February 27, 2026

By Elizabeth Mendicino ’26

Black history is essential to American history. While this is most often discussed during February, it is crucial to recognize the contributions and triumphs of the Black community year round.

It is foundational to the liberal arts mission that Ramapo College of New Jersey was founded on to learn from one another and seek hidden histories, to apply critical thinking and uplift voices that are silenced. Thus, this Black History month is an opportunity to highlight the leadership and experiences of stellar Black student leaders on campus. Their excellence is what makes Ramapo great, a driving force of the community. As the Ramapo community spends time reflecting on the battles won and struggles faced by Black Americans throughout history, it is crucial to also shine a spotlight on future leaders who are realizing their ancestors’ wildest dreams.

Chanel Taylor ’28

One such student is Chanel Taylor ‘28. On campus, she is secretary of Ramapo’s chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. (AKA), a premier Greek-letter organization for African American women, president of the college’s new National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC), a collaborative umbrella council composed of historically African American fraternities and sororities, commonly called the Divine Nine (D9), and publicist for the Black Student Union (BSU).

Despite only being a sophomore, Taylor has already accomplished a great deal at Ramapo. As a sister of AKA, she worked with the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life to charter a council for the D9 on the Ramapo campus. Each council is a home for the chapters within it, prior to the NPHC chartering the D9 Greek organizations were previously under the United Cultural Greek Council (UCGC) for multicultural Greek organizations. Creating the NPHC on campus gave the four active D9 chapters a council authentic to their organizations that will help to further bolster their presence at Ramapo.

“I feel like my greatest accomplishment has definitely been helping to charter the NPHC on campus,” said Taylor. “Now we’re in our actual council, we put in a lot of hard work and dedication to get that chartered. It really means a lot to me, and being a sophomore and able to help do that and serve as president, it really makes me happy that I was able to be a part of that.”

Chanel Taylor ‘28 is president of Ramapo’s new National Pan-Hellenic Council.

The Law and Society major has an acute awareness of just how important her presence and leadership is, and the legacy that she represents. While Black History Month is a beautiful celebration of culture, it is also a time to recognize the lives lost and battles fought in the name of human rights and liberation. Taylor sees herself as her ancestors’ wildest dreams, and brings that legacy into everything she does.

“I wouldn’t be here without the people who came before me,” Taylor said. “I wouldn’t be able to come to Ramapo without the people who came before me and the people who actually put their lives on the line. I’m very thankful for those people, the ones that we know about, and the ones that we don’t know about.”

Taylor brings light and passion into every room, her intelligence clear in and outside the classroom. While she has already made a meaningful and lasting mark on the college, she still has two years left. It is clear that her leadership and legacy will continue to blossom as her time at Ramapo continues, as she is not only a phenomenal student leader, but an authentic one.

“I’m just unapologetically myself. I don’t shrink for anyone, especially during Black History Month,” said Taylor. “I make sure I’m Black and I’m proud, as cringy as that saying is, but I make sure that I constantly show my Blackness, show that black is not just one thing. There’s not just one way to be Black. I just show how beautiful my culture is, how beautiful my friends are, how beautiful my family is. We’re Black, we’re proud, and we’re here.”

Keva Torres ’27

Keva Torres ‘27 is president of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc, president of Ebony Women for Social Change (EWSC), and a brother of Phi Alpha Delta Pre-Law Fraternity.

As President of EWSC, Torres helps to promote social change on and off campus while facilitating growth and development for members as they work to better themselves socially, academically and spiritually. As a club under the BSU umbrella, EWSC works closely with the other clubs and organizations dedicated to celebrating diverse cultures and ensuring that marginalized voices are heard on campus.

Keva Torres ‘27 is president of both Zeta Phi Beta Sororiety Inc and Ebony Women for Social Change at Ramapo.

Ultimately, Torres said she feels like the Black community on campus works together, especially under the BSU umbrella. “There’s a lot of camaraderie, and even when we compete with each other, it’s always civil,” she said.

Through EWSC’s annual AppreSHEate hair event, and other events the club puts on, Torres is able to create powerful community connections.

“For our hair event we highlight small businesses, we usually have three panelists that have their own hair businesses, they come and talk about how to take care of your hair, and different products that you can put in it,” said Torres on EWSC’s annual AppreSHEate hair event. “We also got donations from different hair brands that want to support. In general, on this campus a lot of people were talking about how they don’t know how to do their hair, especially people with curly hair, because sometimes it can be a little bit more difficult to take care of that.”

Torres’ steadfast and hardworking leadership style ensures that she is able to both facilitate support for a wide range of students, but also send a powerful message.

Ishmael Koroma ’27

Ishmael Koroma ‘27 is president of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, vice president of the National Pan-Hellenic Council, a sprinter on the Men’s Track & Field Team, and a general member of the BSU.

Koroma is the type of student leader that it seems everyone knows. With his signature fashion sense, extraverted personality, and passion for what he does, he brings life and fire to the spaces he enters.

“I feel like just being black, that’s just a presence on its own,” said Koroma, on how Black History is significant to him personally. “I feel like even that, my presence is just enough for them to start a conversation.”

Ishmael Koroma ’27 took part in the Black Student Union’s annual fashion show.

Throughout his life Koroma has been in spaces where he has been one of the only Black people. He loves being in these spaces because it is an opportunity for his presence alone to make a difference, to break stereotypes down and show that anyone can do anything.

Koroma believes that you have to love what you do, especially in leadership. This dedication and authenticity helps to set him apart as an excellent student leader.

“I feel like a lot of our history isn’t taught in school [or] through books,” said Koroma on how he honors Black History Month. “They say history is through the victor’s eyes. I just personally take my own time to learn about our history.”

While Koroma is an Information Technology Management major, he exemplifies the liberal arts mission through his commitment to interdisciplinarity. He sees the ways in which his identity brings an important presence to every room, and commits to being himself wherever he is.

Not only is Koroma president of Ramapo’s Omega Psi Phi chapter and vice president of the newly chartered NPHC, he also helped to bring his fraternity back to campus after 15 years. This is what he considers to be his proudest accomplishment, he has an immense pride for his fraternity and campus chapter.

“At the end of the day, I really believe that you should not be joining things or doing things just to look good on paper,” said Koroma on his campus involvement. “I believe whatever you’re gonna be doing, you gotta love. You just gotta love everything. Even though it’s hard.”