United Nations Representatives

United Nations Representatives

KDP affiliated with the United Nations as a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) in 2010 and is formally linked through the Department of Global Communications. The KDP United Nations Representatives are advocates of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with a focus on Goal #4 Quality Education: “Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all." This aligns with KDP’s vision: Excellent teachers build thriving communities and create lifelong opportunities by providing quality, equitable education for all. 

The specific responsibilities of the representatives include:

  1. Raising awareness about key issues on the UN agenda.
  2. Disseminating information and promoting issues of global concern.
  3. Designing and implementing public information activities and programs.
  4. Collaborating with the UN Information Centers on advocacy campaigns or other promotional public activities. 

Lucijan Jovic.jpeg

Lucijan Jovic, MS, ED

KDP UN Representative

Molloy University

Mr. Jović is an educator who teaches 8th-grade English & Writing as well as students in grades 9-12 with limited English proficiency. He is pursuing his doctorate in Educational Leadership & Administration at Molloy University with a focus on social justice and high-quality, equitable education for all learners. In addition, he serves as a collaborator at the Cognition and Learning Laboratory at Molloy University. In this role he works with his colleagues to conduct basic and applied research on the cognitive factors that influence cultural, developmental, and social perspectives in learning. Exploring theoretical issues in cognitive science and social psychology and their practical implications for the field of education are at the forefront of the lab's research. Lastly, Mr. Jović also serves as a KDP representative to the United Nations in New York City, meeting with delegates and leaders from across the globe.

Isabel Quiñones, MS

KDP UN Representative

White Plains City School District

Isabel Quiñones is a fourth-year elementary special education teacher in New York. She went to Manhattan College and graduated in 2020 with her bachelor's and master's degrees in Childhood/Special Education with a concentration in mathematics. She is currently enrolled at SUNY New Paltz to receive her Certificate of Advanced Study in Educational Leadership (SBL/SDL). During her time at Manhattan College, she served as the President of the Mu Sigma chapter of KDP. She has also been a part of KDP's Knowledge Development Advisory Council for the past three years. She has been a recipient of the J. Jay Hostetler and Marie E. Grein Scholarship as well as teacher classroom grants. Isabel is very passionate about educational equity, which has led her to be a Designated Representative for the United Nations NGO Kappa Delta Pi. She is also an avid crafter! 

Khalil Roy, MA

KDP UN Representative

Louisiana School for the Agricultural Sciences (LaSAS)

Khalil Roy is an accomplished Career and Technical Educator in Central Louisiana, with a bachelor's degree in social sciences and a master's degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Western Governor’s University. Mr. Roy teaches 8th–12th grades in the Louisiana School for the Agricultural Sciences (LaSAS). 

Mr. Roy is actively involved in KDP as a member of the Knowledge Development Advisory Council (KDAC) to guide KDP national staff on relevant content and issues impacting teachers today. Mr. Roy has been a member of KDP for several years, joining as an alternative certification student when he changed his career to become an educator. He has attended and presented at multiple KDP Convos and serves as a KDP United Nations Representative. Mr. Roy has been recognized as a 2020 KALB Golden Apple Teacher; Stand for Children Fellow and Facilitator; three-time winner of the John W. Harris Educator of Excellence Award; National Beta Leadership Camp Counselor Award; Teacher of the Month multiple times in his district; and Teacher of the Year in 2024!

Mr. Roy’s passion for teaching is evident in his daily work as an educator. He is the founder of the Tiger College Club, which promotes college and military awareness at Marksville High School. He is a dedicated and passionate educator who focuses on shaping the future of scholars, advocating for productive education policies, and actively and tirelessly working to retain and recruit future teachers in the field of education.

Susan Trostle Brand, EdD

KDP UN Representative

Council on Teaching About the UN (CTAUN)

University of Rhode Island

Dr. Susan Trostle Brand is a full professor of Early Childhood Education and Social Justice at the University of Rhode Island. She is a 32-year counselor for the URI chapter of KDP. Dr. Brand, a former three-year executive board member of KDP and a member of the International Committee, is a recipient of the KDP Lucinda Rose New Counselor Award and was recently elected to the Eleanor Roosevelt Lifetime Achievement Chapter of KDP. The author or editor of four textbooks and numerous chapters and articles, Dr. Brand has presented her research on early childhood education and cultural pluralism nationally and internationally, including Lima, Peru; Beijing and Shanghai, China; Oxford, England; Auckland, New Zealand; and Busia, Kenya; where her URI chapter holds a partnership with the Nambale Magnet School in Western Kenya. Dr. Brand has served as a UN representative for the past two years and is a newly appointed member of the Council on Teaching About the UN (CTAUN).

Trina Yearwood, EdD

KDP UN Representative

Teachers Ready to Educate, Advocate, and Transform (TREAT)

Dr. Trina Lynn Yearwood, Founder of Teachers Ready to Educate, Advocate, and Transform (TREAT), is deeply committed to celebrating the teaching profession and harnessing cultural diversity to enrich teaching practices and support student learning. TREAT's impactful initiatives have been instrumental in advancing education, both locally in NYC and Philadelphia, and internationally in countries such as Jamaica, Barbados, Ghana, and Austria.

With a career spanning over two decades, Dr. Yearwood embarked on her educational journey as an English teacher and Literacy Coach in the NYC public school system. Since then, she has held teaching positions as well as served as an Associate Dean in both public and private Schools of Education. Her professional endeavors center around teacher preparation, cultural competence, equitable education practices, and fostering student success through culturally relevant teaching methodologies.

Dr. Yearwood's expertise and dedication have earned her recognition as a prominent speaker, with invitations to prestigious events including engagements at the United Nations. Beyond her professional roles, she remains actively involved in community service. She serves as an advisory committee member for the Center for SDG Global Education, an education consultant for the Jamaican NGO Mission:FoodPossible, a Director-at-Large for the Brooklyn College Alumni Association, and a diamond life member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated, Delta Alpha Zeta chapter in Brooklyn, New York.

In December 2021, Dr. Yearwood was honored with the esteemed President Biden's Lifetime Achievement Award for her exemplary service. Currently, she represents Kappa Delta Pi as a UN representative, furthering her commitment to advancing education on a global scale.