Larome Myrick, PhD
Chair
Larome Myrick is the Executive Director of Juvenile Correctional Services for the State of Rhode Island. Larome has served in this role since May 2018. He received his Master’s Degree in Organizational Leadership from Lourdes University in 2009. He received his PhD in Criminal Justice from Capella University.
In addition to his work with Nowell, he serves as a board member with the Beach House Family Shelter, and serves as Board President of the Making a Direct Difference (Madd) Poets Society, Inc. In 2015, he received a Leadership Award from the African American Legacy Project.
Rose Albert
Secretary
Rose Albert (she, her) is the Youth Programs Director at Rhode Island for Community and Justice and the Associate Director of Salve Regina University's Multicultural Programs and Retention Office. She provides training in cultural competence, anti-racism, effective ally-ship, and racial equity. Her work focuses on advocacy, leadership, mentoring, and youth development. Albert earned a BA in Sociology and Anthropology with a minor in French at Salve and graduated from the School for International Training's Graduate Institute with an MA in Intercultural Service and Leadership Management. She is a 2021 Fellow for the New Leaders Council of Rhode Island and serves on the board of the Rhode Island chapter. Albert is a participant in the inaugural class of the Rhode Island Foundation's Equity Leadership Initiative. She is also pursuing her doctoral degree. "As an educator who believes that learning happens everywhere, the mission of NOWELL ACADEMY resonated with me because they believe that everyone can learn no matter their consequences. I am thrilled to join this board and elevate the great work happening at NOWELL," said Albert.
Hon. Maria Rivera
Mayor Maria Rivera is the 33rd Mayor of Central Falls. She is the first woman Mayor in city history, and first Latina Mayor in the State of Rhode Island.
Mayor Rivera was born in Camden, NJ, and her family moved to Chicago shortly after. Growing up, she took many ESL classes to keep up with her academics because her parents spoke only Spanish at home. Today, she is grateful to be bilingual, a gift many Central Falls residents also share. Mayor Rivera moved to Central Falls in 1987 with her parents where she has lived ever since, proudly raising her two children here.
Elected in November 2020 as the Mayor of Central Falls with 77% of the vote, she took office on January 4, 2021 accepting the challenge to lead Central Falls to its highest potential. Prior to this role, Mayor Rivera was the top-vote getter in the 2018 election of all Central Falls City Council Candidates and became the first female and first Latino Central Falls City Council President.
She earned her BA in Public Administration from Roger Williams University and is a 1995 graduate of Central Falls High School.
During her administration, Mayor Rivera is prioritizing the health and wellness of Central Falls residents during the COVID-19 pandemic, ensuring important access to testing, treatment, vaccines, and much-needed resources to support struggling families.
Claudette Bannerman
Claudette Bannerman Amoako was born and raised on the West End of Providence in Rhode Island. Claudette received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Mathematics from the University of Rhode Island in 2004. In 2014 she received her Masters of Science degree in Social Work from Columbia University.
While residing in New York City Claudette worked for Social Intervention Group (SIG) and Columbia Population Research Center (CPRC). At SIG Claudette served as a research assistant for Project Connect II, which was a couples-based HIV/STI Prevention intervention for African American discordant couples. At CPRC Claudette was a Staff Associate who developed & implemented the pilot study, Project GAIN.
After residing in New York City for 12 years Claudette moved back to Rhode Island to begin her career as Licensed Clinical Social Worker. Claudette worked for Gateway Healthcare as a grief and trauma clinician, working with children and adolescents. Claudette served as the Lead Family Coach for the Dunamis Synergy Initiative at West Elmwood Housing Development Corporation. Currently Claudette serves as a Primary Care Clinical Social Worker at the Providence Veterans Affair Medical Center.
Shannon Massaroco
Shannon Massaroco provides technical assistance (TA) to state, territory, and Tribal Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) Lead Agencies in all areas of subsidy administration. A national expert on CCDF program integrity, Shannon focuses TA efforts on all aspects of fiscal and budget management i.e., managing and maximizing different funding streams, fraud prevention and risk management to reduce errors, minimize program waste, fraud, and abuse, and ensure that funds are used for allowable program purposes and for eligible recipients. Shannon also has over 15 years of project management/quality improvement experience, in addition to 10 years of experience in state and local government, human service program management and operations. Just before joining the subsidy center in 2021, Shannon was the Assistant Administrator for the Rhode Island Department of Human Services’ Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP), where she oversaw the implementation and continued enhancements of the state’s integrated eligibility system, ensured ongoing fidelity of the CCAP rules and regulations, led the state’s improper payment review process, managed the day-to-day operational workflows, and served as the liaison for financial management and federal reporting.
Patricia Flanagan, MD
Ex Officio
Dr. Patricia Flanagan is a pediatrician, specializing in adolescent medicine. She is a professor and senior vice-chair of Pediatrics at the W. Alpert Medical School at Brown University and Associate Pediatrician-in-Chief of Hasbro Children’s Hospital. Her research, clinical work, and teaching have focused on the unique needs of pregnant and parenting youth and their children and on the role of social, family, and environmental influencers in child health. Pat directs the Teens with Tots Clinic at Hasbro Hospital, a multidisciplinary primary care program for teens and their children. Dr Flanagan is a co-director of RI PCMH-Kids, a new state-wide multi-payer multi-provider initiative for payment reform and primary medical home practice transformation. This work has supported the transformation of pediatric practices to be family-centered, team-based, data-driven, and population-accountable.
