June 23, 2025
Find out what your classmates and fellow IGR alumnx are up to
Kristie A. Ford (MA, PhD ’06) [pictured] became the inaugural director of the Center for Intergroup Dialogue at Mount Holyoke in 2023. Her latest book, Facilitating Change through Intergroup Dialogue: Social Justice Advocacy in Practice, documents the impact of dialogic pedagogies on undergraduate students’ post-college personal and professional lives.
Theresa Kouo (BA ’06, PhD ’10) was recently promoted to partner at Kinetic West, a social impact consulting firm based out of Seattle, Washington.
Ahmed Alawami (BBA ’10, MAcc ’11, MPP ’15) took a new role last year as a financial accounting and control manager at BSG.
William R. Frey (BA ’11, MSW ’14) [pictured], recently graduated with a PhD from the School of Social Work at Columbia University. Their dissertation is titled Conceptual and Empirical Examinations of (Racialized) Socialization, Normativity, and Categorization. Part-time faculty at Boston College, he will soon be starting a joint postdoctoral research fellowship at U-M’s School of Information and School of Social Work.
Zahraa Hadi (BA ’14) was promoted to partner at Kirkland & Ellis (New York).
Elise Jayakar (BA ’16) successfully introduced intergroup relations practice to her large social service agency in New York City through an 8-week intergroup dialogue called “Deep Dive.” With William Frey, she also co-facilitated an additional intergroup dialogue workshop for a learning institute.
Grant Jackson (PhD ’17) was recently promoted to associate professor with tenure at Texas Tech University and also co-authored two IGD-related publications.
Theresa Ross (BA ’19), a law student at Northwestern University, is currently a summer associate at McDermott Will & Emery.
Meaghan Wheat (BA ’19, MA/MSW ’21) co-authored a chapter with Christina Morton in Facilitating Transformative Dialogues: Creating Socially Just Communities, published last year by Stephanie Hicks and Donna Rich Kaplowitz.
Alaina Gregory (BBA ’22) is currently the lead for women@apple’s Seattle office, promoting gender diversity and equity at Apple, where she recently held an event on empowering African American women in data science.
Cassidy Chapman (BA ’23) [pictured] is working as a scholarship programs coordinator for a Chicago-based nonprofit and using a lot of what she learned through facilitating CommonGround.
Isabel (Rodriguez) Stasa (BA ’23), who recently completed a Master of Public Administration at Western Michigan University, was profiled in the LSA Magazine story, “Fostering Fortitude.”
Thea “TJ” Bultman (BA ’23, MSW ’25) obtained new State of Michigan credentials: A Limited License Master of Social Work (LLMSW) and Preliminary School Social Worker Certificate.
Jacob Foster (MSW ’24) joined IGR as a lecturer in 2024-25, teaching “Foundations of Intergroup Relations” and “Training in Intergroup Dialogue Facilitation.”
Rikki Goldman (BA ’24) took a role as a program instructor at Close Up, a Washington DC-based nonprofit that welcomes students from around the world to learn about political discourse.
Isabel Lee (BA ’24) is currently an AmeriCorps VISTA member in the Lansing area. There, she works with a local non-profit to promote the attainment of post-secondary degrees and credentials, particularly among under-served and marginalized communities.
LaKaylia ‘Kay’ Kea (BA ’25), who passed away late last year, was awarded a posthumous honorary degree, fulfilling her aspiration of becoming a University of Michigan graduate.
Past leaders and faculty
Charles Behling is retired from faculty, healthy, living in Portland, Oregon, and still volunteering for IGR—as well as trying to navigate this new-to-him social identity of old age. He welcomes messages from alumnx.
Diana Kardia (BS ’89, MS ’91, PhD ’96) [pictured], former co-director, layers the principles and techniques of intergroup dialogue across her work with clients and higher education partners. Last year, she celebrated 20 years of the Kardia Group, a consulting firm focused on leadership development and organizational change in academia.
In memoriam
LaKaylia ‘Kay’ Kea (BA ’25) [pictured] departed from this world on November 24, 2024. Kay pursued her dream of attending the U-M, majoring in sociology—a field that resonated deeply with her love for children and her innate compassion for others. Though her time was far too short, Kay's legacy of love, strength, and joy will continue to inspire all who knew her.
Mark Chesler [pictured], a co-founder of The Program on Intergroup Relations, passed away on June 5, 2025. An activist scholar, Mark’s work helped establish and grow an entire discipline. He conducted research, taught, consulted, and organized around social justice and personal and organizational change with a focus on race and gender equity, as well as on the psycho-social impact of childhood cancer. Read more.
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