Academy Leaders

Ci'Erah Bell
Hometown: Kalamazoo, MI
Email: cierah.l.bell@wmich.edu
Major: Early Childhood Elementary Education
Minors: Language Arts, Social Studies, and Dance
Year in School: Senior
More about Ci'Erah: I’m studying to become a teacher to help inspire children while learning. I love children and love helping others while having fun. I’m committed to everything I’m a part of. I love to listen when someone just needs to vent, and if his or her heart is heavy, I will try to lift him or her up some type of way.
I wanted to work with the Academy because as an MLK Academy participant myself, I know what it’s like to go through this program. I want to help freshmen know where to go or what to do if there are any issues. I’m not just a leader; I’m a mentor and someone who really wants to make sure that their freshmen year will be successful.

Carlos Daniels
Hometown: Detroit, MI
Email: carlos.l.daniels@wmich.edu
Major: Psychology
Minor: Philosophy
Year in School: Junior
More about Carlos: I want to become a practicing psychologist with a concentration in child development as well as pursue a position in higher education as a professor. As a child of the foster care system, I want to use my experience to facilitate discussion around the country so some public speaking is also an aspiration of mine. Therefore, I intend to focus my practice in areas of poverty and low income. I truly believe that the MLK Academy will allow me to build interpersonal and soft skills, which will be useful in my practice. I’m also committed to the DMA’s mission of promoting the understanding and acceptance of cultures and ethnic groups around the world.

Joel Henriquez
Hometown: Bonao, Monseñor Nouel, Dominican Republic
Email: joel.henriquezrobles@wmich.edu
Major: Aviation Management Technology
Minor: Management
Year in School: Graduate
More about Joel: I hope to be able to finish what I already started with pride and I hope on the time it had been set. I always hope for the best to happen even when the storm is in its best momentum. Parts of my dreams have been to attend to a university where I could gain the knowledge that will lead me to accomplish my maximum goal. That goal would be to start running my own aviation company back in the Dominican Republic and that is why I chose to minor in management, but that doesn’t end right there. I hope when I achieve this goal that will give me the opportunity to help others, especially children.
I really wanted to work for the Academy because I want to encourage the students to pursue their dreams no matter how difficult the obstacles are. That will be achieved based on the experience that I have gone through these years especially after I left the Air Force Academy in the Dominican Republic.

Jasmine Loney
Hometown: Detroit, MI
Email: jasmine.f.loney@wmich.edu
Major: Public Relations
Minors: Psychology and Spanish
Year in School: Junior
More about Jasmine: I aspire to one day pursue a career in public relations be in the entertainment industry or the corporate field. I love the endless and diverse opportunities that public relations will allow me to explore. I have always had a passion for working with people, traveling, and working with the youth. I believe that my minors in psychology and Spanish are helping me enhance my communication skills and my appeal to various groups of people.
My interests involve watching and playing sports, volunteering in the Detroit/Metro Detroit area and the Kalamazoo community, being involved in YBBW, Love, Live, Lupus, and Golden Key International Honour Society.
I wanted to work with the MLK Academy because I believe in helping today’s youth succeed in any and every way possible. It is, after all, today’s youth who will be the leaders of tomorrow.

William Milton
Hometown: Chicago, IL
Email: william.j.milton@wmich.edu
Major: Higher Education-Student Affairs
Year in School: Graduate
More about William: My hope and dreams is to work in Higher Education Student Affairs and working for a program that serves first-generation, low-income students and that offers support for students throughout campuses. I first became interested in working for the MLK Academy from my personal undergraduate experiences at a different institution. I feel that the MLK Academy is a great program that offers a lot of support for a diverse group of students.
I like communicating, being a leader and mentor for my students, as well as being used as a resource for students. My ultimate goal is to begin a Ph.D program in Educational Leadership where I can continue to grow as a leader for students.

Abby Pairitz
Hometown: Canton, MI
Email: abigail.c.pairitz@wmich.edu
Major: Nursing
Year in School: Senior
More about Abby: I am a 21-year-old senior here at Western Michigan University. I have worked with the MLK Academy since last fall and I love my job as I get to mentor incoming freshman and help them navigate through their first year of college. In my spare time I enjoy working out, volunteering, and spending time with my family and friends. I am also the Vice President of the Chi Omega Sorority here on campus and an active member of the Student Nurses Association. I wanted to work with the Academy because I had such a great experiece in the program when I was a freshman. I also like to share my knowledge of WMU and CHHS with incoming freshmen. In life, I would like to be a successful nurse, further my degree by attending grad school at some point, travel, run a marathon, and I hope one day have a family!

Rodney Makuto Wang'Alia
Hometown: Nakuru, Kenya
Email: rodneymakuto.wangalia@wmich.edu
Major: Electrical Engineering
Minor: Public Relations
Year in School: Junior
More about Rodney: I am from Nakuru, Kenya and my dream is to impact change in my family, both economically and intellectually, and to move on to empower the community at large, which I hope to do through becoming the best I can be as an electrical engineer and an innovator. I really wanted to be a part of the MLK Academy as I believe it will foster my leadership, intellect as well as relationship skills as students learn from me and I from them.