Office for Graduate Student Development & Diversity

Michelle Nearon joined the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences in July 2008, where she works closely with students, members of the faculty and administration, and the McDougal Center Offices, to proactively recruit, retain, and assist in the professional development of graduate students from diverse racial, ethnic, religious, socioeconomic, political, cultural, and lifestyle backgrounds.

Dean Nearon received her B.S. and M.S. degrees in aerospace engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Brooklyn Polytechnic University, respectively. After completing her master’s degree she devoted approximately ten years to both the aerospace and automotive industries, beginning as a research engineer and ultimately becoming a general manager. She then completed a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from Stony Brook University in May 2000. Nearon subsequently served on the faculty at Stony Brook University as an assistant professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering and as director of recruitment and diversification in the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences until coming to Yale.

Denzil was born in Morvant, Trinidad and Tobago, and moved to the USA to pursue a college education. He graduated from St Francis College, Brooklyn, NY with a Bachelor of Arts (Honors) degree in Economics. Having worked as a paralegal for several years in New York, NY, he earned a Masters of Philosophy and Doctor of Philosophy degrees from Columbia University, having attended Teachers College, Columbia University. Denzil’s PhD is in Comparative and International Education, with a specialization in the Economics of Education. At Teachers College, Columbia University, Denzil served as Contracts Administrator in the Office of the General Counsel, and most recently worked as a Teaching Post Doctoral Research Fellow at Syracuse University’s School of Education where he specialized in teaching qualitative research methods. As part of his leadership in qualitative research methods at Syracuse University, Denzil served as Qualitative Consultant for the interdisciplinary “FitFamilies Research Project” examining ways families can maximize adapted physical activity for children with disabilities. His research interests include access and equity in higher education; the ‘Free College/University Movement’; minoritized males in education; and Caribbean education policy.