Meet the Staff
Professional Staff
Dr. Tamara A. Johnson, Executive Director
Multicultural Student Affairs
Phone: 847-467-6200
Fax: 847-491-3128
Email: tamara-johnson@northwestern.edu
Dr. Tamara A. Johnson is the Executive Director for Multicultural Student Affairs at Northwestern University. In this position, she is responsible for overseeing African American Student Affairs, Asian/Asian American Student Affairs, Hispanic/Latino Student Affairs and the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Resource Center. Prior to her current position, she worked within a range of higher education settings that include: career services, counseling centers, minority student affairs and residential life. She also spent time as a consultant, working for the Department of Veterans Affairs. Dr. Johnson has served as an Adjunct Professor at Argosy University and the Chicago School of Professional Psychology. She currently teaches two courses for the School of Education and Social Policy (SESP) at Northwestern University. Dr. Johnson has a bachelor’s degree in Psychology, a master’s degree in Human Resources and a doctorate in Counseling Psychology. Her research interests include multicultural counseling, career development and organizational consultation. In her free time, she enjoys relaxing, spending time with family and roller skating!
Louie Lainez, Director
Asian/Asian American Student Affairs
Phone: 847-467-7583
Fax: 847-491-3128
Email: l-lainez@northwestern.edu
Academic Year Office Hours:
1936 Sheridan Room 101
Tuesday, 2:00-4:00pm
Thursday, 3:00-5:00pm
Louie Lainez, a native Chicagoan, is the Director for Asian/Asian American Student Affairs. He has been a member of the Northwestern University community since 2006, when he was hired to oversee the Gateway Science Workshop (GSW) program for the Searle Center for Teaching Excellence. Prior to joining Northwestern, Louie held a position with the Office of Racial Ethnic Student Affairs at Michigan State University. He has experience working with various student organizations and has researched the impact of peer facilitated learning programs on undergraduate students. His academic interests include intercultural group communication and student leadership development. Louie completed his bachelor’s degree in Communications at Michigan State University, and his master’s degree in Higher Education Administration at Loyola University Chicago. Outside of his work at the University, Louie enjoys spending time with his daughter and family, weightlifting, and bowling.
Charles Kellom, Director
African American Student Affairs
Phone: 847-491-3610
Fax: 847-497-1675
Email: charles.kellom@northwestern.edu
Academic Year Office Hours:
1914 Sheridan Room 104
Wednesday, 3:00-5:00pm
Thursday, 2:00-4:00pm
Charles Kellom is the Director for African American Student Affairs. Originally from Cincinnati, Ohio, he holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism and a Master of Arts degree in English from the University of Dayton. After graduate school, Charles worked in Dayton’s Department of Residence Education as Area Coordinator for a first-year co-educational residence hall. He then assumed the position of Assistant Director for Black/African Heritage Student Affairs at George Mason University, where he also coordinated the Student Transition Empowerment Program (STEP), a five-week summer bridge program for first generation students. Charles has experience with student group advising, responding to crises, and leading diversity trainings. He is an avid fan of music and film, and enjoys quality time with his wife and son.
Devin Moss, Director
LGBT Resource Center
Phone: 847-467-0556
Fax: 847-491-3128
Email: devin.moss@northwestern.edu
Academic Year Office Hours:
Norris University Center, 1999 Campus Drive
Wednesday, 3:00-5:00pm
Thursday, 3:00-5:00pm
Devin D. Moss, originally from Memphis, TN, is the Director of the LGBT Resource Center. He comes to Northwestern from the University of South Carolina where he served as the coordinator of LGBT Programs and Services. Devin earned a master's degree from New York University in Gender Politics, having completed a thesis titled "The Morehouse Man: Black Male Gender, Sexuality, and Masculinity." Devin also wrote and produced a short documentary entitled: "Queer Male Too-ism: The Discrimination from Within" and taught a Gender Intergroup Dialogue course. Devin studied Higher Education Administration at the University of Kansas and served as the graduate LGBT Resource Center Coordinator. Devin's previous work in student affairs includes working with TRiO programs and career services. For leisure, Devin enjoys taking road trips on a whim and spending quality time with family and friends.
Maria Genao-Homs, Assistant Director
Multicultural Student Affairs
Phone: 847-491-8063
Fax: 847-467-1675
Email: maria.genaohoms@northwestern.edu
Maria Genao-Homs is the Assistant Director for Multicultural Student Affairs. She completed a Bacherlor of Arts in Organizational Communication from the University of Central Florida and a Master of Arts in Journalism from the University of Colorado-Boulder. Before joining MSA, Maria worked in a variety of capacities, including the Women's Resource Center, the Center for Multicultural Affairs, and the LGBT Resource Center at the University of Colorado-Boulder. Her work focused on serving as an advocate for students of color by collaborating with other departments to enhance the student experience. Maria's professional background also includes serving as a member of award winning television production teams for Harpo Studios, Martha Stewart Living, Omnimedia, and Sony Pictures Television. Maria is excited to combine her higher education and media experiences to serve the Northwestern community. Hailing from the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico, in Maria's spare time, she anticipates spending time with family and friends, cooking, exploring new restaurants, playing sports, and traveling.
