Racial
Justice Fellows Program

Abdul is a rising senior at City College majoring in Economics with a minor in Political Science. Born and raised in Harlem, he is the first in his family to attend college, a role that fuels his commitment to racial and economic justice. As a Racial Justice Fellow, he studies how policy and market structures shape opportunity for marginalized communities. Abdul hopes to enter the private sector in consulting, where he can use economic analysis and policy insight to help organizations make more equitable decisions. He is strongly motivated by work that challenges systemic barriers and expands access for underserved groups. In his free time, Abdul enjoys playing basketball, watching old movies, and diving into comic books.

Bianca Castelant is a second-year history and political science double major with a minor in legal studies. She is a first-generation Haitian-American from Brooklyn, New York. Professionally, Bianca’s passion for justice runs deep. She hopes to one day become a lawyer, channeling her advocacy work into a career that fights for those who need it most. During her free time, she enjoys reading, playing the bass, or exploring the city.

BriAnna is a junior studying psychology on a pre-med track with a minor in journalism. She hails from Portmore, Jamaica and currently resides in the Bronx. She hopes to attend medical school to pursue her dream of creating an impact in her community through healthcare. She strongly believes in the importance of access to quality care especially in communities like her own. BriAnna is treasurer of the Caribbean Student Association at City College, where she helps organize events that promote Caribbean culture to the wider CCNY community. Outside of school, BriAnna spends her time creatively, volunteering at church, sewing and learning nail art.

Jerome Gayman is a double major in Black Studies and Film & Video, a first-generation Liberian American, and a storyteller committed to impact. Raised by two parents who both hold MBAs, he is driven to become the first in his family to earn a doctorate. As a filmmaker and activist, Jerome uses his work to challenge narratives and push for meaningful change in both film and civic engagement. After transferring from NYU to CCNY, he has become hyper-focused on his purpose: to lead, to create, and to inspire. His ultimate goal is not only to graduate, but to do so as valedictorian—setting a new standard for himself and those who come after him.

Jose is a junior at City College persuing a BA/MA degree in psychology with a concentration in Alcohol and Substance Abuse Counseling or CASAC. Having been born and raised in New York City, he has always been passionate about advocating for mental health, the prevention of substance use, and improving access to support for underserved communities. Through the culmination of both his academic and professional experiences, Jose has developed a strong interest in the matters of care that is predicated on community and taking the initiative to social justice. Through his active studies and community centered work, Jose hopes to persue a career devoted to supporting individuals and families affected by problems of substance use and mental health. In his free time, he enjoys technology, music, and keeping up with the news.

Kaylah Diaz is a sophomore at The City College of New York, majoring in Psychology, Bachelor of Arts. She is of Puerto Rican and Dominican descent and was born and raised in Harlem, New York. Kaylah is inspired by her strong foundation of family and community that comes from growing up in Harlem. Her interests gravitate towards the mental health field in hopes of giving back to her community in the same way that it nurtures her. With this fellowship, she hopes to identify solutions to mitigate racial and socioeconomic inequalities in marginalized neighborhoods. After she graduates, she hopes to receive her doctoral’s degree and become a developmental and cognitive psychologist. Outside of her scholarly work, she likes to draw, spend time with her family, write poetry, and listen to music.

Milisa is a junior in the Colin Powell School for Civic and Global Leadership, majoring in Psychology and preparing to add a minor that aligns with her commitment to service and community impact. She was born and raised in Guyana, the only English speaking country in South America, where she witnessed firsthand how race and identity shape opportunity, access, and progress. Those early experiences continue to ground her perspective and fuel her dedication to justice.
She is driven by a deep passion for research, mentoring, supporting others, and advocating for people whose voices often go unheard. Her career goals reflect this commitment — she hopes to work in roles where she can uplift marginalized communities, create pathways for empowerment, and contribute to meaningful change.
Outside of her academic life, Milisa is a devoted mother to two wonderful children. With a lively two year old, her days are full, fast moving, and filled with love. She enjoys listening to music, spending time with her family, and finding moments of joy and connection in the middle of a busy life.
Milisa brings warmth, resilience, and purpose to every space she enters, and she is committed to using her voice — and her work — to support those who feel unseen or unheard.

Preston is a third-year transfer student perusing a double major in Psychology and Sociology. He is a Dean’s List recipient with a current 3.94 GPA. He graduated from SUNY Mohawk Valley CC in 2019 as an award-winning student government delegate/club leader. There, he founded a club called Club K.I.N.D(Kindness IN Doing) dedicated to his passion for community outreach and advocacy. He also served as a voting delegate on the Executive Committee of the SUNY SA where he stood for 300,000+ SUNY students in advocacy efforts and student governance.

a first-generation college student born to two parents with cerebral palsy, advocacy is something that comes natural to Preston. Growing up in Walt Whitman houses in Fort Greene Brooklyn, he has overcome incredible odds and has decided to use higher education as a launch pad. He hopes to share his story to help others and inspire others to do the same. He has begun this commitment by self-publishing two poetry books (Memoirs of a Black Butterfly and Street Birds Fly Too…), and as a Public Speaker (“Redefining Success in Higher Education at MVCC).

Since entering CUNY, Preston has already completed the Freelancer’s Fellowship in Fall 2025 by the Zahn Innovation Center to develop his craft as a public speaker and is excited for the opportunity to further his community outreach efforts through the Racial Justice Fellowship. Eventually, he aspires to be the director of his own non-profit community-based organization that is dedicated to continuing to be the change he wants to see!

Shirley Guzman is a senior Macaulay Honors student at CCNY. She is majoring in History and intends to pursue a career in law. While she has been hoping to pursue labor and employment law, due to her dedication to workers’ rights, she is also interested in education and research. Through her emphasis on accessibility in education and legal recourse, she hopes to contribute to expanding legal literacy and access to legal help among immigrant communities who face language barriers. She is eager to meet other like-minded students and people who contribute to public service in various ways.

Hailing from New Jersey, Tolu Bosede is a third-year student majoring in Biomedical Science. As a pre-med student, he has developed the desire to explore health inequities and the social determinants of health through the lens of research. Tolu aims to use the skills and opportunities gained from this fellowship to become a structurally competent physician capable of bridging gaps in care. In his free time, Tolu enjoys watching movies, making videos, and listening to music.

Yun-Jhen is a senior majoring in Electronic Design and Multimedia. As a first-generation Taiwanese immigrant in the United States, she and her family had vivid experiences with racism and inequality in this country. Because of that, she decided to join the Racial Justice Fellowship to contribute even just a little bit to fix this issue. Yun-Jhen is also a digital artist specializing in illustration and animation. She also loves animals and music a lot!