Meet the Staff

Professional Staff

Tamara JohnsonDr. 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!

MSA Senior Celebration 2011 -118Louie 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.

Director of AASA Charles KellomCharles 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.

Christian YañezChristian Yañez, Director
Hispanic/Latino Student Affairs

Phone: 847-467-7337
Fax: 847-491-3128
Email: yanez@northwestern.edu

Academic Year Office Hours:
1936 Sheridan Room 201
Monday, 2:00-4:00pm
Wednesday, 10:00am-12:00pm

Christian Yañez is originally from Central California. In 2004, he completed a B.A. in Psychology and a B.A. in Chicano and Latin American Studies at California State University, Fresno. In 2006, he earned a Master’s degree in Student Affairs Administration with an emphasis in Multiculturalism from Michigan State University. Christian started his professional career as an Academic Advisor at an institution whose student population was over 75% Latina/o. In December 2007, he joined the Northwestern familia as Director of Hispanic/Latino Student Affairs. Christian truly enjoys his work with the Northwestern community and looks forward to new opportunities to engage students and positively impact their lives during their time on campus. In his free time, Christian enjoys spending time with loved ones, playing soccer, going to the gym and dancing.

Devin Staff PhotoDevin 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-sim: 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 inludes 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-HomsMaria 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 keefeColleen 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 joning 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.

Photo of Daphne NwankpaDaphne 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

Graduate Assistant Positions Available!!

For African American Student Affairs Contact Charles Kellom
Email: charles.kellom@northwestern.edu

For Asian/Asian American Student Affairs Contact Louie Lainez
Email: l-lainez@northwestern.edu

Undergraduate Student Staff

Name Department
Jahan Alam Multicultural Student Affairs
Ryan Arrendell Multicultural Student Affairs
Khalid Aziz Multicultural Student Affairs
Linda Calles 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
Yoona Ha Multicultural Student Affairs
Britany Hamilton
Multicultural Student Affairs
Arshad Haque Asian/Asian American Student Affairs
Zachary Kisfalusi Hispanic/Latino Student Affairs
Daniel Mayor Multicultural Student Affairs
Aidan Mouat Multicultural Student Affairs
Monte Nelson LGBT Resource Center
Zach Nicol LGBT Resource Center
Jac Nunez 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
Zachary Wichter LGBT Resource Center
Albert Yan LGBT Resource Center
Rohan Zhou Lee
LGBT Resource Center