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Maureen St. Cyr, Executive Director

Maureen St. Cyr is the Executive Director at Massachusetts Fair Housing Center. Prior to joining MFHC, Maureen was the Coordinating Attorney for fair housing work at Community Legal Aid in Worcester, Massachusetts, where she represented clients with housing discrimination claims in state housing and superior court, federal court, and before administrative agencies. She also played a central role in developing the agency’s fair housing mission, guiding strategy, mentoring staff members, and served as a face of the fair housing project throughout the community. Maureen is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania Law School and clerked for the Vermont Superior Court. She is honored to carry out the vital mission of MFHC.

Vineeth Hemavathi, Staff Attorney

Vineeth joined the staff of the Massachusetts Fair Housing Center in 2021. He is a graduate of the University of North Carolina School of Law and the University of Kansas. In law school, Vineeth was the Managing Editor of the North Carolina International Law Journal where he earned the Seymour Werfel Award for his outstanding service. Prior to joining MFHC, Vineeth worked at Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma representing indigent victims of domestic violence. Vineeth has also worked in national security, taught middle school language arts at a low-income school, and served as a field organizer on a presidential campaign.

Vineeth can be reached at 413-539-9796 ext. 107.

Nuri Sherif, Fair Housing Advocate

Nuri joined the Massachusetts Fair Housing Center in July 2024 after graduating from Western New England University School of Law. During law school, Nuri served as the Vice President of the LGBTQIA+ student group OUTLaw and was a member of Law Review. Nuri comes to MFHC from Community Legal Aid where they worked as a Fair Housing Testing Coordinator. Additionally, they have helped LGBTQIA+ individuals navigate name and gender marker changes to vital documents through their connection with Gender Identity Validation Services. Nuri holds a Masters in History from UMass, Amherst, has worked as a ranger at Harpers Ferry NHP, and has edited for a peer-reviewed blog on the history of sexuality.

Seong Gillespie, Civil Rights Specialist

Seong joined the Massachusetts Fair Housing Center in September 2023. He graduated from Wagner College with a bachelor’s degree in Sociology and Civic Engagement in 2023. Prior to joining MFHC, Seong interned at Catholic Charities Refugee Resettlement Program in New York City. Seong previously completed a service year as the Americorps Legal Advocate for MFHC in 2023-2024. 

Catherine Yackira, Americorps Legal Advocate

Catherine joined the Massachusetts Fair Housing Center in September 2023. She graduated from the College of the Holy Cross with a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and a concentration in Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Studies in 2024. Prior to joining MFHC, Catherine interned at the Public Defender Service in Washington DC, Abby’s House in Worcester, and wrote her senior thesis on pregnancy discrimination law. 

Catherine can be reached at cyackira@massfairhousing.org.

Claire Trivax, Administrative Assistant

Claire recently joined the Massachusetts Fair Housing Center in May 2023. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Classical Studies from Hope College in 2016. In 2018, she received a Master’s Degree in Classics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She is currently in the process of obtaining her MFA in Playwriting from Smith College. Claire has spent the last three years working in the legal field.

Krystal Kilhart, Testing Coordinator

Krystal joined the Massachusetts Fair Housing Center in July 2022. They graduated from the University of Massachusetts Amherst with dual bachelor's degrees in Anthropology and Women, Gender, Sexuality Studies in 2019. Krystal trains and recruits testers while building and conducting tests to dismantle the discrimination that takes place during the housing process. Prior to joining MFHC, Krystal worked with LGBTQ older adults and in public libraries.

Krystal can be reached at 413-539-9796 ext. 103 or kkilhart@massfairhousing.org.

Rosa Tobin, Communications Associate

Rosa joined the Massachusetts Fair Housing Center in January 2022. They graduated from Western Washington University with a bachelor's in English literature in 2017. More recently they completed a certificate in Documentary Studies through Duke University’s Center for Documentary Studies, and graduated from Michigan State University with a master's degree in Digital Rhetoric and Professional Writing. Prior to joining MFHC, Rosa spent over seven years working in higher education.

Rosa can be reached at ‪(413) 233-4620‬ or rtobin@massfairhousing.org.