Introducing the
Clemente Alumni Council
Representing graduates from programs across the country, the Clemente Alumni Council will help shape alumni engagement, support outreach efforts, and provide vital perspective on Clemente’s evolving work. We’re proud to amplify the voices of our alumni and grateful to the Council members for their leadership and insight.
Brenda Hill
Brenda Hill is a poet/songwriter from Springfield, Ma. She is a graduate of the Inaugural 2015-2016 Clemente class at The Martin Luther King, Jr.. Family services in Springfield, Ma. She was also the former Site Coordinator for Springfield, Ma. site at Martin Luther King, Jr. Family Services. She serves as a Writing Consultant /Teachers Assistant at Bard Microcollege in Holyoke, MA. where she graduated in 2019.
Romain Kiragoulou
Romain Kiragoulou is passionate about education, community engagement, and helping others in his community. For him, true success in life is measured by the positive impact one can have on those around them. He completed the Clemente Course in the Humanities in Worcester, MA, in the spring of 2022. The Clemente Course's inclusive teaching approach, along with the writing and communication sessions, played a key role in supporting Romain's learning journey. Since then, he has remained active in civic and leadership work, especially with youth, displaced communities, and people living with disabilities. Romain believes in the power of stories, human connection, and small acts that lead to lasting change."
Bill Millette
Bill Millette served 28 years in the Army Reserve and 39 years working with parachutes and airdrop equipment as an Army civilian. He deployed four times: in 1991 for Desert Storm in Saudi Arabia; in 1996 for Joint Endeavor in Sarajevo, Bosnia; in 2004-2005 to Baghdad, Iraq for Iraqi Freedom; and in 2010-2011 for Enduring Freedom - Horn of Africa. He is grateful to have had the opportunity to work with and become friends with some incredible people, to have traveled to many places around the world, and to have been involved with interesting and challenging work. There were stressful and difficult times though as well; and when he enrolled in the VA system in 2016, he was diagnosed with PTSD. What has helped him most in addressing his PTSD was enrolling in the Providence Clemente Veterans Initiative in January 2021. It’s an incredible program that uses the humanities to help veterans process their military experience, and it has been a lifesaver for Bill. He has remained in PCVI since that time and began to serve as a Dialogue Facilitator for the course in September 2024. He is excited to extend his involvement with the Clemente Courses as a member of the Clemente Alumni Council.
Maria Wilson-Sepulveda
Maria Wilson-Sepulveda is from Ponce, Puerto Rico. She resides in the city of Brockton, MA and is a graduate of the Clemente Course Brockton, MA, Class of 2020. After graduating from the Clemente Course, she joined the Clemente Course Brockton as the administrative assistant. One of her goals is to work with adult learners, concentrating on ELL/ESL Learners with learning challenges. She looks forward to participating in and collaborating with other members of the Clemente Alumni Council.
Amy Howard
Amy Howard has called Port Townsend home since 2000, arriving as a young person experiencing homelessness and finding the support she needed to rebuild her life. In 2004, she completed the Jefferson County Clemente Course in the Humanities (the only rural course of its kind in the nation), an experience that sparked her passion for learning, leadership, and community service. Today, she serves as Manager of Volunteer Engagement at Habitat for Humanity of East Jefferson County and as an elected member of the Port Townsend City Council, where she currently holds the role of Deputy Mayor.
Kat Kingsley
Kat Kingsley is a native Michigander who moved to Northwest Indiana in 2021. As a transplant, they were in search of community and found it through their classmates and professors at Clemente. She learned about the Clemente Course at the Civil Rights Heritage Center in South Bend, IN, and later graduated in May 2025. Kat enjoys creating art, gardening and sharing knowledge. She is also a civil rights advocate with a special interest in LGBTQIA+ and disability rights.
Ladji Ruffin
Ladji Ruffin is a passionate advocate for individuals impacted by the criminal justice system, working to expand access to supportive services after incarceration. He is the CEO of Authentic Braille Masters, LLC, which provides Braille transcription services for the blind and visually impaired. A graduate of the Clemente Course with Prison to Professional (2022) and Common Good Atlanta (2024). Mr. Ruffin also holds numerous certifications in mental health, addiction recovery, and psychiatric rehabilitation. He recently completed the Justice-Involved Life Coach Certification Program at Morehouse School of Medicine and earned a degree in Criminal Justice Leadership from Mercer University. After serving over 23 years in prison, Mr. Ruffin has transformed his life and now thrives as an entrepreneur, public speaker, and recovery advocate.