Staff

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Kathleen Ernst
MA—Sociology; MA—Latin American Studies; BBA—International Business
Founder and Executive Director
Kathleen has a long history of disability activism and a wide range of volunteer experiences that led her to the Cuba Blind Relief initiative. She is legally blind and knows first-hand the challenges of operating in education, employment and daily life settings of the individuals she seeks to empower. Kathleen has deep interests in international development and believes that all humans have the right to a dignified life. She holds MA degrees in Latin American Studies and Sociology from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She became deeply interested in Cuba while completing her BA in International Business at the University of Georgia, an interest that set her academic trajectory and transformed her both professionally and personally. A student and scholar of cuba for over 20 years, Kathleen began delivering donations to the island in 2003. She began with English learning books, clothing, personal hygiene products and school supplies, and then pivoted to blind assistive technologies when she witnessed their scarcity in Cuba, while conducting graduate research in 2014. She was inspired to formalize this personal initiative and began donating equipment to the blind and low-vision community in 2019

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Danil Massip Formenov
MA; Spanish Literature and Cultures
Co-founder and Associate Director, President
Danil Massip Formenov is a proud Habanero with a camera in one hand and a deep love for multiculturalism in the other. After earning his BA in Audiovisual Communications from the University of the Arts in Havana, he packed his gear and curiosity and moved to Peru. There, he dove headfirst into life as a cinematographer and videographer, capturing stories while living alongside Andean and Amazonian communities. On the journey to deepen his intercultural acumen, Danil pursued an MA in Spanish Literature and Cultures at the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign. It was there he met Kathleen Ernst, a fierce cubanologist with a shared passion for Cuba and social justice. What began as long, inspired conversations since 2019 turned into a full-blown collaboration that sparked the creation of CBR. Danil’s work is all about provoking thought, celebrating diversity, and amplifying unheard voices. He brings a unique mix of Cuban roots, global experience, and bold creativity to every project. His life philosophy? “There’s nothing better than a potluck of international flavors and people.” In addition to his role as Co-founder and Associate Director, Danil is also the President of CBR’s Board of Directors.

Board of Directors

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Ann Fredricksen
MS/LIS
Vice President
Ann is a true advocate for the disabled. Since 2008, she has dedicated her career to media accessibility which includes accessible print material, closed captioning and audio description at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC). She currently heads Accessible Media Services at their Disability and Educational Resources Services. She likes a good challenge and to know that she’s making higher education more accessible by reducing barriers. Ann is responsible for delivering ADA-compliant print and video course materials to multiple disabled student populations. Ann has a BA in Physics from Carthage College and an MS/LIS degree from the UIUC. In her spare time, Ann loves to sew, make bags, clothes and quilts. Ann truly believes that we humans should help one another. And for her, being involved with CBR is a way for her to give back to the community.

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Craig A. Miller
PhD, MEd
Treasurer and Secretary
Craig is a born naturalist. With decades of experience in hunting, fishing, gardening and wildlife, he is rarely happier than when enjoying the outdoors. This contentment is only rivaled by his love of cooking, preferably for a crowd. Craig holds a PhD in Natural Resources Management from the Pennsylvania State University. He also obtained an MEd in Environmental Education and a BA in Biology from Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania. Currently, Craig heads the Human Dimensions of Wildlife program for the Illinois Natural History Survey at the University of Illinois, where he leads a team that researches conflicts between humans and wildlife. Bringing with him a long history of community service and organizing, Craig has been a committed supporter of CBR since the earliest days of its inception.