The Pauli Murray Center Board Retreat, 2026

Our Board

Jesse Huddleston | Board Chair | He/She/They/We

Jesse Huddleston comes from a family full of artists, educators, and public servants, all from North Carolina, where he has lived since 2006. As a Black genderqueer artist and practitioner inspired by Pauli Murray, Jesse continues to develop their deep passions for people, equity, and the arts through expansive, creative vocations focused on connecting people and engaging in community.

  • Currently, Jesse works as Senior Program Coordinator of the Duke-Durham Neighborhood Partnership at Duke Community Affairs, as Director of Music Ministry at CityWell United Methodist Church, and as Chair of the Pride: Durham, NC Planning Committee at the LGBTQ Center of Durham. They hold a Bachelor's degree in Sociology from Duke University as well as a Master's degree in Counseling from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

Chandra Guinn | Board Vice Chair | She/Her

Chandra Guinn is a JEDI professional whose curiosity and creativity stoke a love for life and learning and a passion for liberatory racial consciousness. Standing at the intersection of sociology, education, and advocacy, she brings over two decades of experience to her role as Executive Director of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging at McKinney, a full-service creative advertising agency.

  • Prior to McKinney, she directed the Mary Lou Williams Center for Black Culture at Duke University for over 15 years. Her career also includes work at UNC-Chapel Hill's Institute of African American Research and the Kenan Institute of Private Enterprise. Chandra is an award-winning educator who has taught at Duke University, UNC-Chapel Hill, Durham Technical Community College, and the North Carolina Correctional Institute for Women.

    With academic credentials including a BA in Sociology from Bucknell University and an MA in Sociology from UNC-Chapel Hill, Chandra approaches her work with a leadership philosophy grounded in curiosity, sustained by humility, and advanced through courage.

    A native Mississippian who has made North Carolina's Research Triangle her home, Chandra enjoys curated events, travel, motivational speaking, and design. Her work embodies Pauli Murray's wisdom: "Always the Dream is the same. Always the Dream is Freedom."

Brian Truelove | Treasurer | He/him

Brian Truelove is a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DE&I) executive with more than 15 years of experience. Throughout his DE&I career he has led the development and management of strategic practices for enhancing an inclusive and equitable work culture for multiple large, global organizations.

  • Brian began his career in accounting and continues to leverage his strong business acumen. Brian holds a Bachelor of Business in Accounting from Western Illinois University and a Master of Business Administration from Bradley University. Brian also holds a nationally recognized HR certification, Society for Human Resource Management’s Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP).

Chelsea Davis | Secretary | She/Her

Drawn to the expansive nature of experiential design, Chelsea approaches all projects and initiatives seeking purpose and possessing a mind set on understanding. For Chelsea, architecture is about connecting with human natures and creating places for them to exist. Knowing that access to space is a widely contended privilege, she is led in her work by the desire to support systematically repressed people as they seek new relationships with space.

  • Chelsea finds joy in exploring ways to express and protect identity as it has potential to occur naturally, authentically, and unapologetically in our environments. Her creative process is led by curiosity. She believes that understanding contexts and culture reveals opportunities to link to a project’s goals and attitudes to a cooperative essence. Chelsea celebrates the joy found in possibility, which for her, comes through subverting contemporary notions of the aesthetic environment and moving toward a quality of space rooted in experience.

    Chelsea received a Bachelor of Science degree in Architectural Engineering from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University in 2017 and is a 2019 graduate of the Georgia Tech Master of Architecture program. She now resides in Atlanta, GA and works professionally as an architectural designer with Perkins&Will where she has been heavily involved in civic and cultural projects of varied nature.

Rosita Stevens-Holsey | Board Member | She/Her

Rosita Stevens-Holsey was born in Massachusetts during World War II to Rutherford B. Stevens MD, a military doctor and Rosetta Murray Stevens. Her mother, Rosetta, is the youngest sister of Rev. Dr. Pauli Murray. After leaving New England, Rosita and her family spent her early years in Wyoming and Kansas. Her father had been selected to be the first Black doctor to do his psychiatry residency at the prestigious Menninger Clinic in Topeka, Kansas. 

