2021 IGR Graduation Celebration

THE PROGRAM ON INTERGROUP RELATIONS UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN

TWENTY TWENTY-ONE 19TH ANNUAL AWARD CEREMONY AND GRADUATION CELEBRATION

VIRTUAL LAUNCH THURSDAY, APRIL 29, 2021 12:00 PM

ABOUT

PROGRAM ON INTERGROUP RELATIONS The Program on Intergroup Relations (IGR) is a social justice education program. IGR blends theory and experiential learning to facilitate students' learning about social group identity, social inequality, and intergroup relations. The program prepares students to live and work in a diverse world and educates them in making choices that advance equity, justice, and peace.

IGR was founded in 1988 and was the first program of its kind. IGR is a partnership between Student Life and the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts.

MINOR RECIPIENTS The Minor in Intergroup Relations Education offers students the opportunity to explore social identities in the context of understanding social inequality. Minor recipients have gained leadership skills in social justice contexts across the myriad intersections of social identity. Students are able to demonstrate enhanced critical thinking and creative problem-solving skills, as well as navigate situations in their authentic self.

Angel Phillips Anna Mogill Anooshka Pushpa Gupta Aparna Sharma Bhoomika Gupta

Photo: Marti Hwang

Dipita Das Franchion Nicole Jefferson Miri Julia Kim Rachel Soderman Samantha Garrett

LIBERATORY EDUCATION CORD The Liberatory Education Cord honors graduates who have made significant contributions to advance the mission of IGR and liberatory education.

Liberatory education raises students' consciousness, preparing them to engage in larger social struggles for liberation. It attempts to empower learners to critique and challenge oppressive social conditions and to envision and work towards a more just society.

Gurin Certificate recipients and IGR Minor graduates will also receive a Liberatory Education Cord.

Aashika Shetty Albert J. Carter, Jr. Alexa Ai Tarui Amelia Charamand-Quelas Angel Phillips Anna Mogill Anooshka Pushpa Gupta Aparna Sharma Bhoomika Gupta Caroline Nelson Christina Thomas Christopher J. Floyd Damaris Stroker Dipita Das Divya Ramanathan Dylan Barlow Efe Osagie Elizabeth Heald Franchion Nicole Jefferson Hannah Bradburn Isra Elshafei

Ivana Lopez-Espinosa Jaylen T. Bradley Justin Flood Lauren Citkowski Mariana Boully Perez Meaghan Wheat Miri Julia Kim Neeloufar Hematti Oluwakemi Dauda Rachel Soderman Riki Carroll Rose-Carmel Goddard Ruchira Ankireddygari Samantha Garrett Sneha Shankar Taylor Simone Grier Terrance Mcqueen Tyler Marie Brown Victoria T. Bankowski Victoria Villegas William Michael Kelly

THE PATRICIA GURIN CERTIFICATE OF MERIT IN INTERGROUP RELATIONS The Patricia Gurin Certificate of Merit in Intergroup Relations is awarded to graduating students who have demonstrated academic mastery in intergroup relations. The award's requirements include peer facilitation of intergroup dialogues, multiple courses in intergroup relations, and a high level of academic in courses. The award is named in honor of Dr. Patricia Gurin, the Nancy Cantor Distinguished Professor Emerita, whose courageous and loving leadership in the cause of social justice inspires and informs the work of IGR. Dr. Gurin is one of the nation’s pre-eminent scholars on the benefits of structured interactions in intergroup relations. The Gurin Certificate of Merit is reflective of her innovative ideas, her respect for academic and student affairs as mutually supportive entities, and her mentoring of younger scholars and students. Dr. Gurin is one of the original founders of IGR and currently directs the research program.

