Meet the Team

Welcome to the Bronx Research Institute for Community Solutions (BRICS), where we bring together academic research and grassroots action to tackle the complex challenges facing the Bronx. As an initiative spearheaded by the Center for Community Engaged Learning (CCEL), BRICS is committed to fostering meaningful collaborations between Fordham University scholars, community leaders, and local organizations.

Dr. Julie Gafney

Julie Gafney, Ph.D.

Chief Executive Officer, BRICS

Associate Vice President, Strategic Mission Initiatives, Executive Director, The Center for Community Engaged Learning

Keisha Shay, Ph.D.

Chief Operations Officer, BRICS

Director of Academic Development and Administration, The Center for Community Engaged Learning

Akane Zusho, Ph.D.

Faculty Director, BRICS Professor, Graduate School of Education,

Fordham University

Dr. Emily Lopez

Emily Lopez, Ph.D. 

Senior Research Fellow, BRICS

Senior Director, Community Leadership Development, Graham Windham 

Tiffany Melina

Tiffany Melina

Administrative Assistant, BRICS

Administrative Assistant, The Center for Community Engaged Learning

Christina Reyes Posligua , MS

Christina Reyes Posligua , MS

Graduate Assistant, BRICS

Ph.D. Candidate in Innovation in Curriculum and Instruction with Concentration in Learning Through Multilingualism, Fordham Graduate School of Education, Expected May 2026