Aretha Castillo Johnson is a Customer Experience & Employee Engagement Strategist with over 25 years experience at a Fortune 500, increasing brand awareness, sales, and loyalty with a proven track record of designing and implementing customer-centric programs. Aretha’s mission is to develop strong women and strong girls as they uncover their inner strength, worth, and purpose in life.
Public speaking and cultivating relationships are leadership qualities that support her mission. Additionally, Aretha facilitates Racial Dialogues sessions as part of her Social Justice efforts. This has helped her navigate and guide sensitive and tough conversations and discussions.
A faithful member of Fountain Baptist Church in Summit, NJ, Aretha serves on several ministries with specific outreach to women in prison and the youth in her church. In her leisure time, Aretha loves creating memories with her family, her husband of 20+ years, and her two daughters. Aretha’s standard social media hashtag, #knowyourworth, channels Byron Katie’s quote, “Do you want to meet the love of your life? Look in the mirror.”
Laura Johnson is an Assistant Professor at the Temple University School of Social Work. The goal of her research is to support the mental and physical health of survivors of interpersonal violence, as well as their safety and economic security. Prior to joining Temple, Laura worked at the Center on Violence Against Women and Children (now the Center for Research on Ending Violence) for over eight years, where she served on the senior leadership team and conducted research and evaluation related to the prevention and intervention of violence against women.
Laura sits on the New Jersey Child Fatality and Near Fatality Review Board Central Regional Team. She holds her PhD and MSW in Social Work from Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey and Bachelor of Arts degree from Lehigh University. She enjoys spending time with her dog and loves to travel.
Nancy Sheridan is an Independent Marketing and Advertising Professional. Most recently, Ms. Sheridan served as the Associate Director, Communications and Advertising at Dun & Bradstreet Information Services where she managed a staff of promotional writers responsible for developing and producing sales materials across 24 product areas. Previously, she worked for Crum & Forster Corporation and Prudential Insurance Company. Active in her community, Ms. Sheridan chairs the Clark Democratic Committee, and is a member of the Clark Planning Board and the Clark Environmental Commission. She is a graduate of Douglass College, Rutgers University.
Marilyn Rivera-Cintron was born in Jersey City. She attended Rutgers University where she matriculated at Douglass College (New Brunswick, NJ). Currently finishing her MPA/MPH studies at Farleigh Dickinson University. Completed UCLA’s Anderson School of Business training for Healthcare Executives in 2004. Ms. Cintron’s first professional posting upon graduation was as a Risk Reduction Specialist and Substance Abuse Counselor at St. Francis Hospital. She served as counselor, community advocate, and program developer in various capacities with several community organizations throughout New Jersey until 1999, when she joined Horizon Health Center, now Doing Business as Alliance Community Healthcare Inc. (ACH), as its Social Services Program Director and continued to move up in the organization with the Board of Trustees electing her to become the Chief Executive Officer in January of 2005.
Ms. Cintron has been with the ACH organization for over twenty-eight years. She has served on many levels within the organization and for the past sixteen years as Leader/CEO and visionary for the constantly evolving role of ACH in the Hudson County Community. Keeping her eye on Quality, Ms. Cintron has built a leadership team that continues to keep ACH’s true to its mission of access to high quality health care for all with acquiring and maintaining Joint Commission Primary Care Medical Home and NCQA designation. She is a fellow of UCLA’s Health Care Executive Program and a fellow of the Women’s Policy Institute sponsored by the Women’s Fund of New Jersey. Ms. Cintron continues her efforts to maintain a strong voice for women’s reproductive justice. Ms. Cintron is currently serves on several boards: Vice Chair of the New Jersey Primary Care Association, Treasurer of the Partnership for Maternal & Child Health of Northern New Jersey, Vice Chair of the Providers Committee for New Jersey Family Planning League, Board Member of the Carepoint Health System, Steering Committee Member of Inclusive Health Communities for Hudson County, Vice Chair of Task Force of Ending the Epidemic Task Force, Vice Chair of the Reproductive Health group of the NJ Governor’s Maternal Care Quality Collaborative and Vice Chair of NJ Governor’s COVID-19 Task Force on Racial and Health Disparities.
