Douglass' 104th Spring Convocation

Our Keynote 

Julie Domonkos DC'83

A leader in the fight against domestic violence and a tireless champion of women and women’s issues, Julie Domonkos is a 1983 graduate of Douglass College, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in economics with highest honors and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa as a junior. After obtaining her law degree from New York University in 1986, Domonkos practiced at Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison before founding one of the first legal services offices for domestic violence victims in New York City in 1992.

Domonkos served as co-founder of the Lawyers Committee Against Domestic Violence and as chair of the Domestic Violence Task Force of the Association of the Bar of the City of New York, where she developed and advocated for improved policies in the police, prosecutorial, judicial, and social services responses to domestic violence. Her tenacious advocacy efforts led to the passage of many significant policy changes and pieces of legislation, including landmark New York State laws against stalking and human trafficking.

From 2000 to 2005, Domonkos was Executive Director of My Sisters’ Place, Westchester County’s leading domestic violence services and advocacy organization, ensuring victims’ access to legal and social services. As a frequent writer and lecturer on domestic violence, she has authored numerous journal and newspaper pieces, and is a co-editor and contributor to the Lawyer's Manual on Domestic Violence, published by the New York State Court system. In recent years, Domonkos has transitioned to writing fiction and mentoring young women in her community. She is also an avid supporter of Douglass, serving on the esteemed institution’s Advisory Board since 2014, and has provided strong leadership as Board Chair since 2016. Working closely with Douglass leadership on the Centennial Campaign and Dean Jacqueline Litt’s Strategic Plan, Domonkos helped drive the creation of the BOLD Center for Leadership, Career, and Personal Development, one of Douglass’ most successful and impactful initiatives.

Maryam Mendes

Senior Address

Maryam Mendes DRC'25

Majoring in Psychology and Human Resources, Maryam Mendes DRC’25 is a proud Douglass graduate of the Class of 2025.

As a fellow with the Racial Justice Learning Community (RAJU) at the Institute for the Study of Global Racial Justice (ISGRJ), she is part of the first tri-campus undergraduate academic program dedicated to activism and advocacy. She is also a building manager at the recreation centers and a Resident Assistant (RA) on campus. At Douglass Residential College, Maryam is the chairwoman of the Douglass Welcome Ambassadors, a board member of the Red Pine Ambassadors, a member of the Douglass Student Recruitment Network and the Dean's Advisory Board. Outside of Rutgers, Maryam assists in organizing an annual Muslim Black family retreat and serves on the leadership team of the African-American Healing, Ancestry, and Development (AHAD) Collective. Maryam has served as an ambassador for Charity Week New Jersey as a logistics coordinator for the Muslim Interscholastic Tournament (MIST)—a national three-day competition for high school students—and as a member of the Ladders organization.

Spoken Word Artist

Herrin Oum Fontenette DRC'25

Herrin Oum Fontenette is a senior at the School of Arts and Sciences and Douglass Residential College at Rutgers University, majoring in history with a concentration in Black studies and minoring in public policy while earning a certificate in law and history. As a historian in a Eurocentrically dominated field, she amplifies the voices of Black American freedmen and African diasporic culture, while her public
policy studies focus on equity, economic restitution, and political representation. A spoken word artist and activist from Jersey City, she uses her poetry to highlight the repression of marginalized communities and inspire tangible action, centering themes of Black femininity, unity, divinity, and resistance against anti-Blackness.
A dynamic leader in student advocacy, Herrin has performed at Rutgers' Opening Convocation, the New Brunswick Performing Arts Center, and the Mark Conference. She serves on the executive boards of Verbal Mayhem Poetry Collective and Black Students for Liberation and is president of the Douglass Black Students’ Congress. Beyond the stage, she has worked as an intern for the Dr. Jewel Plummer Cobb STEAM Women’s Initiatives in the Office of Student Involvement and Leadership, acting as a liaison between the office and Rutgers women’s organizations. In this role, she facilitates programming in honor of Dr. Jewel Plummer Cobb, scientist, cancer researcher, academic, professor, and the first African American dean of Douglass Residential College (1976–1981). She has also worked as a PLEN Public Policy Intern with the NJ Division of Civil Rights, and a Riley Bold extern with the NJ Bar Association. A published researcher and Rutgers Institute for the Study of Global Racial Justice Undergraduate Fellow, Herrin contributed to a digital zine archive documenting Black student self-determination across Rutgers campuses. She is also a proud member of the Cap and Skull Senior Honor Society.

Senior Toast

Giselle Silva DRC'25

Giselle Stephanie Silva is the President of the Douglass Governing Council, serving previously as Secretary, External Vice President, and Mental Health Committee member. She is a Douglass Welcoming Ambassador, greeting all incoming freshmen for the last three years.
Giselle also works at Alexander Library as a Federal Work-Study Student for the past four years. She worked on the Archivio Digitale Ludovisi on behalf of the Aresty Program, and had the honor of teaching a class last semester to First-Year International Students at the Business School. She is graduating from the Rutgers Business School–New Brunswick with a Bachelor’s of Science in Finance and
Business Analytics and Information Technology. She will become the first University graduate in her immediate family. After graduation, she will be joining Verisk Analytics as a Rotational Analyst for their HR department after two summers as an intern. She landed the internship thanks to her Douglass involvement. After college, she hopes to return to gardening, continue reading, involve herself in community organizing, and continue to dream big alongside those she loves most.