We are proud to reintroduce you to the new co-leads selected to guide NoirUnited’s four pillars: Research & Advocacy, Programs & Events, Communications & Storytelling, and Membership Engagement & Outreach. Each pillar is led by two passionate members who bring deep experience and a shared commitment to the African diaspora. Meet the team driving our work forward.
Research & Advocacy
Riona Sheikh is a student at the University of Maryland, College Park majoring in international relations, with a focus on development, conflict management, poverty, and media. Outside of work and her studies, she loves painting, fashion, and music, and is grateful to be learning alongside the NoirUnited team.
Akunna Okonkwo is a public health science student at the University of Maryland, College Park with interests in health policy and health systems across the Sub-Saharan African region. She has been part of NoirUnited since 2025, starting as a Research and Programs volunteer, and is excited to grow in this role and support the organization’s mission.
Programs & Events
Dalanda Diallo is a Master of Arts candidate in International Relations at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) and a 2024 USAID Donald M. Payne Fellow. Born in the U.S. and raised in Guinea, she is committed to advancing inclusive governance and development across Africa. Prior to SAIS, she worked as a Program Associate at the National Democratic Institute and as an Executive Assistant at USAID’s Bureau for Conflict Prevention and Stabilization.
Chimwemwe Daniel Kalea is a political scientist with a strong interest in African history and the politics of development. He has extensive experience designing and delivering impactful programs aimed at civic empowerment for African youth and promoting democratic governance. He is committed to creating spaces that foster constructive dialogue and collective growth.
Communications & Storytelling
Megan Guzman is originally from New Jersey and a Dominican-American student studying international affairs at George Washington University. Her passion lies in centering underrepresented narratives in the global sphere, with a particular emphasis on the intersection of policy and advocacy within Latin America and the Middle East. She believes in the power of storytelling as a catalyst for social impact.
Wangeci Gitonga is a sophomore at Yale University studying biomedical engineering and global affairs. From Nairobi, she is passionate about storytelling, community building, and amplifying voices across the Black diaspora. Outside of her academic and professional work, she choreographs and performs with Yale’s own Afro fusion dance group.
Membership Engagement & Outreach
Asuagbor Asuagbor is a senior biological engineering student at the University of Georgia who intends to pursue his MPH. His goal is to combine public health knowledge with engineering to create solutions that truly improve the quality of life of people around the world.
Bomi Akarakiri is an international relations scholar and policy professional based in Washington, D.C., currently pursuing her MA in international relations at Johns Hopkins SAIS with concentrations in security and Sub-Saharan Africa. She brings extensive experience across the foreign policy, national security, and advocacy sectors.
Get involved
Interested in volunteering with a pillar? We would love to get more people involved. Reach out to a member of the co-lead team, and keep an eye out for an in-person link up planned for late summer in Washington, D.C., and possibly Atlanta.