She has won several awards such as Healthcare Hero for South Hudson Coalition, Recognition for Faith Based Leadership during COVID, Hispanic Leaders in Healthcare, Community Healthcare Leader, Outstanding Service Award for Youth Services and Outstanding Service Award for Women and AIDS.
Charlinda Brown-Gales is a finance professional at a large pharmaceutical company with over 30 years of experience in finance. She has a proven track record of successfully forecasting and managing mega million-dollar budgets, implementing audit principles and creating long range financial plans in both the pharma, and telecommunications industries.
As a current member of Fountain Baptist Church in Summit, NJ, Charlinda serves on the Manna House Food pantry ministry as well as the FBC Scholarship Committee ministry. Charlinda is also a member of The Finance Network where she aids in creating collaborating events for newly employed Finance individuals joining the company. Charlinda loves spending time with her family, and is committed to “Helping as many people here on earth, while I am here on earth”
Dr. La’tesha Sampson, a Roselle native, has been serving disenfranchised individuals and communities for over two decades and believes in helping others transform their thinking to change their lives. She is the President and Founder of Great Joy Counseling and Consulting Services where she and her team of therapists provide innovative, therapeutic psychotherapy & life coaching services to thousands of individuals, couples, families, and groups each year. She is also the Executive Director of Great Joy Community Development Corporation, a NJ based nonprofit, aimed at promoting great joy, health and wellness and improved quality of life for disenfranchised people globally.
Dr. La’tesha is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, author, grant -writer corporate and non profit trainer, and program facilitator. She loves to teach students and train them to be change agents in their communities. She is currently a professor at the Kean University Department of Social Work and has previously taught at Master of Social Work departments at the University of New England, Rutgers University, and the Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College.
Dr. La’tesha community service includes a national NASW- PACE Committee Board membership position, a Training and Curriculum Chair position at NJ Association of Black Social Workers, and a membership position of the Morris County Chapter of the Links, Inc. She previously held a Board Chair position at Rz the Flags, a Global Outreach Initiative focused on HIV/AIDS, domestic violence, human trafficking, and a Director of Business Development position at Women Operating in Opulence, a nonprofit financial literacy organization for women of color.
Dr. La’tesha earned a Bachelor’s degree from Syracuse University, a Master’s of Public Administration degree from Metropolitan College of New York, a Master’s of Social Work from Kean University, and a Ph.D in Christian Counseling and Psychology from Northwestern Seminary. She is also the recipient of an honorary Doctorate of Social Work and is pursuing her Doctorate of Social Work at Simmons University.
Associate Professor of Chemistry, Sherry Heidary, began working at Union County College in July 2007. During the last 12 years, she has held several leadership positions at the college. She has served as the Chair of Chemistry Department, and Faculty Advisor to the Student Government Association, Phi Theta Kappa Honors Society, and American Honors Council. She is currently a commissioner to the Union County Commission on Status of Women, YWCA Union County Board member, and a Trustee on Union County College Foundation Board.
She is the first recipient of the prestigious Fiat Lux Award in 2017, and two times recipient of the Dr. Richard and Barbara Neblett Prize Award for Educational Excellence in Teaching and Learning in 2013 and 2017. In 2015, she was awarded the NISOD Excellence Award – National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development – Excellence Award in Teaching, Learning, and Leadership at Community and Technical Colleges.
She holds a BS in Polymer Engineering, and a MS in Polymer Science from Penn State University. Her interest in the STEM field was nurtured by her chemistry high school teacher. She finds STEM courses interesting, challenging and very exciting. She is an avid ballroom dancer and loves to travel.
Ann works at the Phillips 66 Bayway Refinery in Linden, New Jersey as the HR Manager and is a member of the Refinery Leadership Team. She is a strategic partner to the site leaders, supporting business goal achievement and building a high performing organization. Ann has over 25 years’ experience in HR leadership, including employee & labor relations, talent development, and talent management. Throughout her career, she has worked in multiple locations across the US and also in the middle east. She has a passion for inclusion and diversity, and feeds this passion with her love for travel. In her quest to visit 100 countries in her life, she has had adventures and experienced local cultures in over 60 countries, spanning all seven continents.