Rilwan Feyisitan, Jr.
Ex Officio
Sulina Mohanty
Vice-Chair
Sulina began her career as a special education teacher and has been working with schools and organizations supporting children and families ever since. She is now an independent coach and consultant, working with individuals, school districts, and organizations across the country to reach their goals and lead with their strengths.
Sulina was inspired by the Nowell’s mission and dedication to set high standards for every student while also providing the wrap around supports needed. She is honored to serve as the vice-chair for this exceptional school.
Easton Dickson
Treasurer
Easton Dickson is EVP and Global Treasurer at Bain & Company, a leading management consulting company, where he manages the Treasury function for its 63 offices in 38 countries. He is based in their Boston office. Previously, he served as Corporate Treasurer at Rogers Corporation and managed global treasury operations with responsibilities for exposure management (currencies, interest rate, and commodities), M&A financing, capital structure management, global cash planning, pension asset & liability management and insurance risk management.
Mr. Dickson graduated from the University of the West Indies with a B.S. in management studies (high honors). He also holds an MBA from Babson College, and a Masters in Taxation from Bentley University.
Easton serves on the DEI subcommittee of the board of Bain & Company, is a board member of Nowell Academy and is Co-founder and Treasurer of Reading Owls International (ROI), an educational nonprofit. Most recently, he joined the board of GUTS Investments serving on its Risk Management committee.
He is an aspiring writer, enjoys running and watches virtually all major sports.
Juan Carter
Born and raised in Providence, Juan wanted to become a positive role model in the community. He joined the Nonviolence Institute’s team as a Streetworker and now is a Senior Nonviolence Facilitator. Juan trains Kingian Nonviolence theory locally and nationally. He also trains and consults other outreach teams across the nation in the Nonviolence Street Outreach model. He also is the President of A Sweet Creation Youth Organization focusing on empowering young at-risk female teens. In his spare time he coaches the 16u Boys basketball team during the fall and spring months for Team New England AAU basketball organization and Assistant Varsity Boys Basketball Coach at Rocky Hill Country Day School.
Teresa Jenkins
Teresa L. Jenkins is a licensed preacher in the African Methodist Church. She is the Founder of Only Imagine Life Coaching and an inspirational author of “Dwelling in the Secret Place One Day at a Time, her 35-day account of healing from COVID-19. Teresa is also the Founder and Convenor of the Unleashing the Jewel Family Empowerment Conference, a faith-based ministry designed to empower families by engaging in workshops that leads to successful spiritual development. She has served as Chairperson for Project Shatter, a faith-based initiative that brought awareness about sex trafficking to communities in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New York.
Teresa is an adult Sunday school teacher at her local church, Bethel, Providence, and serves as the 2nd Vice President for the 1st District Women’s Missionary Society (WMS) of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. In this role, she is responsible for planning training programs and workshops for members of the WMS.
Teresa’s community involvement includes being a member of the Theta Psi Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and serving on the Women and Infants’ new Labor & Delivery Center Campaign Steering Committee.
Currently, Teresa is a Social Work Supervisor for the Connecticut Department of Children and Families and is enrolled in Fuller Seminary, working towards her master’s degree in Christian Counseling. She has also earned a master’s degree in Public Administration and has worked in Human Services for 33 years.
Teresa’s professional career has allowed her to serve as a social work supervisor, social worker, and addiction services counselor in Rhode Island, Connecticut, and Virginia. Teresa has spent years building relationships and helping individuals to catapult their untapped passions into living a life of purpose. Thus, her belief in becoming a part of something greater than herself is why she believes we must speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves. A Greek proverb best states,“ A society grows great when old men/women plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit in.”
Carlos Ramirez
Carlos Ramirez is the Student Experience Coordinator at Beacon Charter High School in Woonsocket RI, where he co-facilitates the educational paths and curriculum for his students. He is also the Senior Pastor of God's Voice Ministries, a thriving young bilingual church in the heart of Providence. GVM will proudly be celebrating 10 years in existence in January 2024. He earned his bachelor's degree in Communications at the University of Rhode Island coupled with an associates degree in Sociology in 2009. Immediately after he pursued and acquired his MAT from Johnson & Wales in 2011. He is a results-focused team leader and educator with experience in K-12, higher education and community building; A proven ability to manage high-performing teams and is dedicated to his students and their families. Feel free to follow him on Instagram, @RamirezPhD
Sharon Lee, Ph.D.
Ex Officio
Sharon Lee, Ph.D. Retired scientist and science educator. Genetics researcher at University of RI, taught biological sciences at the Community College of RI and the University of RI. High School science teacher and department chair at Exeter West Greenwich Senior High school for 15 years. Retired from the RI Dept of Education as the Director of Multiple Pathways Office.
Working with Nowell Academy in retirement is a highlight of my education career. I am honored to work with and support a school community that embodies a holistic, challenging and relevant education for each student who attends Nowell. I believe, as all at Nowell believe, that students can and will succeed if provided a strong community of supports and educators who inspire, motivate and challenge all of their students.