Our members participate in volunteer events and take part in a wide range of community service initiatives. Upon graduation, they apply the interpersonal skills they've acquired to start businesses, pursue promotions, and more, using what they have learned to Build Leaders Who Make a Better World.
Check out the headlines made by NSLS members who used their leadership skills to level up in their careers, earn outstanding academic honors, and help make a positive impact on their communities this month.
Rashiek Barber, New York City College of Technology, has earned a series of honors recognizing more than 26 years of leadership across the engineering sector. In 2026 alone, he received the Men to Watch Award from Black Leaders Worldwide, earned a nomination for the International Facility Management Association's (IFMA) Facilities Management Achievement Award in Maintenance and Operations, and was spotlighted by both the Highgate Engineering Council and City Tech CUNY for his contributions to the field.
Barber currently serves as director of engineering at Highgate, a hospitality and real estate organization with hotels across North America, Latin America, and Europe. He sits on the company's advisory commissioning board and engineering council, guiding engineers on compliance, local regulations, and sustainability while overseeing capital projects, vendor relations, and full property renovations. His earlier career included work as a subcontractor for the U.S. Department of State and OSHA, where he served as one of just two chief engineers assigned to the U.S. mission to the United Nations.
Barber stays active across the industry, holding student president roles for both City Tech CUNY's NSLS chapter and its IFMA student chapter. An author as well as an engineer, he has published work on the mentorship challenges Black professionals face in corporate America and is writing a book exploring those experiences and the power of mentorship.
Read More from Marquis Who's Who >>
Tyler Rose, Austin Peay State University (APSU), received the Harvill-Civitan Citizenship Award, one of the university's most prestigious student accolades, presented annually to a graduate who has made an outstanding contribution to good citizenship during their college career.
A music major and one of APSU's most visible campus leaders, Rose was crowned 2025 Homecoming King and served as president of the Student Government Association, representing the entire student body. He also led the Student Organization Council, supporting more than 170 student organizations, and helped coordinate major campus events as vice president of programming for the Govs Programming Council. As an accomplished musician, he served as principal clarinetist for the APSU Wind Ensemble and held leadership roles with the Governor's Own Marching Band.
Rose names his proudest accomplishment as establishing a campus-wide town hall that brings students, faculty, staff, and administrators together for open dialogue, an initiative he built while carrying 20 credit hours each semester and maintaining a 4.0 GPA. He also served as vice president of his NSLS chapter. After graduation, Rose will attend Indiana University Bloomington to pursue a master's degree in higher education and student affairs administration.
Read More at ClarksvilleNow.com >>
Pablo Kiger, Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU), has been recognized for more than two decades of dedicated service in produce management and quality assurance. His international career spans supply chain operations, project management, and stakeholder engagement across a dozen countries.
In 2025, Kiger became quality assurance director at Alpine Fresh LLC in Miami, where he established the quality program for berries, vegetables, and fresh cuts across the U.S., Mexico, Peru, and Chile. His work aligns quality standards from source to destination, coordinating cold treatment, transportation, and customer expectations along the way. One of his standout accomplishments came at Driscoll's, where he led a team that developed the Sweetest Batch label for the company's Peruvian blueberry program. Over 15 months, the initiative tackled the challenge of growing sweeter blueberries in a non-dormant climate, helping production grow nearly fivefold within two years.
Kiger's academic foundation runs deep. He holds a bachelor's degree in agricultural engineering, a master's in operations and project management from SNHU, and an MBA earned in Spain, along with diplomas and certifications spanning environmental studies, plant pathology, and food safety. He has also volunteered with children's charities and has been a monthly UNICEF donor since 2015.
Read More from Marquis Who's Who >>
Erica Barber, University of Phoenix, was featured by Influential Women for transforming an unexpected opportunity into a thriving career built on expertise, customer advocacy, and a commitment to continuous growth.
What began as a temporary secretary role while on maternity leave, helping at her father's collision repair business, became a turning point. Following her father's passing, Barber chose to stay and learn every aspect of the operation. Without formal industry training, she relied on determination and hands-on experience, eventually growing into a leadership position. Today, as office manager at Dave Barber's Paint and Body in Gainesville, Florida, she oversees estimates, billing, payroll, insurance coordination, and customer service. She considers preparing collision repair estimates one of her greatest professional accomplishments, taking pride in guiding customers through a process that can often feel stressful and confusing.
Barber is currently pursuing an associate degree in business administration and management at the University of Phoenix, where she has earned recognition on the Dean's List. Balancing school with a full-time career and raising three children, she views her education as an investment in both her future and the business she helps lead.
Read More from The Tennessean >>
Sherika Guidry-Simon, Capella University, was announced as the new principal of Sunset Middle School in Louisiana, the latest milestone in a career dedicated to student growth and school leadership.
A licensed professional counselor with a doctorate in counselor education and supervision, Guidry-Simon brings years of administrative experience to the role. She previously served three years as an administrative assistant at Plaisance Elementary, six years as an assistant principal at Sunset Middle School, and two years as principal of Opelousas Junior High School. Her return to Sunset Middle School as principal reflects a steady, service-minded climb through the ranks of education leadership.
Alexa Santillan, Drew University, was featured as an Outstanding Student highlight after a standout senior year. A double major in chemistry and Spanish, Santillan earned the 2025 Undergraduate Award in Analytical Chemistry from the American Chemical Society and served as president of Empowerment in STEM. She will pursue a PhD in chemistry at Seton Hall University. Full Story >>
Alisson Ailhin Fernandez Tuiro, The University of Vermont, was recognized in a Senior Spotlight for her work as a biomedical engineering major. After discovering a passion for coding, she added minors in computer science and mathematics, learning a range of programming languages. She completed a research internship at Yale University's Saxena Lab and is now applying to PhD programs. Full Story >>
Jennifer Plascencia, Austin Peay State University, received a 2025–2026 Student Leadership Award from the College of Arts & Letters. A senior history major preparing for a career in secondary education, Plascencia served as History Club president and completed a curatorial internship at the Customs House Museum & Cultural Center. She was also named Student Leader of the Month. Full Story >>
Samira Nazari, Drew University, was featured as an Outstanding Graduate for her achievements as a biochemistry major. A member of multiple honor societies and a consistent Dean's List honoree, Nazari credits an internship with Morristown Hospital, where she shadowed physicians, with reinforcing her passion for healthcare. She plans to continue pursuing a future in medicine. Full Story >>