Elizabeth is the Program Coordinator for the Student Experience Team (SET). She works with a team of undergraduate and graduate students to develop, organize, and carry out programming for IGR students with intentional goals of relationship- and community-building. Elizabeth was first introduced to intergroup dialogue during a course at Michigan State University (MSU) which eventually lead her to be a facilitator in the first cohort of the MSU Dialogues program.
Charles retired from the Psychology faculty at U-M. A clinical psychologist, he served for 15 years as Co-Director of IGR. Since retirement, he has consulted with more than 40 universities across the nation regarding the creation of intergroup dialogue programs, based on the U-M model. He currently lives in Columbus, OH, and is an adjunct lecturer in psychology at OSU and a consultant at their Multicultural Center. Charles’ Ph.D. and M.A. are from Vanderbilt University. He also holds an M.A.
Mark is Professor Emeritus of Sociology at the University of Michigan and a founding faculty member of the Program on Intergroup Relations. Mark is an activist scholar conducting research, teaching, consulting and organizing on issues of social justice and personal/organizational change around race and gender equity, and of the psycho-social impact of childhood cancer.
Amanda is the Student Administrative Assistant Intermediate. She serves as the first point of contact for inquiries, manages enrollment in all IGR classes, supports faculty and peer facilitators, manages the IGR Mark Chesler Library and supports staff and student colleagues.
Amanda earned a B.S. in English Language, Literature and Writing and Secondary Education Certification from Eastern Michigan University. She also earned a M.A. in Higher Education Student Affairs from EMU. Amanda enjoys quilting, reading with her children and listening to and making music.
Roger Fisher is an Associate Director of IGR. In his role, Roger teaches training and practicum classes, directs IGR's partnership with the School of Social Work on the Summer Youth Dialogue Program, performs high-level administrative functions for IGR, trains K-12 professionals, consults with other Higher Education institutions on dialogue programs and works on special Student Life projects. He is an U-M alumus and has a B.S. in Psychology and also did graduate work in Psychology.
Nancy Cantor Distinguished University Professor and Emeritus Research Director
Patricia Gurin is the Nancy Cantor Distinguished University Professor Emerita of Psychology and Women’s Studies at the University of Michigan. She is a Faculty Associate of the Research Center for Group Dynamics at the Institute for Social Research and of the Center for African and Afro-American Studies. She directs the research program of The Program on Intergroup Relations, a curricular program co-sponsored by the College of LS&A and Student Life. A social psychologist, Dr.
Stephanie is a Lecturer at The Program on Intergroup Relations and a faculty affiliate of the Institute for Research on Women and Gender at U-M. Her teaching and research foci include diversity, equity and inclusion policy in higher education, intergroup dialogue and social justice education. As a Lecturer, Stephanie teaches courses for the Program and coordinates the Race & Ethnicity Engagement efforts between IGR and the College of Literature, Science and the Arts.
Donna serves as the LSA Faculty Co-Director of IGR. She works in partnership with the Student Life Co-Director to provide campus leadership in student learning in the areas of intergroup relations and social justice education. Donna guides curricular activities, mentors student research assistants, leads programmatic efforts to conduct research and is the academic advisor for the minor.
Associate Director for Strategic Partnerships and Initiatives
Shana is the Associate Director for Strategic Partnerships and Initiatives. She works to build capacity for dialogic skills, practices, and programs amongst University of Michigan faculty and staff and in service of students. Shana also provides intergroup dialogue consultations to outside colleges and universities, coordinates the annual National Intergroup Dialogue Institute, and teaches IGR courses and seminars. She is a contributing author to IGR's new textbook Introduction to Intergroup Dialogues.
Deborah Slosberg is the Assistant Director for The Program on Intergroup Relations. She works with the Student Life team to provide co-curricular programming through CommonGround, SET, and strategic partnerships and with IGR staff to provide intergroup dialogue consultations to outside colleges and universities and to help coordinate the annual National Intergroup Dialogue Institute.
Monita C. Thompson currently serves as the Student Life Co-Director of The Program on Intergroup Relations and is a member of the Student Life Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion lead team. Her work in intergroup relations focuses on the training, development, and support of peer educators in skills and techniques of intergroup dialogue facilitation, conflict management, and on becoming a social change agent.
She holds a BS in Criminal Justice from Tennessee State University and an MAE from Western Kentucky University.
Cesar Vargas-Leon is a Program Manager supporting IGR’s CommonGround. He works with a team of graduate and undergraduate students to execute requested programs that raise awareness about social identities, prejudice, stereotyping, power, privilege, and oppression for students who are part of the University of Michigan’s community. Cesar is passionate about transforming spaces, structures, and systems through the art of storytelling. He holds a B.A. in Sociology and Latinx Studies from the University of Michigan. The process of attaining a M.A.
