Executive Board
Erica SimpsonPresident
Erica Simpson is the President of the Roberto Clemente Minority Business Association. She is from Tinton Falls, New Jersey and a junior in the College of Business Administration pursuing a degree in Finance with a minor in Economics and Certificate in International Business. This year, Erica hopes to instill the importance of service to the university and Pittsburgh community in the members of RCMBA and continue leading the organization in fulfilling its mission to “transform the corporate world through diversity.” In addition to RCMBA, Erica has served on the leadership team of Ambassadors for Christ and as a volunteer with multiple non-profit organizations such as Reach Up Inc. and La Escuelita Arcoiris. In the future, she plans to continue her education and obtain a MBA and pursue a career that allows her to use the skills attained from her Finance and Marketing degree.
Courtney Merritt is the Business Manager for the Roberto Clemente Minority Business Association. She is a junior from Windsor, Connecticut, majoring in Finance with a minor in Economics as well as a Certificate in International Business. In this vital role, her primary responsibility is to document all financial transactions of the organization and serve as the liaison between RCMBA and both the Student Organization Resource Center and the Student Government Board. Courtney hopes that as a leader in RCMBA she can give to the members of the organization the same kind of guidance and support that she received during her freshman year. In the future, Courtney hopes to pursue a career that utilizes her degree in Finance and Certificate in International Business.
Kathryn Wright is the Executive Administrator for the Roberto Clemente Minority Business Association. Her hometown is Atlanta, Georgia and she is a junior in the College of Business Administration. Kathryn is pursuing degrees in Marketing and Environmental Studies with a Minor in German Language and Literature. She has been a member of the Roberto Clemente Minority Business Association since her freshman year. In her current role, she is actively working towards making RCMBA more efficient and accessible for all members. Previously, Kathryn served on the Marketing and MIP Committees. This year she hopes to continue updating and maintaining electronic databases she created last year and also assist new leaders in successful event planning. Kathryn has been an active member of multiple student organizations such as Anointed Steps of Faith Step Team, Steel City Bhangra Dance Team, and the Debate Team. Her goals for the future include attending graduate school and pursuing a career in Environmental Consulting.
Rishi Sethi is the Minorities in Pittsburgh Conference (MIP) Chairperson for the Roberto Clemente Minority Business Association. A native of Pittsburgh, he is a junior pursing a dual degree in Economics and Business as well as a minor in Political Science. He believes that diversity is one of the greatest assets of humanity and that understanding the ideas, perspectives, circumstances, and lifestyles of people around the world is paramount to a peaceful planet. Rishi counts RCMBA among his most valuable experiences at Pitt because it has exposed him to many new opportunities. He is gratified to be surrounded and befriended by incredibly talented people that provide him with a diverse range of opinions, experiences, and knowledge to draw from. As MIP Chair, he hopes to extend this experience with RCMBA to students and corporations from the Pittsburgh region and across all majors, backgrounds, and industries. In addition to his involvement with RCMBA, Rishi has worked in a University of Pittsburgh engineering lab and is an active member of several other campus organizations, including Panther Sports Network. In the future, he hopes to travel extensively and use his education to help people in developing regions of the world as well as pursue his interests in environmental issues, moviemaking, writing, and sports.
Steering Committee
Abasifreke “Free” Ekpe Academic Affairs
Abasifreke “Free” Ekpe serves as the Academic Affairs Chairperson for the Roberto Clemente Minority Business Association and is a native of Pine Bluff, Arkansas. She is a sophomore pursuing a degree in General Management, two minors in French and Economics, and a Certificate in International Business. During her freshman year, Free joined RCMBA and became an active member in the Community Outreach committee. This year as the Academic Affairs Chair for RCMBA, her vision is to support and uplift students to pursue and achieve their short and long term goals through academics. Her main goal this year is to maintain the strong family-like atmosphere that the organization has always had and to foster new friendships among the members.
Johnny Dogun is the Alumni Chairperson of the Roberto Clemente Minority Business Association. He is a sophomore at the University of Pittsburgh from Erie, Pennsylvania. He is pursuing a degree in Business Management with a minor in Economics in the College of Business Administration. This year in RCMBA, Johnny hopes to serve the members of RCMBA by connecting them with past alumni and leveraging them as an experienced resource to enhance the development of the members. In addition to RCMBA, he is a member of the Pitt Track and Field Team as well as the Society of International Business. After graduation, he hopes to use the knowledge and skills that he acquired through his experiences at Pitt and in RCMBA to begin a career in marketing or management.
