Diversity and Inclusion Scholarship Recipients

Thank you to Virginia Tech for sponsoring the Ernie Andrews D&I Scholarship.

2023 Recipients

Scholarship in Memory of Rick McLellan: Howard Thrasher

Howard serves as the Assistant Director of Career Education at Boston College, focusing on working with students that are beginning their career exploration journey. He also oversees the Peer Career Coach student team. Howard's passions include helping students develop leadership skills with an emphasis on responsibility to others and service to community. Howard is passionate about creating pipleines for equitiblity in all career fields for helping students understand the value of their experiences on their career development journeys. A native Texan, Howard enjoys spending his free time exploring New England and hiking with his partner, and brushing up his Graphic Design skills in Photoshop.

Scholarship in Memory of Ernie Andrews: Jeszack Gammon

Jeszack Gammon is a Career Advisor in the Career Development Office (CDO) at Bard College. Jeszack has contributed to the development of the Bard College community for the last seven years. For the first four years, he was a student leading different events and initiatives on campus while he majored in American Studies and concentrated on Africana Studies. From September 2019- August 2022, Jeszack served as a Program Coordinator for “Brothers@,” a non-profit where he created comprehensive programming dedicated to the development and mentorship of young men of color in higher education and secondary educational institutions in New York State. In 2022 Jeszack’s work with Brothers@ throughout the state was honored and celebrated with the “40 under 40 Movers and Shakers” award by the Dutchess County Regional Chamber of Congress. He is currently finishing his master’s degree in Social Justice Educational Studies at SUNY New Paltz. Jeszack is eager to continue to give back as career services professional while intentionally interweaving socially just practices into his work.

2022 Recipients

Scholarship in Memory of Rick McLellan: Philip Wilkerson III

Philip Wilkerson III is an Industry Advisor at GMU University Career Services. This role serves both student and employer stakeholders, meaning Philip both collaborates with employers to make them aware of the talented students at Mason through invitations to visit the campus for fairs, workshops, and unique events and meets with students to market their creative skills through personal branding (resumes, cover letters, LinkedIn profiles, etc.). He is a husband to Maggie Wilkerson, LSCW (JMU Class of 2007, Social Work), and father to Bennett and Miles (ages 7 and 4). He is also the host of a podcast called Positive Philter, which takes everyday subjects and finds the positive lessons we can learn from them. He recently was recognized as a Northern Virginia Forty Under Forty Honoree by the Leadership Center for Excellence and Leadership Fairfax. Past honors include being named "Employee of the Month" for GMU in September 2019, the "Forty under 40" list for GMU Black Alumni as well as being a recipient of the "Pillar Award," which is for a GMU staff member who supports Black students. He is also the faculty advisor for the Iota Alpha Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., The National Society of Leadership and Success, and the GMU NAACP chapter. 

Scholarship in Memory of Ernie Andrews: Breona Walker

Breona Walker has five years of experience working within the college and career readiness through her roles in K-12, higher education, and nonprofits, and currently serves as a Career Coach at Virginia Commonwealth University’s School of Business Career Services. As a Career Coach, she educates students on the career development process and opportunities that exist including internships, experiential opportunities, jobs, graduate school. She also ensures delivery of career development in the academic curriculum by facilitating classroom presentations. Breona received a B.B.A. in Marketing from James Madison University and is currently working towards her M.Ed in Counselor Education from Virginia Commonwealth University. Recognizing her passion regarding college access, educational equity, and social justice is what initiated her career change to higher education. As a first-generation college student, she knows first-hand the importance of having tools and resources available to overcome obstacles and contribute to student readiness. Breona is devoted to creating an open, inclusive, challenging, inviting, and supportive mentoring environment for students to enhance student success. She utilizes counseling theories and skills to advocate for students and assist them as they begin their career path and navigate life transitions, while being mindful of intersectional identities and cultural influences.

