Council for Diversity & Inclusion

Tenisha McDonald is an English PhD candidate at Princeton University studying nineteenth-century transatlantic slave narratives by women of color and pursuing a certificate in African American Studies. Her research interests include literature of the African diaspora, Black women writers, post-colonial literature, and twentieth-century Caribbean literature. Tenisha was born and raised in Queens, NY and is a 2007 alumna of Molloy. She received a Bachelor’s in English from Cornell University and a Master’s in English from Queens College CUNY. She also worked in the Percy Ellis Sutton SEEK Program at Queens College for seven years, first as an English TA and then as an Adjunct Lecturer, before pursuing her doctorate.

In 2014, Tenisha founded Writer’s Ink NYC, LLC, a content writing and editing company based in New York City. She created her business after observing a growing need for writing and editorial support by her peers studying in graduate programs, working for large corporations, and starting businesses. Tenisha’s passion and commitment to equipping students of color with equal opportunities in their educational pursuits are what motivated her to take the lead in creating Molloy’s Council for Diversity and Inclusion.

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Erwin Bernal, Archbishop Molloy Class of 2000, is currently a special education teacher at a charter middle school in Astoria, Queens. At Molloy, Erwin ran varsity track and field, participated in choir and Student Activities Committee, served as a senior peer group leader, and volunteered at the Mid-Hudson Valley Camps in Esopus as both a counselor and maintenance. An educator with 15 years of experience, he has taught social studies and writing in private, public, and Catholic schools around New York City. Erwin wrote and prepared curricula in Fundamentals of Writing, Introduction to Sociology, and Introduction to Economics for high school students. He has also fostered curriculum changes to fit the needs of his students’ individual learning needs. He has helped to implement school-wide programs for equity, diversity, and inclusion such as International Culture Night, Diversity Day, Social Justice Awareness Day, and Poetry Slam. He was the varsity cross country/track and field head coach at York Prep School for 8 years.

 

Erwin received his BA in History from SUNY Albany in 2004. He then went on to earn an MS. Ed. in Adolescence Education from St. John’s in 2006. He most recently earned his Advanced Certificate in School Building Leadership from St. John’s in 2020. He will be returning to school in fall 2020 to start his Doctoral studies in Education.

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Edwin is a 25-year-old first generation Haitian American male. He attended Molloy on a full 4-year academic scholarship which he could not have afforded private high school without. Edwin graduated from Molloy in 2013 and graduated from The City College of New York in 2017 with a Cultural Studies major and Philosophy minor. He led Marist Youth Encounters as a Young Adult and still volunteers at Esopus at summer camp. Edwin currently works as a certified EMT and excels in leadership, finance, organization, diversity, and reformation experience from his fraternity Tau Epsilon Phi Fraternity, Inc.

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My name is Dorothy DeNoto.  I am the Director of Library Services at Archbishop Molloy HS.  I have been at Molloy for 25 years.  I moderate numerous clubs for students, am the First Ladies Step Team Coach, and am very involved in the spiritual world at Molloy as a retreat/senior encounter leader.  I am responsible for running the digital textbook program at Molloy.  This includes training every student and teacher.  I also teach so that I can reach the students on an academic level.  Through the years I have designed/taught Health, Advanced Internet Research, E-Commerce and Total Fitness and Wellness (my current course).  I am in the beginning stages of designing a proposal for a course for the 21-22 school year titled “Social Issues in a Diverse Society”.  

I attended SUNY Stony Brook where I received my B.A. in Psychology with specializations in Physiological and Sociological Psychology.  I received my M.L.S. in Library and Information Science at SUNY Albany.

In addition to my vast experience working at Molloy, I am also a parent of two graduates: one from ‘06 and one from ‘08.   My extended family is a true melting pot of America with Cuban, Costa Rican, Filipino and Chinese integrated with the German and Italian heritage that my brothers and I were born with.

Embracing and living the Marist Charism is very important to me personally.  I have participated in every level Marist workshop offered at Molloy and literally walked in St. Marcellin Champagnat’s footsteps in France where his vision became a reality.  It is this Marist voice that I bring with the goal that the Marist pillars are woven into all that we accomplish together on this Council for the students at AMHS!

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I am a professor of history at Hofstra University (Hempstead, New York), where I have served as chair of the department; I specialize in medieval history. I have lived in the diverse neighborhood of Astoria for almost twenty years. I graduated from Cambridge University (England)—never once encountering a black faculty member—and wrote a senior thesis on the NAACP, later completing a doctorate in history at Harvard University. I have a lifelong commitment to social and racial justice, including as a board member of the Edeyo Foundation, which is dedicated to offering educational opportunities to children in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.

