Programs and Operations Assistant

Johileny Merán (She/Her) is the Programs and Operations Assistant at AAPD, where she supports the organization’s internship programs and the work of the Chief Operating Officer. A Disabled Afro-Dominican immigrant raised in New York City, Johileny is deeply committed to advocacy, education, and empowering young people to reach their full potential. She champions a disability-inclusive and intersectional approach to all social justice work.

Prior to AAPD, she served as the Restorative Justice Program Assistant at SchoolTalk’s RestorativeDC, where she provided logistical, communications, and operational support for restorative programming in DC schools. In this role, she also maintained relationships with program stakeholders, and supported the RestorativeDC implementation team.

Johileny is a member of the Mobility International USA (MIUSA) Advisory Committee and previously worked as a Program Coordinator for MIUSA’s National Clearinghouse on Disability and Exchange (NCDE), advancing disability inclusion in international exchange. She has worked with various organizations to promote disability inclusion in study abroad programs, higher education, emergency preparedness, and more.

She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Global Public Health and Sociology with a minor in Disability Studies from New York University (NYU). She also serves on the boards of Disability EmpowHer Network and Cerebral Palsy Positive (CPP).