March 27, 2024
IGR has completed changes to the minor in intergroup relations education, strengthening the its foundation of social justice education and creating new pathways to impact.
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IGR welcomes fall 2023 IGD Basics cohort into Community of Scholars
October 11, 2023
The Program on Intergroup Relations is delighted to welcome twelve University of Michigan staff to the program's Community of Scholars—Imani Barnes, Brandon Bond, Jesse Carr, Jozet Channey, Pedro Coracides, Lauren Davis, Heather Klein, Caitlin Posillico, Katie Reece, Katie Snyder, Andrea Wilkerson, and Christina Wright.
In the archives
IGR welcomes fall 2023 IGD Basics cohort into Community of Scholars
October 11, 2023
The Program on Intergroup Relations is delighted to welcome twelve University of Michigan staff to the program's Community of Scholars—Imani Barnes, Brandon Bond, Jesse Carr, Jozet Channey, Pedro Coracides, Lauren Davis, Heather Klein, Caitlin Posillico, Katie Reece, Katie Snyder, Andrea Wilkerson, and Christina Wright.
Take these tools everywhere—Madison Krumins’ journey from facilitator to Fulbright Scholar
May 30, 2023
An openness to new and differing ideas. An ability and confidence to communicate effectively across difference. Seeing conflict not as ‘bad,’ but as an opportunity for dialogue. “I use what I’ve learned through The Program on Intergroup Relations in everything I’ve done," says alum Madison Krumins.
Chang (MPP/MSW '14) builds coalitions, better policy
May 3, 2023
In 2014, Stephanie Chang (MPP/MSW '14) was approached by her community-organizing colleague, then-State Representative, now Congresswoman, Rashida Tlaib, to run for office. Chang wondered if as an Asian American woman she could represent what was a majority African American and Latino district in the Michigan House.
Meet the IGR CoS 2021-22 cohort
August 31, 2021
Introducing our cohort: Meg Dobson, Sabrina Ervin, Jennifer Eshelman, Chris Gale, Clara Gamalski, Karri Grob, Tina Jordan, Felicia McCrary, and Danyelle Reynolds.
Former IGR facilitator on learning about race and student safety
July 22, 2021
Educating students about the history of race in the U.S. is a matter of safety. For Chaddrick James-Gallaway—University of Michigan alum and former facilitator for the Program on Intergroup Relations—there was a disconnect between school policies that were implemented under the guise of making the school safer and who that safety was meant for.
IGR statement on Atlanta hate crimes
March 2021
It is with profound sadness that we write this letter condemning the horrendous crimes in Atlanta this past week in which eight people, including six women of Asian descent were murdered.
2020-21 Community of Scholars Cohort
August 31, 2020
We're delighted to welcome our incoming Community of Scholars cohort: Angie Stewart, Ashley Richardson, Christine Modey, Deborah S. Willis, Jessica Garcia, Joshua Thurman, Mikalia Dennis, Priscila Papias, and Sonia Joshi.
IGR stands in solidarity with the Black community
June 2, 2020
We, here at IGR are heartbroken and enraged over the events of the past week. For some of us, George Floyd’s murder in the hands of those who are supposed to protect us is an old – and personal – story. For all of us, it marks a new opportunity to recommit to the work we do every day – combatting racism and other oppressions in all forms.
2020 IGR Outstanding Alumnx Award recipient: Riana Elyse Anderson
April 27, 2020
Dr. Riana Elyse Anderson is the recipient of the 2020 Outstanding Alumnx Award (OAA) along with Michael Gardner. She was presented with the award virtually at IGR's 17th Annual Award Ceremony and Graduation Celebration. Riana has been previously featured on IGR's podcast DialogueUP!
Microaggressions: The Intent vs. the Impact (with Elsa Ramesh and Hoai An Pham)
November 12, 2019
Small, hurtful actions impact our campus every day, whether it’s from the professors who schedule tests on religious or cultural holidays, the coworkers who don’t use an intern’s correct gender pronouns, or the students who make assumptions about a classmate based on their appearance.
