Honoring Dr. Rose
RPA was founded in 2021 by college professor, Dr. Nicole Richards Diop, in honor of her late mother, Dr. Rose Helen Merrell. Before passing away from pancreatic cancer in August 2020, Dr. Rose was an educational trailblazer, who served communities in New York, Pennsylvania, Jamaica, and the Navajo Nation. With the help of an impressive and passionate team, Dr. Nicole aims to expand her mother’s powerful educational legacy to Africa. RPA is led and supported by college faculty, coordinators, and former RPA program attendees.
In Loving Memory
Meet Our Team
Dr. Nicole Richards Diop
Dr. Nicole Richards Diop is Founder and Executive Director of RPA. She holds degrees from the University of Pennsylvania, Columbia University, and the University of Southern California, with specialization in Black feminist theory, decolonial educational frameworks, and African feminist ecologies. She is the author of the forthcoming book, Fatherhood Poetics: Black Fathers, Black Feminism, and the Work of Worldmaking
Moustapha Diop
Moustapha Diop is the cultural leader and travel coordinator of RPA. He is fluent in French, Wolof, with working knowledge of Diola.
Jared Watson
Jared Watson is the Director of Finance and Operations. He received his BS in Economics from University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business with a concentration in marketing.
Meet Our Team
Mark Gomes
An MA graduate in History from Iona College, Mark serves as an adjunct professor for Rockland Community College and Hudson Community College in African and US History.
Shantanique Johnson
Shantanique is Director of Recruitment and Planning. She is currently completing her EdD in Counseling Education at Shippensburg University.