  • After college, Rosita taught in the state of New York, followed by a stint as a systems engineer for IBM in NYC.  After traveling to Europe in 1968, she decided to stay, settling and living in Heidelberg, Germany. Rosita was able to secure a job with the Department of Defense Overseas School System where she taught for six years and was an officer and negotiator for the teacher’s union (OEA/NEA), followed by serving as a coordinator for four years on the staff of the Office of the Superintendent of Schools (responsible for Minority and Multicultural Studies).  While there she studied interior design and finished working on her Masters.

    After ten years of living and working in Europe, she settled in Atlanta where she founded both an executive search firm and an interior design business.  After leaving Atlanta, she returned to Washington, D.C. where she continued decorating homes and consulting while utilizing her Masters in Counseling and Human Services, spending nearly two decades with a non-profit agency serving adults with disabilities (as program coordinator, trainer, group home decorator, and director of operations). 

    Rosita spent the last twelve years before officially retiring educating elementary students in a departmentalized setting teaching mostly math or science. She served three years as co-chair of the Faculty Advisory Council and her school unit's representative for the Prince George's County Education Association (teacher's union). She is also a member of National Organization for Women  (NOW), Executive VP of the National Women's History Alliance, and formerly VP of the Pauli Murray Chapter of the Union of Black Episcopalians (UBE).

    As president of the DC Design Consortium in the 1990s they produced the very first African American designer show house in the United States whose work was featured in The Washington Post, NY Times, House 2 Home and Essence magazines, to name a few. Her work has brightened and refurbished homes from the east coast of the USA to London, Germany and the Caribbean.

    Now her passion project is uplifting the legacy of her aunt, Rev. Dr. Pauli Murray, through her company Preserving Pauli Murray and by promoting the book she co-authored: Pauli Murray - The Life of a Pioneering Feminist & Civil Rights Activist. 

Beth Ione Ward | Board Member | She/Her

Beth Ward has worked for more than 30 years in the non-profit sector, with specialties in writing and editing, grant proposal development, higher education governance, and accreditation.

  • Beth was 12 years old when she met Pauli Murray. The Wards were members of St. Philip’s Chapel in Aquasco, Maryland, where Pauli came to serve as seminarian in preparation for ordination to the Episcopal priesthood. (St. Philip’s was a rural Black church where, decades earlier, Pauli’s uncle, the Rev. Small, had been pastor.) Pauli quickly became part of the family circle, a deep connection that continued until Pauli’s death in 1985. For Beth, Pauli was a beloved friend and mentor whose influence continues to resonate four decades later. She is thrilled to be part of the Pauli Murray Center’s efforts to uplift Pauli’s life and legacy for new generations.

    Beth identifies as a white lesbian-feminist pacifist. Her participation in the human rights movement has included anti-war, anti-racism, HIV/AIDS, women’s rights, abortion rights, LGBTQ+ rights, and worker’s rights activism – oftentimes inspired by Pauli. She makes her home in Western Massachusetts.

Rev. Racquel C.N. Gill | Board Member | She/Her

Rev. Racquel C.N. Gill is a native of Winnsboro; SC. She is the daughter of Camilla Gill and the late Stephen Gill. Racquel is a 2012 graduate of Columbia College in Columbia, SC where she holds a Bachelor’s Degree in English Education.

  • Racquel received her Masters of Divinity in May of 2015 from Duke Divinity School in Durham, NC. Upon completion of her theological studies, Racquel served on the pastoral staff at the St. Paul Community Baptist Church in Brooklyn, New York under the leadership of Pastor David K. Brawley. After her time in Brooklyn, Racquel served as the Associate Chaplain at Presbyterian College in Clinton, SC. Racquel currently serves as the Minister for Intercultural Engagement at Duke University Chapel and lives in Durham with her partner, Rev. Chelsea Brooke Yarborough, PhD.

Bryce Cracknell | Board Member | He/Him

Bryce Cracknell is a writer, producer, and director from North Carolina based in Los Angeles, CA. As a storyteller, Bryce seeks to elevate narratives, histories, and experiences that are often overlooked, cast aside, or forgotten.

