Meet Our Staff
Dr. Charlene Brown-McKenzie
Senior Associate Dean of Students
Executive Director, Access and Success
Charlene Brown-McKenzie serves as Senior Associate Dean of Students and Executive Director of Access and Success. Her portfolio includes the leadership of the Center for Multicultural Equity & Access (CMEA) at Georgetown University.
Dr. Brown-McKenzie, a Georgetown alumna with a sociology degree, earned a Master in Social Work from Columbia University. After returning to Georgetown, she became executive director of the Institute for College Preparation (ICP) focusing on college and career readiness for students in the District of Columbia. In 2014, she was appointed director of the Center for Multicultural Equity and Access (CMEA), where she oversees day-to-day operations and aims to foster student success and global citizenship. Charlene completed her doctorate at Georgetown with a research focus on cultural capital and the intersection of K-12 and higher education.
Lex Lewis-Semien
Associate Director, Student Support Services
Director, Community Scholars Program
Lex is a two-time first-generation graduate. She received her B.S. in Sociology from Texas A&M University and M.Ed. from the University of California, Los Angeles. Lex infuses the knowledge gained from her past experiences within Financial Aid, Residential Life, and Student Athletics into her work to support the success of her students, peers, and colleagues.
Originally from in and around Houston, she served as the assistant director for the First-Gen+ Center at George Mason University.
Daelyn Moon
Assistant Director, Academic Success | Community Scholars Program
Daelyn Moon (She/Her) manages the academic resources and student support services in the center inclusive of the CMEA Academic Seminar Series, the CSP Technology Loaner Program, and supporting the Community Scholars Program holistic wraparound support and retention of first-generation Hoyas. Additionally, she organizes all assessment & data for these services and programming. Daelyn received her Master of Higher Education and Student Affairs degree from Loyola University Chicago, making her a twice Jesuit-educated Scholar practitioner and double first-generation graduate. She leverages her expertise in first-year experience, student development, leadership, and equity to focus on responsive access, retention, and success of college students.
Dr. Jennifer Crewalk
Associate Director, Undocumented Student Services, CMEA
Director of Group Initiatives, Division of Student Affairs
Jennifer Crewalk joined the CMEA in February 2020. Dr. Crewalk has 14 years of experience advocating for and working with undocumented and first-generation college students. Her values of family, holistic health and community resilience ground her advocacy and inspire her racial and social justice work. Dr. Crewalk has put herself through school, earning a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology from George Mason University and an Executive Certificate in DEI at Georgetown University.
Nikki Johnson
Assistant Director, School Partnership
Community Engagement, Pre-College Programs
Nikki joined CMEA in June 2008 and serves as the Program Coordinator for School Partnership & Community Engagement. She oversees the recruitment, programming and academic support for the middle school students to ensure they will move on to high school and college. Nikki graduated from the Catholic University of America with a Bachelor of Arts in history. Being from the DC area has made Nikki very passionate about giving back to her community and the work she does for ICP. She has spoken with residents at the local House of Ruth and led discussion sessions with teenage moms.
Anthony Bierria-Anderson
Assistant Director, Institute for College Preparation
Anthony originates from Freeport, NY. He obtained his Bachelor’s degree in Public Relations while playing football at Utica University, before diving into the world of coaching for three impactful years. It was during this time that he realized his passion for empowering students to reach their full potential. Motivated by this passion, he pursued a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership and Instruction, further honing his skills in creating inclusive learning environments. Transitioning from coaching, Anthony discovered a new avenue for impact in admissions and academic advising. His tenure at Howard University saw him play pivotal roles in guiding prospective students through the admissions process and supporting current students in their academic journeys.
Tiara DeGuzman
Program Coordinator, CMEA
Originally from New Jersey, Tiara DeGuzman is a higher education and career development professional who is passionate about creating accessible and engaging opportunities for students. After receiving her BA from Rutgers University and her Master’s in Higher Education and Student Affairs from The Ohio State University, Tiara has built a diverse career dedicated to empowering learners through developmental opportunities. Beyond her professional work, Tiara is an avid reader, creative writer, lifelong language learner, and passionate world traveler.
Halle Trang
Academic Programs Assistant, Community Scholars Program
Halle Trang (she/her/hers) has served in various roles with the CMEA since summer of 2022. She grew up in Los Angeles and graduated from UC Berkeley with a B.A. in English and a minor in Education before attending graduate school at Georgetown University. As a first-generation transfer student and graduate, Halle is passionate about working with minoritized students and supporting access-oriented initiatives. Halle received her M.A. in English where her research interests in literature, public scholarship, and pedagogy culminated in a public-facing multimodal thesis. She worked as a graduate Teaching Assistant with the Community Scholars Program during her time at Georgetown and brings administrative, research, and teaching experience to her new role at CMEA.