The Office of Belonging and Inclusion

dratley@babson.edu
781-239-5969
Glavin Family Chapel, Room 101

Denicia serves as the Senior Director of the Office of Belonging and Inclusion, a newly established office that merges Religious Life and Multicultural and Identity programs. In this role, Denicia provides leadership, strategic direction, and oversight for integrating multicultural identity programs and spiritual life initiatives. Her work is dedicated to fostering a more inclusive and equitable campus environment, promoting students’ growth, diverse community engagement, and a culture of belonging and well-being for both undergraduate and graduate students.

With a strong commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion and her deep understanding of the complexities of cultural identity and spiritual life, Denicia brings a wealth of experience to this role and is evident in her work with facilitation of challenging conversations and her leadership of campus.

She has a proven track record of creating inclusive spaces that promote spiritual growth, cultural exploration, and social connectedness. Her passion for social justice and her ability to build bridges across diverse communities and her ability to navigate complex situations with empathy and resilience has been invaluable in fostering a sense of belonging and well-being among students.

Previously, Denicia was the Director of Religious & Spiritual Life at Babson College, where she supported a diverse range religious and spiritual communities on campus, oversaw a team of Chaplains, and spearheaded initiatives to promote interfaith dialogue, religious understanding and cross-cultural exchange.

Denicia holds a BA in Human Development and Family Studies with a minor in African American Studies from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, two master’s degrees from Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary; MA World Missions, Cross Cultural Counseling and MA Theology, Ethics. In her spare time, she enjoys listening to jazz, attending plays at local theaters and helping women find the voices apart from patriarchal influence as well as build confidence in themselves by deconstructing beauty standards and apprehensions around makeup and natural hair.

emonfort@babson.edu
781-239-4027
Pronouns: she, they

EriKa Monfort serves as the Associate Director for Cultural Life within the Office of Belonging and Inclusion. As an Afro-Caribbean, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Practitioner, who is neurodivergent, EriKa’s declaration is not only to, engage in the ongoing work to dismantle racism and redesign systems, contribute to the advancement of educational equity and justice, but to also continue to spread a deeper understanding of process and practice from an equity perspective, and the importance of equity-minded leaders.

EriKa’s career spans over eight years of progressively increasing responsibilities within higher education, specifically within Student Affairs. With each position helping to create structures and processes that both seize on opportunities and address the challenges inherent in a culturally and functionally diverse organization.

EriKa is currently completing her Ph.D in Educational and Organizational Leadership and Policy Studies at Springfield College. She is most excited about more exposure to (1) historical context, (2) the variety of critical theoretical lenses and their purpose, framework, and legacy, and (3) the opportunity to examine/connect these theoretical lenses to current systems, and practices within U.S. public and private education.

Fun Fact: (1) EriKa doesn't drink juice, and can only really tolerate a glass of OJ. (2) In 2013, EriKa was crowned Bridgewater State University’s Homecoming Queen. And is the last Queen of Bridgewater State University as they transitioned from using traditional titles.

pbanerjee@babson.edu
781-239-4130
Pronouns: she, her, hers

Preeta Banerjee, PhD has dedicated her life and career to bringing together spirituality, community, innovation and entrepreneurship. She draws on over 25 years experience as a business school professor, corporate executive, life coach and higher education chaplain.

Previously, she built intentional and inclusive communities at Tufts University as an inaugural Hindu Chaplain; Harvard Divinity School as a meaning-making facilitator; the BTS Center as an eco-spiritual circle leader; and MIT as an ORSEL fellow supporting interfaith dialogue.

Preeta has a PhD in Strategic Management from the Wharton School; a BS in Computational Biology and Business from Carnegie Mellon; Graduate Certificate in Interreligious Studies from Hartford International University for Religion and Peace; and CPE I and II with Sankofa CPE.

She has also been honored as a finalist for Aspen Institute’s Rising Star; a Fulbright-Nehru Senior Scholar, and Boston Business Journal’s 40-under-40.

bmodestita@babson.edu
781-239-4362
Pronouns: she, her, hers

Brooklyn Modestita is a Puerto Rican Trans Woman and the Assistant Director of LGBTQ+ and Identity Programs. She has a background in DEI, Facilitation, and Training. Brooklyn’s passion is making sure everything she does is guided by an intersectional lens. She has a master’s degree in Gender Studies and Social Justice from McMaster University and a bachelor of arts degree in Women’s and Gender Studies, from West Virginia University.

Before coming to Babson Brooklyn was a co-coordinator of BIPOC Community Relations at the Transgender Media Lab. Brooklyn also was an independent contractor conducting cultural competency trainings for Non-Profit organizations. In her free time Brooklyn enjoys playing video games and watching anime.

cmarantz@babson.edu
781-239-5969
Glavin Family Chapel
Pronouns: he, him, his

Craig is so happy to join you in all the fun at Babson College and its Office for Religious and Spiritual Life. To serve a creative community of emerging adults and young entrepreneurs is truly a blessing—as is working alongside a very fine and attentive chaplain team.

