Staff and board

Amber Reed has worked to advance equity in public education through research, policy, and data analysis for over a decade, after beginning her career in publishing and finance. Amber is a Korean American adoptee, writer, and mother of two school-aged children. She graduated summa cum laude from Columbia University with a BA in English literature and holds an MFA in Playwriting from Brooklyn College. She is proud to serve on the Episcopal Diocese of Newark’s Racial Justice and Healing Commission and as Vice Chair of the New Jersey AAPI Commission. Amber also serves as President of the Board of Directors; as Co-E.D., her focus areas are advocacy, coalition-building, and strategic growth.

Roslyne Shiao is a second generation Chinese American, born and raised in California. She is an experienced executive and nonprofit leader committed to education and community building. Roslyne has over 20 years of experience in executive leadership roles  and is a founding Board Member of AAPI Montclair. She currently serves on the Board of Directors and in her work as Co-Executive Director, leads the Teach Asian American Stories initiative to support New Jersey educators implement the historic AAPI Curriculum Mandate. Roslyne lives in Montclair, NJ with her husband and two children..

Jeffrey Chang, Esq. has over 15 years of experience in the legal, government, and non-profit sectors in diverse roles spanning legal services, organizing & advocacy, external relations, and fundraising. At AAPI New Jersey, he helps guide volunteers, staff, and the Board to pursue and build cross-racial solidarity, as well as services and resources that support the resilience of Asian Americans and other marginalized communities. Raised in New Jersey, he received his law degree from Rutgers Law School where he received the Eli Jarmel Award for highest proficiency in public interest law. He is also a Board Member of Rise and is on the leadership team of a children’s advocacy organization.

Shaira Cruz is a first-generation immigrant from the Philippines, raised in Hudson County. With 8 years of experience in diverse educational settings, she is committed to cultivating inclusive and culturally responsive teaching practices. Cruz's dedication to learning is evident through her Master's in Social Studies Education from Columbia University and professional development scholarships, including those for Facing History and Ourselves, Library of Congress, and the Center for Racial Justice Education. Over the past 7 years, Cruz has actively organized for causes such as migrant rights and workers' rights in Jersey City and beyond. Currently, she serves as a secretariat member of Migrante New Jersey and volunteers for the Justice For Jollibee Workers campaign.

Danielle Iwata is a cultural consultant and nonprofit administrator working towards social impact and community transformation. She has served on advisory committees, grant panels and mentor cohorts for various arts organizations in the tri-state area. Danielle holds a BA from Colgate University and unaccreditedly continues her education through facilitating spaces for visioning and healing, deepening connections with her community, and reading the works of adrienne maree brown. 

Sumeet Kapoor is a dedicated advocate for diversity and community engagement, with a record of work promoting cultural awareness and unity. Originally hailing from the vibrant cities of Bangkok and Singapore, with a background in marketing and advertising, she has brought her rich cultural experiences and professional expertise to her current home in Montclair. Sumeet Kapoor played a pivotal role in the establishment of AAPI Montclair as a founding trustee and has been instrumental in shaping the organization's vision and mission. Sumeet has been actively involved in producing large-scale community events, including Light up Montclair, Lunar New Year, Color Run, and the Lantern Festival. As the Director of Development for AAPI Montclair, Sumeet undertakes a range of responsibilities critical to the organization's growth and success.

Meredith Nahra joined AAPI Montclair as a volunteer at the inaugural Lantern Festival for Justice and Remembrance in 2021. She later became a founding Board member and served as Treasurer, while actively volunteering across the organization's many community building, education, and advocacy efforts. Additionally, she has enjoyed a rewarding career as a speech-language pathologist and recently completed a Certificate in Nonprofit Management from Duke University. Meredith is an adoptive parent of two Korean-American young adults and lives in Montclair. As the Director of Operations, Meredith aspires to positively impact day to day activities and help AAPI New Jersey meet its mission.

Jina Park is a current graduate student at the Rutgers University School of Social Work, specializing in the management and policy program. She earned a B.A. in English and Secondary Education from The College of New Jersey, and joined AAPI New Jersey after working as a public school teacher. As a first generation immigrant from South Korea, Jina is looking forward to working directly with the AAPI community and advocating for the rights, dignity, and well-being of marginalized groups. 

Chathu Ranwalage relocated to the US from her native Sri Lanka a decade ago and has been a Montclair resident with her husband and daughter since 2019. After volunteering at Color Run 2022, she became a co-chair of the Volunteer Management committee, where for two years she was instrumental in fulfilling the volunteer needs of AAPI Montclair’s marquee events. In the past, she has worked as a Business Analyst for British Teleco and Verizon, and more recently as a startup project manager for a coaching business specializing in early-stage businesses. One of her key career highlights was assisting early-stage entrepreneurs with their digital transformation during the pandemic, helping them increase their online presence. Chathu is excited to start her new role, where she will be able to apply her skills and experience to make a positive impact in the nonprofit sector while serving her community.

Iris Shih joined AAPI Montclair as a volunteer in 2021 and took on the role of Media & Communications Chair in 2023. She most recently managed communications at the Henry Luce Foundation and has a deep well of experience in communications and graphic design, having worked on print, interactive, and corporate identity projects across a range of industries including education, non-profit, technology, and publishing. In this new role, she will expand on the work that our M/C volunteers started and will continue to build a comprehensive communications strategy for AAPI New Jersey.

Josie Williams is a local mom of three school-aged children and has enjoyed being an active volunteer at local non-profits and at her children’s schools, including being a PTA committee chair, class liaison, and a part-time preschool substitute teacher. Josie has over 15 years of experience working in the music industry at various record labels and music publishers handling film & tv music licensing. She first volunteered with AAPI Montclair in 2021 installing lanterns and most recently as the co-chair of Volunteer Management, helping recruit and coordinate volunteers for our large-scale events. Josie is excited to continue to support the organization in her new role.