Global Activities Scholars Program Students

Ashley (she/her/hers) grew up in Bloomfield Hills, MI, and graduated from Michigan State University in 2023 with a BA in Psychology. She first became interested in social work during a mission trip with International Samaritan in Escuintla, Guatemala, working to build a classroom for a neighborhood located within the largest landfill in Central America. Furthering her experience, Ashley became an Undergraduate Research Assistant examining Early Intervention and Reciprocal Imitation in an ABA setting with young children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. She participated in the Contemporary Culture, Politics, and Society Education Abroad Program, studying the effects of globalization and collaborating with non-governmental organizations to address the refugee crisis in Mytilene, Greece. She continued her career as a Foster Care Worker with Orchards Children's Services post-graduation.

Ashley joined GASP to expand her cross-cultural competency, ability to promote sustainability, and research on environmental justice. Currently, she is completing her field placement at Girl's Group, promoting self-sufficiency for socio-economically disadvantaged youth. In her free time, she enjoys practicing yoga, listening to true crime podcasts, and binging TV series with her roommates.

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.

Celia Gomez-Colon was born and raised in Sarasota, Florida. They graduated from Vassar College in 2020 with a degree in Sociology and a minor in Education focusing mainly on immigration. After graduating, they worked in various fields of social work. They have experience as a substance abuse counselor, a child welfare case manager, and most recently a workforce development specialist working mainly with refugees and migrants to find employment. Celia is an MSW student in the IP and Global Social Work pathways. Their current field placement is with Trinity Health IHA Academic Psychiatry and Counseling Office in Livonia. As a GASP recipient, Celia hopes to expand their knowledge on global grassroots organizations and strengthen their understanding of social systems globally and how those systems impact and influence immigration and displacement in order to become a better advocate for immigrants, refugees, and indigenous communities. In their free time, Celia enjoys going to concerts and shows, trying new cuisines, exploring new places, escape rooms, and fishing.

Grace (she/her) is a first-year MSW student in the Global Social Work Pathway. She graduated Magna Cum Laude with honors from Miami University, earning degrees in both Social Work and International Studies with a concentration on Global Human Rights and Justice. While earning her BSW Grace gained extensive experience working in a variety of different settings in her community. She has provided crisis intervention and support services for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault as a victims advocate, both in a legal context with Butler County Courthouse as well as with various local hospitals and emergency rooms. Grace completed fieldwork with EDGE Teen Center providing aid to high school students with personal or academic concerns, and has acted as a one-on-one ESL teacher for Spanish speaking refugees and immigrants. Now in the MSW program, Grace’s current placement is with Global Educational Excellence, where she acts as a school social worker for elementary to middle-grade students in the Dearborn community. During her time as a GASP student she hopes to learn more about dismantling oppressive systems in the global context and enhance her skills in providing holistic care.

Lucy (she/her) was born and raised in the Boston area and graduated summa cum laude from Northeastern University with a B.S. in Psychology and American Sign Language. While at Northeastern, she volunteered with Big Sister where she mentored an elementary school student in an English/Spanish bilingual school and “You’re With Us” where she was a mentor for adults with severe autism. As part of her college experience, Lucy immersed herself in the Deaf community and hopes to bring that experience into her social work practice. Upon graduation, Lucy worked in development for Perkins School for the Blind and as a milieu counselor at McLean Hospital, working with young women with eating disorders in a residential treatment center. Both of those experiences shaped her interest in mental healthcare accessibility and cross-cultural social work. Lucy is an MSW student in the Interpersonal Practice in Integrated Health, Mental Health, and Substance Abuse Pathway. She is currently doing her field placement with Starfish FamilyServices as an Infant Mental Health intern working in metro Detroit. Throughout her time as an MSW student and GASP scholar, Lucy hopes to learn about global differences in mental healthcare, the intersection of disability and health, and culturally informed clinical practice.

Nan (she/her) earned her Bachelor's degree in Economics and Finance from the University of Hong Kong, with a focus on poverty and behavioral economics. She is also a social worker with five years of experience. Her background includes serving migrant communities, coordinating youth development programs, and doing empowerment programs for low-income mothers and migrant women in China. She is doing her Master’s in Social Work as a GASP student, hoping to gain a deeper understanding of global suffering and contributing to the joint effort in making the world a better place.

Samira is pursuing her MSW at the University of Michigan with the Global Social Work Pathway. Previously she went to Western Michigan University, where she got her Bachelor’s in Interdisciplinary Health and Human Services with a minor in Psychology. She is passionate about fostering community well-being on a global scale. In her previous role as an Education Training Specialist at Grand Rapids Community College, She worked to develop strategies for students’ success, empowering them to overcome barriers to education and employment. Seeing the direct impact of her efforts on individual lives was incredibly rewarding, and it reinforces her commitment to creating broader social change. Samira also has a strong passion for working with refugees and is committed to social justice and international collaboration. She aims to empower her peers and promote cross-cultural understanding. Samira believes in the transformative power of community and strives to cultivate inclusive spaces that support both local and global communities.

Sydney (she/her) was born and raised in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan and graduated from Michigan State University. She graduated with honors in the spring of 2023 with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Psychology and minored in Peace & Justice Studies, Women & Gender Studies, and Business. It was at Michigan State University that she fostered a passion for social justice initiatives as well as understanding the complexities of the human psyche. During her undergraduate career she participated in various DEI initiatives, served as a TA for psychology classes, and partook in an internship in Lesvos, Greece where she was able to connect and provide aid to refugees traveling from the Eastern Mediterranean routes. Sydney is a MasterTrack MSW student exploring both the Interpersonal Practice in Integrated Health, Mental Health, and Substance Abuse and the Global Social Work pathway. She is currently doing her field placement at Personalized Nursing Lighthouse in Canton, Michigan, where she uses Motivational Interviewing techniques to facilitate group and individual therapy to those diagnosed with Substance Use Disorders. Through the participation in the MSW and GASP program, she hopes to gain more experience in working with refugees and immigrants, particularly looking through a lens of experiences of violence. In doing so, she hopes to develop a more holistic, trauma-informed, culturally competent, and evidence-based therapeutic practice. Outside of academics, Sydney enjoys learning how to play different instruments, cooking, and practicing yoga.