WOW Career Symposium

Thursday, April 9, 2026

On Thursday, April 9, Sophia Academy will host our annual Career Symposium, and we’re looking for professionals to volunteer to share their career journeys with our students. This interactive event gives students the chance to learn firsthand about different career paths, ask questions, and imagine what’s possible for their own futures. Want to join this empowering event? Contact Washawn Jones, Director of Advancement at wjones@sophia-academy.org.

Symposium Panelists

We were thrilled to welcome the following individuals, and more, to our school to share their journey, wisdom and encouragement with our students on April 9th. We hope they will inspire you as much as they inspire us.

 

Nahla Ahmed

Assistant Vice President

Amica

 

Dawn Apajee

Founder/ President

City Personnel

 

Joke Alesh

Dentist

Marigold Dental Studio

 

Sue AnderBois

City Councilwoman

Providence City Council

 

Laura Auketayeva

Director of Education and Programs

Sandra Bornstein Holocaust Education Center

 

Ana Barraza

Director, women's center

University of RI

 

Dana Borrelli-Murray

CEO

Girl Scouts of Southeastern New England

 

Ellie Brown

Founder/ Principal Consultant

Brown Catalyst Consulting

 

Selin Ciesielski

Director of Alumni Relations

La Salle Academy

 

Sterling Clinton Spellman

CEO Founder

POLISHED by Sterling / The Incred-A-BowlFood Company

 

Leniza Costa

Makeup Artist/ Beauty Content Creator

Makeup by Leniza

 

Eliana Daluz

Citizens Bank

 

Jill Davidson

City Councilor, Ward 2

City of Providence

 

Renee Gomes

Trauma‑Informed Parent & Family Recovery Coach

 

Nicole Gomes

Founder/ Cake Designer

Ninth Cake

 

Elizabeth Hegarty

Private Client Relationship Manager/ Vice President

Citizens Bank

 

Katie Knight

Senior Assistant Vice President

Amica

 

Melissa Long

Associate Justice

RI Supreme Court

 

Elizabeth Manchester

Partner

Partridge Snow & Hahn LLP

 

Rebecca McGrath

Manager, Strategic Sourcing

Tiffany & Co.

 

Nealisse Morillo

Owner/ Clinician

AER Mental Wellness

 

Helena Moronta-Goncalves

First Vice President Community Relations Officer

 

Shilpa Naik

Associate Judge

RI Family Court

 

Alisha Pina

Owner/Director

Inner Wingspan/ RI Interfaith Coalition to Reduce Poverty

 

Jennifer Potter

WW Process & Ops Transformation Director

Dassault Systemes

 

Laura Prieto

Program Director

Our Bodies Ourselves

 

Evelyn Ranone

First Vice President, Community Outreach & Financial Literacy Officer

BayCoast Bank

 

Courtney Rebensdorf

Doctor of Veterinary Medicine

 

April Samuels

CU-Big 10 Specialist/ Instructor, NVI- Senior Nonviolence Coordinator

College Unbound- and Nonviolence Institute

 

Luisa Sarante

Juvenile Hearing Board Member

 

Yemi Sekoni

Owner/ Director

Donahue Models & Talent

 

Rosedelma Seraphin

Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging

Lincoln School

 

Jacqueline Shaw

Assistant Professor, Department Head

Rhode Island School of Design (RISD)

 

Kajette Solomon

Museum Social Equity & Inclusion Specialist

RISD MUSEUM

 

Claudia Traub

Assistant Dean Community Partnership and Inclusive Excellence

University of Rhode Island

 

Khamry Varfley

Inaugural Curator & Program Manager

The Alcove

 

Kilah Walters-Clinton

Director of Equity and Community Engagement

The State of RI