The women who dream, scheme and make the network go...

Jacqueline Pinn
Director

Jacqui has worked with Women of Color Leadership Network since 1997, during which time she has solidified her commitment to enhancing the lives of women of color. Possessed of a rather eclectic professional background, Jacqui has spent 12 years working for some of the country's top-notch marketing, publishing and training organizations. She left the corporate world in 1991 to pursue a personal development interest in yoga and meditation where she lived in residence at the Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health. That experience led to a radical lifestyle change and career shift that focused first on full-time mothering and next; as a conduit and guide for women interested in exploring ways to improve their lives. In this capacity, Jacqui has integrated her diverse background and can offer a unique perspective both from the corporate hallways to the yoga mat.

Eboni Rafus
Project Manager

Eboni Rafus is a first year grad student in the Creative Writing department where she will earn her MFA in Fiction. Previously, she earned her BFA in Film and Television at NYU. As a military brat, Eboni has grown up in many different places, but most recently lived in Los Angeles where she worked for Dawson's Creek, The Game Show Network, and MTV. Currently she resides in Belchertown, MA but hopes to return to Los Angeles someday to write for television.

Natalie Cruz
Administrative Assistant

Natalie Cruz is a Puerto Rican, but have lived in Holyoke, MA all of her life. She has three younger brothers. She transfered here from Holyoke Community College after completing her first year there. She worked with the Upward Bound Program as a mentor/tutor during the academic year of 2003/2004. She was apart of the program my four years of high school. Her major is Legal Studies with a minor in Spanish and she is also getting her certificate in Criminal Justice.

Shuokui (Sokki) Chen
Administrative Assistant (Internal Affairs)

Shuokui (Sokki) Chen is a sophomore student majoring Sport Management and minoring French. She is also in the process of getting the International Relations certificate and Interpreter's Studies Certificate while she is working for the Women Of Color Leadership Network as an administrative assistant for internal affairs. She is doing all this because she can't stand being bored. But besides that, she is doing what she does because she has a passion in making a difference no matter how significant it may be. With a burning desire to work for the International Olympic Committee one day, she has lived in many places in different countries such as China and Japan, not to mention that she witnessed and experienced many social injustices herself. She thinks that it has been a great honor and blessing for her to be able to join WOCLN as a staff for this year and she is looking forward to make meaningful contribution as she gain more knowledge and exposure
throughout this school year.

Tosin Fagade
Administrative Assistant (External Affairs)

Tosin Fagade is a Junior communications major with a minor in sociology. She is from the Amherst area, and have gone to school here since elementary school. Her freshman year was spent at the University of Pittsburgh, then tranferred to UMass, due to convinience and money. She hopes to one day be a family lawyer, that helps to advocate and settle common family issues, before they destroy a family. Culturally she come from Nigeria, however she has been here the majority of her life. Her Nigerian heritage is something that she is very proud of. She has a 12 year old sister and a 4 year old brother. One of the most important person in her life is her 4 year old brother, because he is so young and impressionable.

Dawa Lokyitsang
Administrative Assistant for Budget

Dawa Lokyitsang is originally from India. She was born and raised in India until she moved to Cambridge, MA at the age of 10. Her grandparents escaped to India after the Chinese takeover. Her mother was born around the border of Tibet and her father was born in Tibet but he was carried into India as a baby to escape the Chinese occupation. She was raised in Dharamsala, India, where the 14th Dali Lama resides. She is the oldest of two boys and a sister. She is a Buddhist, but she follows the philosophy more than actually practicing Buddhism.

Shobana Shankar
Website Manager

Shobana is a Sophomore here at the University of Massachusetts Amherst doing Computer Systems Engineering. She has been a staff member at the women of color leadership network for 1 year and will focus on the WOCLN web site management. She is also the assistant manager of one of the Library OIT Computer Classrooms. She is from Tamil Nadu, India and has a positive impact on the community, Commitment to enhancing quality of life for and/or serving as a role model for women of color.