NHCJE Welcomes New Board Directors Lori Langlois, Rabbi Robin Nafshi, and Ramey Sylvester
The New Hampshire Center for Justice & Equity (NHCJE) is proud to announce the addition of three remarkable leaders to its Board of Directors: Lori Langlois, Rabbi Robin Nafshi, and Ramey Sylvester. Their collective experience and dedication will play a crucial role in guiding NHCJE’s continued efforts to create a more vibrant, flourishing, just, and equitable New Hampshire.
Lori Langlois, EdD - Advancing Equity Through Education and Community Empowerment
Dr. Lori Langlois, the Executive Director of North Country Education Services, joins NHCJE’s Board of Directors with nearly three decades of experience in public education. Dr. Langlois has been instrumental in building strong relationships with schools and family-serving organizations throughout northern New Hampshire. Her expertise lies in creating learning opportunities that focus on social and emotional learning, trauma-informed practices, restorative justice in schools, and authentic family engagement.
Beyond her professional role, Dr. Langlois has participated in prestigious programs like Leadership New Hampshire and the Neil and Louise Tillotson Fund’s Community Practitioners Network. Her service on multiple boards, including the Coos Coalition for Young Children and Families, FIRST NH, the UNH Extension’s Coos Advisory Board, and the Planning Board for the City of Berlin highlights her commitment to the needs of her community. Dr. Langlois is also a founding director of White Mountain Science, Inc., a STEAM-focused nonprofit organization, and an active member of the NH Civics Learning Coalition, demonstrating her dedication to fostering civic engagement and educational opportunities across the state.
Dr. Langlois’ academic journey also reflects her significant contribution to rural education and leadership. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a minor in Economics from the University of New Hampshire, followed by a Master of Education, a Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies (CAGS) in educational leadership, and a doctorate in Learning, Leadership, and Community from Plymouth State University. Her dissertation, “An Investigation of the Influences of the Residency Aspirations of Youth in the Present-Day Rural Context”, was honored with the 2020 Edward W. Chance Memorial Rural Education Dissertation Award by the National Rural Education Association for its relevance to current challenges.
"My work in education has shown me the transformative power of authentic engagement and trauma-informed practices. I am eager to bring this perspective to the New Hampshire Center for Justice & Equity, where we can create environments that truly support and uplift our communities, particularly in rural areas where equity can often feel out of reach." — Lori Langlois, EdD
Rabbi Robin Nafshi - Promoting Social Justice and Compassionate Leadership
Rabbi Robin Nafshi, widely known as Rabbi Robin, joins NHCJE’s Board of Directors with a profound dedication to pastoral care and social justice. Ordained by Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, Rabbi Robin has served as the spiritual leader of Temple Beth Jacob in Concord since 2010. A graduate of New York University and Cornell Law School, Rabbi Robin has a rich background in both law and Jewish education. Her journey from working in law in the San Francisco Bay Area to pursuing a rabbinical path is a testament to her commitment to serving others.
While working with California’s Jewish community, Rabbi Robin held various leadership positions, showcasing her passion for community building. She served as chair of numerous committees, board member, vice president, and president of her synagogue, Congregation Sha’ar Zahav, and held positions on the boards of several local Jewish organizations. Rabbi Robin was also selected for the Wexner Heritage Foundation’s adult learning program for Jewish community lay leaders, before attending the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion. There, she became the first person ever to be selected for both the Wexner Heritage Foundation lay leader program and the Wexner Graduate Fellowship program, receiving a full four-year fellowship and stipend.
Rabbi Robin brings a unique blend of legal expertise, spiritual guidance, and community leadership to NHCJE. Her dedication to listening with an open and non-judgmental heart is central to her pastoral work, making her an invaluable advocate for social justice and equity.
