Djimpsy is a senior at the University of Connecticut majoring in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences with a minor in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. At UConn, Djimpsy served as a First Year Experience Mentor and has been actively involved in multiple student leadership roles centered on advocacy, service, and community building. Outside of UConn, Djimpsy works with the nonprofit organization Connect-Us, where she supports and mentors’ youth through leadership development, academic guidance, and community engagement initiatives. Passionate about uplifting young people, Djimpsy is pursuing a career focused on youth empowerment through education, mentorship, and equity-driven leadership.

Mia is a senior majoring in Business Management with a minor in Entrepreneurship, Mia is a student-athlete and President of the Athletes of Color Collective. She is committed to leadership, advocacy, and building inclusive communities on campus. 

Kamal is a PhD candidate in Health Promotion Sciences at the University of Connecticut, where his research focuses on advancing the health of marginalized populations. His work examines digital and community-engaged interventions to address mental health, suicide risk, and HIV among sexual and gender minorities and people who use drugs in both low-resource settings and the United States. Kamal collaborates closely with community-based organizations led by marginalized populations to translate research into practice, with an emphasis on equitable and respectful care delivery. Through his research and mentorship, he connects evidence with community leadership to advance dignity, justice, and the right to healthcare.

Dr. Alaina Brenick (she/her) is a scholar-activist dedicated to applying a social justice lens to examine how diverse social groups—with vastly different societal structures, norms, and statuses—experience, reason about, and respond to bias-based victimization, intergroup conflict, and systemic oppression. A through line in her work is the search for the inflection point at which individuals and communities demand longstanding inequities be dismantled and how our science can best support these goals. Dr. Brenick is recognized as a leader among her peers for creating systemic change toward the goals of anti-racist, decolonized, socially just teaching, service, scholarship, and practice.

Monique is the Assistant Director of Student Services and Campus Coordinator of Engagement and Belonging at the Hartford campus. She champions and is deeply committed to implementing the Truth, Racial Healing, and Transformation (TRHT) framework on campus to foster connection, healing, and shared humanity. Guided by a strong commitment to equity, Monique works to ensure all students feel supported and valued in their educational journeys. She formed and currently chairs the Engagement and Belonging Committee, advancing campus-wide initiatives that strengthen community and student engagement. Monique holds a Master’s degree in Educational Psychology from the Neag School of Education.

Dr. Harris recently retired after 30 years of service to higher education.  Prior to retirement, he served as the CEO of CT State Capital, a position he held for seven years.  Dr. Harris is recognized as an expert in college leadership, student success and retention, and takes pride in his role as mentor to many higher education professionals.  He gives his “time, talent, and treasure” to UConn and serves on the College of Liberal Arts Advisory Board and co-chaired the 2025 UConn African American Alumni Reunion Weekend Committee.  The weekend was a success with over 250 alumni participating.

Gloria is a PhD student in Human Development and Family Sciences at UConn and the founder of The GLEA Network, a youth-led nonprofit advancing girls’ education, health, and empowerment in underserved communities. Her work focuses on eliminating barriers that push girls out of school, including period poverty, sexual and gender-based violence, and restrictive cultural norms. She has led advocacy and community campaigns across multiple states, introduced Nigeria’s first automated pad dispenser, and provided mentorship, skills training, and psychosocial support to thousands of girls. Gloria believes every girl deserves the chance to learn, grow, and pursue her future with dignity.