Planning Committee

This year’s University’s MLK Commemoration and calendar of events are brought to you by the following team:

  • Yasmeen Abed YC ’23, Woodbridge Fellow, Office of the Secretary & Vice President for University Life
  • Erica Adarkwa, DIV ’21 Chaplain Associate, Yale Chaplain’s Office
  • Timeica E. Bethel, YC ’11, Director, Afro-American Cultural Center at Yale & Assistant Dean, Yale College
  • Heather Calabrese, Assistant Vice President: university traditions, strategic communications and events, Office of the Secretary and Vice President of University Life  
  • Addys Castillo, Executive Director, Citywide Youth Coalition
  • Risha Chakraborty, YC ’25, Asian American Cultural Center Peer Liaison
  • Ryan Croteau, Assistant Director for Communications & University Events, Office of the Secretary and Vice President of University Life
  • Peter Crumlish DIV ’09, Executive Director & General Secretary of Dwight Hall, Yale’s Center for Public Service and Social Justice
  • Chanice Deare, Program Coordinator for Communications & University Events, Office of the Secretary and Vice President of University Life
  • Aqua Drakes, Assistant Director, Visitor Experience & Special Events, Yale Peabody Museum
  • Doris Dumas, President, Greater New Haven NAACP & Accounts Receivables Assistant, Yale School of Medicine
  • Alex Guzhnay YC ’24, La Casa Cultural de Julia de Burgos Latine Cultural Center, Ward 1 Alder
  • Maurice L. Harris, Director of Marketing and Communications, Yale Schwarzman Center
  • EJ Jarvis YC ’23, Woodbridge Fellow, Office of New Haven Affairs
  • Karen King YC ’93, Director, Yale University President’s Public Service Fellowship and Community Relations Liaison, Yale Office of New Haven Affairs
  • Marinda E. Monfilston, Senior Diversity Coordinator, Yale Office of Diversity and Inclusion
  • Michael Morand YC ’83 DIV ’93 Director, Community Engagement, Beinecke Library at Yale University
  • Risë Nelson, Director, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Yale University Library (MLK 2024 Planning Committee Chair)
  • Stephanie Owusu YC ’24, Head Student Assistant, Afro-American Cultural Center at Yale
  • Steven Shepherd YC ’27, Student Assistant, Afro-American Cultural Center at Yale
  • Shawana Snell, Supervisor of Administrative Support, Yale University Library
  • Fallon Thomas, Community Liaison, New Haven Hiring Initiative
  • Blake Thorkelson ’99 DIV ’18, Director, Belonging at Yale and Special Projects, Office of the Secretary and Vice President for University Life
  • Nikitia Tillman, Financial Assistant, Yale Law School Business Office