Bruce E. Smail

Bruce E. Smail, M.A., is the Executive Director & Interim Senior Director of Programs & Services at the MOCHA Center. As a social justice advocate, Smail has extensive experience with students of colors, LGBTQ students, and people living with HIV/AIDS. With over 20 years of professional experience, Smail’s career as well as his knowledge and experience in diversity, social justice, and HIV/AIDS provide unique perspectives in leading the MOCHA Center. As a bisexual, person of color, living with HIV, and raised in the Caribbean, Smail has been passionate about addressing multiple dimensions of identity and finding ways to value all parts of one’s identity. Furthermore, he advocates for silenced voices in organizations and creates spaces for those voices to emerge. Smail strongly believes that the issue of HIV/AIDS is complex and must address the multiple layers of culture, sexuality, and sexual identity to be effective in reducing the spread of HIV. Smail is very excited to join the MOCHA Team and engage the local communities of Buffalo and Rochester as well as the State of New York.

Sheila Fowler

Sheila Fowler is the Program Specialist at the MOCHA Center and has worked out of the Rochester Office since 2006.  Sheila was given the unofficial title of Nurse Case Manager in Loco Parentis for her level head, stellar work ethic and willingness to take on impossible tasks at the last minute.  This award recognized Sheila for tending to the multiple needs of staff, volunteers and community members with apblomb in celebration of MOCHA Weekend 2010.

Yaritza Pineiro

Yaritza Piñeiro holds a BS in Criminal Justice, and has worked and volunteered in the field of public health for 4 years. Mrs. Piñeiro is a Health Educator in the Buffalo office. She conducts the risk reduction counseling, provides client navigation services to social and health services providers, and conducts outreach and HIV/ STD 101 Presentations. Mrs. Pineiro is a mother of three children and is very dedicated to work and family.

Andrea Leuser

Andréa E. Leuser has an AAS in Dietetics and is a Dietetic Technician Registered (DTR). A part-time Health Educator in the Buffalo Office, Andréa is a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer (Botswana ’08—’10) where she worked as a Community Health Educator providing HIV/AIDS prevention education and outreach.  A recent addition to the MOCHA team Andréa is excited to continue her passion for community wellness and looks forward to working with the different members of the community.  Raised in Arizona, Andréa moved to Buffalo to purse a Bachelor’s in Nursing.  Being from the desert Andréa appreciates the beauty of Buffalo, the green, the trees, the lake and she even gets excited when it snows.