ODEKA LEADERSHIP
Shielyn Jones Kousnsky
Shielyn Jones, Founder and President:
She was born and raised in Haiti in her native village called Grand Goave, Haiti. She emigrated in USA 20 years ago. She graduated cum laude with two bachelor’s degrees a B.A in Political Science with concentrations Global Populations and B.A Public Administrations from Florida Gulf Coast University. After returning to her native village by the 2010 earthquake. She decided to get involve in order to assist the reconstruction of the school and provide basic necessities to the people of
village.
Larose Saint Jean
Larose Saint Jean, Co-Founder & Chair:
Larose Saint Jean is a Haitian native of Grand Goave, Haiti. He graduated from Haiti State Law University (Faculté de Droit et Sciences Juridiques) with a Bachelor Degree in Law. He obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering with a minor in Business Administration. Larose earned a degree in Spanish studies at Universidad Apec Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Larose is currently the Director of Operations Notre Dame University, Notre Dame , Indiana. He is fluent in Spanish, French and English, Haitian Creole. He has been collaborating with other staff member of Kaskou foundation. His experiences and his education background will serve ODEKA to better assist people of the village.
Jacky Decilien
Jacky Decilien, Vice Chair
Jacky is a native from Haiti. He is an education specialist and professor. He holds a B.A in education and a Master degree in Business Administration from (INUQUA) University School of Commerce Haiti. He spent fifteen years at the Ministry of Education consultant.He traveled abroad providing training and conducting seminars in many countries such as: Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Martinique and Senegal. Jacky provides a support to projects, and he is a great asset for Organization of Kaskou.
Dr. Karen Richman
Dr. Karen Richman, Advisory Board
Dr. Karen is a cultural anthropologist and Director of Undergraduate Academic Programs at the Institute for Latino Studies at Notre Dame University. She teaches courses in Latino Studies, Romance Languages and Literatures and Anthropology. Richman is the author of Migration and Vodou (2005), of numerous articles and book chapters on Haitian and Mexican migration, religion, savings, work, language and music. Richman’s scholarship and teaching have been recognized with awards for Open Course Ware Excellence, the Heizer award for the best journal article in ethnohistory and Newberry Library and Social Science Research Council fellowships. She co-edited a special journal volume on Haitian religion in 2012 and was the hosting chair of the annual Haitian Studies Association conference at University of Notre Dame. Her current research project is an interdisciplinary study of Mexican immigrants’ social wealth, savings and retirement supported by the National Endowment for Financial Education.
Rev. James A. Bracke C.S.C
Rev. James Bracke, C.S.C., is the Staff Chaplain at the University of Notre Dame where he serves the staff of nearly 5,000. He entered the Congregation of Holy Cross at Notre Dame in the fall of 1970 as a collegiate freshman seminarian. He received a B.A. in Sociology in 1974 and an M.Div. in 1978. Following a transfer to the Diocese of Peoria he was ordained in 1980 at St. Mary’s Cathedral. He served in 2 parishes and at the Newman Center at the University of Illinois for 9 years. In September 1988, Fr. Bracke re-incorporated into the Congregation and has since served in parochial ministry, as a chaplain to the Sisters of the Holy Cross, and as a campus minister at Notre Dame Prep in Niles, Illinois. Prior to this assignment he also served in prison ministry at Westville Correctional in Northwest Indiana. He recently joined Odeka Haiti and serve an advisory board member.
Myriam Saint Jean
Myriam Saint Jean, Treasurer
Assistant Director of Development for Research and Cultivation, Holy Cross College. Myriam is native of Lyon, France. Myriam earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Finance at Florida Gulf Coast University, Fort Myers, Florida. Myriam worked for South Bend Education Foundation as Financial Coordinator. She is currently a board member at La Casa de Amistad. As Financial Advisor for ODEKA, Myriam is in charged with garnering financial support for the organization.
