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.

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.

Robert is a member of Molloy’s Class of 2008. He obtained undergraduate degrees in Business Management and Gender Studies from Stony Brook University. He is currently working with Nespresso USA as an Operations Analyst, focused on process improvement for their global strategic accounts. He has been with Nespresso for 7 years and takes an active role with their DE&I programs. Robert is also attending Fordham University to obtain a Master’s of Social Work, pursuing his goal of empowering teens and young adults to achieve beyond the barriers in front of them. As a former volunteer for Esopus Retreats, member of Molloy’s Alumni Educators & Allied Therapies Committee, and a former MBCE Volunteer, Robert embodies what it means to be Marist and being of service to others. Through Molloy’s D&I Council, he aims to ensure that all alumni, faculty, and students feel included in the Molloy family, in school and for life. 

After graduating from Archbishop Molloy High School, Leanna K. Carroll studied communications and international humanitarian affairs at Fordham University. Shortly after earning a bachelor's degree, she began her career in the non-profit sector by working with community based organizations focused on education. Leanna went on to earn a master's degree from Columbia University in global thought, while continuing to work for organizations rooted in youth development, international education, gender equality, and human rights. Leanna currently works as a content specialist at World Education services, a social enterprise dedicated to helping international students, immigrants, and refugees achieve their educational and career goals, where she has published and presented on education systems throughout Latin America.

After graduating from Molloy in 2017, I attended Binghamton University where I graduated with a BS in Industrial and Systems Engineering in May 2021 and recently completed my MS in Executive Health Systems Engineering in July 2022. Since March, I have worked full-time for Northwell Health as a Process Improvement Engineer in addition to my coursework.

While at Binghamton, I worked as a Resident Assistant where we promoted, taught, and modeled inclusive practices to foster a comfortable community for our diverse population of on-campus residents. I also served as President of the “A Cappella Council” formed by the leaders of Binghamton’s a cappella groups, for which I founded and led a brand-new Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) committee. I organized professional DEI educational programming for our 120+ members and facilitated the committee meetings where the team brainstormed and developed more inclusive and equitable practices in our recruitment, marketing, and operations.

At Molloy, I was an Outfielder on the Varsity Baseball team, competed for the Hurdles and Sprints teams, led Peer Groups, and sang in Chorus. I additionally led Freshman Camp and Upperclassmen Retreats, and I continue to volunteer as a Counselor and Maintenance staff in Esopus to this day.

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.

Dawn Gilbert is the mother of Asa, class of ‘24.  She is the managing counsel of Gilbert, McGinnis & Liferiedge - the New York/Manhattan Legal office of Liberty Mutual Group. Dawn is a New York City native who is a believer in and product of Catholic school education. She graduated from Fordham University School of Law and a practicing litigation attorney for 24 years.

Dawn has worked with young people as a high school pre-law advisor and volunteer with iMentor during the early 2000s. Dawn has been active in her son’s school communities which include acting as a class parent, being an assistant teacher for after-school STEM classes and serving as President of the Parent Association.  She is currently a Diversity Equity & Inclusion Leader in the Liberty Mutual Northeast Region, member of the company’s national attorney training program, and mentors recently admitted attorneys throughout the country. Liberty Mutual’s commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion has allowed Dawn to take part in a dynamic initiative that helps the company’s 45,000+ employees build a stronger global organization.

She is looking forward to contributing her experiences to the Council for Diversity & Inclusion and greater Molloy community.

Tolu (Toe-Lou) Jolaoso is a first generation, Nigerian-American, born and raised in Queens, NY. She is a 2015 alumna of Archbishop Molloy. Tolu currently serves as a project management associate at Achievement First, a network of 41 charter schools located in New York, Rhode Island, and Connecticut, that strives to mitigate the gap in racial disparities in America’s education system. She received her Bachelors of Arts in Politics, Economics, and Law from the State University of New York at Old Westbury. Additionally, Tolu is currently working on her Masters in Global Affairs, with a concentration in Global Gender Studies, at the NYU School of Professional Studies. In all roles, Tolu has been passionate about diversity and inclusion, and committed to amplify voices of women of color in professional and educational settings.

Ashley Marie Joyner, who is of African-American and Filipino descent, graduated from Archbishop Molloy as a member of the inaugural co-ed Class of 2004. Post-graduation, Ashley went on to pursue her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Hunter College. She became a Lead Phlebotomist at Long Beach Medical Center until Hurricane Sandy intervened. In 2014, she started her career at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center where she now works as a Clinical Research Trainer. Within her role, she is responsible for the onboarding, training, and mentorship of all employees involved in Clinical Research. In addition to her role, she also serves on the ED&I Council for the Research and Technology Management Department. In her free time, she loves to fundraise for Cycle for Survival and Fred’s Team, and completed her first NYC Marathon in 2021 as a member of the latter. She is a self-proclaimed foodie who loves to explore restaurants and create content for her food blog: www.gluttonygossip.com.

