Meet Our Mentors!

Our program is privileged to have a dedicated team of mentors who are passionate about guiding and supporting the next generation of Black leaders. Get to know our esteemed mentors below:

  • Founder - Co Director - Chair of Environmental Justice

    Spelman College

    My name is Aliya Byrd and I am a Junior Computer Science major at Spelman College in Atlanta, GA. My journey at Spelman has immersed me in a diverse range of challenges that affect the Black community, igniting my passion for environmental justice, a cause I hold dear.

    Guided by my role as the Co-Director of Take Lead and Chair of the Environmental Justice Initiative, I am fueled by the belief in our collective strength and each person’s potential to drive positive change. My vision aligns not only with fostering environmental equity but also with my aspiration to contribute as a future software engineer.

    As we unite to mend divides, restore harmony, and build a fairer, greener world, I'm dedicated to intertwining my role in environmental justice advocacy with my ambition to create tech solutions that elevate our lives. Let's empower communities, fuel passion, and champion environmental justice.

  • Co-Chair of Health Disparities

    Duke University

    My name is Ava Byrd, and I am a rising sophomore at Duke University. I am majoring in biology with a minor in chemistry. I am interested in health disparities, most specifically social determinants of health that impact health outcomes in communities of color. I hope to become a doctor, and address the needs that disproportionately impact my community. It was a pleasure working with Take Lead, and I am very proud of the work we have done.

  • Chair of Education Equity

    Howard University

    Hello everyone! My name is Chloe Mason. I’m a rising junior at Howard University with a psychology major and minor in strategic, legal & management communication from South Orange, New Jersey. With a career goal of becoming a pediatric neuropsychologist, a specialty that often works closely with schools to better understand the needs of children, I was incredibly grateful to be a part of the education equity initiative.

  • Co-Chair of Health Disparities

    Northwestern University

    My name is Devin Wilkes, and I am a mentor for the Health Disparities initiative. Although I am originally from West Orange, NJ, I am currently studying at Northwestern University. I am in my second year, majoring in journalism and minoring in Black studies. After taking an anthropology class about health inequities among minority groups, I discovered a newfound interest in the barriers that prevent Black Americans from achieving optimal health. My career goals involve pursuing print and digital journalism.

  • Co-Chair of Mental Health

    Delaware State

    My name is Dylan Wilkes. I am a sophomore at the illustrious Delaware State University, majoring in Business Management with a concentration in Marketing. I am also on the Women’s Lacrosse Team at Delaware State. I mentored students for the Mental Health initiative for the Take Lead Student Program. I enjoyed working with this initiative as I am a part of a Mental Health Organization at my school called “Morgans Message,” which is an organization where student athletes from different schools work to eliminate the stigma surrounding mental health. As a student-athlete, I take mental health within myself and others very seriously because being a student, involved in different extracurriculars can be overwhelming and can affect your mental health. It is important to talk about mental health as it affects our everyday lives and is shown in so many different ways.

  • Co-Chair of Mental Health

    Howard University

    My name is Joia Simmons and I am a Junior student attending Howard University. The primary reason why I chose the mental health initiative is because it directly correlates to my major of Psychology, my passion for spreading awareness of the significance of mental health, and my career aspirations. My ideal career goal is to open up my own psychological practice for children and young adults. From having the opportunity to become a mentor for this initiative, it provides me with a great opportunity to gain experience with educating and guiding those on the topic of mental health and research skills.