Leadership
Our President
As the first woman to serve as President and CEO of the Urban League of Rochester, Dr. Seanelle Hawkins has consistently proven her mettle in transparently engaging with and advocating for the Rochester community.
Dr. Hawkins takes a careful, personal approach to every program and staff member; she has helped ULR to exceed expectations in program performance, fundraising, and community recognition, even throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Under her leadership, ULR has returned to its roots as the premier civil rights organization in the Greater Rochester area with the introduction of INTERRUPT RACISM and an entirely new Equity and Advocacy division.
Dr. Hawkins is an expert in community engagement and cultural change, advocacy, transitional and permanent supportive housing, fiscal stewardship, strategic planning, and staff development. Her nonprofit executive leadership includes over 20 years in various executive leadership roles for nonprofits and program consultancies in New York and Washington, DC. She also serves as an adjunct professor at St. John Fisher College in its doctoral program of Executive Leadership.
A native of Brooklyn, NY, Dr. Hawkins received her Bachelor’s Degree from Syracuse University, Master’s in Strategic Leadership at Roberts Wesleyan College, and her Doctorate of Education from the Executive Leadership Program at St. John Fisher College.
She actively serves as a board member for The Council of Agency Executives, Inc., RochesterWorks!, Greater Rochester Housing Partnership, ROC2025 Board, M&T Bank Directors Advisory Council, Excellus Health Plan Inc., Trillium Health, and she is the President of the Women’s Council.
Dr. Hawkins lives in Rochester with her husband John and their four-year old daughter Zoe.
LEADERSHIP TEAM
Board of Directors
2023 - 2024 Officers
Chairperson
Dr. Calvin Gantt
Vice President, Diversity, Equity, and Belonging & Executive Director, Downtown Campus - Monroe Community College
Vice Chairpersons
Gregory Ewing
Chief Compliance Officer, Trillium Health, Inc.
Dr. Sim Jonathan Covington, Jr.
Chief Diversity Officer - Finger Lakes Community College
Treasurer
Keith Cleary
Director of Business Banking - ESL Federal Credit Union
Assistant Treasurer
Ashley L. Freeman
Corporate Auditor - MAR Compliance Manager - Excellus BlueCross BlueShield
Recording Secretary
Gail Morelle
Vice President - Christa Construction, LLC
Corresponding Secretary
Derrill A. Blue
Senior Pastor - Memorial AME Zion Church
Chairperson, Nominating Committee
Portia James
Chief Human Resources Officer - CeriFi
Chairperson, HR Committee
Talethea Best
Founder & CEO - Best Innovations Consulting
Chairperson, Marketing, Fundraising & Communications Committee
Denishea Ortiz
Executive Director of Strategic Marketing - Rochester Institute of Technology
Chairperson, Program Planning, Research & Evaluation Committee
John Ramerman
CEO - Ramerman Leadership Group
Officers-At-Large
Essie Calhoun-McDavid
Retired - Global Diversity & Community Affairs Officer / VP - Eastman Kodak Company
Emerson U. Fullwood
Retired - Executive Chief Staff and Marketing Officer, Xerox North America - Xerox Corporation
Board Members
Theodora Finn
President - Greater Rochester Housing Partnership
Salomon Madera
Major Account Manager - Waste Management
Stuart Mitchell
Executive Director - Pathstone Foundation
George Opira
Financial Advisor - Avantax Wealth Management
Joseph L. Searles
Vice President & Chief Community Engagement Officer - Trillium Health
Mallory Smith
Associate, Law Offices of Pullano & Farrow PLLC
Raymond Sykes
AVP, YourPlace Banking - Citizens Bank
Sheri Watkins
Chief of Finance, Monroe County Office of Mental Health