Ariel Nirmala Narine (Class of 2019) is currently a rising senior majoring in Aeronautical
Engineering at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York and interning at Boeing in Seal Beach, California. Coming from Caribbean descent with her family hailing from Trinidad and Tobago, Ariel has done a lot to spread Caribbean culture and push diversity, as well as spreading awareness for women in STEM, especially engineering. She founded RPI's Caribbean Students' Association, where she currently serves as President. She is also a part of Alpha Phi where she has served as Director of Sisterhood and Director of Diversity. As a woman of color in engineering, spreading the message of diversity and inclusion is very important to Ariel and she tries to incorporate it in what she does.

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.

Clifford Robin Temprosa, Class of 2018, is a Filipino-Chinese immigrant, born in the Philippines and later emigrated to the United States as a child with his family. Graduating in the Fall of 2021 from the New York Institute of Technology with a Bachelor’s in International Business and a Minor in Civic Engagement, Clifford has dedicated his career to serving the people and community, empowering transformative change through his efforts. Having experience in the governmental and political industry, priorly serving as a Community Affairs and Communications Specialist in the New York State Assembly, otherwise known as “The People’s House”, The Lower House of the New York State Legislature, Clifford has an extensive background in the public sector, specializing in organizational development & function, communications strategy & implementation, grassroots community outreach, public policy and advocacy, coalition building, and more. He has currently taken up the role of Budget Policy Coordinator for CACF - Coalition of Asian American Children and Families to cultivate campaigns that fight for a fair, inclusive, and equitable City and State budgets that address the needs of AAPI New Yorkers. His advocacies resonate across various social causes, but to name a few, include: civil rights, racial & social justice, immigration rights, workers rights, youth empowerment, and APDIA advocacy.

He attributes his passion and humble beginnings as a servant leader to Delta Epsilon Psi Fraternity, Inc, The Nation’s Largest and Fastest Growing South Asian Interest Fraternity whose purpose is to break stigmas, empower the South Asian community & its diverse allies, and create next generation community leadership through civic engagement, advocacy, social justice, and service driven endeavors. He currently sits as the National Director of Philanthropy, overseeing service and philanthropic operations, partnerships, and social justice initiatives for over 37 chapters nationwide - and ever growing. Aside from this, Clifford sits on the Executive Board of OCA-New York, one of the largest and oldest Asian American Civil Rights organizations in the nation, and in New York where he is a champion on the front lines of Asian American social justice. Additionally, he is a proud member of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), National Committee on American Foreign Policy (NCAFP), National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA).

Clifford has been admitted to the CUNY School of Labor and Urban Studies as a candidate in their graduate program to achieve a Master’s in Labor Studies, learning how to organize, uplift, and champion worker’s rights across New York State.

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.

Aramiss Webber is a results driven healthcare management professional with a solid record in remaining current trends, regulatory requirements, and business strategies related to the healthcare industry. She is a firm believer in providing feedback and process improvement and ensuring all of Legacy has a lean work flow. She is currently a corporate financial supervisor at United Healthcare where she works closely with the director and chief financial officer to make sure all financial reporting is accurate for medical, dental, and vision. She has over 10 years in corporate finance in the healthcare and telecommunications industry. She is a key contributor to strategic financial business planning and increasing revenue in various hospitals while working in the revenue cycle department financial sector. Aramiss has grown to be very attentive and determined in which she finds strength through education, healthcare, kindness, and helping others. She is a mentor to young students from different socioeconomic backgrounds in receiving scholarships to attend different colleges and universities. She volunteers at various shelters and food pantries, teaches elders’ arts and crafts at different hospitals and nursing homes, and a counselor to young women to strive to do better. She recently received the Young Professional Award from Congressman Gregory W. Meeks for her active  involvement in the Queens community and various awards from other politicians. She is also a mentor for St. John's University Career Aspire Program. Aramiss is excited to be part of this council due to her attending catholic school from elementary school all the way to college and believes this should be implemented in other catholic schools to show why diversity and inclusion is so important. She graduated from St. John’s Preparatory High school in 2005 and holds a BA from St. John’s University in English and Legal Studies in 2009 and currently working toward her masters degree in healthcare administration.