhood of the Bronx with her husband and three children, her greatest inspiration.

Ms. Linares-Garcia is a member of the Board’s Committee on Facilities, Planning and Management and the Committee on Student Affairs and Special Programs.

Paulina Lopez

Founder
Business of WE and Women Construct

Paulina is a Best-Selling Author, International Speaker, Mentor, Business Coach, Consultant and Strategist.  She is CEO and Founder of “The Business of WE (Women Entrepreneurs) Community”. She’s a contributing author in “Today’s Inspired Latina” and “Journey to the Stage”.   Her Corporate Background is in Finance, Operations, Strategy, Human Resources and Communications.

Christine Mangino

President
Queensborough Community College

Dr. Christine Mangino, the sixth president of Queensborough Community College, formerly served as the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at Hostos Community College of the City University of New York. Read More

Dr. Mangino is an alumna of the Aspen Presidential Fellow for Community College Excellence, a leadership program that prepares community college presidents to transform institutions to achieve high and equitable levels of student success.

Karol V. Mason

President
John Jay College of Criminal Justice

Over the course of her long career, John Jay College President Karol V. Mason has been a legal pioneer and an exceptional voice for equality, fairness, and criminal justice reform. She was a leader in the Obama Administration on juvenile justice issues, bail reform and re-entry for individuals leaving prison, and in her distinguished career at Alston & Bird LLP, she was the first African- American woman elected as chair of the management committee at any major national firm. Read More

As United States Assistant Attorney General and head of the Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs, Mason oversaw an annual budget of $4 billion to support an array of state and local criminal justice agencies, juvenile justice programs, and services for crime victims, and oversaw the National Institute of Justice and the Bureau of Justice Statistics, among a wide range of other efforts.   She led the Department of Justice’s work to address the issue of community trust in the justice system through a variety of programs including the National Initiative for Building Community Trust and Justice, a partnership with John Jay College and other academic institutions across the country designed to address lack of trust in the criminal justice system.

Previously, Mason served as Deputy Associate Attorney General from 2009 to 2012.  She led the Office of Justice Programs from June 2013 to January 2017 after being nominated by President Obama and confirmed by the U.S. Senate.  Mason spent almost three decades at Alston & Bird, LLP, where she chaired the Public Finance Group. She was also a member of the Board of Trustees of the University of North Carolina from 2001 to 2009 and Vice Chair of that Board from 2007 to 2009. Mason received an A.B. in Mathematics from the University of North Carolina, and a J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School.

Félix V. Matos Rodríguez

Chancellor
The City University of New York

Chancellor Félix V. Matos Rodríguez is a Puerto Rican academic administrator, currently the eighth Chancellor of The City University of New York (CUNY), the largest urban public university system in the United States. A historian, professor, author and noted Puerto Rican scholar, Matos Rodríguez previously served as president of two CUNY colleges and as a cabinet secretary of the Puerto Rico Department of Family Affairs. He assumed the post of Chancellor of CUNY on May 1, 2019, becoming the first member of a minority group to lead the university. Read More

Matos Rodríguez began his career with teaching positions at Northeastern University, Boston College and the Interamerican University of Puerto Rico, Metropolitan Campus in Puerto Rico. At the same time, he began a research career focusing on the history of women in Puerto Rico and the Caribbean, Latino studies and migration.

In 2000, Matos Rodríguez joined CUNY’s Hunter College as a professor of Black and Puerto Rican/Latino Studies and served as the director of the Center for Puerto Rican Studies. The center is the only university-based research institute devoted to the interdisciplinary study of the Puerto Rican experience in the United States and houses one of the country’s oldest and largest Latino research archives. Matos Rodríguez has published numerous books and peer-reviewed journal articles on Puerto Rican history and culture, including a volume that examined Puerto Ricans in New York City in the first half of the 20th century. He received the Albert J. Beveridge Award of the American Historical Association.

Lisette Nieves

President
Fund for the City of New York

Lisette Nieves is the President of the Fund for the City of New York (FCNY), charged with developing and helping to implement innovations in policy, programs, practices and technology to advance the functioning of government and nonprofit organizations in New York City and beyond. Lisette is also a Distinguished Clinical Professor with NYU, overseeing doctoral students and supporting change and innovation research initiatives in the doctoral program Leadership and Innovation, which she co-founded. Read More

Lisette has also served in a variety of cross sector leadership positions. She is an experienced social entrepreneur and public sector leader. She has supported community social entrepreneurs and educators through her prior work with Lingo Ventures, a company she co-founded focused on growth, talent recruitment/retention, and change management. Lisette also served as the Belle Zeller Distinguished Visiting Professor in Public Policy at the City University of New York at Brooklyn College. Lisette was the founding Executive Director of Year Up NY, an innovative workforce development program, where, in the span of five years, she grew the organization from a $250,000 seed grant to a $6 million operation with over 20 corporate partnerships. Her interest in workforce and education led to her dissertation on the relationship between student work and school roles, for which she received the 2016 Dissertation of the Year Award by the (NCSD – AACC). Lisette also began her career in service serving full time in New York as a City Volunteer Corps member before she attended Brooklyn College for her undergraduate degree. She was also a proud team member of the launch of the AmeriCorps program under the Clinton administration.

