2025 Spring DEI Conference Program

Sarah Elfreth broke barriers in 2018, becoming the youngest woman ever elected to the Maryland State Senate. Over six years, Sarah built a reputation as one of Maryland's most effective legislators, passing 91 bipartisan bills into law. Her work has focused on issues that directly impact Maryland families, including protecting the Chesapeake Bay, expanding prenatal care, and supporting veterans with PTSD. She has been recognized as “Legislator of the Year” by numerous organizations and serves on the Chesapeake Bay Commission, helping coordinate State and federal environmental clean up efforts. Known for her collaborative approach, Sarah brings people together to solve problems and do what’s right. 

Now Congresswoman, Sarah looks forward to representing the communities of Maryland’s Anne Arundel, Howard, and Carroll Counties with the same energy and dedication to partnership on Capitol Hill. A proud graduate of Towson University and the Johns Hopkins University, Sarah lives in Annapolis with her dog Ollie, where she enjoys hiking, being on the water, and collecting oyster plates.”

Deb Jung has served as the District 4 Councilmember since 2018 and is currently serving as Council Chair (2023-2024). Columbia has been her home for more than three decades. She brings to the Council her professional experience as an attorney, years of civic engagement, and passion for her community. (Taken From)

About

Linganore High School junior Alex Thomas has been elected as the next Student Member of the Board of Education (SMOB) for Frederick County. In addition to his upcoming role on the Board, Alex is the president of the Linganore High School Class of 2026, leading the planning of class events and fundraisers. He is also active in the Frederick Association of Student Councils (FCASC), where he currently serves as Legislative Affairs Coordinator after previously holding the Publications Director position. Thomas is also involved with the Maryland Association of Student Councils as the Convention Committee Chair and is a member of the FCPS Citizens Advisory Council. In the community, Alex has volunteered with Rebuilding Together Frederick, the Libertytown Lions Club, and the Boy Scouts of America. The SMOB role brings a vital student perspective to the Board of Education. SMOBs are expected to honor the diverse viewpoints of students, improve communication between the student body, staff, and board members, and actively engage students in discussions about board policies and decisions. (Taken From)

Erin Alistar is a Junior at River Hill High School. He has been passionate about student voice for the past 5 years and has previously served as Legislative Affairs Chair , a policy representative, and recording secretary. Currently Erin serves as HCASC’s president. In his free time, Erin enjoys listening to music, talking to friends, and exercising. Erin hopes to increase participation in HCASC and in committees. (Taken From)

Gavin Falcón is a sophomore at Long Reach High School. Currently who serve as HCASC's (Howard County Association of Student Councils) First Vice-President where he gets to work with students across the county. With that being said this is where his DEl journey started. Working with so many students he got to learn from others, helping him to learn about himself. As a Puerto Rican, child of divorced parents, and even a student at Long Reach he learned he is unique in his own way, that we all are and we must show that. Additionally to HCASC you may see him around playing soccer, lacrosse or participating in clubs at his school or advocacy at the local and state level.

Dr. Jason S. Kalirai is the mission area executive for Space Formulation at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL). He leads a mission area responsible for the formulation of all new APL civil space initiatives, oversight of the Laboratory’s large portfolio of space science grants and cooperative agreements, and integrated initiatives that cut across our nation’s civil and national security space domains—enabling game-changing missions and instruments on behalf of new and existing sponsors. Dr. Kalirai earned a B.S. (with honors) in physics and astronomy, an M.S. in astrophysics, and a Ph.D. in astrophysics, all from the University of British Columbia. He completed a postdoctoral fellowship as a Hubble Fellow at the University of California, Santa Cruz. Finally, Dr. Kalirai leads a wide range of APL engagement efforts in the space industry, has published more than 100 research papers, and has given hundreds of invited presentations.  (Taken From)

Opel Jones is a loving husband and dedicated father. Dedicated to the community, Opel mentors, tutors, volunteers in his free time through his fraternity, and coaches youth football and youth baseball. He has a background in mathematics, higher education, computer science, and engineering, and recently became a published author. He served formerly as Second Vice President of the Howard County Democratic Central Committee as well as Human Rights Commissioner for Howard County, appointed by then County Executive, Ken Ulman. (Taken From)

She has worked in the field of experiential Jewish education for over two decades, from directing high school programs to creating middle school curriculum, to six years in the Hillel field, working for Hillel at Cornell University, the University of Oregon, and Oregon State University. With a passion for Judaism, leadership, innovation, and building relationships, she believes in the power of meaningful and memorable engagement. (Taken From)

