Former Student Research Team Members
Former Student Research Team Members
Lulu Abdun was a senior at Miami University with a double major in Psychology and Black World Studies and a minor in Linguistics. She is from Memphis, TN. She works at the Office of Community Engagement and Service as an interfaith community engagement fellow. Lulu is passionate about social justice/reform, identity studies, human rights, peace studies, racial justice, criminal justice reform, and interfaith work. After graduation, Lulu plans to attend graduate school. Lulu was working on a syllabi repository for peace and justice studies courses. [Team member: Fall 2018 – Summer 2019]
Hayley Atkins was a senior studying Political Science and International Studies at Miami University, with a minor in Latin American Studies. In addition to PJSA, she is currently the secretary of the service fraternity, Alpha Phi Omega, and is actively involved in the Miami Apiculture Society. She has a job as a veterinary assistant at Mt. Pleasant Animal Hospital, and volunteers at the Hefner Zoology Museum. Hayley is very interested in the relationship between conflict and conservation efforts, and wants to work for a nonprofit that addresses the socio political aspects of environmentalism. Hayley is working on coordinating with featured speakers for the upcoming conference. [Team Member: Fall 2017 – Spring 2018]
Emma Belanger is a graduate of Miami University who majored in Software Engineering with a minor in Humanitarian Engineering & Computing. She is involved in Kode2Learn, where she teaches local elementary school students how to code and a member of Alpha Phi Omega, a national service fraternity. Emma is passionate about human-computer interaction and hopes to pursue a career as a software developer after graduation. Emma is currently working on updating information and layouts on the PJSA website, and helping to complement the new content collection and management system for the Peace Chronicle. [Team member: Spring 2017 – Fall 2018]
Abigail Citty was a junior at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro pursuing a degree in Social Work with minors in Anthropology and Peace and Conflict Studies. After finishing her undergraduate degree, she hopes to pursue law school or a masters degree in Social Work— she hasn’t quite decided yet! Abigail has been with PJSA since July of 2020 working as an intern with a special focus in conference planning for the PJSA’s 2020 online conference. Abigail hopes to gain professional skills and knowledge, but also is interested in the application of peace and conflict studies in social work. Abigail also spends her time as an Elon Academy scholar and working as a server. [Team member: Summer 2020 – Winter 2020]
Hollis Couch was a Senior pursuing a degree in Family Science, as well as minors in Disability Studies and Art Therapy with a focus on health care reform. Hollis waswith tPP Fall 2019, and focused her work on expanding resources offered to members of PJSA. Hollis hopes to work with her team in order to create a plentiful resource list, as well as learn all that she can about professional justice. Hollis hopes to attend graduate school next fall in order to pursue a career as a Child Life Specialist. [Team member: Fall 2019]
Tori Cheffer was a junior at Miami University majoring in Business Economics. She is from Belleville, Illinois which is just outside of St. Louis, Missouri. Tori is an active member of Women in Economics, CRU, and Nourish, an organization whose mission is to make a lasting impact on extreme poverty through social entrepreneurial endeavors. Tori is very passionate about experiencing different cultures, and plans to intern abroad this summer. After graduating from Miami University, she plans to attend law school, and work as a non-profit lawyer. Tori worked on multiple projects for PJSA inckuding the website and departmental directory design team with Kate. Tori also worked as a liaison between the different schools involved and PJSA. [Team member: Fall 2016 – Summer 2019]
Gabby Doyle was a junior pursuing a degree in biology with a pre-med co-major. Gabby was with PJSA Fall 2019 and focused her work on organizing the syllabi repository and expanding membership resources. Gabby hopes to broaden her awareness of current social justice events and learn about nonprofit work. Gabby is also a part of the social sorority Kappa Kappa Gamma, the vice president of the Society of Women in Medicine, a member of the Love Your Melon Campus Crew, and works at the Howe Writing Center. [Team member: Fall 2019]