Dr. Lutz is an Associate Professor at New Jersey Medical School and Associate Dean for Student Affairs at the School of Graduate Studies, Rutgers Health. She is a native of North Carolina and received her BS in Biology with Highest Honors from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. She received her PhD in Microbiology and Genetics from Duke University and was a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Pennsylvania. She currently teaches medical, dental and graduate students, supervises a PhD curriculum, and oversees the overall graduate student experience including academic and personal well-being, while advocating for student needs and ensuring a positive scientific environment. She also supervises a research laboratory studying gene expression regulation in lung cancer. She has a passion for STEM education and empowering and uplifting others, especially women and children. She lives in Fanwood, NJ and enjoys travel with her husband and adult children.
As counsel in Lowenstein Sandler’s White Collar Defense practice, Rachel Moseson Dikovics represents corporations, government entities, and individuals in internal and external investigations, white collar defense matters, regulatory compliance matters, and complex commercial litigation. Her investigative experience includes matters involving serious employee misconduct, shareholder demands, regulatory compliance, and criminal allegations.
Committed to pro-bono work, Rachel is particularly passionate about representing domestic violence victims and protecting voting rights. Additionally, Rachel serves on the Executive Board of Lowenstein’s Women’s Initiative Network, which provides a wide range of programming and facilitates mentorship of and by the firm’s female attorneys.
Prior to her legal career, Rachel worked for the late U.S. Senator Frank R. Lautenberg. She received both her B.A. (summa cum laude) and her J.D. from Rutgers.
She lives in New Jersey with her husband and daughter. In her free time, she loves to cook and collects art and antiques.
Amaro Pereira is a Managing Director and Mortgage Outreach Officer with the Consumer and Residential Lending division. Amaro has over 30 years of experience in the mortgage industry. His extensive knowledge, along with strong referral sources, have made him a top originator in the mortgage industry for many years He specializes in first mortgages, purchase and refinance, affordable mortgage programs, and home equity loans. He participates in many financial literacy programs and first time homebuyers seminars throughout the state. He’s a member of the Sarasota Chamber of commerce and the Sarasota/Manatee County Board of Realtors. He is the president of the ALPRE (A LUSO AMERICAN PRO ESCOLA), a nonprofit organization that funds school supplies in a small village in Portugal (cimo de vila da castanheira). Mr. Pereira is licensed in youth soccer coaching and as a referee. He volunteers on a yearly basis with the Soccer Special Olympics.
Amaro attended Essex County College and Rutgers University in Newark, New Jersey. He has completed many courses through the American Institution of Banking (AIB), along with loan officer courses through the Mortgage Bankers Association. Amaro is fluent in both Portuguese and Spanish.
Catherine Felegi is currently a manager of marketing and communications at United Way of Northern New Jersey, an organization dedicated to building a better community for individuals living paycheck to paycheck and in poverty. There, she oversees marketing projects advancing affordable, sustainable, high-quality child care, as well as shepherds communications efforts for the women’s affinity group, Women United. During her spare time, Catherine sits on the board for the Elizabeth Coalition to House the Homeless and for Independent Authors Book Experience, and is pursuing a Masters in Public Administration at Rutgers University.
Since she was young, Catherine has dedicated herself to the pursuit of a just, equitable society, starting from her years as a daisy in Girl Scout up to choosing a career in nonprofit. It is her core belief that in order to achieve social justice, we must both enact meaningful systemic changes, as well as address the immediate needs of our neighbors. By combining impactful, thought-provoking data, riveting storytelling, and hands-on volunteerism, we will transform the world.
Nicole Cippoletti brings over 25 years of experience in education, leadership, and community service. She is the Dean of the Scotch Plains and Virtual Campus at UCNJ Union College of Union County, NJ, where she leads campus operations, develops university partnerships, and oversees post-completion initiatives supporting alumni and transfer students.
Nicole holds an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership from Saint Peter’s University, where her research focused on racial awareness and multicultural competency in higher education. Passionate about equity and access, she has secured grant funding for educational initiatives and has presented nationally on topics such as leadership, racial awareness, and student success.
Deeply committed to supporting women and underrepresented communities, Nicole has volunteered with organizations including the Cranford Inclusivity Project, Oliver Scholars, Literacy Volunteers, and the Cranford Woman’s Club. She is honored to advance the YWCA’s mission of eliminating racism and empowering women.
Nicole lives in Union County, with her husband, children, and their two beloved rescue dogs.
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Phone: (908) 355-1995 • Fax: (908) 355-2010
Email: info@ywcaunioncounty.org
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