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.
Melissa is a University of Florida alum. After working as a community organizer in Charleston, South Carolina, Melissa returned to school at U-M where she received a Master of Arts in Higher Education Administration with a concentration in Diversity and Social Justice Education. Melissa's first introduction with IGR was during her time as a graduate intern with the CommonGround program. At IGR, she works on curriculum development, program assessment and allyhood & coalition building initiatives.
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.
Adrienne Dessel, PhD, LMSW is a Co-Associate Director of IGR and Lecturer in the School of Social Work. She has an MSW from Simmons College and a PhD in Social Work from the University of Tennessee and worked for 20 years as a community based social worker. Adrienne provides administrative support to the program, curriculum leadership, and consultations to faculty and staff. She teaches courses on intergroup dialogue and dialogue facilitation, intergroup relations, and global conflict and coexistence.
LaQwana Dockery also known as Q, is the former graduate intern for CommonGround and the new IGR Program Coordinator. Q received her Masters of Social Work and Masters of Higher with a concentration in Diversity and Social Justice in Higher Education here at The University of Michigan. Q has always been interested both career wise as well as personally in issues around social justice education and campus climate, college access and retention, and multicultural programming.
Roger Fisher is a Co-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.
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. This term, she is teaching ALA 320: Facilitation Process in Intergroup Dialogue and ALA 324: Facilitation for Effective Leadership. A Chicago native, Stephanie completed her master’s degree and is pursuing her PhD in Educational Policy Studies at the College of Education at the University of Illinois at Chicago.
Susan holds a joint appointment in IGR, serving as Outreach Specialist and Instructor, and in the School of Public Health where she is the Associate Director of the Life Sciences and Society Program and an instructor for the Health Behavior and Health Education department. Susan received her Doctorate in Ministry through the Graduate Theological Foundation at Christ Church, Oxford England. She is also a graduate of New Seminary in New York, where she was ordained in 2002.
Kelly is a faculty member and academic Co-Director of IGR. She has previously served as co-chair of the University of Michigan Understanding Race Project and chair of the U-M Diversity Council. She is currently on the steering committee and several sub-committees of the LSA Undergraduate Education Climate Committee. Her Ph.D. is in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies from Arizona State University.
Alice is a lecturer with the Community Action and Social Change (CASC) undergraduate minor at the School of Social Work, The Program on Intergroup Relations, American Culture, and the Center for Global and Intercultural Studies (CGIS). Alice has worked in non-profits committed to social justice and international human rights in New York, Washington D.C., and Tel Aviv. She currently serves as a lead organizer with the Center for Jewish Nonviolence.
Xinyan is the Administrative Assistant for IGR. She provides general administrative, financial, and HR support to the program. Our office would not function without her skillful office management! Xinyan says "My favorite part of coming to work is that I enjoy the people I work with. I've learned so much about social justice issues here too."
Shana is the Assistant Director of IGR. She oversees all co-curricular programming, including CommonGround, the Student Engagement Team, and the National Intergroup Dialogue Institute, along with teaching and consulting. Shana is passionate about supporting students to explore social justice issues, deepen their understanding of social identities, develop skills in communicating across difference and while in conflict, and move from awareness to action.
Laxmi Shastry is a Student Life Program Manager, working with the CommonGround program. Laxmi completed her BA at the University of Illinois and received her MA from the Center for the Study of Higher and Postsecondary Education at the University of Michigan. In her time at U-M, Laxmi worked with various units in Student Life, including Diversity and Inclusion in Housing and the Change it Up! bystander intervention program through Community Matters.
Monita serves as Assistant Dean of Students and Student Life Co-Director of IGR. Within IGR she fosters the training, development, and support of undergraduate student peer educators in skills and techniques of intergroup dialogue facilitation and on becoming a social change agents through teaching and research. She consults with higher education institutions interested in developing intergroup education on their campus. She is an alumna of Tennessee State University where she received a B.S. in Criminal Justice.
Anti’Shay is the Student Administrative Assistant at IGR. She works closely with faculty and students in her role as she supports enrollment for IGR dialogue courses and coordinates the training course application process. She also coordinates the National Intergroup Dialogue Institute that IGR hosts each year. She is an alumna of the University of Michigan, where she received a B.A in English and Anthropology.
Amber is a U-M alum with a Bachelor of Arts in the College of LSA with a major in sociology and women’s studies. After working in the field, Amber received a Master of Arts degree from U-M's Center for the Study of Higher and Postsecondary Education, and a Master of Social Work degree in Policy and Evaluation. Amber’s first introduction with IGR was during her time as an undergraduate student facilitator, researcher, and student staff for the CommonGround program.