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I have been a part of the Molloy family for over seven years as a lead recruiter and a Freshman Basketball Coach. I take pride in getting familiar with the players before they make their transition to Molloy. I host several summer tournaments and events that allow me to know their personalities, strengths, likes, dislikes, etc. I believe I relate well with the players and play a major role in resolving their social and sometimes emotional issues. My background before coaching was a Producer and Marketing Consultant at Def Jams, a very popular and prominent record label. That experience gave me the opportunity to travel the world and meet many people from all walks of life.

 

I am currently the CEO of a non-profit organization that mentors and provides resources for underserved youth and their families. In addition to mentorship we expose them to travel by visiting the Caribbean Islands every year. I believe it is important to travel as it is educational and it provides a fantastic opportunity to learn many new things and relate with people that live different lives. I am looking forward to playing an integral role in the much-needed Council for Diversity & Inclusion.

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Monica (she/her/hers) is a Queens native and the daughter of two immigrant parents. She graduated from Archbishop Molloy high school in 2007 and marks this time as her first experience within a predominantly white institution and the catalyst for her interest in racial justice. She is an LMSW, graduating from Stony Brook University, and obtained her BA in Forensic Psychology at John Jay College of Criminal Justice. For the past 10 years, Monica has worked in various settings such as juvenile detention centers, GED programs for various non-profit organizations, and college readiness programming for CUNY. For the past five years, Monica transitioned into city government with the intentions of impacting and shaping policy.

 

Most recently, Monica worked as a school mental health supervisor for the NYC Department of Health &Mental Hygiene leading a team that supported the development of mental health systems and capacity building within 50 NYC public high schools via an equitable lens. She now works for NYC ACS in their Division of Prevention Services as a Program Officer. Outside of work, Monica continues her efforts towards racial equity by participating in community work groups and facilitating workshops for community members and various other spaces.

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(On-WOO-day) is a Norcal Emmy Award winning sports broadcaster.

 

Ros covers NBA basketball on ESPN's TV, digital, and radio platforms and is a host of “First Take” with Stephen A. Smith & Max Kellerman each week! Since 2012 Ros has covered March Madness, the NCAA tournament and Pac-12 Men's and Women's college hoops in both the analyst and reporter role for Pac-12 Networks. Most recently Gold-Onwude has joined forces with Kevin Durant's and Rich Kleiman's 35 Ventures as one of the faces of “The Boardroom”! Ros is also the host of a sports debate show called “Don’t At Me” presented by The Players Tribune and streaming live Twitter. 

From 2017-2019 Ros worked for Turner Sports in her first national role, covering the NBA regular season, playoffs, All Star Weekend and NBA Summer League games for NBA on TNT and NBATV.  Before joining the Turner Sports, Gold-Onwude served as the sideline reporter for the Golden State Warriors on NBC Sports Bay Area, covering the Warriors' run to three straight NBA Finals & two championships from 2014 to 2017.  Ros was the color commentator for the WNBA's NY Liberty from 2011- 2017 for MSG Networks. Additionally, Ros joined NBC's coverage of the 2016 Rio Olympics as a sideline reporter for Men's Basketball, alongside broadcasting legends Marv Albert and Doug Collins- an experience she considers one of the highlights of her career.

As a member of the Stanford women’s basketball team from 2005-2010, Gold-Onwude played in three Final Fours and two national championship games helping the Cardinal win four conference titles, as starting guard. In her final season she was named the 2010 Pac-10 Co-Defensive Player of the Year, ending her Stanford career as the school’s all-time leader in games played. Following her days at Stanford, Gold-Onwude was selected as a member of the Nigerian national basketball team, which advanced to the semi-finals of the Fiba-Africa Olympic Qualifier tournament in 2011.

A native of Queens, NY, Gold-Onwude earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications, followed by a Master’s Degree in Sociology of Organizations, Business, and the Economy, both from Stanford.

Ros’ passions include mentoring young girls, working with women in business, raising awareness for mental health issues and developing opportunities for the youth in Africa. She has spearheaded several panels around the country, focusing on women and minorities in business as well as women working in male-dominated fields. Some of her favorite moments have included working with college students, including students from the Atlanta area HBCUs, and student athletes nationwide, on developing careers in sports and sports media. Over the past 3 years, Ros has visited Africa to work with youth on developing both basketball and life skills as an active participant of the NBA's Basketball Without Borders Program and NBA Africa Game, in South Africa. In December 2018 she returned to Nigeria to work with the Hope 4 Girls Camp, a girls only basketball camp, in which she spoke about the value of hard work, self-love, women supporting women, and the pride in being an African women.

