Meet the Council

I have been with Baker College since 2002 and throughout my tenure I have served in various roles. My current role is Director of Multicultural Student Services and this is what I have enjoyed the most throughout my career in higher education. This position allows for the creation of inclusive and welcoming campus environments where students and staff of ALL backgrounds feel valued, supported, and empowered to succeed.

I am also a proud first-generation college graduate, which means that I have a unique perspective and understanding of the challenges and needs that first-generation students may face. I am honored to lead the college’s first-generation initiatives and to directly impact the experiences and success of first-generation students. My desire is to create a supportive and inclusive environment where students can thrive academically, socially, and personally.

As a founding board member of the Diversity Equity, Inclusion and Justice (DEIJ) Council at Baker, I also serve as its chair and as a member of all our regional DEIJ Chapters. These roles allow me to both lead and support efforts to assess, develop, and implement strategies and initiatives aimed at advancing DEIJ principles and fostering a more inclusive and equitable environment for Baker College.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Justice is profoundly important to me. As an African American woman, Detroit born and raised, it validates the significance of my background and heritage and affirms that my voice and others matter and deserves to be heard. I have the opportunity to thrive and contribute towards a more just and equitable world. It is a fundamental aspect of my intersecting identity and my vision for a better future for myself and generations to come.

As the Science Program Director for Baker College’s Online and Owosso Campus, I am responsible for fostering diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice (DEIJ) initiatives. First, it’s crucial to integrate DEIJ principles into science curriculums and educational experiences offered to our students by implementing inclusive teaching practices and providing resources that promote cultural competency, where all students feel valued and respected. Secondly, I attempt to foster a culture of inclusivity by actively listening to diverse perspectives, establishing channels for open dialogue and feedback with students, challenging biases and stereotypes, and advocating for equity and justice within the college and beyond.

I live, speak, and work on the principles of embracing diversity. This is how I find my true self and strive to promote equity and inclusion not only within the professional context but also in the context of being a minority, woman, bilingual, immigrant, Arab American, and Muslim. These previous intersectionalities and more have shaped my thoughts and still do. DEIJ efforts at Baker College empower individuals to bring their authentic selves to the table, leading to more effective problem-solving and decision-making processes. I am a proud member of the DEIJ Council of the College and the MidMichigan Chapter since 2018. I also co-lead the training committee, where we contribute to creating a campus culture that celebrates differences, advocates for positive change, and raises awareness.

A diverse environment in academia and all career fields creates a platform for
sharing various skills and experiences that promote more culturally competent employees and administrators. As a Science Professor and Researcher, I offer a wealth of knowledge in biology, research, data analysis, and disease prevention. But as a certified Diversity Professional-National Diversity Council of Certified Diversity Professionals (NDCCDPs), the world offers me endless opportunities to learn, leverage my expertise, and drive meaningful changes where all feel valued, respected, and empowered to succeed.

My journey at Baker College began on October 6, 2014 as an Academic Advisor. I worked in this role for 4 years, then moved into the position of OneStop for 2 years, and now I currently work as an Administrative Support Specialist.

I’m also a member of the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Justice committee. My commitment to our DEIJ work is to demonstrate, address, and live these principles, through my words as well as my actions, and to embrace everyone’s cultural differences by demonstrating intentionally and digging deeper as I navigate my way to assist change. This is a call to action for each person committed to change. I believe it is my responsibility whole-heartedly, and I will pursue with determination to contribute to making the world a better place!

My own personal journey in Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Justice efforts is my commitment to examining and becoming a positive change-maker. I’m extremely grateful and proud to be a part of a team of outstanding individuals dedicated to promoting Diversity, Equity Inclusion and Justice.

My role at Baker College is the Director of Student Affairs (DSA) for the Royal Oak campus. As the DSA for the Royal Oak campus, I work with students to help them make the most of their college experience and fulfill their goals.

My interest in DEIJ work stems from my invisible disability. At the age of 18, I was diagnosed with a Bipolar Disorder. Through much reflection and support, I have arrived at a point where I am comfortable as well as proud to speak about living with a mental illness. I feel it is important to share both my success and my struggles with the world. I believe the addition of the voice of someone with an invisible disability to the larger conversation about diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice, creates a stronger fabric to hold a strong community together.

As part of my work with the DEIJ Council, I serve as a lead on a committee that is working to create a Student DEIJ Chapter. In addition to serving on the Council, I am a member of the Metro DEIJ Chapter, which serves the Royal Oak campus.

In my role as Vice President for Student Success & Engagement and Dean of Students, I have the opportunity to provide strategic visionary leadership and foster a culture of inclusion, engagement, and belonging that inspires students, faculty, and staff to flourish. Additionally, as the Dean of Students, I serve as a connector and liaison for students & family members, faculty, administration, staff, and community members and am an advocate for inclusive efforts on and off campus (town/gown relations) while promoting student growth and development.

I have the opportunity to show how we live our practice of inclusion as a longtime supporter and creator of our DEIJ work at the College, going back to serving on the UNITY committee at the Owosso campus almost fifteen years ago. But my passion for the work of DEIJ goes much further beyond that. As the daughter of immigrants to the United States, I have always felt a sense of otherness. My parents raised me to be proud of and very active in keeping alive our Greek culture, while simultaneously being a proud American. Rather than close myself off because of my feelings of otherness, I do the opposite. I delight in the differences of others as I strive to find commonalities, because you can usually find some if you take the time to search for them. I have taken this curiosity and respect for differences into my work and hope to be an example to others. We can learn from and impact each other’s lives in critical ways if we simply allow people to be who they are, in all the ways they identify, and love them for it.