Ramata Dumbuya was a Senior pursuing a double major in Applied Social Science Research and Social Justice. In her free time, you can find Ramata Volunteering at Booker T. Washington in Hamilton Ohio. Ramata was with PJSA Fall 2019 and focused her work on Fundraising and helping to support the Gettysburg Conference. Ramata hopes to work with her team in order to create a plentiful resource list, as well as learn about professional justice and using that knowledge to apply in her future as an aspiring Attorney. Ramata is also a part of the World Affairs Council, the African Students Union, and Miami University Fashion and Design Club. [Team member: Fall 2019]
Maddie Gordon was a senior at Miami University double majoring in Social Justice Studies and Political Science on the Pre Law Track. Maddie’s hometown is Kent, Ohio. Maddie is involved in Miami’s College Democrats, Alpha Phi Omega, and Tri Delta. Maddie spent the spring and summer of 2019 in DC through Miami’s Inside Washington program, where she interned for the Capital Area Food Bank and Congressman Tim Ryan. When Maddie graduates in 2021, she plans to attend law school and work for a legal nonprofit like the ACLU. Maddie was currently a part of the team working on the syllabi repository for peace and justice studies courses. [Team member: Fall 2017 – July 2020]
Meekael Hailu was a senior at Miami University. He was majoring in Social Justice Studies, with a co-major in Sustainability and a minor in Geography. In his free time around campus, he helps develop the non-profit he co-founded, Project Global Story, which he started with his roommate and a friend. In addition to PGS, Meekael is an Associate Justice on Miami’s Community Standards Board and was a competitor and team captain on Miami’s Mock Trial team up until the end of this past semester. Off-campus, Meekael was a research intern for the Peace and Justice Studies Association, as well as an intern at the Katz Teller law firm in downtown Cincinnati. [Team member: Fall 2017 – July 2020]
Meryl Haque recently graduated with a degree in Individualized Studies, concentrating on Cultural Anthropology and Human Geography, and a minor in Global Perspectives on Sustainability. She currently works with the Western Program (Individualized Studies) as the Western Center Student Coordinator. Meryl is passionately invested in social justice and sustainable development, and sees her next steps as working in public service and pursuing a graduate program that incorporates her varied academic interests. [Team Member: Fall 2018 – Summer 2019]
Jamaira Helm was a Senior studying Social Justice Studies and Individualized Studies from Cincinnati, Ohio. Jamaira is most passionate about issues involving race, class, and gender wants to help ensure justice for all. Along with PJSA, Jamaira is also involved with Miami University’s Black Women Empowered and Miami’s only multicultural sorority, Sigma Lambda Gamma. When Jamaira graduates in 2019, she hopes to get a career working for a nonprofit or working for a campaign in the next election years. Jamaira was working on expanding the PJSA departmental directory into Canada. [Team member: Fall 2017 – Summer 2019]
Justeen Jackson was a Sophomore pursuing a degree in Social Justice Studies and Professional Writing with a focus on Publication and Editing. Justeen has been with tPP since Fall 2019, and has focused her work on the Peace Chronicle. Justeen hopes to learn how to expand social justice education, and make it more accessible. Justeen is also a part of Miami’s Green Club, The Black Law Students Association, the Ohio Innocence Project, and Summer Work Experience in Law. [Team member: Fall 2019 – Spring 2020]
Isabella Jackson was a Junior pursuing a degree in International Studies and Political Science, as well as minors in Spanish and Social Justice Studies with a focus in Global Human Rights. Isabella focused her work on adding and refining the Syllabi Repository. Isabella hopes to expand resources for students and faculty within the Peace and Justice Studies Association to make them plentiful and accessible. Isabella hopes to continue her education in International Relations after graduating from Miami University and eventually plans to seek a career in the advocation of human rights. [Team member: Fall 2018 – Summer 2019]
