The Sickle Cell Disease Association of America Inc., a national nonprofit membership organization that advocates for people affected by sickle cell disease, named Krystal Folk-Nagua to the association’s board of directors. Folk-Nagua brings experience as a social work leader, advocate and individual living with sickle cell disease. 

She serves as senior director of programs at Girls for Gender Equity in Brooklyn, New York, where she leads initiatives that merge healing justice, abolitionist social work and youth leadership. In addition, she recruits, trains and supervises youth organizers and social work interns. Previously, she directed social work for charter schools in New York City and served as an adolescent and family therapist. 

Folk-Nagua holds a doctorate in clinical social welfare from New York University’s Silver School of Social Work and a Master of Social Work from Columbia University’s School of Social Work. She has appeared in publications and delivered lectures and trainings. She holds a Bachelor of Social Work from the University of Albany, The State University of New York. 

Thomas L. Johnson continues as the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America Inc. board chair. Adeyinka Ogunlegan was named board vice chair; Ed Flowers was named secretary and Kenneth Thorpe was named treasurer.