“As a rabbi, I see myself as a teacher in every setting—whether in the classroom, leading worship, or in personal conversations. My commitment to listening with an open and non-judgmental heart is central to my pastoral work. At the New Hampshire Center for Justice & Equity, I’m eager to foster dialogue and understanding across diverse communities, ensuring that every voice is heard and respected." — Rabbi Robin Nafshi
Ramey Sylvester, Esq. - Advocating for Equitable Legal Representation and Access to Justice
Ramey Sylvester, a Director in McLane Middleton’s Corporate Department, brings a robust background in securities and business law, corporate governance, and immigration law to NHCJE’s Board of Directors. With extensive experience in private placement offerings, mergers and acquisitions, private equity transactions, and corporate governance, her practice also extends to business and family immigration law, offering a broad range of legal services that reflect her commitment to equity and justice.
Ramey’s immigration work includes representing clients in naturalization applications, H-1B petitions, employment-based green card applications, and special immigrant juvenile petitions. This breadth of experience positions Ramey to contribute significantly to NHCJE's mission of addressing structural obstacles and advocating for marginalized communities.
Before joining McLane Middleton, Ramey worked in and managed legal departments in publicly traded and privately held corporations within the manufacturing and financial industries. Notably, she served as Assistant General Counsel at AmeriFirst Financial Corporation, where she led a team of six attorneys and oversaw a wide range of legal and regulatory matters, corporate governance, litigation management, and commercial transactions.
Ramey earned her J.D. from the University of New Hampshire School of Law, where she was a Public Interest Fellow, Daniel Webster Honor’s Scholar, and a Judicial Extern for former Senior New Hampshire Supreme Court Justice Hicks. Her legal education and experience in both New Hampshire and Massachusetts make her an invaluable asset to NHCJE as it works to advance equity and justice in New Hampshire.
"In my legal career, I have witnessed the importance of ensuring equitable access to justice and legal representation. At the New Hampshire Center for Justice & Equity, I am committed to leveraging my experience to support the Center’s mission of advancing initiatives that protect and empower marginalized communities, ensuring that justice is not just a concept, but a reality for all." — Ramey Sylvester, Esq.
Strengthening Inclusive Leadership
The New Hampshire Center for Justice & Equity is proud to welcome these new board members as it continues to address the deep inequities that exist for New Hampshire’s Communities of Color and similarly marginalized communities.
“I am excited and humbled to have the opportunity to work with these three amazingly talented community leaders,” said Anthony Poore, President and CEO of NHCJE. “The addition of Lori Langlois, Rabbi Robin Nafshi, and Ramey Sylvester deepens NHCJE’s commitment to building an inclusive and diverse Granite State where all can contribute to our collective prosperity,” he added.
The election of NHCJE’s slate of Officers that includes Claire Holston as NHCJE’s Board Chair, Troy Martin as Treasurer, Dr. Susan Huard as Secretary, and Ignatius MacLellan as Treasurer, is another reflection of NHCJE’s commitment to inclusive leadership, as it symbolizes the organization’s steadfast dedication to “equity in action”, fostering a culture where all voices are heard, valued, and represented at the highest levels. NHCJE’s Board members bring unique perspectives, driving innovation, empathy, and a stronger connection to a wider range of stakeholders.
NHCJE also extends its heartfelt thanks to the inaugural and former Board members Sandeep Bikram Shah and Jim Schachter for their invaluable service. Their contributions have been instrumental in shaping the organization’s foundation and guiding its mission forward. With the support of new and continuing board members, NHCJE is well-positioned to advance real solutions that reflect New Hampshire’s values, ensuring the state remains competitive and resilient by fostering a sense of belonging for all its residents.
About NHCJE
The New Hampshire Center for Justice & Equity (NHCJE) is a state-wide non-profit organization whose mission is to elevate and empower people of color in New Hampshire by fostering connections, changing systems, and meeting community needs to make a better Granite State where all belong. We envision a vibrant, flourishing, just, and equitable New Hampshire for all. NHCJE seeks to describe and address the obstacles experienced by communities of color and similarly marginalized communities by examining solutions that reflect New Hampshire’s realities and values, emphasizing that New Hampshire is more productive and competitive when everyone can belong and contribute.
