Kyla Liggett-Creel, PhD, LCSW-C
Executive Director
Phone: (301) 466-3501
Email: kliggettcreel@umaryland.edu
Dr. Kyla Liggett-Creel grew up witnessing the impact of violence and systemic inequities, experiences that inspired her lifelong dedication to social justice and community healing. She has since de... Read More
Lynette Johnson, MA, EdD
Director of OperationsEmail: lynette.johnson@umaryland.edu
Lynette Johnson has spent her career in service to others, working in non-profit and public sectors addressing homelessness, veteran services, workforce development, juvenile justice, and public ho... Read More
Mariel Pfister, MSW, LCSW-C
Director of Implementation and System TransformationEmail: mpfister@umaryland.edu
Mariel Pfister’s work spans clinical practice, program leadership, and community-based participatory research methodologies, with attention to intersectionality and system inequities. Her com... Read More
Mark-Anthony Montgomery
Director of Community OutreachEmail: mark.montgomery@umaryland.edu
Mark-Anthony brings over a decade of experience in servant leadership, urban education, community engagement, and systems development, where he has worked to address challenges and create meaningfu... Read More
Yale Partlow
Director of Equity and Justice ProgramsEmail: ypartlow@umaryland.edu
Yale Partlow brings over a decade of experience in public safety, focusing on community-based crime reduction, arrest diversion, and mental health crisis intervention. His dedication to violence pr... Read More
Priyasmita Roy, PhD
Priyasmita Roy brings over a decade of experience in data, policy, and community engagement, focusing on equity-driven initiatives that strengthen civic institutions and empower individuals. Guided... Read More
Special Murray
Manager of OperationsEmail: samurray@umaryland.edu
Special Murray has over a decade of experience in administrative leadership across mental health, higher education, and healthcare settings. Growing up in the Baltimore City foster care system and ... Read More
Samantha Anderson, MSW, LCSW-C
Lead Social Worker & Child Welfare Programs ManagerEmail: shanderson@umaryland.edu
Samantha Anderson was drawn to social work to advocate for the safety and well-being of children from personal and professional experience, as well as a desire to uplift underserved communities. S... Read More
David Hartless
Community Outreach CoordinatorEmail: dhartless@umaryland.edu
David Hartless has spent over a decade working with incarcerated individuals and at-risk youth, focusing on addiction, trauma, and behavioral health. His commitment to community support led him to ... Read More
Shoniece McCoy
Administrative CoordinatorEmail: shoniece.mccoy@umaryland.edu
Shoniece McCoy brings a strong background in nonprofit leadership, business management, and community advocacy, driven by her lifelong commitment to empowering individuals and strengthening underse... Read More
Raquel Baraka
Office AssistantEmail: raquel.baraka@umaryland.edu
Raquel Baraka’s passion for community engagement began with youth-led initiatives and volunteer projects in Baltimore. She is committed to fostering meaningful connections, advocating for men... Read More
Ihsane Abdeddaim
Data Program InternEmail: Iabdeddaim@umaryland.edu
Ihsane Abdeddaim was born in Morocco and raised in Baltimore, where she witnessed the power of strong communities and how they transform lives. Inspired by her experiences and driven by her interes... Read More
Joshua Williams
Community Outreach CoordinatorEmail: Joshua.williams@umaryland.edu
Joshua Williams brings over 15 years of experience in community outreach, with expertise in violence prevention, mentoring at-risk youth, faith-based initiatives, and collaboration with grassroots ... Read More
Gordon Pack
Re-Entry CoordinatorEmail: gpack@umaryland.edu
Shaped by his own experience with incarceration and the opportunities created by the Juvenile Restoration Act, Gordon Pack is a devout advocate for criminal, juvenile, and restorative justice. His ... Read More
Willie Hamilton
Re-Entry CoordinatorEmail: whamilton@umaryland.edu
Drawing on his own experience with incarceration, Willie Hamilton is dedicated to advancing reentry and restorative justice. He is passionate about helping others successfully reintegrate into soci... Read More
Deajah Hill, LMSW
Social WorkerEmail: deajah.hill@umaryland.edu
Deajah Hill is a dedicated social worker with a passion for mental health, community healing, and program design. Her passion for social work stems from her upbringing in a service-oriented family ... Read More
Jeremiah Savage, LMSW
Social WorkerEmail: jeremiah.savage@umaryland.edu
Jeremiah Savage leverages hands-on experience in case management, community outreach, and therapeutic support to strengthen his commitment to fostering community empowerment. His dedication to help... Read More
Angela Perry
Email: angela.perry@umaryland.edu
Marvin Garner
Email: marvin.garner@umaryland.edu
Aaron Daley
Senior Family NavigatorEmail: aaron.daley@umaryland.edu
Aaron Daley is a dedicated professional with a strong background in talent development, case coordination, and family advocacy. Through his professional experiences in leadership, housing ope... Read More
Deona Henson
Senior Family NavigatorEmail: dhenson@umaryland.edu
Deona Henson was drawn to EMBRACE after teaching parenting classes in jails and prisons, where she found her passion for supporting individuals affected by incarceration and helping them rebuild an... Read More
Merrill "EJ" Fuller
Senior Family NavigatorEmail: mfuller@umaryland.edu
EJ Fuller’s dedication to community betterment is reflected in his long-standing work serving underserved families. His journey in social work began while working at a youth development organ... Read More
Jessica LeGeer
Kinship Care Family NavigatorEmail: jlegeer@umaryland.edu
Jessica LeGeer is a compassionate, trauma-informed professional with more than two decades of experience supporting children and families. Her background in special education and neurodiverse care,... Read More
Johnitta Amihere
Kinship Care Family NavigatorEmail: johnittaamihere@umaryland.edu
Johnitta Amihere’s journey to EMBRACE is rooted in her lived experience as a caregiver in kinship care, where she gained firsthand insight into the challenges families face when raising ... Read More
Shannon Wilkerson
Kinship Care Family NavigatorEmail: swilkerson@umaryland.edu
Shannon Wilkerson’s career in early childhood education, combined with her personal experience fostering and adopting children, inspired her dedication to supporting families. Her passion for... Read More
Jacwynne "Daneé" Sergeant, LMSW
Social WorkerEmail: jsergeant@umaryland.edu
J. Daneé Sergeant’s experiences with grief, loss, and displacement, combined with professional training in social work, inspired a deep commitment to social justice and trauma-informed... Read More
Ryan Haynes
Community Program SpecialistEmail: ryanhaynes@umaryland.edu
Ryan Haynes Jr.’s early exposure to systemic inequities in Baltimore shaped his commitment to service, advocacy, and dismantling oppressive structures. These experiences, combined with his wo... Read More
Keisha Elliott
Kinship Care Family Navigator
