Our Team

Providence Student Union unites and develops an entire team of youth leaders, staff, and adult allies all in support of building student power. Our youth staff and recent alumni take on important roles at the organization, including running our fundraising, running workshops, recruiting new members, and organizing campaigns. Providence Student Union is youth led, and adult staff serve an important role in advising, training, and supporting all of our members.

Our Staff

 
 

Merrill Schmidt

Development Director

She/Her

Merrill@pvdstudentunion.org

Merrill's Bio

Merrill is excited to support the Providence Student Union’s work to build collective youth power, improve students’ education and well-being, and advocate for social justice as the Development Director. She recently moved to Providence from her hometown of Little Rock, AR, and is looking forward to getting more involved in the community here. As a student at Little Rock Central High School, she saw the ongoing impact of racial inequity and the legacy of segregation in her community. Since then, she has been inspired to work for social change in the public and nonprofit sectors. After high school, she attended Colorado College in Colorado Springs, CO, where she majored in Southwest Studies and minored in Education. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with friends and family, hiking, traveling and reading.

Jordan Jace

Youth Engagement Director

He/Him

jordan@pvdstudentunion.org

Jordan's Bio

After moving to New England for college Jordan has worked mostly as a server. He organizes to build power for oppressed people. Having admired the work the student organizers did with PASS fighting to get cops out of schools and replace them with counselors, he jumped at the chance to work with PSU.

Miro Meek

Leadership Team Co-Director

He/Him

miro@pvdstudentunion.org

Miro's Bio

Miro Meek is a rising senior at Classical High School. He is a Co-Director of the Leadership Team at the Providence Student Union. He loves to write songs, paint, and thrift.

Gigi Hill

Civic Campaign Coordinator

She/They/Xe

gigi@pvdstudentunion.org

Gigi's Bio

Gigi lives her life around her core values of community, compassion, and collaboration. She brings these to her work as Civic Campaign Coordinator, connecting with youth and adult allies to facilitate programming and advocate for better schools and learning outcomes for every student. Outside of work, gigi enjoys video games (Baldur's Gate 3, Splatoon 3, Spiritfarer, just to name a few favorites), doodling what she calls Strange Shapes, and spending time imagining new worlds with friends and loved ones.

Savannah Debrito ‘25

Leadership Team Co-Director

Any pronouns

savannah@pvdstudentunion.org

Savannah's Bio

Savannah Debrito is a rising senior at Rinimc. Their a Co-Director of the Leadership Team at the Providence Student union. Some of their passions include crocheting, art, nursing, and learning. Savannah hopes to be a pillar support through Their community through art and advocacy.

Maya Hiwasaki-Ohira ‘26

Leadership Team Co-Director

They/Them

maya@pvdstudentunion.org

Maya's Bio

Maya is currently a junior at Classical High School and a Leadership Team Co-Director. They first discovered the Providence Student Union after attending the Know Your Rights Conference in 2022 and was interested in PSU’s work. Maya is committed to ensuring student voices are heard in school district decisions, and advocating for their well-being and rights. In their free time, Maya likes to read, listen to music and hike!

Joselin Morente ‘18


Digital Storyteller

She/Her

joselin@pvdstudentunion.org

Joselin's Bio

Joselin is a K’iche digital artist. They love to create portraits of other people. Joselin is passionate about land sovereignty, immigration rights, and re-imagining safety with a community focus. A former PSU youth, Joselin is happy to be in an adult support role where they are working with the youth leaders at the PSU and cultivating an inclusive and youth-led movement.

Denezia Fahie

Executive Director

She/They

denezia@pvdstudentunion.org

Denezia's Bio

Denezia Fahie is a Worcester, Massachusetts native and Worcester Public Schools graduate. As a young person who spent the majority of her adolescence navigating the foster care system, she found her purpose in challenging social inequities. While in her youth, she became a respected community organizer with several community groups including Worcester YWCA Girls Choice, Planned Parenthood Get Real Teen Council, and Advocates for Youth: Young Women of Color for Reproductive Justice. Denezia is a featured TedX speaker, her talk centers on the need for comprehensive sex education in public schools. She has been honored for her service and awarded the 2017 YWCA Erskine Spirit of Leadership Award, the 2018 City of Worcester Young Woman of Consequence Award, and the 2018 Worcester Magazine Hometown Hero Honor. Denezia believes education should function as a foundational community resource and anchor site of social work where youth are empowered and nurtured. She imagines a future of education that centers the full, authentic, and unapologetic version of students. Denezia is a writer, poet, and researcher who enjoys spending her free time attending open mics, taking road trips, and going to the beach!

Arion Brooks

PSU Intern

She/Her

arion@pvdstudentunion.org

Arion's Bio

Arion, originally from Augusta, Georgia, is currently pursuing a degree in Urban Education Policy at Brown University. They chose to intern with the Providence Student Union (PSU) because of their strong belief in student voice and power. Arion is passionate about uplifting these areas, working to ensure that students' voices are heard and reflected in educational policies. They are excited to grow and learn at PSU, while deepening their understanding of how to empower students and advocate for meaningful changes in the education system.

Eugenie Belony ‘23

Leadership Team Support

She/Her

eugenie@pvdstudentunion.org

Eugenie's Bio

Eugenie is a current student at The American University in Washington, D.C., pursuing a dual degree in Physics and Engineering with Columbia University. They are also double majoring in Education Policy and minoring in African American and African Diaspora Studies. A proud alumnus of The Providence Public Schools and the Providence Student Union (PSU), they now serve as the Leadership Team Support Coordinator, helping to empower the next generation of youth organizers. As a youth activist and poet, Eugenie is passionate about using their voice and skills to drive systemic change. They are deeply dedicated to community development, mentoring rising youth leaders, and fostering spaces where innovative ideas and collaborative solutions can flourish. With a love for learning and a commitment to equity, they continue to lay the groundwork for transformative progress in their community and beyond.

 
 

Board of Directors

Providence Student Union’s Board of Directors is responsible for sustaining the organization long-term. The Board provides fundraising, financial, and legal support, and helps to supervise and advise the Executive Director. The Board does not make any decisions regarding programming or campaigns; these powers are reserved for our Leadership Team members and membership generally.

 
 

  • Jaya Sarkar, Board Chair

  • Jayda Ives-Williams, Vice Chair

  • Jada Rodriguez, Secretary

  • Michael McGuigan, Treasurer

  • Mahasan Chaney

  • Tashal Brown

  • Jack Rusley

  • Stevent Cleto Garcia