Leadership

Directors

Kyla Liggett-Creel, PhD, LCSW-C

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

Lynette Johnson, MA, EdD

Director of Operations

Email: 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

Mariel Pfister, MSW, LCSW-C

Director of Implementation and System Transformation

Email: 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

Mark-Anthony Montgomery

Director of Community Outreach

Email: 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

Yale Partlow

Director of Equity and Justice Programs

Email: 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, PhD

Email: proy@umaryland.edu

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

Managers

Special Murray

Special Murray

Manager of Operations

Email: 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

David Hartless

David Hartless

Community Outreach Coordinator

Email: 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

Perrice Austin

Perrice Austin

Senior Community Outreach Specialist

Email: paustin@umaryland.edu

Operations Team

Shoniece McCoy

Shoniece McCoy

Administrative Coordinator

Email: 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

Raquel Baraka

Office Assistant

Email: 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

Chelesea Bryant

Chelesea Bryant

Administrative Assistant

Email: chelesea.bryant@umaryland.edu

Data Team

Zoe Macer

Data Program Intern

Email: zmacer@umaryland.edu

Equity and Justice Team

Joshua Williams

Joshua Williams

Community Outreach Coordinator

Email: 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

Gordon Pack

Re-Entry Coordinator

Email: 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

Willie Hamilton

Re-Entry Coordinator

Email: 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

Deajah Hill, LMSW

Social Worker

Email: 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, LCSW-C

Jeremiah Savage, LCSW-C

Social Worker

Email: 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

Edward Brockenbrough

Community Outreach Worker

Email: ebrockenbrough@umaryland.edu

Jaela "Elder" Morris, LMSW

Community Outreach Worker

Email: jaelamorris@umaryland.edu

Angela Perry

Email: angela.perry@umaryland.edu

Marvin Garner

Email: marvin.garner@umaryland.edu

Outreach Team​

Deona Henson

Deona Henson

Senior Family Navigator

Email: 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

Merrill "EJ" Fuller

Senior Family Navigator

Email: 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

Carl Jackson

Coordinator of Strategic Partnerships

Email: carl.jackson@umaryland.edu

Program Implementation

Ryan Haynes

Ryan Haynes

Community Program Specialist

Email: 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

Jemira Queen

Jemira Queen

Community Outreach Coordinator

Email: jemiraqueen@umaryland.edu

Keisha Elliott

Keisha Elliott

Kinship Care Family Navigator
Elisha Smithwick-Bey

Elisha Smithwick-Bey

Kinship Care Family Navigator