2021 Recipients

Scholarship in Memory of Rick McLellan: Ms. Soulyka Agana-Woodbine

Soulyka Agana-Woodbine is passionate about increasing college access, success, and career pathways. She has 12 years of experience working with youth in education and the social work field. As the Director of Career Services at Trinity Washington University in Washington DC, she manages employer partnerships, career readiness programs and helps students find career-aligned internships and employment. She also works closely with advising, academic affairs and faculty to develop and execute initiatives that merge career services with Trinity’s academic majors and programs. Soulyka’s credentials as a Licensed Master Social Worker have served as an asset in all of her professional roles. Her social work professional background includes working with young adults and families in health care, foster care, education and criminal justice settings. Soulyka received a B.A in Psychology from the University at Albany and a Masters of Social Work from Hunter College School of Social Work in New York City. Her personal interests include volunteering abroad, creating vision boards, reading books that promote self-growth, life coaching and positive psychology.

Scholarship in Memory of Ernie Andrews: Diana Mendez

Diana Mendez is a Senior Assistant Director at NYU’s Wasserman Center for Career Development and has 14 years of experience in higher ed. In her current role, she oversees student employment functions, and DEI initiatives for STEM students, as well as serving as a Career Coach. She is a proud immigrant, Latina, and first-generation student. Diana has successfully managed large internship programs, diversity initiatives, student employment training and development, and early college engagement efforts, while working with undergrad, grad, domestic, and international students. Diana serves in the NACE People of Color Affinity Impact Team and as NASPA's Latinx Knowledge Community Programming Chair.

2020 Recipients

Scholarship in Memory of Rick McLellan: Jason Chan

Jason Chan currently serves as the Fellowship and Career Advisor and Assistant Director of the Center for Career and Professional Advising at Haverford College. In this role, he connects students to an array of opportunities to grow intellectually and professionally as scholars and leaders. This includes advising students on navigating the career exploration and job search process and providing guidance on identifying and applying to competitive fellowship programs.Much of Jason’s previous experiences have been grounded in diversity, equity, and inclusion work, specifically around efforts to promote the success of students of color, first-generation, and low-income students. He also has experience with assessment and evaluation of student learning and programmatic outcomes. Jason earned his B.A. in Psychology and Biological Basis of Behavior from the University of Pennsylvania, his M.Ed. in College Student Personnel from the University of Maryland-College Park, and his Ph.D. in Higher Education and Organizational Change from UCLA.

Scholarship in Memory of Ernie Andrews: Fatim Lelenta

Fatim Lelenta received her Master's degree in Mental Health Counseling from Fordham University. She conducted her clinical internship at Fordham Office of Career Services and has enjoyed the field of career development ever since. She is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in New York and currently serves as Assistant Director of Graduate Career Development at New York University's Wasserman Center for Career Development. As a career coach, she uses her counseling background to work collaboratively with Masters and Ph.D. students as they navigate life transitions and support them through change. Fatim is excited to be a part of career services in higher education and continue to learn the best practices as a counselor, educator, and advocate.

2019 Recipients

Scholarship in Memory of Rick McLellan: Leslie Silva

I was born in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and migrated to the United States with my family when I was a toddler. I completed my Bachelor of Art in history with a focus on cold war relations in Latin America at Temple University.  While at Temple and after graduation I worked in the restaurant industry for 10+ years. As a restaurant manager, I felt very strongly about creating a successful work environment for our employees built on good communication and trust. While I knew the restaurant industry wasn’t my end goal, my desire to work directly with people led me to a masters program in Professional Clinical Counseling at La Salle University. I strongly believe in helping people and being an advocate for my clients and students. My favorite thing about working with students as a career counselor is seeing a shift in their confidence and that  A-HA moment when they realize they have what it takes to succeed. That’s an amazing moment. Outside of work I currently serve on the board of an education-focused non-profit in Philadelphia, the University Community Collaborative. I am passionate about making education more equitable for all people. Some of my interests outside of education and counseling include reading, traveling and cooking meals with my partner and friends.

 View Leslie's blog post here.

