Meet Our Scholars

Monisha “Mo” Pirela is an advocate, poet, and entrepreneur. Her multi-passionate personality allows her to connect with people from all walks of life in an authentic, empathetic, and encouraging manner. Mo is originally from New Bern, North Carolina where she moved from a federal housing project into a home built through Habitat for Humanity, thus beginning her dream of becoming one of the few Black, Lesbian architects in the United States. Her experience growing up in an underprivileged community, in a riverfront city, while being nurtured academically by her afterschool program, inspires her sense of activism, creativity, and down-to-earth personality.