I have the privilege of serving as the Director of Student Affairs (DSA) at the Muskegon campus. I have had the opportunity to serve the college in various roles for 23 years.

While I was pursuing my degree, I gained a deeper understanding of issues related to social justice, human rights, and advocacy. The work of DEIJ is deeply meaningful to me after meeting so many students throughout the years, and friends that have been marginalized and othered. I want everyone to experience safety, to feel seen, loved, and valued.

I am fortunate to serve the college on the DEIJ council. I am a co-chair of DEJI West, the events committee, first generation ally group, and the student chapter of DEIJ.

As the Dean of the Colleges of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Social Sciences, and Education at Baker College (BC), I attempt to foster a culture of inclusivity and promote diversity, equity, and inclusion within our BC community by actively listening to diverse perspectives, challenging biases and stereotypes, and advocating for equity and justice within the college and beyond. I also work to ensure that all members of our BC community feel safe and welcome by creating inclusive physical and virtual spaces. In diverse and inclusive environments, individuals have the opportunity to learn from those with different perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences. This can lead to greater creativity, innovation, and problem-solving abilities, as well as improved interpersonal skills and cultural competence, and this is the type of environment for which we should all strive within our BC hive.

The importance of DEIJ (diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice) stems from a combination of my moral values, personal experiences, social responsibility, and a desire to create positive change in the world around me. As a granddaughter of Slovak immigrants, as well as a descendant of the Siksika Nation (my maternal grandfather was Blackfoot Indian of the Missouri-River tribe), my family has experienced mistreatment spurred by what is considered to be “different” or non-mainstream, and we fight for, and with, those who continue to experience this maltreatment. I believe in the inherent value of treating all people with dignity, respect, and fairness, as upholding principles of diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice aligns with my fundamental moral and ethical beliefs about equality and human rights.

At Baker College, I have proudly served on our DEIJ Council since 2018. I have also been a co-chair for our Online Chapter since 2019. Both of these spaces play a crucial role in driving positive change within our institution and our BC community, as both contribute to creating a more diverse, inclusive, safe, and equitable environment for current and future students, faculty, and staff.

As the Director of HR Operations at Baker College, I am dedicated to fostering an inclusive and equitable environment within our institution through the entire Employee Life Cycle. I understand the importance of community and the value of diversity in shaping an environment where everyone can thrive.

DEIJ holds a deeply personal significance for me, largely due to my upbringing in Flint, Michigan, and the diverse friendships I cultivated there. Growing up in such a diverse environment instilled in me a deep sense of empathy and understanding. I learned to appreciate the beauty of different perspectives and the strength that comes from unity in diversity. But I also witnessed firsthand the systemic inequalities and injustices that marginalized communities faced. I believe it is imperative to amplify underrepresented voices and dismantle systemic barriers to create a more just and inclusive society.

Within Baker College, I serve as a proud member of the DEIJ Council, where I actively contribute to shaping policies and initiatives that promote diversity, equity, inclusion and justice across our campus community. Additionally, I am honored to be part of the Online Chapter, where we extend our DEIJ efforts beyond physical borders, ensuring that all members of our institution feel valued and supported regardless of their location.

I am deeply committed to fostering a culture where everyone feels empowered to bring their authentic selves to the table, knowing that their contributions are not only welcomed but celebrated.

Since 2012, Baker College has been my second family. I started at Baker as a Science Adjunct faculty, then became a Professor, and I’m now the Program Director of Science for our Royal Oak and Jackson campuses. I have a PhD in Molecular Biology and am member of the Strategic Plan Workgroup, IDEA Council at Macomb Community College, and Executive council member of IERG at Oakland University.

I have presented and conducted workshops at National Conferences for OLC, AAAS, NSTA and SoTL and published 16 Papers in Scientific Journals/Books. My passion is a unique combination of STEM and DEI educating, collaborating, and interacting with a diverse population. My role is to serve our students, helping them learn, grow, and love the field of science.

I have been actively involved in the DEIJ space since 2013. At Baker college I have been part of our diversity initiatives since 2016, first as a campus unity council member and later as a DEI council member, Chair of DEI Metro Campus Chapter at Baker College, and Lead of the DEIJ Events committee. DEI gives us a platform to operate from and has a major impact on educational institutions, and helps us acknowledge how we are all different. DEI also impacts the ability of students to continue to pursue their dreams. In my teaching since 2012, I have seen our student population become more diverse and I believe developing an educationally inclusive and respectful environment is a very important aspect of student learning. Understanding the impact of DEI in learning styles is essential in helping faculty and curriculum developers better develop a curriculum that is easy to implement.

I joined the College in June of 2023 as Employer Relations Specialist and as soon as I started I knew I had to be a part of this important community and work. I immediately joined the DEIJ Chapter closest to me and applied to join the Council too.

DEIJ is about representation and having a seat at the table to share perspectives and to learn from others. This is important to me because everyone deserves equitable treatment and that needs to be front and center in higher education, and I want to be a part of Baker College’s role in being a leader in this charge. I know that there are some communities and places in the world where I am not welcome. To these communities and places, I say that I will strive everyday to make sure that Baker is a place of inclusion and belonging for all people and that we are setting people up for equitable and achievable success in their educational journeys.

I am proud to serve the College as a member of the DEIJ Council, as a member of the Metro Chapter, and serve on the Events Committee.