  • He is in post-production on his directorial debut feature film, a hybrid-documentary on climate justice produced by Effie T. Brown and Gamechanger Films. Bryce is the Founder and Editor in Chief of the Anthem award-winning environmental justice publication, The Margin. He is also a Staff Writer on Season 6 of the CBS series, FBI: MOST WANTED.

    Bryce led social impact campaigns for narrative and documentary features and television shows including DESCENDANT, FLEE, JUST MERCY, and WHEN THEY SEE US. He is a Morris K. and Stewart L. Udall Scholar and a graduate of Duke University where he earned a B.A. in Public Policy. Forbes named Bryce as one of 68 climate leaders changing the film and TV industry. He is a member of the 2024 NBC TV Writers Program and is repped by Kronicle Media.

Trey Walk | Board Member | He/him

Trey Walk is a Brooklyn-based writer and consultant with a decade of experience in research, storytelling, and human rights work. He has worked with national organizations including Human Rights Watch, the Equal Justice Initiative, and the Groundwork Project, and provides writing, editing, and consulting services for nonprofits, government agencies, and private sector clients. Trey brings expertise in U.S. racial history which he uses to help Americans better understand the world around them. His portfolio shines a light on forgotten places and people, and he makes an effort to dance a lot.

Laura Ritchie | Board Member | She/her

Laura Ritchie is a curator, arts advocate, and cultural organizer in Durham, NC. She believes in the power of art to question and critique oppressive social structures, as a tool for collective liberation, and as a portal to reimagine the world.

  • Her personal mission is to connect artists to the resources they need to thrive, to build equity in the arts and culture sector, to work on collaborative, arts-centered projects that introduce innovative strategies for community wellness, and to increase public awareness about the social and economic benefits of a vibrant and inclusive arts ecosystem.
    Laura co-founded The Carrack, a community art space that hosted hundreds of zero-commission exhibitions and art events from 2011-2019. She grew up in Salisbury, NC and studied at UNC-Chapel Hill (BFA), the Institute for Curatorial Practice at Hampshire College, and Duke University (MA). Her curatorial work includes projects at many DIY spaces in the Triangle, as well as exhibitions at the McColl Center, NCMA, and the Ackland Art Museum. She currently creates exhibitions independently and with Pop Box Gallery, which she co-founded in 2022 with Mavis Gragg, and is renovating a 100-year-old former boardinghouse with her wife, Shirlette Ammons, to be a new multidisciplinary art space in Durham.
    Laura is a member of the collective, Art Ain’t Innocent, a City Council appointee of Durham's Cultural Advisory Board, and is honored to serve on the Board of Directors for the Pauli Murray Center for History and Social Justice. 

Carleena V. Deonanan | Board Member | She/herRev.

Carleena is proud to have called Durham home for more than 25 years. She earned her legal education at both North Carolina Central University School of Law and Duke University School of Law.

  • For more than 22 years, she has practiced law at the state and federal levels, representing clients in criminal defense, immigration, business, and civil matters. In addition to her legal practice, she have advised nonprofit organizations and provided strategic business consulting to local businesses on governance, compliance, organizational development, and operational strategy.

    Throughout her career, she has been guided by a steadfast commitment to justice, equity, and the belief that every person deserves to be treated with dignity, fairness, and respect under the law. Whether advocating for an individual client, counseling a nonprofit organization, advising a business, or working alongside community leaders, Carleena’s goal has always been to remove barriers to opportunity, strengthen institutions, and advance solutions that benefit the broader community.

    Carleena’s work extends beyond the courtroom. She has devoted her career to serving Durham through legal advocacy, nonprofit leadership, business consulting, and community engagement, promoting equal access to justice, economic opportunity, and civic participation. She believes the law is at its best when it protects the vulnerable, empowers communities, and creates pathways for lasting, meaningful change.

