2026-2027 executive board
2026-2027 executive board
ariel hall
President
Ariel Hall is a Political Science and Ethnic Studies Major with a Minor in Chinese Language. She is a student DJ at KTUH, the student-led radio station on campus.
Ariel is a part of the Black Student Association and many other clubs. She has a passion for social justice and community engagement, and she hopes to attend law school after her undergraduate studies.
“As President, I believe strong leadership means showing up, being hands-on, and creating meaningful conversations that move our organization forward. I want to be a leader that members feel safe with—someone they can depend on and turn to for support when they need it most. With skills in community organizing, outreach, event planning, fundraising management, conflict resolution, and active listening, I am committed to guiding BSA with purpose and care. My goal is for us to look back after graduation knowing we made a lasting impact, strengthened BSA’s presence on campus, and set the organization up for continued success for future leaders.”
Olatubosun Ojo
vice President
My name is Olatubosun Ojo. I am a second-year master's student studying Tropical Plant Pathology. I am from Nigeria, and I love plants and soccer. I also enjoy drumming, hiking, and meeting new people.
I am passionate about building inclusive communities and supporting academic and personal growth. I hope to create spaces where Black students feel comfortable, connected, seen, heard, and empowered. I enjoy working with others, bringing ideas to life, and helping create events and programs that actually matter to us.
“I bring leadership experience, strong communication skills, can-do spirit, and a collaborative mindset. My background in research and community engagement has strengthened my ability to solve problems, stay organized, and advocate effectively.”
adiatu rieth
Secretary
Adiatu Rieth is a college sophomore majoring in Political Science and Communications here at UH Manoa. For most of her life she has been raised in Lahaina, Maui and graduated from Lahainaluna High School.
Being raised in Hawaii has shaped Adiatu's life in numerous ways but mainly by giving her the tenets and principles that she lives by such as Aloha and Malama. Adiatu has always been super involved in her community from beach cleanups to starting mutual aid initiatives for local families in need to volunteering at elementary schools and so much more. Currently at UH Manoa Adiatu hopes to become an integral part of the community and bring awareness to the Black experience in Hawaii through her participation in UHs undergraduate student senate. Adiatu hopes to pursue a career in law or journalism in the future to give back to her community in Lahaina to help rebuild and create a Lahaina reflective of its people.
“BSA has provided me the space to witness Blackness and community in all its shapes, forms, and perspectives. BSA has additionally allowed for me to find my best role and fit in space that maybe two years ago I would've been deeply uncomfortable with. I want to provide continuity and mentorship for the next black leaders and students that decide to be brave and vulnerable by putting themselves out there. I want UH Manoa as a whole to acknowledge our role here on campus as well as in Hawaii. I know this effort will take time but I want to be apart of that in any capacity.”
raven kelley
outreach chair
Raven is a U.S. Navy veteran and an undergraduate student pursuing a bachelor's degree in marine biology at the University of Hawai’i at Manoa. Originally from Ohio, Raven is a member of the Black Student Association who strives for excellence, seeks to bring the community together, and pursues knowledge inside and outside of a college setting.
Since childhood, Raven has had a passion for the conservation and protection of wildlife and marine ecosystems, and hopes to aid future efforts to protect and conserve Hawai’i’s wildlife and ecosystems by partnering with institutions and organizations such as NOAA and HIMB.
“My leadership experience includes serving as a Fitness Coordinator and Sexual Assault Advocate in the military and as a Predators on the Reef Teacher at the Waikīkī Aquarium. I’ve helped plan fundraisers and celebrations, building strong communication, teamwork, and event planning skills that I’m excited to bring to BSA outreach.”
yusef williams
program chair
Yusef Williams is a sound liberator and doctoral student from Tacoma, WA. He has presented masterclasses and lectures at Jackson State University, Seattle University, Santa Monica College, Tacoma Community College, Tuskegee University and The University of California, Irvine. He has performed across the country and abroad in France, Jordan, Mexico and The United Arab Emirates.
As a collaborative pianist, he regularly supports the national Sphinx Competition which provides career advancement opportunities for young Black and Latine string players. Williams' artistry is featured on Life's Sweet Shadows: Vocal Works of Richard Thompson and Arise & Shine: Piano Music by Black Composers for Kids, both released on all streaming platforms by Navona Records.
He presented research on Millennial Black Composers at the 2023 MTNA National Conference in Reno, NV and is a contributing author to The Cambridge Companion to Florence B. Price (Cambridge University Press, ed. Samantha Ege & A Kori Hill). Recently, he was honored with the 2026 Vanguard Award for Classical Innovation and Community Impact. He was mentored by Frances Walker-Slocum.
“As Program Chair, I aim to create engaging programs that strengthen community and increase participation—especially among our brothers. With programming experience, strong listening skills, emotional intelligence, and care for our members, I’m committed to supporting the president’s vision and building impactful events for BSA.”
niya denise mcadoo
graduate advisor
Niya Denise McAdoo is a second year Doctoral student in the Department of Educational Administration at UH Mānoa.
While getting her double Bachelors in African/African American Studies and Visual Art from the University of Kansas, Niya served as the second Black woman Student Body President. Niya is a current Point Foundation BIPOC Scholar and Student Ambassador. She is a co-founder of Sister Circle Mānoa at the University of Hawaii at Mānoa, and 2025-2026 President in the Black Student Association.
She served as the Master Student Association President in the College of Education at UH Mānoa in 2023 and 2024, and Vice President of the Graduate Student Organization in 2022. She has additionally served on the Vice Provost for Student Success Student Advisory Council for the 2024-2025 academic year. Niya's research has focused on the evolution of Black education policy in America and Black femme experiences in Higher Education.
dr. lajoya shelly
faculty advisor
LaJoya Shelly, PhD, is a Sister-Scholar, Mama-Scholar, Scholar-Organizer, and researcher committed to advancing equity in educational and community spaces. She brings a scholar–practitioner lens to her work, drawing deeply from lived experience, community-rooted values, and a commitment to uplift historically marginalized voices. Her scholarship centers on identity, belonging, and institutional transformation, with a focus on collaboration, collective care, and pathways to more just educational futures. Dr. Shelly’s leadership extends beyond the classroom and into the community. She serves as the faculty advisor for the Black Student Association, is the Co-Founder of Sister Circle Mānoa, and is the inaugural chair of the Alice Ball Black Graduation Ceremony—initiatives that create affirming, culturally grounded spaces for Black students to build community, celebrate excellence, and thrive.
Born in Blytheville, Arkansas, Dr. Shelly grew up in a military-connected family—her father served 23 years in the U.S. Air Force, and her husband, Mark, is in his 21st year as a submariner in the U.S. Navy. She has lived all over the United States, but calls Dayton, Ohio, home. She is also the proud mother of daughter, Grace, who recently began kindergarten.
Dr. Shelly holds an A.A. in Political Science from Sinclair Community College; a B.A. in General Studies from the University of Dayton; and an M.Ed. and PhD in Education (Educational Administration, Higher Education emphasis) from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. Her dissertation, Making Ways Out of No Way: Black Doctoral Women’s Socialization into the Professoriate, examines the experiences, strategies, and resilience of Black women as they navigate doctoral programs and academic pathways.
Her research interests include Black women’s and girls’ postsecondary success, graduate socialization, student activism, the professoriate, and Black feminist research methodologies.