Lisette holds a B.A. from Brooklyn College, a B.A./M.A. from the University of Oxford, an M.P.A. from the Woodrow Wilson School at Princeton University and a doctorate with distinction in Higher Education Management at the University of Pennsylvania. She is a Truman Scholar, Rhodes Scholar, Aspen Pahara Fellow and a 2020 Richard P. Nathan Public Policy Fellow. Her board affiliations include the Edwin Gould Foundation, AVID, The Education Trust, NewSchools Venture Fund, Jobs for the Future (JFF), Stand for Children, Ellevation and a Trustee of the New York Public Library.

Mary C. Pearl

Executive Special Advisor at CUNY and Women’s Leadership Conference Co-Chair

Mary Corliss Pearl, an environmental scientist, is the former Dean of William E. Macaulay Honors College. She was appointed by Chancellor Milliken in September 2016. Previously, Dr. Pearl served as the first dean and administrative vice president of Stony Brook University Southampton. She is currently serving as Executive Special Advisor at the City University of New York.

Juvanie Piquant

CUNY Student Trustee

Juvanie Piquant is the first Haitian-American woman to serve as the University Student Senate (USS) Chairperson. She represents more than 500,000 full and part-time CUNY students in New York State and is the only student member of the City University of New York Board of Trustees. Read More

Ms. Piquant is a third-year honors student attending New York City College of Technology where she is majoring in Law & Paralegal Studies.  Previously, Ms. Piquant also served as the Vice-Chair of Legislative Affairs for the USS, ensuring the students of CUNY had a representative that would advocate for the advancement and affordability of higher education at local, state, and federal levels. Prior to her work at the USS, Ms. Piquant served on the Board of Directors for the New York Public Interest Research Group (NYPIRG) for two consecutive years, focusing on higher education and environmental policy in New York City and New York State.

On her local campus, Ms. Piquant currently serves as the Senator of Professional Studies at the City Tech Student Government Association working with students and administration to improve professional development opportunities and resources for the City Tech student body. Ms. Piquant’s passion for advocacy and philanthropy has propelled her to get involved in her community and continuously serve others.

As an aspiring attorney, Ms. Piquant is a member of the Haitian American Lawyers Association of New York (HALANY), which has a goal of working with various individuals in the legal profession to create access and opportunities for aspiring law school students. As a Brooklyn native, born and raised by Haitian immigrants in Canarsie, Juvanie has seen first-hand the importance of access and affordability of education for the most marginalized in New York City and hopes to empower the youth and her peers at CUNY.

Reshma Saujani

Founder
Girls Who Code

Reshma Saujani is the Founder and CEO of Girls Who Code, the international nonprofit organization working to close the gender gap in technology and change the image of what a computer programmer looks like and does. She is the author of the international bestseller Brave, Not Perfect and the New York Times bestseller Girls Who Code: Learn to Code and Change the World. Reshma’s TED talk, “Teach girls, bravery not perfection,” has more than four million views and has sparked a worldwide conversation about how we’re raising our girls. She is the host of the award-winning podcast “Brave, Not Perfect.” Read More

Reshma began her career as an attorney and activist. In 2010, she surged onto the political scene as the first Indian American woman to run for U.S. Congress. During the race, Reshma visited local schools and saw the gender gap in computing classes firsthand, which led her to start Girls Who Code.

Girls Who Code is leading the movement to inspire, educate, and equip young women with the computing skills to pursue 21st century opportunities. By the end of the 2019 academic year, Girls Who Code will have reached over 185,000 girls across all 50 states, Canada, and the United Kingdom. In 2019, Girls Who Code was awarded Most Innovative Non-Profit by Fast Company.

Reshma is a graduate of the University of Illinois, Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government, and Yale Law School. Her work on behalf of young women has earned her broad recognition on lists including: Fortune World’s Greatest Leaders; Fortune 40 Under 40; WSJ Magazine Innovator of the Year; Forbes Most Powerful Women Changing the World; and Fast Company 100 Most Creative People, among others. She is the winner of the Harold W. McGraw, Jr. Prize in Education.