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Elizabeth Hampton is a Captain in the United States Air Force and a certified Project Management Professional. She was raised in Queens, New York and is a 2007 alumna of Archbishop Molloy High School. Elizabeth has over eight years experience leading military and professional organizations and is a veteran of Operation Freedom Sentinel in Afghanistan. She currently manages logistics for military exercises with NATO and partner nations across Europe. Elizabeth is passionate about helping underrepresented minority students, especially young women, succeed in their goals and realize their leadership potential. She is a strong advocate that organizations will not flourish if even a single member feels threatened, discriminated against, or unsafe in their work environment. She believes this same philosophy applies to students and that all students deserve a safe and inclusive learning environment.

Vicky Higuera is an Information Technology Technician at Archbishop Molloy High School who works closely with students, faculty, and staff members to deliver optimal solutions for difficult to solve software and hardware problems. Before joining the Molloy community, Vicky worked at Apple Inc. as a Genius offering different levels of technical support to a large diverse population. As a Latina woman in technology, Vicky understands the importance of being heard and standing up for what you believe in. Vicky holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Film Studies and a minor in Art History from CUNY Hunter College.

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My name is John Kramer, I am a parent of four Molloy alum (‘07,’10,’10,’15), and have been a coach and teacher at Molloy for 16 years. Currently I am a member of the religion department teaching Freshman, Sophomores and Seniors. I received my BBA in Accounting from Iona College and spent 16 years as the CFO of a large real estate development company. From there I owned and operated a small business eventually deciding to retire and sell the business. Throughout my career I have been involved teaching religion at my parish at various levels. I received my MA in Theology from Catholic University, specializing in Catholic Culture. I am currently a candidate for the permanent diaconate, for the Brooklyn/Queens Diocese, hoping to be ordained in May of next year. My studies over the five-year program have concentrated on pastoral ministry. I have been involved in coaching track and field at various levels for over 35 years, including my current position as jump coach for Molloy. I have also facilitated and developed a number of youth programs both academic and sports related for my parish for age groups from 6 to 18.

My Catholic/Marist identity is an important part of who I am. I am a retreat/encounter leader and a member of the Liturgy Committee at Molloy. I have also participated in the Marist “Sharing Our Call” workshops and am a member of the Lay Marist Leadership Ministry.

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Edward (Ted) McGuinness graduated from Molloy in 1981.  He attended St. John’s University and completed a B.S. in Communications.  After graduating he worked in advertising as a media planner at SSC&B, and later in city government as a recruiter with The City Volunteer Corps.  He then began his work in education teaching English at St. Agnes Boys High School in Manhattan.  While at St. Agnes, Ted served in the summers as a Camp Director at the Mid-Hudson Valley Camp, and as a Mission Group Leader at The Rosebud Sioux Reservation in St. Francis, South Dakota.  Ted also worked with The Society of Friends in their Youth Service Opportunity Project, supervising teens serving in homeless shelters.

 

During his time at St. Agnes, Ted was awarded grants for summer study at The University of Arizona, Iowa State, and Exeter College, Oxford University.  Ted then moved to the Midwest and completed his MSW in Interpersonal Practice and an MA in Education at the University of Michigan.  While completing his degrees, he was a graduate student instructor in the teacher education certification program, and he tutored student-athletes in the Academic Success Program.  In 2003 he returned to Molloy to work in Guidance, serving as a personal and college guidance counselor.  Ted has been an evaluator at Marist High School in Chicago, and Marist High School in Bayonne, New Jersey.  Currently, he is involved in developing a summer scholarship program for students at Molloy named in honor of Dr. Patrick Murphy, former school psychologist at Molloy.

Damani Nyahuma is the father of Kamara, class of ‘21. His parents hail from the Deep South and he is a lifelong resident of Queens. Damani graduated from Jamaica H.S., Queens College and plans to complete his M.A. in history at City College. Damani began working with young people in the early 90’s and has been a counselor, tutor and mentor in various capacities. He is an ordained elder within the Presbyterian Church and has served as Youth Ministry leader. Damani is in his twenty sixth year of service as a Sergeant within the New York State Court System. He continues to work with youth and families as well as serving his community. Damani has been active in his daughter’s school communities from cupcakes in preschool to the present. He is humbled to be a part of this committee and wants only the best for our school community.

Lais Santos is a school leader, special education advocate, and teacher at a Title 1 public high school in the Bronx. She co-founded her school’s Instructional Leadership Team because her students' needs were not addressed and supported within the existing school structures. She can leverage her experience creating and sustaining her school's Instructional Leadership Team to support the initiatives at Molloy. She recently graduated from NYU with her second Master’s in Educational Leadership: School Building Leader. At NYU she extensively studied educational leadership, organization and leadership theory, educational change, politics of multicultural school communities, and data-driven decision making and leadership. She also examined various themes of equity and social justice and analyzed implications for leadership within and outside of educational environments. In February 2020, Lais received her School Building Leader Certificate issued by the New York State Department of Education. She received her M.S. in Adolescent Education: Students with Disabilities from St. John’s University in 2017 and graduated from Molloy in 2009. She is a first-generation Brazilian American from Astoria, Queens.