Scholarship in Memory of Ernie Andrews: Zenobia Littlejohn

Zenobia Littlejohn is currently the Manager of College Recruitment for Freedom Mortgage Corporation. Freedom Mortgage is a national, full-service mortgage banker headquartered in Mount Laurel, NJ. The company is one of the 10 largest mortgage originators nationally and was ranked the top VA originator for 2016. Freedom Mortgage has been ranked in the Inc. 5000 list of America’s Fastest Growing Companies for five consecutive years, earning a place on the Inc. 5000 Honor Roll for 2017.

2018 Recipients

Scholarship in Memory of Rick McLellan: Mohamed L. Sesay

Mohamed Sesay explored career paths in education, marketing and publishing, before returning to Binghamton University as a Career Consultant. A former student staff member in the Fleishman Center, Mohamed now supervises the Senior Peer Assistants, consults students and creates career-oriented programs for university partner offices. He is goal-oriented and wants to coach students to achieve their goals and successes.

Mohamed has a Bachelor degree in English, and is currently pursuing a Master of Public Administration. During his free time, he enjoys traveling, museum and art exhibits, and listening to podcasts.

Scholarship in Memory of Ernie Andrews: Jasmin Senior

Jasmin Senior Bostic is the Global Manager of University Relations at CSL Behring located in King of Prussia, PA. In her role, Jasmin is responsible for the implementation and execution of University Relations and Recruitment strategy in the US, Australia, Germany, Switzerland and Hong Kong. Prior to joining CSL, Jasmin spent 10 years in Campus Recruiting and Diversity at Comcast NBCUniversal and Ernst & Young.

Jasmin is passionate about community service and mentoring youth. She very involved in the Philadelphia area having recently served as the President of NExT (Network of Extraordinary Talent) Philadelphia, an affinity group of the Urban League of Philadelphia, Advisory Board Member of PHLDiversity, The Ivy Legacy Foundation and the Drexel University Employer Advisory Board. Jasmin resides in Philadelphia with her husband Atif.

2017 Recipients 

Scholarship in Memory of Rick McLellan: Mary Edwin

Read her Testimonial

Scholarship in Memory of Ernie Andrews: Jasmine Jackson

Jasmine S. Jackson is a Career Counselor at the University of Virginia Career Center where she supports career development for students through one-on-one career counseling, small-group facilitation, and strategic programming. Jasmine also co-leads the Career Center’s Inclusion Team where she facilitates connections with student affairs colleagues, student leaders, employers, and alumni; develops and implements strategic programs; and advocates for diverse populations. Her efforts ensure a welcoming and inclusive community within the career center and supports career development needs of the University’s diverse student population.

Prior to beginning her role as a Career Counselor within the Career Center, Jasmine was a Graduate Intern at the Career Center while she studied Student Affairs Practice in Higher Education at the University of Virginia’s Curry School of Education. Before starting her graduate career, Jasmine worked in Employer Relations where she supported the Career Center’s On-Grounds Interview program. Jasmine found her niche at the intersection of diversity & inclusion and career development as a graduate student studying the career needs of African-American women and First-Generation College Students. Outside of career development, Jasmine is passionate about entrepreneurship and supporting minority-owned businesses.

Jasmine holds a bachelor’s degree in Communication from George Mason University and completed her master’s degree in Higher Education (M.Ed.) from the University of Virginia.

2016 Recipients

Scholarship in Memory of Rick McLellan: Jenny Roxas

Jenny Roxas earned a B.A. in anthropology, with a Certificate in applied cultural anthropology, and a minor in Italian from California State University, Chico. After graduating, Jenny joined AmeriCorps where, along with her supervisor, she built a youth employment training program focused on career counseling for underrepresented youth in Oakland, CA. Her work included recruiting, workshop facilitation, job search facilitation, volunteer management, and community building with the program’s target population including probationers, foster youth, the gang-affiliated, and undocumented high school students. Jenny later received an M.S. in student affairs and higher education at Indiana State University. Currently she is the Career Development Specialist focused on fine & performing arts, media, and entertainment (FAME) industries at State University of New York (SUNY), Oswego. She works to build the foundation for forums to engage FAME students, faculty, employers, and community partners with one another. In addition, she helps students by giving tailored career advice and resources to make the post-graduation transition easier.
 

