Athena Gillespie

Athena Gillespie (she/her/hers), born and raised in Traverse City, MI, is a dedicated advocate for global social justice. Graduating summa cum laude from Grand Valley State University with a BSW and a minor in Human Rights, Athena has a deep commitment to advancing human rights and advocating for marginalized populations. She is currently pursuing an MSW with a focus on Global Social Work, driven by her passion for serving refugee and migrant communities. Her global perspective has been shaped by experiences such as studying abroad in Ghana, serving communities in Guatemala, and working in Refugee Foster Care. These diverse opportunities have enhanced her ability to work across cultures and geographies, further influencing her path to becoming a global social worker. Athena is currently an intern at a grassroots community-organizing nonprofit, Congress of Communities, where she serves diverse groups in Southwest Detroit. Through GASP, Athena seeks to gain a deeper understanding of intersecting global systems of oppression, grow in cultural humility and awareness, and develop strong skills to serve multicultural groups effectively. In the future, Athena hopes to work in youth-focused global settings. In Athena’s free time, she enjoys going to the beach, hiking, traveling, trying new restaurants, and thrifting.