Who We Are

is a Ph.D. candidate in Sociology at the University of Delaware and currently serves on the Board of Directors for ACLU Delaware. Since 2013, Akilah has been conducting multi-disciplinary research on the impact of local and state-level education policies on students’ educational outcomes. Her primary focus areas include school redistricting, school curriculum, early intervention services, and access to social capital. In recent years, Akilah has also conducted research for the Delaware Center for Translational Research, Christiana Health Care Systems on education, health, and violence exposure projects funded by the National Institute of Health (NIH). Through research, Akilah is committed to helping reveal hidden structural barriers that result in stratified student experiences by race, class, income, or social identity. Barriers may include inequitable school funding systems, major school closings, and slow local school building or rebuilding investments. She enjoys engaging with local and state policymakers to provide strategic advice towards maintaining or changing education-related public policy that impacts historically marginalized communities.

Chantalle is a 2014 alumna of the College of William & Mary as well as a former Teach For America corps member. Receiving her master’s degree in teaching from the Relay Graduate School of Education in 2017, she is currently in her sixth year of service as an educator at Indian River High School. Over the course of her career she has led in choral, special education, and English classrooms.

Chantalle is also committed to pursuing educational leadership beyond the classroom, participating in both the national Rural School Leaders Academy (2016-2018) as well as the Delaware Department of Education’s Educators as Catalyst Fellowship (2016).Through these opportunities, Chantalle explored her ability to be an educational change agent which led her to her current service as the vice board chair of the Bryan Allen Stevenson School of Excellence. She is committed to promoting educational equity for all students.

Rony is a current graduate student at the University of Delaware where he is studying a Masters of Public Administration. Rony currently works for NAMI Delaware, the National Alliance on Mental Illness as their Hispanic Outreach Coordinator. He is also a school board member for the Milford School District.

Rony has gotten involved in education because he has two younger brothers in the public school system and because he believes that Latinos are not adequately represented in the schools. Rony also serves as a member of the Hispanic Student Parent Mentor Association, a small group of Latino parents in Sussex County who wish to make the public education system more inclusive towards the non-English speaking population.

Dianne is an ambitious leader with a passion for enriching the lives of youths in her community and the diverse populations therein. She craves opportunities to use her creativity and enjoys helping students find their own passions as an Academic Advisor and Retention Specialist at her undergraduate alma mater, Delaware State University (DSU).

She holds a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) and a Master of Science in Organizational Leadership (MSOL). In addition to her educational background, Ms. Bogle worked as an Education Director and Teen Coordinator with the Boys and Girls Club. She also as a Senior Program Director with the YMCA Resource Center of Delaware. These experiences fueled Ms. Bogle’s drive to create unique and meaningful experiences for recent high school graduates with DSU’s Summer Bridge Programs: Project Success and Jumpstart.

Shane is originally from Delaware and has had the unique of experience of living in all three counties in his life. Shane has lived a life of service starting with leading volunteer projects in high school. Shane has been working in the Social Work field for over ten years, and currently supervises Social Workers in the Division of Social Services for the state of Delaware.

Shane also serves on the board of the non-profit Pacem In Terris, the Howard High Alumni Association along with being the Civic Engagement Chair for Metropolitan Wilmington Urban League Young Professionals. Shane loves music and spending time with family. 

Casey is currently in her 9th year of teaching. Her experience includes working in charter, private and public schools, serving as an English Learner teacher. She has also developed curriculum for an international company and provided professional development related to English Language acquisition in various capacities.

She earned an undergraduate degree from the University of Delaware in History, International Relations, and Foreign Language and Literature (Spanish). She obtained her master's degree from Arizona State University in Curriculum and Instruction with a concentration in English for Speakers of Other Languages. While she has worked with students ranging in ages 5 to 85, she currently serves as an English Learner (EL) teacher at Ross Elementary school in the Milford School District. 

Danielle is a devoted educator with over 18 years of combined experience in secondary and higher education, business development, marketing, and coaching families and individuals. She is a Dover, Delaware native with a heart for the youth and serving her community. Danielle holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology with a Minor in Business Management and a Master of Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing Management from Wilmington University.

Danielle works at Delaware State University as an Assistant Director of the Office of Undergraduate Research, Experiential Learning and Honors, and an Adjunct Instructor. She is also an entrepreneur and the founder of Look Up Enterprise LLC. and What’s in Your Future an organization that is dedicated to empowering future generations. Danielle is the President of the Metropolitan Wilmington Urban League's Young Professionals, a volunteer auxiliary of the Metropolitan Wilmington Urban League, that targets young professionals ages 21-40 to empower their communities and change lives through the Urban League Movement.

With her experience and expertise, Danielle hopes to do her part to help young men and women find their passion, navigate the complexities of adulthood, and walk confidently into their future.