Ujima Advisory Council

Leah Bentfield

Leah Bentfield (she/her) is a seasoned professional with a background in education and mental health advocacy. As the Program Manager of Mental Health First Aid at the Mental Health Association of Maryland, Leah has been instrumental in developing and implementing programs aimed at increasing both mental health literacy and confidence to intervene. With a particular passion for supporting higher education initiatives, Leah brings a wealth of expertise in launching new programs, network development, and creating high quality and supportive learning environments. 

 

Dr. Karen Crews

Dr. Karen Crews is a highly accomplished counselor leader with extensive experience spanning roles as a teacher, school counselor, and both school-based and district-level administrator within Montgomery County Public Schools, the largest school district in Maryland. She has spearheaded numerous professional development initiatives aimed at enhancing student achievement, fostering college and career readiness, promoting counselor leadership, and utilizing data-driven practices.
 
Dr. Crews has also worked as a Senior Associate for the Education Trust's National Center for Transforming School Counseling, collaborating with school districts nationwide to address systemic barriers to student academic success.
 
Currently, she serves as the Director of School Counseling for Montgomery County Public Schools, where she leads the design and implementation of comprehensive counseling programs for over 500 school counselors. Additionally, Dr. Crews has been an adjunct professor at Johns Hopkins University for a decade, where she takes pride in mentoring and preparing future counselors for impactful careers in the field.

Susan Love

Mrs. Susan Love's career in education spans over three decades, reflecting a deep commitment to fostering student growth and success. As an educator, school counselor, and specialist, she has shaped the lives of countless students in Anne Arundel County Public Schools. In her current role as the School Counseling Coordinator for Grades 9-12, she oversees a team of 90 school counselors, guiding them in their mission to help students discover their passions and plan for life beyond high school. Her advocacy for student development is matched by her personal joys—her family, with whom she shares her life, and her hobbies, reading and gardening, which offer her moments of tranquility and reflection. 

 

Raenelle Taylor, Ujima Scholar

Raenelle earned a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Hampton University. With a decade of service in Prince George’s County Public Schools, she excelled as an educator and varsity coach for softball and volleyball. Beyond the classroom, Raenelle demonstrated leadership as a peer mediation coordinator and mentor program coordinator, fostering student growth and conflict resolution skills.
 
Fusing her passions for coaching, mental health advocacy, and mentoring, Raenelle’s leadership has resulted in placing four athletes in college on scholarships, exemplifying her dedication to student success on and off the field.
 
Currently enrolled in the graduate program for School Counseling here at Bowie State University, Raenelle also serves on the Ujima Counseling Advisory Board. While in the program, she has highlighted key opportunities such as conducting a Youth Mental Health Toolkit Workshop in partnership with Governor Wes Moore and First Lady Moore, becoming Youth Mental Health Certified, and holding memberships with ASCA (American School Counselor Association) and MSCA (Maryland School Counselor Association). She remains committed to using her tools and passions to support counselors in training and foster student mental well-being.