About

About

The Howard County LGBTQ+ Workgroup was established on November 1, 2019. County Executive Calvin Ball signed an Executive Order to create an LGBTQ+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer+) Workgroup to promote the shared community values of diversity and civility. The Workgroup partnered with county agencies, non-profit organizations, and other community groups to facilitate an environment of inclusion, communication, understanding, and respect throughout Howard County. (Taken From)

Robert A. Motley serves on the National PTA Board of Directors and has been a principal for nearly 20 years. Motley began his educational career as a high school French teacher and since then has taught and been an administrator at the middle and high school levels. He earned an undergraduate degree in French and foreign language secondary education at the University of Maryland, College Park; a master’s degree in elementary and secondary educational administration and supervision at The George Washington University; and is seeking his Ph.D. in instructional leadership at Notre Dame of Maryland University. Motley has also served as the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) president in 2021. He serves on the Board of Directors of the American Federation of School Administrators (AFSA) and as the Howard County Association of Supervisors and Administrators (HCASA) president. Most importantly, Motley strongly believes in fostering positive relationships with students, parents and staff. He is an ardent proponent of elevating student voice and making school a place where all students are successful. (Taken From)

About

About

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At the intersection of environmental justice, civic leadership, and classical music stands James Obasiolu, a senior at Atholton High School whose impact reverberates far beyond Columbia, Maryland. His voice, amplified through NPR's national platform, champions environmental justice with unwavering clarity. An Army Junior ROTC Commander and Eagle Scou, James has made history as one of only 596 scouts in scouting's 114-year history to earn all available merit badges. Selected as both a Chick-fil-A Scholar (top 12 out of 5,200 applicants—0.23%) and a Coca-Cola Scholar (top 150 out of 105,000 applicants—0.14%), his exceptional leadership has captured the attention of luminaries from U.S. Senator Ben Cardin and Exelon President & CEO Calvin Butler to Maryland Governor Wes Moore, moving audiences with keynote addresses that transform complex data into compelling calls for change. Serving as the voice for 57,000+ K-12 students across 78 schools on the Howard County Board of Education, James guides decisions affecting a $1.2 billion operating budget. His approach transcends traditional representation through the careful gathering of hundreds of student narratives, combining their lived experiences into policy decisions that reshape mental health support and educational access. These stories drive systemic transformation, creating lasting change throughout the district. Environmental advocacy flows naturally from James's personal experience and scientific rigor. On the Howard County Environmental Sustainability Board, he helped architect the county's pioneering climate action plan, mapping a path toward reduced emissions and sustainable infrastructure. His "Art for Earth” initiative through the Howard County Conservancy's Youth Climate Institute transformed environmental advocacy into a creative movement, uniting 190 students in a powerful testament to youth-led change. Speaking at the DMV Youth Environmental Action Summit, he inspired a ripple effect of local climate action. Rich tones from James's cello have graced the hallowed halls of Carnegie Hall and the Dominican Republic's Teatro Nacional Eduardo Brito. His excellence earned him a place as Maryland's sole representative in Carnegie Hall's National Youth Orchestra (NYO2) for two consecutive years. At the 2024 Baltimore Symphony Orchestra Gala, he shared the stage with legendary cellist Yo-Yo Ma. Through his involvement with the Sphinx Performance Academy at The Juilliard School, James opens doors for aspiring musicians from underrepresented communities. Accepted to Harvard University's Class of 2029, James will pursue a dual concentration in Environmental Science and Public Policy (ESPP) and Applied Mathematics with a focus on computational modeling, building toward a career in environmental justice law. His vision encompasses legal frameworks addressing environmental racism's core issues, from toxic air to contaminated water. This mission demands both scientific acumen and policy expertise, a combination James wields with remarkable effectiveness. James's journey weaves together artistry and advocacy, each cello note and policy initiative advancing positive change. His leadership ensures that progress reaches every corner of society, leaving no community behind. Through performance and policy, James demonstrates how understanding the connections between different spheres of influence can create meaningful impact.

Sra. Dulce Souidi (3rd Term & Senior Sponsor/Advisor

Mrs. Jessica Nichols (1st Term & Junior Sponsor/Advisor)

Ms. Linda Mattes (1st Term & Substitute Sponsor/Advisor)

Fernando Barker (3rd Term President, Partner Program Manager, & Founder)

Smrithi Kolluru (2nd Term President-Elect & Vice-President)

Ivy Nguyen (2nd Term Treasurer & Institution Representative)

Allison Nichols (1st Term Director Of Planning & Decorating)

Alyssa Mattes (1st Term Secretary & Public Relations)

Mira Kalirai (1st Term Secretary)

Dia Jain (1st Term Director)

Ishani _____ (1st Term Secretary & Speech Writer)