Brought together by a mutual desire to create an organization rooted in cooperation, elevation, and excellence, these are the Founders of Theta Rho Nu, Fraternity.
Kenneth "KC" Freeman II is the Founder of Theta Rho Nu and serves as its inaugural President and Chancellor.
KC was born in Germany but considers Raleigh, NC, to be home.
His background is in Social Work, focusing largely on macro issues in public health policy. KC has worked in HIV prevention and mental health for over two decades, having worked in non-profits, hospitals, county health centers, and the state department of health and human services. He is a member of the UNC PrEP Scientific Research Group, the NC Ending the Epidemic Steeeing Committee, and the Partnership for a Healthy Durham. KC is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Licensed Clinical Addiction Specialist Associate. Currently, he works as an adjunct professor at his alma mater, North Carolina Central University, in the Department of Social Work, is the Lead Therapist and Supervisor for a clinical team with Carolina Outreach, and does Forensic Social Work with Legal Aid of NC.
Along with his career and academic goals, KC has a strong desire to empower Black, same gender loving men with the belief in their own divinity and destinies. KC takes many clinical tools and applies them to his own leadership style, such as strengths-based approach, the theory of self-efficacy, and successive approximation. This has allowed him to fulfill many leadership roles in various organizations, including Triangle Black Pride, Tulane University Social of Social Work SGA, the Professional Association of Social Workers in HIV, and the Society for Social Work and Research.
KC has earned his Bachelors and Masters of Social Work from North Carolina Central Univeristy, as well as a Masters in Public Health and a Masters of Legal Studies. Currently he is in his final year of the Doctor of Social Work program at Tulane University, where his research topic is how gentrification affects African Americans' access to HIV prevention resources.
David Dodd is a Co-Founder of Theta Rho Nu and serves as its Inaugural Vice President of Communications.
A twenty-year, award-winning marketing executive, Dodd has worked at some of Chicago’s leading public relations and advertising agencies, spearheading initiatives for numerous Fortune 500 companies, and well-known consumer brands.
Although quite successful in his professional career, Dodd has utilized his talents to support Chicago’s African American LGBTQ community. David has worked on health programs and campaigns, focusing on HIV/AIDS awareness with organizations such as National Youth Pride Services and the AIDS Foundation of Chicago. He also served on the board of several organizations including Windy City Black Pride, the Black Alphabet Film Festival and the Chicago Black Gay Men’s Caucus, where he served more than twelve years and held the position of board chair for four years.
Additionally, Dodd has also been one of Chicago’s s Black LGBTQ community party promoters and event planners. He and other colleagues founded K Dock Media, an event planning firm, in 2010. The organization disbanded in 2015, and Dodd created David Dodd Events, a business that he still runs. Dodd also became an executive producer and voice of the award-winning, pop-culture podcast, The Sip.
Dodd has been featured in syndicated columnist and author David Savage’s New York Time’s best-selling book, It Gets Better, a collection of original essays and expanded testimonials written to teens from celebrities, political leaders, and everyday people in response to a number of tragic suicides by LGBT students as a result of bullying.
David holds a Bachelor of Science in Marketing from Chicago State University and is pursuing a Master of Business Administration at National Louis University.
Matthew Richardson is a Co-Founder of Theta Rho Nu Fraternity, Incorporated and serves as its inaugural Vice-President of Membership Affairs.
With nearly 20 years of progressive and professional experience as a senior operations leader and integrating nearly 10 years as a sustainability leader and a DEIB advocate, Matthew is committed to helping create a culture of community, sustainability, and equity within his professional and personal spaces with a focus on black and brown communities.
He has been appointed and has served in a variety of capacities within community-based and professional organizations because of his invested interests, expertise, and passion to help drive necessary change. Currently, Matthew is the Assistant Director of Operations & Strategic Planning at Columbia University’s Irving Medical Campus in New York City and has held several key roles during his 7-year tenure at the university medical campus. Previously, he served as Associate Director of Operations Management and Community Support Services at Volunteers of America- Greater New York and Assistant Director at CAMBA overseeing operational efficiencies, client services and programming for homeless, mental health and substance-use communities seeking support.
His work continues into being appointed chair and co-chair on several professional working groups, including employee resource groups and as sustainability liaison to the University as the chair of the School of Nursing sustainability committee.
Matthew attended the College of New Rochelle in New York, majoring in liberal arts with a concentration in psychology and continuing his educational journey at Western Governors University, College of Business. During his leisure time, Matthew enjoys exploring new cultures, traveling the world, architecture as well as his interests in cars, and, more importantly, trying new cuisines.
Kurell Julien (Q) is one of the Founders of Theta Rho Nu Fraternity, Incorporated and is the
inaugural Director of Partnerships & Engagement.
Culminating over 17 years as a supply chain professional and over a decade as a diversity coach, community organizer, and social justice advocate, Kurell is passionate about leveraging the unique convergence of his personal and professional experience to foster and drive cultural and structural change. Resulting from his intersecting identities as a gay, Trinidad-born, and culturally raised Black man, Kurell is precious about ensuring that all people can experience and observe themselves fully in the spaces that they occupy.
He has served in various roles in his community and held positions of leadership in his professional career that are indicative of his passions. Presently, he is the Associate Director for a Social Justice Consultancy, and prior served as the Director of the Office ofbAccess and Disability Justice at the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. His work has also extended to serving as chair of several boards as well as employee resource groups and speaking on panels and engagements primarily centering the intersection of Blackness and LGBTQ identity, among other core social justice issues.
Kurell currently attends Morehouse College, where he is pursuing his BA in Business Administration, graduating in 2025, and plans to attend Northwestern University for his Master’s Degree in Management, Organizations and Sociology (MORS). Among his hobbies, Kurell enjoys road trips and travel, food culture, anime, and music.
Tony C. Mize Jr. (TJ) is a Co-Founder of Theta Rho Nu Fraternity, Incorporated, and serves as its inaugural Chief-of-Staff.
As a current SNHU student working towards a degree in Healthcare Administration with a minor in Communications, Tony holds a position on the Dean's list. His academic aspirations extend to achieving a master's degree in Public Health Administration and a doctorate in Public Health by 2029.
Tony's professional journey has been rooted in direct patient care, where he served as a Registered Medical Assistant (RMA), Research Specialist, and Client Services Manager for Whitman Walker Health. In addition to his healthcare roles, Tony has been successfully involved in multiple boards dedicated to community improvements and non-profit startups, gaining diverse experiences across 10 different states. A proud Washington, D.C. native, Tony brings a wealth of knowledge and accomplishments to the table.
As a United States Army Veteran, Tony has dedicated over 16 years to managerial roles, consistently demonstrating a commitment to growth and excellence. His professional philosophy revolves around passion, organization, and reliability. Tony excels in efficiently managing diverse priorities while maintaining a positive outlook. Eager to take on additional responsibilities, he ensures the successful realization of project objectives.
Tony's strengths lie in a profound understanding of performance expectations, a strong work ethic, meticulous attention to detail, and exceptional organizational abilities. These qualities underscore his dedication to achieving team accomplishments.
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