Meet the Team

Sandra Lopez is the Educational Outreach Program Manager at the School of Information at the University of Michigan. In her role, she works to increase awareness of the field of information science in K-12 schools and community colleges. Before joining the University of Michigan, Sandra worked as Director of College Success at IDEA Public Schools in Texas.  She provided college counseling services to underrepresented and first-generation college students and their families to ensure that 100% of them had the necessary resources to matriculate into college after high school graduation.  She enjoys taking road trips and watching 4th of July fireworks. 

Devon Keen is the Director of Organizational Culture and Community (OCC) of at the University of Michigan School of Information. A first-generation and non-traditional college student, she received her B.A. in Sociology from the University of Michigan and is currently pursuing her M.A. in Higher Education at the University of Michigan Center for the Study of Higher and Post-Secondary Education (CSHPE). Devon is dedicated to advancing educational access and student success. With over 18 years at the University of Michigan, she has led key initiatives and collaborations, earning the 2020 Washtenaw Community College Equity in Action award.

Julia is the Program Manager for Organizational Culture and Community (OCC) at the University of Michigan School of Information (UMSI). She plays a key role in developing community programming that facilitates connection and dialogue among faculty, staff, and students. Julia actively manages the Community and Culture Committee and oversees the OCC newsletter to keep the community informed about its events and news. Julia holds a B.A. in Secondary Education and English from Grand Valley State University and an M.A. in Higher Education Administration from Central Michigan University. Before UMSI, she was Assistant Director of Diversity and Inclusion at Alma College and started her career in secondary education in West Michigan and abroad.

Hi everyone, I am so excited to have you join us for CCSI! I am a two-time graduate from the School of Information, with a bachelor's degree in UX Research and Design and a master's in Agile Development. I am also a former transfer student from GRCC, and very familiar with the transfer process to the University of Michigan. I love building community and am passionate about social innovation causes. I also love to stay active by going to the gym, and I love to travel. Please reach out if you have any questions about transferring, information science, or share pictures from your travels!

Hi there! I’m Sarafina, an ENTP and a social butterfly at heart. Conversing and connecting with people isn't just something I do – it's what energizes me! UX has been my love since the 7th grade; I've always loved the ability to blend creativity and logic. Outside of work, you'll find me trotting the globe, exchanging letters with pen pals, or pouring my creative spirit into YENIKA Editorial, my very own fashion magazine.

Feel free to ask me about anything at all!

Lillian is an international student pursuing a master's degree at UMSI, concentrating on user experience research and design. She has a bachelor's degree in studio art and is particularly interested in visual design. Lillian likes music, baking, crafting, and learning new languages.

Feel free to talk to Lillian about switching majors, international student experience, and life at UMSI!

I'm a Haitian-born, California-raised photographer and dancer. In 2022, I completed my B.A. in African-American Studies and minor in Criminology, Law, and Society from the University of California, Irvine.  In May 2025, I graduated with my M.S. in Information with a library science concentration from UMSI. I came to UMSI after a curatorial opportunity at UC Irvine, where I collaborated with women in the fields of library science, oral history, and the humanities. I realized that this very meaningful experience was made possible by people connected to the information field. 

Hi everyone! My name is Aren, and I’m a recent graduate of the BSI program at UMSI, where I concentrated in Information Analysis (IA). I'm particularly passionate about the intersection of data and healthcare, and I’ve had the opportunity to conduct research through the medical school that applied data analysis techniques to protein data. I’d be happy to answer any questions you might have about the IA pathway, navigating different academic interests, or anything else that comes to mind.

Feel free to reach out! :)

Hey everyone! I’m Mustafa Al-Ogaili, a graduate student at UMSI specializing in Big Data Analytics. My path into data began at community college and has taken me through everything from political campaigns to financial modeling and sports analytics. I’m driven by a passion for turning messy data into meaningful insights—whether that’s exploring how family dynamics affect education outcomes or building tools to improve workplace wellness. If you’re curious about grad school, transitioning into tech, or how to find your niche in data, I’m more than happy to connect.