Lydia provides leadership to the Office of Black Student Affairs to ensure the delivery of student centered, intentional and inclusive services to Black students at The Claremont Colleges. She received her B.A. from Wellesley College and completed graduate studies in English language and literature at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor where she began her career in higher education. At the University of Michigan, her roles included working on behalf of Black affinity groups, student veterans and transfer students, and in leading and implementing peer mentoring programs. She is from Brooklyn, NY.

Latreace was born and raised in Pomona and graduated from Montclair High School. She attended Chaffey College and transferred to the University of Southern California, where she ran cross country and track and field for the Trojans. Latreace has a B.A. and M.S. from USC and Ed.D. from Azusa Pacific University. On behalf of OBSA, Dr. Cox supervises staff, develops OBSA’s career and opportunities programming, provides advising and support to individual students and student organizations, and serves on the Scripps College Academic Standards Review Committee. She also develops OBSA’s major events and sustains campus partnerships.

Toni is a certified project manager and a Graduate of Arizona State University where she studied Organizational Development – Project Management.  A former Executive Assistant (EA) for over 20 years working for multiple fortune 500 companies, Toni previously worked as an EA for the owner and CEO of the Dallas Cowboys. She is responsible for OBSA’s budget reconciliation processes, facility management and payroll. She provides logistical support to OBSA’s programming and manages our partnerships with various entities, and develops OBSA’s website and main calendar.

Esme is from Altadena California and is a current CGU student pursuing a PhD in Organizational Behavior. Her hobbies are crafting, museums and anything outdoors. Esme led the OBSA 5C mentorship program and transitioned to support OBSA’s graduate student outreach and support services.

John is a current Pomona student studying Sociology, Educational Policy and Social Reform. John leads OBSA’s 5C Mentor program and conducts outreach to 5C Black affinity groups. He is OBSA’s liaison to the Intercollegiate Department of Africana Studies, and provides resource and information to Black campus communities. He also develops 7C inclusive social engagement activities.

Zariah Folkes is a Pomona College student studying Computer Science and Sociology. She is OBSA’s lead content creator and social media strategist, designing outreach and engagement campaigns and developing marketing materials to connect to student populations. Originally from South Central Los Angeles, in her free time she enjoys going back home to spend time with family.

Kiki is pursuing an inter-field Ph.D. in Religion and Cultural Studies with an Africana studies certificate. Kimani is a recent graduate of Candler School of Theology at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia where she earned her Master of Divinity degree. While in undergrad she worked as an event coordinator for the Black Student Union and as a liaison for the Community diversity committee. Kimani is an ordained minister under Soul Saving Station Christ Crusaders of America and Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. While at Emory, she studied abroad at the University of Helsinki in the Fall of 2021 with the Faculty of Theology. Kimani has done work with the unhoused population, public health equity initiatives, immigration, and refugee services, and voting rights in Georgia. Her research interests are at the intersection of Christian ethics, social movements, civil and human rights (legal studies), and clergy leadership​. On behalf of OBSA, Kiki’s work is focused on building OBSA’s vast 7C alumni network, designing outreach and engagement newsletters, leading the OBSA Alumni-student mentorship program and securing our Black Graduation alumni speaker. She also supports OBSA’s central programs and services.

D’Aiyress is a recent Pomona grad (‘22) currently enrolled in CGU’s Cultural Studies program.  She’s from Chicago and enjoys spending quality time with people from all walks of life.  She loves to laugh and love to make others laugh. Her role with OBSA is developing outreach services and programs that engage Black students in the graduate schools, and supporting OBSA’s central services.