Speaker Bios
Hassanah Smith
Bio TBD.
Lia Taylor (Schwartz) Harper
Lia is a passionate professional with demonstrated executive-level experience in non-profit organization management. Lia has over a decade of experience working in New York City’s child welfare and juvenile justice systems and is a published advocate for young people. Since 2015, Lia has risen as a leader in antiracist work and has trained in both the Racial Equity Learning Exchange (RELE) model with Khatib Waheed and with The People’s Institute for Survival and Beyond. Lia has a Master of Public Health from Columbia University and a bachelor’s degree in biological anthropology from The George Washington University. Lia has been mentoring young people, formally and informally, since 2013 and has volunteered as a visiting resource (weekends, holidays, and vacations) for a teenage girl in foster care since 2018. She has served as the Executive Director of Connections since 2018.
Carina Pena
Carina Pena started with Connections as a bilingual mentor, volunteering for one year with a young Latina in New York City. She was so committed to the cause that when Connections had an open position in 2019, Carina transitioned from her career at a Wall Street recruitment firm to the nonprofit world of child welfare. Carina earned her master’s degree in school counseling at Montclair State University. Carina holds a bachelor’s degree in public Relations from Penn State University.
Chandler Brossard
Chandler Brossard joined Connections in June 2023 as a Youth Engagement Specialist. In this role, she serves as a coach and frontline support to our mentees, and as staff liaison to the Youth Leadership Council. Chandler, as an Afro-Latina-identifying woman, is passionate about challenging and opposing unjust systems and institutions. She has a wide range of work experience initiating, advancing, and implementing strategies that foster an equitable atmosphere for a range of stakeholders varying in age, race, religion, and gender across many different contexts, including two summer internships at the Annie E. Casey Foundation. Chandler hopes to support and be an ally to all youth who are part of the Connections ecosystem. Chandler is a recent graduate of New York University Abu Dhabi with a bachelor’s degree in philosophy with minors in African Studies and Mandarin.
Michelle Jervis
Bio TBD.
Rolanda L. Ward
Dr. Rolanda L. Ward has been an associate professor at Niagara University since 2015. In August 2017, she was named endowed faculty director of Niagara University’s Rose Bente Lee Ostapenko Center for Race, Equity, and Mission. Dr. Ward earned her doctorate in social work and sociology, a master's in divinity, and a master's in social work from Boston University.
As a macro-trained practitioner and a research scholar, she has been the lead investigator or research associate on a number of studies focusing on society's most vulnerable, underserved, proven-risk, and oppressed populations and communities. In addition, Dr. Ward has led projects in communities and within organizations that shift status quo outcomes. These days, she is particularly interested in working with school districts and non-profits to produce measurable outcomes for key demographics. Dr. Ward is a strategic planner, relentless advocate, and community learner. She is a content expert in child welfare, equitable practices for educational systems, health equity, criminal justice, and civic engagement.
Dr. Ward is also a member of the board of directors at MENTOR New York, The Aquarium of Niagara Falls, Community Missions, Inc., The Education Collaborative of WNY, and Catholic Health Systems. Dr. Ward co-led the university’s Identifying and Dismantling Racial Injustice Task Force and Niagara Falls Social Justice Commission Employment Subcommittee. As a teacher-scholar, Dr. Ward is committed to helping students and community members identify social injustices that warrant real solutions.
Dr. Sofia Petruz
Dr. Sofia B. Pertuz is a workplace culture strategist, consultant, and certified executive coach who has led organizational transformations in a uniquely varied career spanning over 25 years within higher education, nonprofit and corporate organizations. Sofia is the founder and lead strategist of Mainstream Insight, LLC, partnering with organizations providing bespoke inclusion and leadership advisory services to businesses invested in real change. Sofia has served in executive level roles including, Managing Director for Inclusion and Leadership Development for Billie Jean King Enterprises and Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer for the Jed Foundation, a nonprofit that protects emotional health and prevents suicide for young people.
Throughout her uniquely varied career, Sofia has formed thriving communities, building bridges between functional verticals to create holistic experiences for employees and clients.
Sofia has been an invited speaker for international audiences on topics in change management, social justice, equity in mental health, Latinx identity and LGBTQ+ advocacy and delivers keynotes in both English and Spanish.
Sofia is a published author, including a book chapter, “Exploring Latinx/a/o Identity, Cultural Values, and Success in Higher Education.”
Sofia is an educator and researcher, currently teaching Research Methods at Glasgow Caledonian New York College. She was previously an adjunct faculty in the Higher Ed Leadership & Policy program at Hofstra University, taught Sociology at Wagner College & first-year seminar at Fordham University, where Sofia launched a campus-wide award-winning LGBTQ ally training program.
Sofia dedicates time to mentoring and volunteer activities aiming to create inclusive and caring communities. She is the founder and moderator of a virtual doctoral support network with over 9000 engaged members called Latinas Completing Doctoral Degrees. Sofia serves on boards, including 100 Hispanic Women, Long Island and Yes Collective, an online e-learning platform for parents concerned about health and wellness.
Sofia holds a PhD in Higher Education Leadership, Management, and Policy from Seton Hall University. Sofia is a Senior Certified Professional by the Society of Human Resources Management and Certified Diversity Executive®.
Sofia takes having a good sense of humor seriously & earned a Certificate at Stand-Up University at the Governor’s Brokerage Comedy Club in Bellmore, NY.