Event Contact
gephardtinstitute@wustl.edu
Speaker Information
Constance Siu has been with the North Newstead Association since August 2018 and after many years of serving as the Community Engagement Specialist, she stepped into the role of the Executive Director in June 2022. Prior to her time at NNA, Constance worked at and with various community development organizations and initiatives including the Community Builders Network of Metro St. Louis, Justine PETERSEN, and the Vacancy Collaborative. Coming from a strong community organizing background, Constance has built strong relationships with resident leaders as she works to elevate the voice of community. Since her time as NNA’s Executive Director, Constance has centered NNA’s commitment to affordable housing in North St. Louis City resulting in an awarded LIHTC project that will reinvest in NNA’s legacy portfolio of affordable housing.
In addition to her role at NNA, Constance also serves on the Board of Directors for the Brickline North CDC, the Community Builders Network of Metro St. Louis, and on the Advisory Council for the newly formed Home Repair Network.
Constance proudly calls St. Louis City home and is on a constant mission to convince all who will listen to move to the region. In her spare time, you can find Constance either in the community or in her own backyard garden surrounded by her zoo of cats and dogs.
Julian Nicks is the Chief Recovery and Neighborhood Transformation Officer for the City of St. Louis. Nicks and his team help impacted residents and neighborhoods recover from the devastating May 16, 2025, EF-3 Tornado that impacted 50,000 residents and 5,000 structures. Under the mayor’s vision, in partnership with the community, he and his team aim to turn this crisis into an opportunity to restore our communities and reimagine our future.
Prior to his work with the City of St. Louis, Nicks served as CEO of LaunchCode, where he previously served on the Board for more than three years. He also worked for management consulting firm Bain & Co. as a senior manager based in the global firm’s Chicago office and in roles in the public sector, including as director of transformation for the state of Missouri’s Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development. He also was a policy associate for Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan.
Nicks earned a bachelor’s degree from Washington University in Saint Louis and an MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business. While at WashU, Julian completed the Gephardt Institute’s Goldman Fellows Program, now part of the St. Louis Fellows Program.
Sebastian De Los Santos is the Deputy Divisional Emergency Disaster Services (EDS) Director for The Salvation Army, overseeing disaster preparedness, response, and recovery operations across Missouri and Southern Illinois. He also serves as Vice Chair of the Missouri Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD), helping lead statewide coordination among agencies during times of crisis.
Sebastian holds a Master’s in Disaster Studies and a Master’s Certification in Disaster Management and Sustainability from The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley and is qualified as a Type 2 Firefighter.
His work includes cultivating community partnerships, managing volunteer engagement, and directing emergency operations during local and regional disasters. He has led responses to major events, including the May 16th tornado; mobilizing trained teams and resources to support affected communities.