Colleen Keefe, Program Assistant
Multicultural Student Affairs
Phone: 847-467-6200
Fax: 847-491-3128
Email: c-keefe@northwestern.edu
Colleen Keefe is the Program Assistant for Multicultural Student Affairs. She completed her bachelor's degree in Psychology and Spanish at Clarke University in Dubuque, Iowa and is currently working towards her master's degree in International Studies at DePaul University. Prior to joining Northwestern, she worked with the Institutional Advancement team at Zamorano University, located in the Valle de Yeguare, Honduras. Colleen speaks Spanish fluently and has also spent time in Chiapas, Mexico teaching primary school students. She is originally from Chicago and after many years away she is excited to return home. In her free time, Colleen enjoys exploring the city, spending time with family and friends, reading, and planning cross-country road trips.
Daphne Nwankpa, Administrative Assistant
African American Student Affairs
Phone: 847-491-3610
Fax: 847-467-1675
Email: d-nwankpa@northwestern.edu
Daphne Nwankpa was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. Daphne graduated from Loyola University Chicago with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications, and a second bachelor’s degree in Management and Organizational Psychology. Having previously worked at both the Kellogg School of Management and the School of Education and Social Policy, Daphne has a wealth of information related to the Northwestern University campus. Daphne believes that to live in a community, you must contribute to the community and does this by participating in a variety of service activities. Notably, she serves as the chairperson of the parent committee for Project EXCITE, a program through the Center for Talent Development that addresses the achievement gap between minority and non-minority students. In her spare time, Daphne likes trying new recipes, exercising, and enjoying time with her family.
Graduate Student Staff
Brett Stachler, Graduate Assistant
LGBT Resource Center
Email: brett.stachler@northwestern.edu
Brett, originally from Chicago, IL, is a Graduate Assistant for the LGBT Resource Center. He completed his bachelor's degree in Psychology at Roosevelt University and is currently working towards his master's degree in Higher Education at Loyola University. Brett's previous work in student affairs includes campus activities, new student orientation, admissions, peer instruction, and residence life; during which he implemented different LGBTQ initiatives. Brett's interests and readings are in college student development, Queer history and social development, and critical social theory. In his spare time, Brett enjoys creating events for friends and family, catching up on old and new music, and riding on the lakefront trail.
Valerie Almendarez-Jiménez, Graduate Assistant
Hispanic/Latino Student Affairs
Email: vpj@u.northwestern.edu
Valerie Almendarez-Jiménez is the Graduate Assistant for Hispanic/Latino Student Affairs and a doctoral candidate in the Department of History. She is currently working on her dissertation, tentatively titled, "Crafting Mexican New Orleans: Cultural Diplomacy and New Ethnicities, 1840 - 1943," in which she examines the cultural diplomacy of Mexican artists and musicians in New Orleans. Originally from Los Angeles, Valerie holds a B.A. in Women’s Studies and Chicana/o Studies from UCLA. She also holds two Master’s degrees - one in American Studies from the University of Massachusetts and one in History from Northwestern. She has previous experience working as a Peer Mentor at UCLA’s Student Retention Center, and as an administrative assistant in Financial Aid (Pasadena City College) and Academic Support Services (University of Massachusetts). In her free time, Valeria enjoys playing roller derby with The Chicago Outfit, traveling, record collecting, and trying new vegan recipes.
Nancy Cambron Perez, Graduate Assistant
African American Student Affairs
Email: aasa@northwestern.edu
Born and raised in Chicago, IL, Nancy Perez is the Graduate Assistant for African American Student Affairs. Nancy earned her bachelor's degree in Sociology and Latina/o Studies from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, having completed her thesis entitled "Biologically and Scientifically Left Behind: Failing Latina Women.” Nancy is currently working towards her master's degree in Higher Education at Loyola University Chicago. Before coming to NU, Nancy worked with the TRIO program: Upward Bound, and had positions in the field of student affairs, focusing on residence life and cultural programs that led to greater recruitment and retention of Latina/Latino students. Nancy enjoys spending time with her family, friends, and her Sigma Lambda Gamma sorority sisters, watching B1G TEN athletic events, and catching up on the latest films.
Undergraduate Student Staff
| Name | Department |
|---|---|
| Jahan Alam | Multicultural Student Affairs |
| Yuchi Chiu | Asian/Asian American Student Affairs |
| Daniel Flores | Hispanic/Latino Student Affairs |
| Jessica Gaddis | African American Student Affairs |
| Hagar Gomaa | Multicultural Student Affairs |
| Britany Hamilton | Multicultural Student Affairs |
| Arshad Haque | Asian/Asian American Student Affairs |
| Jasmine Jones | Multicultural Student Affairs |
| Zachary Kisfalusi | Hispanic/Latino Student Affairs |
| Kayleigh Madjar | LGBT Resource Center |
| Daniel Mayor | Multicultural Student Affairs |
| Aidan Mouat | Multicultural Student Affairs |
| Monte Nelson | LGBT Resource Center |
| Zach Nicol | LGBT Resource Center |
| Matthew O'Brien | Multicultural Student Affairs |
| Carlos Reyes | Multicultural Student Affairs |
| Collin Rice | LGBT Resource Center |
| Dawn Scotland | Multicultural Student Affairs |
| A.J. Vielma | Multicultural Student Affairs |