Read her Testimonial

Scholarship in Memory of Ernie Andrews: Donna Brooks

Donna Brooks is presently an Associate Director of Career Services with the Center for Career Development at Norwalk Community College (NCC), located in Norwalk, Connecticut. Duties include helping students develop career plans, advise in the preparation of resume/cover letters, mock interviewing skills, she produce and creates workshops, Career Fairs, alumni dinner events, Executive Speaker Series and utilizing the NCC Career Connections tools which manages the colleges Internal job portal. Prior to joining the career center, she worked as a Human Resources Specialist and Assistant to the Director of Human Resources at in the Office of Human Resources & Payroll Services at NCC for a combined total of nine (9) years. Duties included interpretation of collective bargaining union contracts, administers HR policies and procedures, implementation of compensation and benefit plans, managed HRMS Systems (PeopleSoft); Prior to that she worked eight (8) years as a Human Resources Coordinator at St. Vincent’s College located in Bridgeport, Connecticut. She has a Master’s Degree in Human Resources Management/Counseling from University of Bridgeport, a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Legal Administration from Sacred Heart University, as well as two (2) Associate Degrees, one in Paralegal Studies and the other in General Studies from Sacred Heart University. 

Read her Testimonial

---

2015 Recipients

Scholarship in Memory of Rick McLellan: Jabril Robinson

Jabril Robinson is excited to complete his Master of Science degree in College Student Development & Counseling from Northeastern University in Boston, MA as of May 2015. As part of his program’s practicum component, Jabril chose to intern for a year in Northeastern’s Office of Career Development, gaining competency in creating and presenting workshops, counseling diverse students, and collaborating with employers to promote quality events. Thus he transformed a curiosity in the field into a commitment to a full-time post-graduate career in career development.

He is enthusiastic with the opportunity to attend his first EACE conference and witness the talented professionals and diverse functions in the field. Jabril looks forward to the networking opportunities and professional development to come!

 

 

Read his Testimonial

Scholarship in Memory of Ernie Andrews: Scott Mannion

2014 Recipients

Scholarship in Memory of Rick McLellan: Jose E. Huerta

Eduardo Huerta is a first generation student who graduated from the University of California Berkeley in 2011 with a B.A. in Latin American Studies and a minor in Education. Upon graduation, he has worked as a Project Coordinator for the County of Monterey in California, a substitute teacher, a literacy tutor, a summer Group Leader for The Experiment in International Living—a job where he takes high school students abroad to participate in language, community service and cultural immersion programs—and his most recent position as a Graduate Research Assistant for the SUNY Research Foundation. In August 2013, Eduardo began his first year as a graduate student at the State University of New York Binghamton, where he is pursuing a dual master’s degree in Student Affairs and Public Administration. In the future, he wants to work at a university mentoring, advising and providing students—primarily students of disadvantaged backgrounds—the tools to effectively navigate institutions of higher learning; additionally, he wants to manage and/or design programs and policies that encourage a more accurate representation of the diversity found in our country and that facilitate and promote a campus culture where diversity is better understood, respected and appreciated. Besides Eduardo’s passion for education, he also enjoys being outdoors doing sports, practicing martial arts, drawing and painting, photography, traveling, cooking and meeting new people.

Scholarship in Memory of Ernie Andrews: Shantel L. Powell

Shantel L. Powell received her bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Florida. As an undergraduate, her research interests were broad and attempted to encapsulate the African American experience. More specifically, she was particularly interested in academic resiliency among African American college students. As a career counselor at the University at Albany, she has had the ability to work with many students from various walks of life. Throughout her experiences, she has found that all individuals, regardless of race, desire happiness through their career. This observation drew her to the field of career development and its intersection with mental health. Shantel is currently pursuing her doctoral degree in counseling psychology from the University at Albany.

2013 Recipients

Scholarship in Memory of Rick McLellan: Jhaakira D. Jacobs

Scholarship in Memory of Ernie Andrews: LaShay Wyatt

2012 Recipients 

Scholarship in Memory of Rick McLellan: Jonathan Harris

Scholarship in Memory of Ernie Andrews: Craig Sabbatino