GURIN CERTIFICATE RECIPIENTS ANGEL PHILLIPS

Economics BA Minor - Intergroup Relations

ANNA MOGILL

Psychology BA Minor - Community Action & Social Change Minor - Intergroup Relations

APARNA SHARMA

Business Administration BBA Minor - Intergroup Relations

BHOOMIKA GUPTA

Psychology BA Minor - Intergroup Relations Minor - Business Administration

MEAGHAN WHEAT

Higher Education MA Minor - Community Organization Minor - Community & Social System MSW

MIRI JULIA KIM

Psychology BA Minor - Intergroup Relations

RACHEL SODERMAN

Sociology BA Psychology BA Minor - Intergroup Relations

SAMANTHA GARRETT

Psychology BA Minor - Intergroup Relations

OUTSTANDING ALUMNX AWARD

The Outstanding Alumnx Award is an opportunity for The Program on Intergroup Relations (IGR) to celebrate and recognize the impact of our wonderful graduates. IGR continues to be amazed and inspired by the work of our alumnx and their commitment to social justice.

We are proud to present the 2021 Outstanding Alumnx Award to Javier Solorzano Parada! Please help us congratulate our recipient and read his impressive bio below. On April 29th, IGR will launch a special graduation celebration webpage featuring videos of our awardee's remarks to the IGR Class of 2021.

JAVIER SOLORZNO PARADA Javier Solorzano Parada (he/him/his) is a two-time alumnus of the University of Michigan. He received his Bachelor of Arts in Secondary Education (2016) and Master of Arts in Higher Education (2018). Javier is a proud "Chilango" born and raised in Mexico City. Javier's journey as a former undocumented, first-generation, Latinx student has instilled in him a strong commitment to work for a more equitable campus for all. His educational and professional work highlights how he lives through the values of diversity, equity, and inclusion. He created outreach initiatives for underrepresented groups that transformed students into leaders with tangible programming skills. Through various initiatives, Javier has been able to mentor students through their navigation of the university and make meaning of their experience. Currently, Javier serves as Program Manager at the Office of Multi-Ethnic Student Affairs (MESA). At MESA, Javier has had the opportunity to lead, innovate, and strengthen multiple DEI initiatives including heritage months, welcome programs, large-scale events, and conferences. A passion of Javier is to provide direct support to students and organizations to enhance the student experience and leadership development. Javier has experienced the power of dialogue and is a product of continuous transformation from The Program on Intergroup Relations.

STAFF & FACULTY IGR staff and faculty work passionately to foster intergroup relations, advance social justice education, and prepare students to be the leaders of a more inclusive society.

Alice Mishkin Cesar Vargas-Leon Charles Behling Deborah Slosberg Donna Rich Kaplowitz Elizabeth Beckett Hamida Bhagirathy Henry Mochida Lori Sherman Mark Chesler Monita C. Thompson Nitesh Singh Patricia Gurin Roger B. Fisher Sara Crider Scott Hwang Shana Schoem Stephanie Hicks Susmetha Baidya

Photo: Marti Hwang

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS IGR would like to gratefully acknowledge the following people for their diligent work in making this year a success:

Communications Assistants: Smitty Smith

Office Assistants:

Dipita Das Efe Osagie Mariana Boully Perez Marita Ky

Recruitment Team: Anna Mogill Angel Philips Boomika Gupta Dipita Das Marita Ky Noah Bonello

Student Experience Team: Angel Philips Damaris Stoker Efe Osagie

Graduate Student Instructors: Laura Lee Smith Leslie Tetteh LJ Varghese Logan Murphy

Alumnx Committee:

Sandhya Krishnan (Chair)

Curriculum Committee Intern: Emely Hernandez Rubio

CommonGround Programming Team:

Ivana Axel Lopez-Espinosa (Grad Intern) Meaghan Wheat (Grad Intern) Aashika Pritham Shetty Allison Winstel Amanda Marta Putti Angel Denise Phillips Averie Wen Che Camille Alexis McMurtry Dipita Das Eder Delgado Jaylen Troy Bradley Jordan M Hunter Kimberly Mae Van Houten Lexie Willoughby Maryam Masood Maya Arsneault Nidhi Aravind Tigadi Olive Jayakar Phoebe Kim Renee Riley Boudreau Rose-Carmel Ann Goddard Ruchira Ankireddygari Shruti Goenka Sneha Shankar Stefania Ramirez Terrance Terrell McQueen Ximena Mancilla Yulisa Guadalupe Ortiz