Our Team
Providence Student Union unites and develops an entire team of youth leaders, staff, and adult allies all in support of building student power. Our youth staff and recent alumni take on important roles at the organization, including running our fundraising, running workshops, recruiting new members, and organizing campaigns. Providence Student Union is youth led, and adult staff serve an important role in advising, training, and supporting all of our members.
Our Staff
Merrill Schmidt
Development Director
She/Her
Merrill@pvdstudentunion.org
Merrill's Bio
Merrill is excited to support the Providence Student Union’s work to build collective youth power, improve students’ education and well-being, and advocate for social justice as the Development Director. She recently moved to Providence from her hometown of Little Rock, AR, and is looking forward to getting more involved in the community here. As a student at Little Rock Central High School, she saw the ongoing impact of racial inequity and the legacy of segregation in her community. Since then, she has been inspired to work for social change in the public and nonprofit sectors. After high school, she attended Colorado College in Colorado Springs, CO, where she majored in Southwest Studies and minored in Education. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with friends and family, hiking, traveling and reading.
Arion Brooks
Youth Engagement Director
They/Them
arion@pvdstudentunion.org
Joselin Morente ‘18
Digital Storyteller
She/Her
joselin@pvdstudentunion.org
Joselin's Bio
Joselin is a K’iche digital artist. They love to create portraits of other people. Joselin is passionate about land sovereignty, immigration rights, and re-imagining safety with a community focus. A former PSU youth, Joselin is happy to be in an adult support role where they are working with the youth leaders at the PSU and cultivating an inclusive and youth-led movement.
Denezia Fahie
Executive Director
She/They
denezia@pvdstudentunion.org
Eugenie Belony ‘23
Leadership Team Support
She/Her
eugenie@pvdstudentunion.org
Eugenie's Bio
Eugenie is a current student at The American University in Washington, D.C., pursuing a dual degree in Physics and Engineering with Columbia University. They are also double majoring in Education Policy and minoring in African American and African Diaspora Studies. A proud alumnus of The Providence Public Schools and the Providence Student Union (PSU), they now serve as the Leadership Team Support Coordinator, helping to empower the next generation of youth organizers. As a youth activist and poet, Eugenie is passionate about using their voice and skills to drive systemic change. They are deeply dedicated to community development, mentoring rising youth leaders, and fostering spaces where innovative ideas and collaborative solutions can flourish. With a love for learning and a commitment to equity, they continue to lay the groundwork for transformative progress in their community and beyond.
Board of Directors
Providence Student Union’s Board of Directors is responsible for sustaining the organization long-term. The Board provides fundraising, financial, and legal support, and helps to supervise and advise the Executive Director. The Board does not make any decisions regarding programming or campaigns; these powers are reserved for our Leadership Team members and membership generally.
Stevent Cleto Garcia, Board Chair
Jayda Ives-Williams ‘21, Vice Chair
Jamila Brand, Secretary
Michael McGuigan, Treasurer
Tashal Brown
Mahasan Chaney
Aubrey Johnson
Caleigh Rockwal