Reshma serves on the Board of Overseers for the International Rescue Committee, which provides aid to refugees and those impacted by humanitarian crises. In addition, she serves as an ex-officio Trustee of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA).

Reshma lives in New York City with her husband, Nihal, their son, Shaan, and their bulldog, Stanley.

Mercedes C. Smith

Founder
Let’s Care More

Mercedes grew up daring to believe that she could change the world and has devoted her life to courageously striving to do so daily. At the early age of 14, Mercedes took the initiative to contact the editor at Newsday.com regarding its lack of coverage of the Darfur genocides. Her simple email inspired the publication to send a news crew and photographers on the grounds of Darfur to cover the story. After their month-long trip, they returned to interview the tenacious 14-year-old whose search for more sparked and inspired social awareness to promote change. Read More

While establishing her professional career after college, Mercedes observed the lack of empathy for homelessness in New York and founded Care More, a non-profit organization dedicated to delivering hope to the homeless community through outreach events and innovative programming.

Her work in philanthropy has gained recognition from renowned public figures such as Oprah Winfrey, who celebrated her in O Magazine and BET Networks who listed Mercedes as one of the “29 People You Should Know” for Black History Month.

Phara Souffrant

Assemblymember

Phara Souffrant Forrest is serving her first term in the New York State Assembly representing the 57th Assembly District, which consists of the neighborhoods of Fort Greene and Clinton Hill as well as parts of Bed Stuy, Prospect Heights and Crown Heights. Read More

As a lifelong Brooklynite, Phara is a proud product of Brooklyn’s public schools system, attending both Phillipa Schuyler Middle School and Benjamin Banneker Academy for Community Development. She then went on to attend SUNY Geneseo where she majored in political science before moving on to obtain a nursing degree at CUNY City Tech. Before being elected to the Assembly, Phara worked for a number of years as a maternal child health field nurse, where she would care for new mothers after they gave birth.

Toby Ann Stavisky

Senator

Toby Ann Stavisky, the first woman from Queens County elected to the State Senate and the first woman to chair the Senate Committee on Higher Education.  She is a native New Yorker who was born and raised on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. She graduated from the Bronx High School of Science and Syracuse University, which she attended on an academic scholarship.  The Senator completed graduate school at Hunter and Queens Colleges. In addition to her leading the Senate Higher Education Committee, she serves as Vice Chairwoman of the Democratic Majority Conference.  Senator Stavisky serves as a trustee of the CUCF (City University Construction Fund) and as a member of the HeCap (Higher Education Capital Matching Grants Program) Board. Senator Stavisky is Treasurer of the bipartisan, bicameral Legislative Women’s Caucus.

Vanessa K. Valdés

Interim Dean, Macaulay Honors College

Dean Dr. Vanessa K. Valdés is an accomplished scholar, historian, author, and mentor of students. She joins Macaulay after serving two and a half years as Director of City College’s Black Studies Program, overseeing 1,100 students per year, more than 20 faculty and staff members, and over 60 majors and minors. Read More

A graduate of Yale and Vanderbilt Universities, Dr. Valdés’s research interests focus on the cultural production of Black peoples throughout the Americas: the United States and Latin America, including Brazil, and the Caribbean.

Her book on the influential and foundational historian, writer, collector and activist Arturo Alfonso Schomburg—Diasporic Blackness: The Life and Times of Arturo Alfonso Schomburg (2017)—is regarded as the definitive account of his experiences as a Black Puerto Rican-born scholar and the intersection of his multi-ethnic backgrounds. Her latest book, Racialized Visions: Haiti and the Hispanic Caribbean (2020) is an edited collection that re-centers Haiti in the disciplines of Caribbean and Latin American Studies.

Stefani L. Zinerman

Assemblymember

Stefani L. Zinerman was elected to the 56th District in the New York State Assembly on November 3, 2020, to represent the historic neighborhoods of Bedford-Stuyvesant and Crown Heights in Brooklyn. She joins the Legislature as an experienced government, nonprofit and small-business professional who has pioneered efforts in workforce development and healthy aging initiatives. Read More

Stefani is a tireless advocate for civil rights and justice and champions education access, food justice, housing stability and maternal health. As a Silver Life Member and Member-At-Large of the Brooklyn NAACP, she continuously promotes voter rights and is a recognized leader in voter education, engagement, and registration. Prior to her election to the New York State Assembly, Stefani worked in local and state government, beginning as Chief of Staff for the 36th Council District for five years before moving into the role of Director of Special Projects for State Senator Velmanette Montgomery. Her entire career has focused on equity and access as a Program Manager for several human rights organizations, including the Research Foundation/CUNY, the Algebra Project, the Education Development Center, the Community Service Society, and the American Red Cross.