Meet Our Staff

Hind Mari - Director

Hind’s areas of expertise and interest include the intersection of social identities as well as all other social justice issues, cross-cultural communication, conflict resolution, and leadership training. She has presented on these topics both locally and nationally. Working at the Women of Color Leadership Network gives Hind the opportunity to work full time on these issues, and foster growth for young women of color.

Hind’s previous experience includes working as the Assistant Director at the Center for Student Development; Orientation Coordinator at the International Programs Office, working with international students and teaching at UN schools working with refugee students.

Hind received her Bachelor’s from An-Najah University in Nablus, Palestine. She was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship for her Master’s studies, which she received, along with her doctorate in Education from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Her doctoral dissertation focuses on gender equity issues.

Vira Douangmany - Graduate Assistant

Vira is presently working towards an M. S. degree in Labor Studies. She majored in Sociology as an undergraduate at UMass Amherst. Some of her highlights as an undergrad include being a Senator for Student Government, the Third World Caucus, and chairing the Asian American Students Association. She also did reporting for the University Video Channel and wrote for the Daily Collegian.

While at WOCLN, Vira hopes to be a resource for other women who are active on campus or want to take a more leadership role in campus or community life.

Vanessa Martinez-Renuncio - Graduate Assistant

Vanessa Esther Martinez-Renuncio is a Puerto Rican (American) woman who identifies as bi-cultural. Currently,she is a college professor, PhD student and community activist who believes in working for positive social change and promoting active participation in the local, national and global world. While working full-time as a college professor at Holyoke Community College, Vanessa asks her students to question their experiences and previous knowledge in their own search for self-liberation. In the Anthropology PhD program at UMass Amherst, Vanessa is currently working on her dissertation which is founded on the belief that a collaborative social justice approach to community health is critical for effective intervention. The research aims to connect diabetes patients, various health care professionals, policy makers, and the larger health care system together in a dialogue regarding the effectiveness of a diabetes self-management model being used at a community health center in Holyoke, Massachusetts.

Vanessa received her Bachelors of Science in Sociology in 2000 at Columbus State University and a Masters of Arts in Applied (Medical) Anthropology at Georgia State University in 2002. She is also a co-coordinator of the PHENOM Access to Education Committee that is currently working on a fall 2009 statewide Access conference.

Letisha Harris - Body Politics Coordinator

Letisha is a second year student in the pre-med program majoring in Psychology with a concentration in neuroscience. She enjoys sharing laughs with her family and listening to R&B music while studying. She is working towards medical school and would like to be a neurosurgeon.

Kanisha Louis Jean - Publicity Coordinator

Kanisha is a junior at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst. Though she has lived in Boston all her life, her family derives from Haitian descent. She currently is majoring in Public health with special interests in health disparities, women's health, and health care reform. This will be her second year working with the staff of Women of Color Leadership Network and it has truly become a home away from home.

Iman Abdul-Musawwir- Outreach Coordinator

Though this is Iman’s first semester working for WOCLN, she already feels at home with the WOCLN family. Iman is a senior majoring in Political Science with a certificate in Public Policy. She works very closely with many groups on campus and is an active voice for the need for social change within this campus as well as beyond its walls. She is very passionate about the goals of WOCLN, and is looking forward to a very productive, eventful, and educational learning experience both personally as well as with her fellow women of color on campus!

Jenny Otero - Project Manager

Jenny is a senior majoring in Communications with a minor in Women, Gender, Sexuality Studies. She represents the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico. Her favorite color is green and chocolate is one of the ways to her heart. She would like to go to Graduate School for Human Resource Management.

Jessica Toussaint - Administrative Assistant

Jessica is currently in her third year at UMass Amherst, majoring in Journalism with a second major under BDIC with concentrations in Psychology, Communication Disorders, Education and Sociology. This will be her fourth semester working and being involved with the staff of the Women of Color Leadership Network. She enjoys dancing, singing (off key of course), writing, laughing and just having a good time with her friends, staff and sorority, Sigma Gamma Rho. Although, her vision has changed on knowing what she wants to do with her life after college, one thing has remained the same; she would love to work with children and help those in need any way possible.