Liu “Zoe” Chen is the Community Outreach Chairperson of the Roberto Clemente Minority Business Association. Zoe is a sophomore, international student from China pursuing a degree in Finance with a Certificate in Leadership and Ethics. She is also considering pursuing a second degree in Global Management. In this position, she wants to foster the development of RCMBA members into young adults that embrace volunteerism as a lifelong habit. She also wants to work with RCMBA’s corporate partners to help RCMBA members understand the importance of corporate social responsibility in the corporate world. Outside of RCMBA, Zoe enjoys volunteering with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and loves to teach the Chinese language and share the Chinese culture with others.
Oyinkansola Dina is the Chairperson of the Diversity Relations Committee of the Roberto Clemente Minority Business Association. She is a sophomore from Nigeria pursuing a degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering as well as a minor in Psychology and Economics. Since the beginning of her freshman year, she has been an active member of RCMBA, serving on the Minorities in Pittsburgh and Community Outreach committees. She was attracted to the position of Diversity Chair because of her diverse background as an engineering student in a business organization and an international student from Nigeria in an American university. Her plans for the Diversity Committee include raising awareness in RCMBA members about issues concerning diversity as well as broadening their knowledge of other student organizations and cultural groups at the University of Pittsburgh.
Anthony Saba is the First STEP Chairperson for the Roberto Clemente Minority Business Association. A native of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, he is a sophomore pursuing degrees in Finance and Accounting. As the First STEP Chairperson, he is striving to assist the students of Northside Urban Pathways Charter School develop their college and career plans and to help them become the best diverse talent in Pittsburgh. In addition to RCMBA, Anthony works as a Resident Assistant with the University of Pittsburgh Residence Life. After graduation, he plans to use his degree in Finance and Accounting to pursue a career with an international corporation.
Lauren Wallace is the Freshman Leadership Program Coordinator for the Roberto Clemente Minority Business Association. She is a Pittsburgh native and a sophomore in the College of Business Administration pursuing a degree in Marketing with a minor in Psychology. Lauren hopes that the Freshman Leadership Program will help create a strong foundation of freshmen leaders that will grow to understand the organization and serve their fellow members through their unique skills, talents and work ethic. In addition to RCMBA, Lauren is a Pitt Pathfinder, member of the Civic Engagement and Community Service Living Learning Community and member of FeelGood. In the future, Lauren would like to pursue a career in advertising or real estate as well as obtain a MBA and begin her own entrepreneurial endeavor.
Ashley Smith is the Marketing Chairperson of the Roberto Clemente Minority Business Association. She is from the Windy City, Chicago, Illinois, and is a junior in the College of Business Administration pursuing a degree in Accounting with a Certificate in Leadership and Ethics. Her vision for the Marketing Committee is to expand the avenues to market the organization and make students and corporations aware of the benefits of being involved with RCMBA. In addition to serving RCMBA as the Marketing Chair, she is a dancer with the Black Dance Workshop. After graduation, she plans to obtain a Master’s degree in Accounting and certification as a Certified Public Accountant. She would also like to pursue a career in Corporate Accounting and eventually in accounting in the entertainment industry.
Jasmine Gendraw is the Membership Chairperson of the Roberto Clemente Minority Business Association. She is from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and is a senior in the College of Business Administration pursuing a degree in Accounting with a minor in French Language. Jasmine’s goal as the Membership Chairperson is to keep current members active and to exceed their expectations in the organization while recruiting new diverse members to fulfill the organization’s vision “to transform the corporate world through diversity.” Jasmine would also like to continue expanding membership beyond students in the College of Business Administration and welcome students from all majors, backgrounds and different walks of life. After graduation, Jasmine would like to attend graduate school to obtain a Master’s Degree in Accounting.
Jonathan Luchansky is the Vice Chairperson of the Minorities in Pittsburgh Conference Committee. Born and raised north of Pittsburgh, he is a junior pursuing a dual degree in Finance and Economics as well as a Certificate in Leadership and Ethics. While Vice Chair, he plans to continue the legacy of success of MIP by assisting in its development into a premier event where students learn the skills for a successful career and employers form lasting relationships with the diverse talent in Pittsburgh. Jonathan enjoys RCMBA because of the access to a wide variety of corporations and employment opportunities it provides to students not only within CBA, but also in Arts and Sciences and Engineering. In addition to RCMBA, Jonathan serves as a Resident Assistant for Sutherland Hall and enjoys playing basketball. In the future, he plans to use his undergraduate degree to pursue a career in Financial Analysis and Consulting. He also plans to continue his involvement with Caring Hearts, an organization dedicated to saving the youth of San Luis, Mexico from the crippling effects of drug gangs and poverty.