    As Pauli Murray reflected near the end of her life, “I have lived to see my lost cause found.” That enduring belief that justice can prevail through courage, persistence, and principled advocacy continues to inspire Carleena’s work and reinforces her commitment to advancing equity, justice, and opportunity for all.

LeSabre N. Hubbard | Board Member | She/her

LeSabre N. Hubbard is an attorney and member of the Board of Directors of the Pauli Murray Center for History and Social Justice. She first discovered Dr. Pauli Murray’s extraordinary legacy while attending Howard University School of Law, where she served as President of the school’s OutLaw chapter.

  • Learning about Murray’s groundbreaking work as a lawyer, civil rights advocate, author, and Episcopal priest left a lasting impression and deepened LeSabre’s commitment to justice, equity, and public service. She is honored to serve on the Board of Directors and help advance the Center’s mission of preserving Pauli Murray’s legacy while inspiring future generations to pursue equality and human dignity. Outside of her board service, LeSabre enjoys creative writing and exploring the intersection of law, public policy, and emerging technologies.

Rev. Lindsey Ardrey-Black | Board Member | She/her

The Rev. Lindsey Ardrey practices ministry as Canon Missioner for Reparations and Restitution in the Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina. She currently lives in Durham, but before landing in North Carolina, Lindsey served as a children’s and youth minister, school chaplain, and co-chair for the Racial Reconciliation Commission in the Diocese of Louisiana.

  • A deep believer in healing as a vital medium for issues stemming from race, Lindsey brings this perspective into every conversation and space she occupies, whether it’s on the parish or The Episcopal Church level. Creativity, artistic expressions, and practices of embodiment infuse her approach to this work.

    Lindsey is a lover of books, plants, hot tea, and manifesting dreams her ancestors didn’t know they had. She is a writer, an auntie, a serious seeker of rest, and a human in deep need of laughter and silence in equal measure.

Adam Rosenblatt | Board Member | He/him

Adam Rosenblatt is Professor of International Comparative Studies and Cultural Anthropology at Duke University, and Faculty Director of the Duke Human Rights Center. A scholar of social movements and care for the dead, he is the author of Digging for the Disappeared: Forensic Science after Atrocity (Stanford, 2015) and Cemetery Citizens: Reclaiming the Past and Working for Justice in American Burial Grounds (Stanford, 2024), plus other works on humanitarianism, ethics, and burial sites.

  • Adam prioritizes Durham-based community engagement and arts-based research in his teaching and mentorship of students, in partnership with the Friends of Geer Cemetery and other local organizations. He is a recent graduate of the Sequential Artist’s Workshop year-long comics certificate program and is currently working on his first graphic novel. Adam lives in Durham with his family, including one rescue pit bull.

Shannon McNeal | Board Member | She/Her

Shannon McNeal was raised in the Deep South, where she first learned what Pauli Murray understood better than almost anyone: that the rules doing the most work in American life are often the ones nobody has written down. She is a 2014 graduate of Howard University School of Law, where Murray — Class of 1944 — named "Jane Crow" and drafted the argument that became the foundation of Brown v. Board of Education. That inheritance, of lawyers who treat naming a hidden injustice as the first act of dismantling it, has shaped everything about how Shannon views law and policy.

  • Today Shannon is a partner at Davis Wright Tremaine LLP in Washington, DC, where she counsels companies on technology, artificial intelligence, and product decisions — the choices about design, defaults, and accountability that quietly determine how new technologies treat the people who use them.

    Throughout her career, Shannon has worked to widen the profession's doors behind her. She is active in the National Bar Association and has devoted sustained energy to mentoring and championing lawyers of color and other underrepresented attorneys — a commitment she carries into every institution she joins. At Davis Wright Tremaine, she has led or co-chaired the Attorneys of Color and Black Attorney affinity groups, led her office's Women's Peer Mentoring circle, built client partnerships focused on diversifying the profession — including a 1L fellowship for HBCU law students — and championed firm sponsorships of legal organizations and pipeline initiatives.

    Shannon is honored to serve an institution that treats Pauli Murray's method — see the mechanism, name it, refuse to let it pass as natural — as a living practice rather than a historical artifact.