A native of Los Angeles, Craig is married to Betsy, and they have two children, Cara and Jared, both in college, plus a fun pup named Zeus—who really wishes he was in college.

Craig counts it as one as his greatest joys to impact life as a rabbi—to serve God and people; to live, teach, and learn Torah; to grapple with faith; to bring healing to the world, to be a force for good. Craig is a kind, caring and flexible leader with 21st-century vision and a hearing, empathic heart. Over the years, he has implemented innovative approaches to participation, helping Jewish folks—together with their families, friends, and allies—in all sorts of varied pursuits: sacred community, prayer and ritual practice, lifelong learning, youth, teen & emerging adult engagement, social justice, shared leadership, and most recently, spiritual entrepreneurship.

Ordained in 1999 from Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in New York City, Craig also has a Master’s degree in Education from Stanford University and a Bachelor’s degree in History from UCLA.

Craig has served as a congregational rabbi, educator, and summer camp professional for over two decades. And, currently, in addition to his service at Babson, Craig is also the rabbi at Sha’arei Shalom in Ashland, MA and a Junior Varsity baseball coach at Brookline HS.

msharrieff@babson.edu
781-239-5969
Glavin Family Chapel

Ustadha Maryam Sharrieff is a researcher, linguist, filmmaker, and educator. Her multifaceted/​multimedia/​international work broadly examines the development of Islam in America, with a special focus on African-American and Latino Muslim experiences, female scholarship and leadership in Islam, the linguistic implications of gender and sexuality in religious text, the representation of faith in and on film, and America’s founding father’s interactions with the Muslim world.

Maryam has presented at the American Academy of Religion, World Parliament of Religion’s conference, Shaykafest, many universities and the University of Derby’s Muslim Women’s Activism Conference. Maryam teaches for Rabata.org, and was a 2012 Muslim fellow for the CIRCLE (Center for Inter-Religious and Communal Leadership Education) program hosted by Hebrew College and Andover Newton Theological School.

She received her BA in Middle Eastern Studies, Italian, and TV & Film from Rutgers University and her MA in Theological Studies from Harvard Divinity School. Ustadha Maryam is currently pursuing doctoral studies and serves as a university Muslim chaplain.

jfinn@babson.edu
781-239-5969
Glavin Family Chapel

Prior to entering the Boston College School of Theology and Ministry for a Master of Divinity degree, Joe enjoyed a career as a social worker in schools, with Catholic Charities, and in Fortune 500 companies as an Employee Assistance Professional. Joe has developed an appreciation for the unique gifts God gives individuals that, when shared in community, help make our world a better place. He has earlier degrees from Loyola University in Maryland (BA, English) and Tulane University in New Orleans (Master of Social Work).

Identifying and developing strengths as a path toward self-discovery and sense of purpose is a hope Joe holds for each student at Babson. As Catholic Chaplain, he brings the Ignatian concept of cura personalis—holistic formation of the entire person: physical, mental, and spiritual—together with opportunities for prayer and sacraments, service and retreat activities, spiritual accompaniment, and community building in helping students realize more fully the happiness that comes through loving relationship with God in the formation of one’s authentic self.

dhamilton@babson.edu
781-239-5969
Glavin Family Chapel

Darrell is an ordained Baptist minister. Darrell’s ministry is centered on advancing diversity, inclusion, and advocacy for the vulnerable and marginalized as aspects of the Christian tradition to inspire our world toward greater justice and love for all people. Darrell is a graduate from Wake Forest School of Divinity where he received his Masters in Divinity in 2017. Darrell also has an undergraduate degree in Political Science from the University of Central Oklahoma.

Darrell’s preaching, teaching, leadership, and community engagement is inspired by the principles and scholarship of James Cone, James Baldwin, Kelly Brown Douglas, and Jeremiah Wright, Jr., and the examples of Martin Luther King, Jr., William Barber, II, Otis Moss, III, and others. Darrell is the former Executive Minister for Operations and Resource Development at Middle Collegiate Church in New York. Prior he was the Pastor for Formation and Outreach at the First Baptist Church in Jamaica Plain, Program Director for City Mission Boston's Urban Pastoral Ministry Program, and held leadership positions with the Massachusetts Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival. Darrell’s vision for ministry is to lead an intentional welcoming, affirming, and progressive Christian community, as he conspires to advance the economic, spiritual, and systemic liberation for all marginalized people.

kgrady@babson.edu
781-239-4505
Pronouns: she, her, hers

Kayla Grady attended Mass Bay Community College, where she obtained her associate degree. She then attended Framingham State University and received a Bachelor of Science in Sociology.

During her senior year at Framingham State, she interned at a local Catholic high school in Massachusetts. During her internship, she discovered her passion for working in a school environment. She loved interacting with students, faculty, and staff. As well as the various ways to impact the community and the student experience and hopes to do the same here at Babson.

Kayla enjoys walking her dog in her free time and spending time with family and friends.