Becoming IGR co-facilitators with Bhoomika Gupta and Noah Bonello
September 24, 2019
Bhoomika Gupta (she/her/hers) and Noah Bonello (he/him/his) both became involved in The Program on Intergroup Relations (IGR) on a whim. Gupta, a junior studying psychology, took a dialogue course to fulfill distribution requirements while Bonello, a junior studying computer science, signed up for a foundations course because it fit into his schedule.
IGR Public Statement Regarding the Middle Eastern/North African Identity Category
December 7, 2017
We, the staff and faculty of The Program on Intergroup Relations (IGR) at the University of Michigan (U-M), support the student-led drive to implement the Middle Eastern/North African (ME/NA) identity category on all official university documents that collect demographic information. This initiative is in line with IGR’s mission for building dialogue across social group identity.
2017 IGR Outstanding Alumni Award recipient: Kevin Trimell Jones
May 1, 2017
IGR presented the 2017 Outstanding Alumni Award (OAA) to Kevin Trimell Jones at IGR's Graduation Celebration. Originally from Detroit, Michigan, Kevin completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Michigan, earned a Master’s of Education from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst and a Master’s of Public Health from the University of Pennsylvania.
IGR's Adrienne Dessel presents at national conferences and collaborates with colleagues
December 2016
At the Association for the Study of Higher Education, IGR's Dr. Adrienne Dessel, PhD, LCSW was on a panel put together by Sachi Edwards, titled "Christian Privilege and Higher Education: Critical Perspectives on Interfaith Relations and Campus-Based Religious Diversity Initiatives" and her paper was titled "Christian Power and Privilege in Higher Education: Challenging the Dominant Narrative".
Off the cuff: Making and consuming food central to our everyday lives
December 2016
In this ongoing feature, we ask IGR students and alumni each month for their opinion on a fun question that relates to issues that are discussed within IGR's courses and co-curricular activities. This month's question is: "Why is the practice of making and consuming food so central to our everyday lives?"
Faculty Chat: Kelly Maxwell
October 2015
For this edition of "Faculty Chat", a regular feature where we share things you may not know about IGR faculty members, we sat down with IGR Co-Director (LSA) Kelly Maxwell. In her role, Kelly provides overall direction for the program in addition to teaching courses and leading several other projects both in and outside of IGR.
A Letter From The Directors (October 2015)
October 2015
This term, we are excited to be offering our intergroup dialogue course to 117 students. The dialogue topics this semester are Ableism, Gender, Race & Ethnicity, Socioeconomic Status, Students of Color, and White Racial Identity. We have also already had several students express their intention to earn the Minor in Intergroup Relations Education.
URecord: Program helps Detroit-area students, teachers overcome divisions
July 13, 2015
In the 13 years since it started, U-M’s Youth Dialogues on Race and Ethnicity in Metropolitan Detroit has engaged thousands of students and teachers who seek to effect social change, one conversation and one classroom at a time.
A Letter from the Directors (Winter 2015)
April 29, 2015
As students are taking final exams and preparing for the next few months, we are reflecting back on the past year with pride. Among the many wonderful achievements of IGR students, faculty, and staff, is that Winter 2015 marked the first semester of IGR offering a Minor in Intergroup Relations Education. We are very excited to be graduating our first two students with the minor in just a few days. Additionally, we have nearly 20 other students who have declared the minor!
IGR Student Staff Spotlight: Jake Cinti
March 2015
This month we'd like to tell you a bit about a long-time IGR student and employee who has shown a tremendous amount of commitment to our program. Jake Cinti '15 is majoring in Sociology and minoring in Community Action and Social Change (CASC). Read on to learn more about Jake and his IGR experiences.
IGR alumna Stephanie Chang makes history in Michigan state legislature
December 1, 2014
In November 2014, U-M alumna Stephanie Chang was elected to serve a two-year term in the Michigan House of Representatives, representing District 6 (Detroit along the river, River Rouge, and Ecorse). What makes Chang’s election to office unique is her distinction of being the first Asian American female elected to the Michigan legislature.
A letter from the directors (fall 2014)
October 7, 2014
Fall semester is in full swing and IGR is bustling with activity! We are offering nine dialogue course topics this fall to 107 students and we have three research teams. Additionally, our CommonGround team has just trained a large group of student facilitators who are already busily planning for student workshops this semester.
