October 11, 2023 | By Nick Pfost
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.
The group are part of the fall 2023 cohort for the Intergroup Dialogue Basics Seminar, a popular, interactive seminar introducing U-M professionals to Intergroup Dialogue pedagogy while engaging in some individual and group experiential activities. Participants learn IGR's approach to dialogue and how they facilitate understanding of social group identity, social inequality, and intergroup relations.
Our fall 2023 cohort
As the student experience coordinator at LSA Opportunity Hub, Imani Barnes (she/her/hers) nurtures Hub relationships by liaising with campus partners and supporting the Student Experience team with DEI efforts and Hub programming.
Brandon Bond (he/him/his) is responsible for assessing the needs of students, advocating for systemic-level changes, and implementing solutions that produce health-promoting environments in his role as a mental health and well-being student advocate consultant at the University of Michigan. He received his BA, MPH, and MSW from U-M. His research/work foci include the impact that cultural conceptions of mental health have on one’s health-seeking behavior; DEI/culturally tailored integrative health interventions, and 2SQTPOC+ mental health.
In his role as assistant director of student learning and leadership at the Ginsberg Center, Jesse Carr (they/he) prepares students and student organizations for ethical, equitable community engagement experiences. This includes managing the Community Leadership Fellows program, developing training curricula, advising and consulting with student organizations, and so much more! Jesse previous worked at the College of LSA managing a program for community college transfer students. Jesse received his PhD in American culture from the University of Michigan in 2015.
Jozet Channey (she/her/hers) is a postdoctoral research fellow for the ADVANCE Program. She is responsible for survey development, data management, data analysis, and report writing involving campus-wide faculty climate. Her research examines how adults’ beliefs and their associated actions shape learning environments for racially and ethnically diverse youth. She has teaching experience and significant expertise in quantitative and qualitative research methods. She received her BS and MS degrees in Psychology and her PhD in education and psychology from the University of Michigan.
Pedro Coracides (he/him/el) is a specialist in the PEAR (Prevention Education, Assistance, Resources) unit in the Equity, Civil Rights, and Title IX (ECRT) office at the University of Michigan. In this role, Pedro provides support to faculty and staff around sexual and gender-based misconduct in various health sciences schools and colleges, including Michigan Medicine. Pedro’s professional experience spans across aviation, tech, healthcare, non-profit, and higher education, ranging from operations, training, and product development. Most recently, Pedro spent five years at University of Michigan Health in the Office of Patient Experience leading health system wide work focused on creating an affirming environment for all patients and families including our LGBTQ+ community. Pedro’s passion for working with the LGBTQ+ community extends beyond the workplace as a board member for the Jim Toy Center in Ann Arbor and a crisis counselor for a national LGBTQ+ youth outreach organization. Pedro received his Bachelor of Science from Saint Louis University, his Master of Social Work from Wayne State University, and is a limited license social worker in the state of Michigan.
Lauren Davis (she/her/hers) is the director of DEI at the School for Environment and Sustainability, leading the coordination of the School's DEI strategic plan and implementation efforts. Lauren has taught courses on diversity and social justice, racial equity, and macro social work practice. She also serves a field instructor to MSW students interested in the intersection of DEI practice and higher education. Lauren is a proud Michigan Wolverine, receiving her BA in psychology and sociology and her MSW from the University of Michigan. In her spare time, Lauren loves traveling, exploring new restaurants, and trying to keep her plants alive.
Heather Klein (sher/her/hers) is the associate director for advisor development in the Newnan academic advising office in the College of Literature, Science, and Arts and holds an MA in mental health counseling. Heather oversees the general academic advisor hiring, onboarding, and training processes and collaborates with internal and external constituents to provide continuous learning/professional development opportunities for the advising staff. Heather has worked in student affairs at a variety of institutions within the areas of residence life and academic advising. Heather aims to support the development of others through a holistic, multi-dimensional lens. In her free time, she likes to travel, exercise, spend time with friends, and challenge herself with new activities.
Caitlin Posillico (she/her/hers) is the program manager for the Quantitative Methods in the Social Sciences (QMSS) program in LSA. In this role, she serves as an undergraduate academic advisor for current and prospective QMSS students, handles curriculum and administrative responsibilities for the program, and works with current and prospective partners for the immersive QMSS Capstone Course, QMSS 451. Caitlin is also responsible for event programming for QMSS students, and she puts together academic-, skill building-, and community building-related events over the academic year. She enjoys working directly with the QMSS Peer Mentors and Student Writers to help make QMSS a welcoming, inclusive, and supportive community.
Katie Reece (she/her/hers) is a DEI trainer specialist senior with Organizational Learning. In her role, she manages the Facilitator Engagement Program, supports the UHR DEI 2.0 Strategic Plan, and designs, develops, and delivers DEI and culture change initiatives for the University. She has previous experience doing DEI training for the Department of Health and Human Services in the Office of Race Equity, Diversity & Inclusion, as well as leadership training.
Katie Snyder (she/her/hers) is a lecturer for the Program in Technical Communication and an intermittent lecturer for the Comprehensive Studies Program. Her teaching and research center on design justice, philosophies of technology, and engineering ethics. She also teaches technical communication theory and practice.
Andrea Wilkerson (she/her/hers) is a program manager in the Office of Multi-Ethnic Student Affairs (MESA) and the advisor for the Native American Student Association. She received her BA in international studies focusing on political economy/development and human rights from the University of Michigan and is part of Aamjiwnaang First Nation Chippewa of Sarnia. Andrea has spent a number of years in the non-profit environment supporting the fight to end homelessness in Washtenaw County and developing programming/volunteering opportunities to support families impacted by chronic homelessness. Andrea enjoys spending time with family at the hockey rink and singing traditional songs within intertribal community spaces.
Christina Wright (she/her/hers), PhD is the associate director of spiritual care and the administrative manager of the Healthcare Equity Consult Service at Michigan Medicine. She is also an ordained clergyperson in the United Methodist Church. She is particularly interested in the intersections of spirituality, justice and equity, and health care. She has experience working in higher education, non-profits, social services, and religious institutions.
Learn more
Those who participate in the fall IGD Basics Seminar or winter Intergroup Dialogues for Faculty & Staff program are members of IGR's Community of Scholars, a community of practice—centered in dialogic pedagogy and communicating across differences, building skills and relationships, and understanding power and identity—dedicated to advancing social justice education at the University of Michigan. Learn more about opportunities for University of Michigan faculty and staff at igr.umich.edu/opportunities-practitioners.