Meet The Team
Paulaska S. Ramirez
Founder & Executive Director
Paulaska S. Ramirez is the Founder and Executive Director of Generation Fearless. Ramirez is responsible for the vision, strategy, and efforts of the organization, which aims to empower, uplift, and help first-generation women navigate all stages of their lives. As a first-generation, Latina, Ramirez found herself navigating college, graduate school, relationships, and many parts of adulthood without a point of reference. Now she aspires to help other first-generation women by serving as that reference point. Her experiences in nonprofit, social service, and higher education— where she works directly with first-generation low-income students of diverse backgrounds— inspired her to found Generation Fearless.
Paulaska has 13+ years of experience in higher education, working with students of diverse backgrounds from low-income households. As a proud Educational Opportunity Fund (EOF) program alum, she understands the importance of serving as an advocate and supporting students on their academic journey. She attributes much of her success to the opportunities and support received from the program throughout her academic and professional career.
Paulaska has extensive experience spearheading and facilitating educational and social workshops, training, and one-on-one initiatives to address personal development, leadership, culture & identity, and career planning. She creates innovative solutions to strengthen diversity, inclusion, and cultural competencies. She serves as a voice and advocate to shed light on the disparities and inequities experienced by members of her community.
Paulaska is the daughter of Dominican immigrants; she was born and raised in Passaic, New Jersey, and had been a proud resident of Paterson, New Jersey, for over a decade. She earned her bachelor’s degree in sociology with a concentration in criminal justice from William Paterson University of New Jersey and her master’s in administrative science from Fairleigh Dickinson University. Currently, she is pursuing her Doctor of Education with a concentration in Organizational Leadership Studies at Northeastern University.
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Contact Information: PaulaskaRamirez@generationfearless.org
Amina Mostafa
Founding Board Member & Secretary
Amina Mostafa serves as a founding board member and secretary for Generation Fearless. A licensed associate counselor in the state of New Jersey and a higher education administrator working mostly with marginalized students who are first-generation. Mostafa is passionate about helping and takes a holistic approach to supporting first-generation individuals with her background as a therapist.
Amina is the daughter of Egyptian immigrants, she was born in Brooklyn, New York and raised in Jersey City, New Jersey. She earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology from New Jersey City University and her master’s degree in clinical and counseling psychology from William Paterson University of New Jersey.
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Contact Information: secretary@generationfearless.org
Clara M. Diaz
Founding Board Member & Treasurer
Clara M. Diaz serves as a founding board member and treasurer for Generation Fearless. A bilingual first-generation accountant, Diaz has over ten years of professional experience in property and corporate accounting. She is blazing a path for other women of color who hope to pursue a career in accounting. Diaz is passionate about helping first-generation college students and serves as an academic coach and mentor.
Clara is the daughter of Dominican immigrants, she was born and raised in Paterson, New Jersey. A graduate of William Paterson University of New Jersey, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in business administration with a concentration in accounting and a minor in Spanish and her MBA with a concentration in accounting.
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Contact Information: treasurer@generationfearless.org
Sonia Wilson
Board Member & Community Engagement Chair
Sonia Wilson serves as a board member and the Community Engagement Chair for Generation Fearless. Sonia Wilson has worked in the insurance industry for more than 10 years where she helped insureds “recover from the unexpected.” After the doors unexpectedly closed on that career, she used that same philosophy to reinvent herself. In 2016, she began working in the field of Higher Education where she found her passion for assisting students to pursue academic excellence on their journey of higher education. For the past 10 years, Wilson has volunteered her time and efforts to Kids of Incarcerated Parents (KOIP), a non-profit organization that provides gifts to children during the Christmas holiday and supplies during the school year. Wilson is impassioned to help all students but specifically, first-generation students of color achieve higher education with the goal of increasing their social mobility. She seeks to use her experience and skill as a higher education professional and her life as a testimony of “I can and I will.”
