Nikia Brown is a Philadelphia native with an unyielding passion for people and places. Growing up in a Caribbean household kindled within her a strong desire to build bridges between people of diverse cultures. After teaching English as a second language in South Korea, she obtained her first master’s degree in sociology at Sungkyunkwan University where she researched the identity negotiation of youth born to multicultural families.
Upon her return to the States, she worked in youth development and civic engagement and completed a subsequent master’s degree in intercultural and international communication at The American University School of International Service in Washington, D.C.
Prior to establishing Roots + Rivers Collective, Nikia served as the Associate Director of Intercultural and Global Learning – International Student Experience at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC). In that role, she founded a four-year, cohort-based global leadership program that unites domestic and international students through local and global community engagement. She also directed and instructed the orientation course for all first-year, degree-seeking international students in the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences to ensure their successful transition to the United States and UIUC. In addition to being a travel and brunch enthusiast, she is passionate about creating platforms that enable individuals to become agents of their own change.
Growing up in an active household where outdoor play and sports were central to her upbringing, Mikaela Frechette developed a deep and lasting curiosity about human movement. This passion led her to earn a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science from the University of New Hampshire, followed by a Master of Science and Ph.D. in Kinesiology from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), where she specialized in biomechanics and motor control for individuals living with physical disabilities.
Throughout her research career, Mikaela has led and contributed to cross-disciplinary, international teams to develop innovative health technologies that enhance mobility, community participation, and quality of life. Early in her academic journey, this work caught the attention of the Siebel Center for Design at UIUC, where she was selected to serve as a Siebel Scholar for three years. Immersed in the center’s mission to advance human-centered design at multiple levels, she gained new perspectives on fostering human flourishing within communities and on a global scale.
Since earning her Ph.D. in 2022, Mikaela has applied her expertise in design as a Lead Design Researcher at Re:Build Tekna, a product design and development consulting firm, and as a lecturer in UIUC’s Global Leaders Program. Now, as the COO of Roots + Rivers Collective, she is eager to further expand her impact by driving meaningful social change through collaboration, experimentation, and responsible leadership.