Nneoma Amaechi is a Bachelor of Nursing student at the University of New Brunswick, Saint John. She began her studies at UNB in 2023.

Her research interest, Embedding an Equity Lens into Nursing Courses, explores how concepts of equity, cultural safety, and inclusive learning can be integrated into all nursing courses and the nursing education in general to better prepare students for diverse community settings.

Before coming to UNB, her academic and community experiences shaped her passion for health equity, advocacy and creating inclusive learning environments.

Jennifer McWilliams, a proud Black New Brunswicker born in Fredericton and raised in Elm Hill (New Brunswick’s first Black settlement, est. 1806), graduated with a BSc (First Class Honours) in Psychology from UNB in 2016.

She joined UNB’s MA/PhD Experimental Psychology program in 2018 and is currently under the supervision of Dr. Janine Olthuis. Her doctoral thesis focuses on Canadian allied healthcare professionals’ exercise recommendations for anxiety treatment.

Jennifer’s research interests include the psycho-social impacts of practices and policies on marginalized populations, the effects of stereotyping, prejudice, and discrimination on racial minorities, and the links between exercise and mental health.

Graham Nickerson is a multidisciplinary Black historian. In his previous life, he focused on underwater archeology and contributed to discovering and mapping several important cultural heritage sites.

Graham also works tirelessly within the Black community as a member of the New Brunswick Black History Society, The Tomlinson Lake Hike to Freedom, and the Black Loyalist Heritage Society.

In 2022, the New Brunswick Human Rights Commission recognized Graham as a future leader. In 2023, Graham was invited to lead Social Justice, Belonging, and Anti-Racism investigations as part of the National Trust for Canada’s Heritage Reset.

Graham is pursuing a PhD in history at UNB, and his dissertation is titled, "To Be Made Majesties Of," a study on the evolution of Black Loyalist Society. This research was awarded the United Empire Loyalist Association’s research scholarship, and his essay “The Negro Settlements” was recently accepted as part of Charmaine A Nelson’s A Time, a Place, Our Gaze: Re-framing the Subaltern, in Black Maple Magazine.

Graham is also a producer on the Loyalist Connections Podcast, which studies the throughlines of Black African Nova Scotian communities.

Henrietta Obajemu holds a Bachelor of Education in Elementary Education, with double certification in Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL) and Early Childhood Education from the University of New Brunswick. She is currently pursuing a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction, alongside a graduate certificate in Bilingual and Multilingual Education.

Language sits at the heart of both Henrietta’s personal and professional life. She speaks nine languages, many of which are endangered, shaping her deep commitment to preserving heritage languages.

With over a decade of teaching experience and extensive work with newcomer and immigrant communities from across the globe, she understands language as deeply connected to history, identity and belonging.

Henrietta’s work and research interests focus on culturally responsive pedagogy, inclusive education, and creating equitable learning spaces for marginalized communities, which directly informs her focus on keeping heritage languages alive.

Dr. Yvonne Simpson is an educator, researcher, and disability justice practitioner whose work examines the intersections of enslavement, disablement, race, and occupational health and safety within the contexts of transnational migration and Canadian history.

She completed her doctoral work at York University, School of Health Policy and Management in Critical Disability Studies and holds a Master's of Education Degree with a specialization in Community Rehabilitation and Disability Studies from the University of Calgary.

Her scholarship draws on critical race theory, intersectionality, and critical disability studies to interrogate the achievements, gaps and distortions in historical accountability of Canada's racialized and Indigenous populations.

Her career experiences span accessibility services, education and advocacy, supported by graduate-level studies in human rights legislation and social justice. Dr. Simpson has held leadership roles in postsecondary education, the social services sector and private and public institutions.

Prince Chiagozie Ekoh is an Assistant Professor at the School of Social Work, University of New Brunswick.

He obtained his PhD from the University of Calgary's Faculty of Social Work, where his research examines the lived experiences of older African refugees. He holds two Master’s degrees from the University of Southampton, UK and the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, respectively.

Prince is the recipient of numerous academic honours, including the Vanier and the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation Doctoral Scholarship. His scholarly and community work is grounded in a deep commitment to social justice, particularly in the care of older displaced populations.

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