R. Renee Hess, Black Girl Hockey Club Founder and Executive Director
The Black Girl Hockey Club (BGHC) was founded in 2018 by R. Renee Hess to create a community space for Black women in hockey. Renee is the Associate Director of Service Learning at La Sierra University, where she earned a Master’s in Literature. She acts as the Executive Director and works with various BGHC committees, hosts webinar and panel events while networking with various hockey entities on anti-racism initiatives. Renee proudly advocates for Black women in hockey through education, representation, and community building. Her favorite team is the Pittsburgh Penguins and she has at least one hockey-related tattoo. In Renee’s “spare time,” she is writing a book about race, hockey, and community. Follow her on Twitter @reneehess
Black Girl Hockey Club Board of Directors
Tunisha Singleton, Board President
Tunisha Singleton, Ph.D. is a Media Psychologist and emerging media, marketing and digital communications consultant. In addition to business consulting and serving Fielding Graduate University’s Department of Psychology as Adjunct Faculty, Dr. Singleton has turned her attention to tackling her passion in sports, working to boost fan engagement, build community relationships, and plant engaging touch points to fasten a supportive relationship between sports and society. Dr. Singleton is the President of the BGHC Board of Directors, co-chairs the Leadership Development Committee, sits on a number of other BGHC committees, and aspires to work with more organizations on projects surrounding sports and society, mental health, multiculturalism, and race/gender/LGBTQ empowerment. Follow her on Twitter @tsingletonsays
Christy Galindo, Board Treasurer
Christy is a new hockey fan from Southern California who is passionate about her community and about making hockey a sport for everyone. Christy serves as the BGHC financial director and helps make sure that the organization can give away thousands of dollars in scholarships every award session.
Rochelle Taylor, Board Secretary
Rochelle is an avid Pittsburgh Penguins fan but is still good friends with her hometown team, the Kings. She discovered BGHC through friends and so far the best hockey related experiences have all involved BGHC and the wonderful community that is being built. Rochelle co-chairs the BGHC Leadership & Development Program, sits on the BGHC Board of Directors Financial and Executive Committees, and facilitates administrative work while outwardly amplifying the Black Girl Hockey Club mission and advocating for their voices in the community.
Fatou Bah, Board Member
Fatou is an irrational DC sports fan living in NYC, whose favorite team is the Washington Capitals. She is a digital marketer, world traveler, semi-decent plant mom, and foodie. As a BGHC Board Member, she partners with organizations to help remove barriers of entry for Black girls in hockey. You can catch her cheering for Tom Wilson at various hockey arenas around the country. You can follow her hockey adventures on Twitter at @FatouSadio
Deanne Knipschild, Board Member
DeAnne has a Master of Arts in Curriculum and Instruction from La Sierra University, and works as an Administrative Assistant in the School of Education and a Contract Teacher at her Alma Mater. In her free time, DeAnne volunteers as a Music Director at Gardena Genesis Community Church and she sings in a touring band called “Sweet Mischief”. DeAnne chairs the BGHC Scholarship Committee and is an ally in the fight for equality, civil rights, and prison reform. DeAnne is honored to be a part of BGHC organization and is looking forward to the education, reform, and the fun BGHC brings to the community and the sport of hockey.
Taylor Green, Board Member
Taylor is the BGHC Communications Director and helps keep our fans and followers up to date on all our events and programming via our newsletter and other communications methods. She chairs the the Communications Committee, sits on the Scholarship Committee and is an avid Pittsburgh Penguins fan.
Ashley Price, Board Member
Ashley helps BGHC discover grant opportunities and works to help make BGHC sustainable through our various programming.
Black Girl Hockey Club Staff
Jordan Dabney, Graphic Designer
Jordan is a self-taught artist whose range of work includes canvas paintings, digital prints, avatar, logo, tattoo, screen printing, sticker, and clothing designs. Jordan’s artwork is featured, across several social media platforms, websites, and organizations, including BGHC. Jordan loves watching, participating in, and coaching sports, as well as learning about sports history, statistics, and player activism. You can find her Redbubble shop here and her original BGHC artwork on our Threadless page.
Isabel Graham, Administrative Assistant
Isabel works directly with Renee Hess to answer your questions in the official BGHC email inbox. Chances are, if you are submitting a scholarship application, looking for event information or a media interview, you will connect with Isabel. Isabel is passionate about the Toronto Maple Leafs and social justice in sport. You can follow her on Twitter @izziguana