My name is Edwidge Turenne. I currently serve as the Director of Admissions at Archbishop Molloy High School. I am a graduate of Archbishop Molloy. I also attended the State University at Buffalo where I received my B.A in Anthropology. I received my Master’s degree at Columbia University Teachers College in Psychology in Education. Throughout my undergraduate and post graduate years I have been involved with several organizations including Student Council, Black Student Union, Caribbean Student Association, Haitian Student Organization, and NAACP. I also became a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Incorporated. Through these organizations I have had the pleasure of assisting with a myriad of community services, projects focused on addressing community issues, and workshops to promote diversity and inclusion. I continue to advocate for spiritual, social, intellectual, moral welfare of all communities I have been a part of.

Denise Urrutia is a first generation Cuban American, born and raised in Forest Hills, Queens. She earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree from St. John’s University and a Master of Education Degree from Cambridge College. She has been a teacher in New York City for the last 26 years, predominantly working with minority, low income children in Bushwick, Brooklyn. Denise’s daughter is a sophomore at Molloy. She is a bi-racial child who identifies as half black and half Cuban. Denise has taken great pride in raising her daughter as a single parent, and her desire has been for her daughter to obtain the best education possible. Along with many other reasons, Denise’s daughter chose Molloy because her uncle graduated from there in 1988, and she wanted to follow in his footsteps.

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Yvette Villanueva is an accomplished Researcher and Marketing Director who takes pride in collaborating with skilled teams to create opportunities and discovering solutions for organizational development. She started her career in Clinical Psychology and conducted research at prestigious institutions such as New York University, Mt. Sinai School of Medicine, Columbia University, Stanford University and the VA Palo Alto; her research has been published in scientific journals, such as the Journal of Experimental Psychology: General. Through her academic and career endeavors, Yvette discovered the factors that truly drive beneficial and sustainable change: human connection and the desire to make a meaningful impact. Yvette actively seeks to creatively reconcile strategy and outreach to inspire action. Recognizing the complicated array of societal needs, she chose an unconventional professional trajectory to hone her skills and develop policy. Over the years as a marketing professional, she has implemented and optimized structure in partner communications and brand management. She supervised top-tier accounts and launched numerous campaigns for Fortune 500 clients including Anheuser-Busch and Vans. She also developed partnerships with Advertising Week, Entrepreneur Magazine, Licensing Expo, Beanstalk Licensing Agency and Postmedia. Yvette graduated from Molloy in 2007 and holds a BA in Psychology and Minors in Child & Adolescent Mental Health Studies and Italian from New York University in 2011.

Angelina J. Waterman was born and raised in Queens, NY and is a 2007 alumna of Archbishop Molloy.  Angelina is a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst currently practicing in the state of California. She received her Master of Arts Degree in Clinical Psychology from The American School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University in Southern California after retiring from her career as a professional volleyball player.

Angelina has 8 years of experience in the field of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) and has been employed since January 2017 as a Program Supervisor by Coyne & Associates Education Corporation. In this role she supervises in-home behavioral services delivered by a team of instructors to children ages one to 12-years-old with developmental delays. Angelina is responsible for creating individualized treatment plans, conducts behavioral assessments, analyzing and interpreting data and regularly supervising instructors. Staff are supervised directly during sessions in the field to ensure fidelity of treatment planning and provide experience hours for instructors pursuing certification in the field of ABA. She has experience working with dual-diagnosed patients and adults diagnosed with alcohol and substance use disorder. She specializes in caregiver training and education, behavioral assessment, and intervention. She has an extensive background in clinical and cognitive psychology and child development. To serve the community as a mental health and physical wellness advocate, Angelina created the lifestyle brand Alush Organics to help individuals adopt a balanced lifestyle through nutrition, mental health, and physical movement.

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Shaina (pronounced ​SHY-na​) is a sports marketing professional with 12+ years of experience in the sports industry. In addition to her corporate work, Shaina is also Founder and CEO of Minorities in Sports Business Network (MiS), a national invite-only digital hub of 1000+ sports professionals of color.  She also serves as an adjunct lecturer at West Virginia University and Georgetown University. Having worked in the sports industry since 2008, Shaina has worked with companies and brands such as ESPN, the NBA Family, Samsung, and Coca Cola. Shaina has also worked with athletes, companies, and brands on strategizing and cultivating their personal and public brand visibility. Shaina received her bachelor's from The Pennsylvania State University, received her Masters in Sports Management from Columbia University and is a 2004 graduate of Archbishop Molloy HS. She always represents Queens but can be found these days in Harlem, NY with her dog, Tropicana.