Steven Kosmas

Steve has worked as a science/ELL instructor for over 25 years.

E. Prasad Venugopal

Prasad Venugopal is an Associate Professor of Physics and Affiliate Faculty in African American Studies (AAS) at the University of Detroit Mercy. Besides teaching courses in Physics, Prasad has developed and teaches a course for AAS - Science, Technology & Race - as part of the core curricular offerings at the university.

Prasad’s research in physics education focuses on the development of active-learning laboratories and inquiry-based curricula that respond to the need for greater diversity and inclusion in science education. Prasad’s also conducts research at the intersection of race and/in the histories of science and technology.

Mirabeth Braude

Mirabeth Braude currently works as a Talent Development Specialist at Open Society Foundations in New York City. Prior to joining OSF, Mirabeth worked for Success Academy Charter Schools as a Community Relations Manager, and a Training and Development Specialist. She has also worked in higher education as a writing consultant, writing teacher, and writing center workshop coordinator. She holds an associate degree in music from Fullerton College, a Bachelor of Integrative Studies in Writing, Rhetoric, and Music from Oakland University, and a master’s degree in Critical Studies in Literacy and Pedagogy from Michigan State University.

Trish Brown

Trish has 15 years of Mental Health Counseling and School Counseling experience. She is currently the 9th Grade Counselor and Counseling Department Chairperson at Mercy High School, a Link Crew Coach for The Boomerang Project, and has a small private practice, providing mental health therapy to adolescents and adults. Trish has specialization certificates in Counselor Supervision, Anxiety Treatment in Children & Adolescents, and is a Level One EMDR Practitioner.

Jess Pasionek

A white, cisgender, straight woman, Jess attended Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio earning degrees in Social Work and Gender and Diversity Studies. Jess also earned her Master’s in Education during her tenure with Teach for America. She worked for a decade as a teacher and then a principal in Brooklyn before transitioning to her current work where she splits her time between educational consulting and creating and facilitating antiracism workshops. Jess also serves on the leadership team of the Metro Detroit chapter of Showing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ). She is passionate about supporting other white people in developing racial self-awareness and taking continuous action to advance racial equity

Humphrey Atiemo, M.D.

Humphrey Atiemo, M.D. is board certified urologist at Henry Ford Hospital, Clinical Associate Professor of Urology at Wayne State University and specializes in Female Pelvic Floor Reconstruction. He has served as the Urology Residency Program Director in 2015

LaShonda S. Allen

LaShonda Steele Allen wife and mother of two stretches her days past the 24-hour limit, as she works as an author and film writer along with a full-time role as Associate Creative Director at Commonwealth Detroit, a top advertising agency. She has spent the last two decades advocating for herself, as a black woman, all the way up the corporate ladder into echelons rarely populated by people of color in the advertising business, especially on the creative side.

Allen’s results-driven business acumen, has helped in creating some of the most successful television commercials and most memorable taglines of her generation.

Holly Markiecki-Bennetts

Holly Markiecki-Bennetts is a Licensed Professional Counselor and a Licensed School Counselor at Mercy High School. Holly has worked at Mercy as a 10th-12th grade counselor for the past four years. Prior to Mercy, Holly worked at an all-male Catholic High School. Holly has served in the presidential cycle for the Michigan Association for College Admission Counseling (MACAC) and most recently on the National Association for College Admission Counseling Board as the Coordinator of the Affiliate Presidents Council.

Nicky Paradela

Nicky Paradela is an Associate Creative Director at Commonwealth//McCann, the global advertising agency for Chevrolet. She specializes in Interaction Design and Art Direction.

She is a first generation Filipina-Canadian and is passionate about representation in the creative and media industry, where there are few women of color in leadership roles. She lives with her partner and daughter on the East Side of Detroit where she is an active member of her neighborhood block club. She uses her tech and design skills to help fundraise and organize around important issues like senior safety, critical home repairs, and internet and technology access.

Jessica Daigler

Jessica Daigler is a skilled facilitator focusing on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. She is a proud Mercy Alum (’95) who received her BA in Anthropology (Miami University) and her MA in Intercultural Relations (School for International Training). Jessica has been with The Diversity Center since 2002 and serves as the Director of LeadDIVERSITY. She works yearly with a cohort of professionals to raise awareness of DEI issues, build leadership skills, and enhance their networks. She fosters the class’ growth through discussion, self-reflection, simulations, readings, and hands-on activities. She is invested in building relationships to create community and foster inclusion.

Marta Rhea-Johnson

Marta Rhea-Johnson M.Ed, is the first Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at De La Salle Collegiate. She is an African American woman, wife, mother, christian, educator, and advocate for student equity and social justice. She holds a B.S. in chemistry from Spelman College, and a M.A. in education from the University of Detroit Mercy with a specialization in classroom instruction and curriculum design. She has been in service in education for over 20 + years as a teacher, admissions director, head of school, and educational consultant.

Steve Arnold

Mr. Steven Arnold, an MSU grad and supporter of public education, worked in the Transportation Industry for 38 years and, as Logistic Manager, supervised a workforce of 120 drivers.

Dr. Irene Lietz

Dr. Irene Lietz, Professor Emerita in English, Carlow University, Pittsburgh, PA, writes about race talk and co-facilitates Conversations on Race.

Gabriela Bala

Gabriela Bala is in her 11th year as principal of St. Mary Catholic School in Royal Oak, with 22 years in education. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from the University of Michigan, Master’s degree in Early Childhood Education from Oakland University, and Administrator’s Certificate from Eastern Michigan University. She serves on the Archdiocese of Detroit Academic Excellence Committee and Accreditation Team. Gabriela is a Catholic wife and mom of 4. She is the proud niece of Annemarie Lopez, one of the founders of Angels’ Place- providing homes for individuals with special needs.

Rev. Dr. Louis Forsythe

Rev. Dr. Louis Forsythe, is Senior Pastor of Pleasant Grove Baptist Church in Detroit, Michigan, and co-facilitates Conversations on Race.

Rev. Dr. Patricia Coleman-Burns

Rev. Dr. Patricia Coleman-Burns, Pastor of First African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church, Farmington Hills, is also Assistant Professor Emerita at University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, in nursing and Black Studies.

Steven Patton

Steve is a Detroit native currently residing in Seattle, WA with his wife and 3 daughters. After spending 13 years shaping religious organizations and non-profits with leadership and equity professional development, Steve now functions as a Regional Director at Equal Opportunity Schools. In his role, he works with school districts and leaders to see how they can close gaps in access for their most rigorous work in their historically underrepresented populations.