School of Public Health uses IGR model to form dialogue program
Summer 2014
In collaboration with IGR, the University of Michigan School of Public Health (SPH) is actively engaged in a five-year initiative to provide every student, staff, and faculty member at SPH with a substantive dialogue experience, including opportunities for students to be trained as intergroup dialogue facilitators.
IGR's Adrienne Dessel Presents at Biennial SPSSI Conference
Summer 2014
This summer, IGR's Dr. Adrienne B. Dessel, presented a chapter co-authored with colleagues Johanna C. Massé, Doctoral Candidate (U-M Department of Sociology and School of Education) and Lauren T. Walker, MSW (U-M School of Social Work), at the Social Action and Change: Opportunities, Resistance, Inertia, and Mobilization conference held by The Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues (SPSSI).
2014 National Intergroup Dialogue Institute Inspires Participants
July 10, 2014
IGR was pleased to host its 8th annual National Intergroup Dialogue Institute in June. Through the institute, IGR seeks to give colleagues from around the world the opportunity to learn IGR’s philosophy and techniques, so that they will be able to create dialogue programs on their own campuses.
2014 Gurin Awards Ceremony Alumni Speaker: Joe Person
April 2014
Alumnus Joe Person ('06) recently addressed graduating seniors at the 2014 Patricia Gurin Certificate of Merit Awards Ceremony.
A letter from the directors—winter 2014
April 17, 2014
Welcome to the Winter 2014 tri-annual newsletter of The Program on Intergroup Relations (IGR) at the University of Michigan! We in IGR always look forward to this time of year because it gives us the opportunity to reflect and celebrate student achievements, both in and out of the classroom.
IGR In the News - Fall 2013
Fall 2013
Below are links to mentions of IGR in the news. Also included in this list are IGR-related pieces in the news that are written by staff, IGR alumni or current students.*
IGR 25th Anniversary Alumni Weekend a Great Success
October 29, 2013
The faculty and staff of IGR, as well as the IGR Alumni Committee, are so pleased to have welcomed over 70 alumni back to Ann Arbor on October 4-5 for our alumni weekend. Held in honor of IGR's 25th anniversary, this event helped alumni to reconnect with our program and see how it has grown since they were students.
IGR co-director Kelly Maxwell and colleagues win U-M diversity award
Fall 2013
Congratulations to IGR co-director Kelly Maxwell! Kelly, along with Amy Harris (Museum of Natural History), Martha S. Jones (Afroamerican and African Studies, History, and Law), and Shari Robinson-Lynk (Ginsberg Center), served as the co-chairs for LSA's Understanding Race Theme Semester in Winter of 2013. This month, they were awarded a 2013 U-M Distinguished Diversity Leaders Award for their tireless work and commitment.
A letter from the directors—fall 2013
Fall 2013
This season has gotten off to an amazing start. Among other great programming, we recently held two events in celebration of IGR's 25th anniversary. With the help of numerous dedicated alumni, friends, and volunteers, we proudly held a very well-attended campus-wide symposium on engaged pedagogies and an alumni reunion weekend.
IGR's Patricia Gurin reflects on Civil Rights movement
August 28, 2013
People across the United States are remembering the experience of being part of the March on Washington, August 28, 1963. Several of the most famous of the participants were interviewed by Time Magazine. Their powerful remembrances are published in the “I Have a Dream” Anniversary Issue (August 26-September 2).
12 students receive 2013 Patricia Gurin Certificate of Merit in Intergroup Relations
May 5, 2013
The Patricia Gurin Certificate of Merit in Intergroup Relations is awarded to seniors who have demonstrated academic mastery in intergroup relations. The award's requirements include peer facilitation of intergroup dialogues, multiple courses in intergroup relations, and a high level of academic achievement in these courses. We held a reception on May 2 in honor of the graduating seniors who were recipients of this award.
7th annual National Intergroup Dialogue Institute coming June 19-22
January 9, 2013
IGR will offer the 7th Annual Intergroup Dialogue National Institute from June 19-22, 2013. The Institute is designed for faculty and staff nationwide who are interested in starting intergroup dialogues or are expanding and assessing programs that are already in place at their colleges and universities.
Noel Gordon talks about his IGR experience
November 11, 2011