People
Lorraine M. Gutiérrez
Director, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Program, and Professor of Social Work, School of Social Work, Arthur F Thurnau Professor, Professor of Psychology, College of Literature, Science, and the Arts
Professor Lorraine Gutiérrez has a joint appointment with the School of Social Work (SSW) and Department of Psychology at the University of Michigan and is a faculty associate in American Culture. She also is a member of the SSW Community Organization Learning Community. Her teaching and scholarship focuses on multicultural praxis in communities, organizations and higher education. She brings to her work community-based practice and research in multiethnic communities in New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Detroit and Seattle. Current projects include identifying strategies for multicultural community-based research and practice, multicultural education for social work practice, and identifying effective methods for learning about social justice. Her contributions to undergraduate education have been recognized by the Arthur F. Thurnau Professorship. She is currently an editor or the Journal of Community Practice.
Contact Information
- Email: lorraing@umich.edu
Lauren Davis
Assistant Director of SSW DEI Program
Lauren Davis (she/hers), MSW ‘07 has been working with the School of Social Work since 2008. She is currently the Assistant Director of the School of Social Work’s Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, which is responsible for the implementation of the School's DE&I strategic plan. She also is a field instructor for MSW students in the DEI Office. She has worked in higher education for more than ten years in advising, academic support, admissions, recruitment, and helping students navigate wellness concerns. Her passion is for creating inclusive learning environments where students can thrive academically, personally and professionally.
Contact Information
- Email: laurdavi@umich.edu
Sarah Gettel
Program Assistant
Sarah Gettel (she/hers) is studying Community Organization with a concentration in Community and Social Systems. Her field placement is with One Love Global, which supports youth organizing and racial justice in Michigan, and she also serves as a student representative of the SSW curriculum committee. Prior to graduate school, Sarah managed grant portfolios for anti-trafficking and social justice organizations. Her work with the DEI office aligns with her interests in racial socialization, enhancing people's capacities to resolve problems, and promoting social inclusion and equity.
Contact Information
- Email: sgettel@umich.edu
Najeia Mention
Program Assistant
Najeia Mention (she/her/hers) is a Master of Social Work and Master of Public Health dual degree candidate focusing on interpersonal practice, with a mental health practice area, and health behavior and health education. As a first-generation student, she is passionate about advocating for and supporting the needs of underrepresented populations, especially as they navigate spaces of higher education. Previously, Najeia served as a population health research analyst investigating mental health, oral health, healthy child development, and equity policy strategies. Throughout her time at the University of Michigan, she hopes to acquire skills and knowledge to design and implement culturally relevant mental health programs and policies for African Americans. She looks forward to leveraging her interdisciplinary education to advance the DEI strategic plan.
Contact Information
- Email: nmention@umich.edu
Akintunde Oluwadare
Program Assistant
Akintunde is a MSW candidate with a practice method in social policy and evaluation with a practice area in children and youth in families and society. He is interested in working at the intersection of Social Work and Education so that he can help aid and facilitate the empowerment of individuals who are disadvantaged by social systems, such as schools that determine life opportunities. The combination of student teaching and research on African American students in higher education sparked his interests in first generation students in higher ed. At the University of Michigan, he looks to utilize the resources available to allow him to continue his work at a deeper and more professional level. In his free time, he enjoys working on photography and videography. Akintunde wanted to be a part of the Diversity, Equity and inclusion team because he aims to engage, empower and support faculty, students and external groups at the University of Michigan and beyond. His goal is to integrate talent though a diverse stakeholder perspective to propose viable options for complex challenges.
Contact Information
- Email: akintund@umich.edu
Jacqueline Ramsey
DEI GSSA
Jacqueline Ramsey (she/hers) is a MSW candidate with a practice method in Social Policy and Evaluation and a practice area in Community and Social Systems. She is a Graduate Student Staff Assistant for the School of Social Work's Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Jacqueline's attraction to the DEI Office is fueled by her passion for fighting injustices and seeking equity for underrepresented groups. One of her goals for the DEI office is to help establish a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment for herself and fellow graduate students. She graduated from Central Michigan University in May 2018 with a Bachelor of Science in Sociology: Concentration in Social and Criminal Justice. She enjoys learning about historical events, being politically engaged within her community, event planning with a purpose, and developing written content for creative and cultural purposes. Jacqueline also has an interest in digital marketing to help further the messages and work that is being done by leaders in the social justice community.
Contact Information
- Email: ramseyjn@umich.edu