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Sonia is a first-generation college graduate, she was born and raised in Paterson, New Jersey. She earned her associate’s degree in Human Services from Passaic County Community, her bachelor’s degree in Sociology from William Paterson University of New Jersey, and her master’s degree in Higher Education from William Paterson University of New Jersey.
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Contact Information: communityengagement@generationfearless.org
Gabriella Braddock
Board Member & Development Chair
Gabriella Braddock serves as a board member and the Development Chair for Generation Fearless. Gabriella Braddock has helped many entrepreneurs birth their businesses into successful and thriving vessels. Gabby built The Vault Music Studio with her husband and has implemented many processes and strategies so the business can remain profitable all while building communities that allow them to stay visible. Her passion for serving others started at a young age and she has not stopped since. No Plan B is Gabby's first solo business venture, she serves as a fractional COO to female founders and also serves small businesses as a consultant and master connector. She was born and raised in NJ and she can often be found at the park with her two children running around her.
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Gabriella holds an associate’s degree in Hospitality Management from the County College of Morris, her bachelor’s degree, and her master’s degree in Accounting from Bloomfield College.
Contact Information: Development@generationfearless.org
Angela Marie Subido
Social Media Manager
Angela Marie Subido serves as the Social Media Manager for Generation Fearless. Angela has spent the past 5 years participating in meaningful work that addressed the needs of youth, students, people with disabilities, and low-income families in Santa Barbara, San Francisco, and San Diego. Angela has spent most of her time post-grad, serving the community with creative outreach through food distribution, art sharings, educational discussions, and health services. Angela draws inspiration from the people she meets and is excited to help make those ideas come to life. Her hobbies include cooking, fitness, live music events, and spending time in nature.
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Angela identifies as Filipino and uses she/her pronouns. She has been a San Diego resident for the majority of her life. She received her bachelor’s degree in Asian American Studies and a minor in Applied Psychology from the University of California Santa Barbara.
Interns
Susana Barretto
Rising Junior
Stella Liu
Rising Junior
Alani Batista
Rising Junior
Ezinne Madakonam
Rising Junior
Katie Koch
Rising Senior
Susana Barretto serves as one of the Marketing & Communications Interns for Generation Fearless. Susana is a rising junior majoring in Graphic Design at New Jersey City University. Susana is passionate about women's empowerment, financial independence, community service, and the arts. She has an Associate’s Degree in Business Administration from Middlesex College, where she is an alum member of Phi Theta Kappa, Tri-Alpha, and the Bonner Leader Program. Susana also works part-time as a Guest Services Associate at State Theatre New Jersey. Susana enjoys drawing, video games, and live music.
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Susana is a first-generation college student and a future first-generation graduate student/professional. Susana is the daughter of Peruvian immigrants; she was born in Edison, NJ, and raised in New Brunswick, NJ.
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Alani Batista serves as one of the Marketing & Communications Intern for Generation Fearless. Alani is a rising graduate from Middlesex County College, majoring in Psychology. She is passionate about self-learning, mental health and wellbeing, and self-improvement. Alani enjoys music, reading, long walks, and cooking.
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Katie Koch serves as one of the Marketing & Communications Interns for Generation Fearless. Katie is a rising senior majoring in Communications with a concentration in Public Relations at the University of Delaware. She is passionate about community service and working in a non-profit space. Katie enjoys traveling, music, and reading.
Stella Liu serves as one of the Marketing & Communications Interns for Generation Fearless. Stella a rising junior majoring in Business Analytics and Information system. Stella is passionate about creating and editing dancing videos, women’s self-development, digital social media, and marketing.
Stella is a first-generation college student studying abroad and a future first-generation graduate student in America.
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Ezinne Madakonam serves as one of the Marketing & Communications Interns for Generation Fearless. Ezinne is a rising junior majoring in Global Studies. She is passionate about human rights, justice, and equality. Some of her interests include traveling, music, and the arts. Ezinne enjoys working in the nonprofit space and hopes to make an impact in her community.
Ezinne is a first-generation college student and future first-generation professional.