Image

Diana Seales is a seasoned advocate for environmental justice with a wealth of experience in project management and community organizing. Her work centers around building alliances between environmental organizations, communities and advocacy groups to address environmental health and justice concerns. Seales has honed her skills in grassroots community organizing and has been instrumental in establishing several non-profit institutions.

In addition to her advocacy work, Seales is deeply committed to researching various environmental and social issues. Her research interests include exploring Indigenous perspectives on climate change and resistance, as well as grassroots innovations and Indigenous futurism. Through her multifaceted work, Seales is dedicated to promoting environmental justice, empowering communities and advancing social and ecological well-being.

Contact Information

  • (734) 763-2979

  • 3760 SSWB
    University of Michigan
    School of Social Work
    1080 S. University
    Ann Arbor, MI 48109

Education

  • 2024 PhD Community Sustainability, Climate Justice, Gender and Indigenous Studies
    Michigan State Univesity, East Lansing
  • 2004 MS Environmental Justice
    University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
  • 1997 BS Tribal Natural Resource Policy
    Evergreen State University, Olympia, WA

Activities

Publications

Copeland, D. (2013). Women in collaborative leadership. The Michigan Citizen.
Copeland, D. (2013). Decolonizing Detroit through higher learning: Universidad Sin Fronteras. The Michigan Citizen.
Copeland, D. (2013). Transformation in Detroit. Transformation Magazine: Vision and Practice for Transformative Social Change.
Copeland, D. (2013). Streetcars and highway-widening projects paving the way for injustice. The Michigan Citizen.
Copeland, D. (2011). We are the people's movement assembly. The Michigan Citizen.
Copeland, D. (2010). Building "solution city". Healing Garden Journal.
Copeland, D. (2005). Surviving Rio's favaela's. La Rampa Magazine.
Copeland, D. (2005). Not for profit poverty pimping in Rio de Janeiro. La Rampa Magazine.

Honors and Awards

Year Description
2013-2014 Twink Frey's Visiting Social Activist Fellowship, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
2004 Foreign Language Area Studies Summer Research Fellow
2003-2004 Foreign Language Area Studies Academic Fellow

Presentations

Year Description
2014 Copeland, D. (2014, January). Women's leadership workshop. Detroit Women Speak, University of Michigan, Dearborn, MI.
2014 Copeland, D. (2014, February). Engaging allies around the carbon pollution standards: How we can facilitate broad, diverse, dynamic engagement. Moderator at the US Climate Action Network Strategy Meeting, Washington, DC.
2014 Copeland, D. (2014, January). Impact of new rules in Detroit. US Climate Action Network, Webinar.
2014 Copeland, D. (2014, February). Collaborative by design: Participatory landscape architecture designs in Detroit's public schools. Poverty and education Conference, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI.
2014 Copeland, D. (2014, June). Decolonizing Detroit through the arts. Our Power Gathering, Detroit, MI.

Courses

Current & Future Courses

Title Instructor Term Course Section Meeting Start Meeting End
Social Work Capstone Seales, Diana W. Spring / Summer 2026 802 06:00 pm 08:00 pm View Course
Social Work Capstone Seales, Diana W. Fall 2026 803 06:00 pm 08:00 pm View Course

Past Courses

Title Instructor Term Course Section Meeting Start Meeting End
Practicing Policy with Current Events Seales, Diana W. Winter 2026 803 06:00 pm 08:00 pm View Course
Social Work Capstone Seales, Diana W. Fall 2025 803 06:00 pm 08:00 pm View Course
Social Work Capstone - Micro Seales, Diana W. Spring / Summer 2025 802 06:00 pm 08:00 pm View Course
Social Work Capstone - Micro Seales, Diana W. Winter 2025 802 06:00 pm 08:00 pm View Course
Theories and Practices for Community Action and Social Change Seales, Diana W. Fall 2024 004 01:00 pm 04:00 pm View Course
Foundation Topics in Social Work Seales, Diana W. Fall 2024 002 09:00 am 05:00 pm View Course
Environmental Justice Organizing Seales, Diana W. Spring / Summer 2024 001 09:00 am 05:00 pm View Course
Environmental Justice Grassroots Community Organizing in Detroit for Changing Times Seales, Diana W. Spring 2024 001 10:00 am 01:00 pm View Course
Critical Reflexive Global Practices Seales, Diana W. Winter 2024 001 09:00 am 12:00 pm View Course
Community Action and Social Change Integrative Capstone Experience Seales, Diana W. Winter 2024 003 10:00 am 12:00 pm View Course