Ryan Jago was a sophomore at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio majoring in Psychology. She is from Cincinnati, Ohio. Ryan has joined 4 Paws for Ability, Secular Students of Miami, and Society for Psychological Inquiry as well as being a member of Sigma Alpha Pi: The National Society of Leadership and Success. Ryan’s career path includes going to get her Ph.D. and then becoming a clinical family and marriage psychologist. Ryan worked on the Departmental Directory, specifially helping to categorize partner universities by membership status and creating a labeling system. [Team member: Fall 2016 – Spring 2017]
Margaret Kolozsvary was a Junior pursuing a degree in Political Science with a minor in Social Justice studies. Her focus is rooted in gun violence that is promoted through political reason and nationalism. Margaret worked with PJSA Fall 2019, helping to expand the program directory, as well as assisting in editing The Peace Chronicle. Margaret hopes to take her knowledge into the world of constitutional law and use her experience within PJSA to guide her way through the world of law. Margaret has interned with a criminal defense law firm, as well as being a member of the pre law society, Amicus Curiae for two years and as a undergraduate research assistant for The Prosecution Project. Her dream is to work as a civil rights/ human rights lawyer. [Team member: Fall 2019]
Bridget LaRock was a senior at Miami University majoring in Public Health and minoring in Sustainability. She is from Youngstown, Ohio. Bridget is a member of Delta Epsilon Mu, a professional pre-health fraternity on campus, and is involved in other organizations such as MEDLIFE, Women Helping Women, and Miami University’s Urban Cohort. After working on medical brigades in Nicaragua and Peru, Bridget has since become passionate about water, sanitation, and adequate healthcare access worldwide. After graduation, she hopes to continue traveling and earn a Masters in Public Health or Environmental Policy. Bridget is working on expanding the website and departmental directory into Canada. [Team member: Fall 2017 – Summer 2018]
Glynis Lonnemann was a Senior pursuing a degree in Social Justice Studies and Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies with a focus on reproductive justice. Glynis worked with PJSA Spring 2017-Fall 2019 focusing her work on database building and fundraising. Glynis hopes to learn skills essential for nonprofit management and further her activism. Glynis is a member of campus feminist organizations and is also a doula, focusing on community-based leadership. [Team member: Spring 2017 – Fall 2019]
Kristen Mai was a Junior pursuing a degree in Sociology with a focus on criminology and wage gap. Kristen worked with PJSA Fall 2019, and focused her work on fundraising and recruitment projects. Kristen hopes to gain experience in professional field and help people know more about PJSA. Kristen hopes to continue her graduate education after graduating from Miami University and seek a career in the paralegal field. [Team member: Fall 2019]
Caitlin Marsengill was a Senior pursuing degrees in Social Justice Studies and Public Health, with a focus on epidemiology and a minor in Spanish. Caitlin has been with PJSA since fall of 2017 and has done graphic design work for various projects including designing the 2017 conference logo and flyers for conferences. They also have done work on the Syllabi Repository. They are interested in pursuing a career in social epidemiology, particularly focused on researching health disparities and women’s and LGBTQ+ Health. In their free time Caitlin is also a part of Paws for a Cause, an organization that trains service dogs with 4 Paws for Ability for service dogs and veterans and plays on an intramural broomball team. [Team member: Fall 2017 – Spring 2020]
Dan Martin wss a second year master’s degree student studying international public policy at Fudan University’s School of International Relations and Public Affairs in Shanghai. He completed his bachelor’s degree at the University of Wisconsin – Madison in 2015, where he studied strategic communication in the School of Journalism & Mass Communication. He is mainly interested in ethnic conflict in Southeast Asia with a focus on Myanmar in addition to the international relations of the region. When Dan finishes his degree in the summer of 2021, he hopes to return to Southeast Asia and get involved with development work. In his free time, Dan is working towards honing his Chinese language skills. [Team member: Fall 2020]
Allison Mallendick was a junior pursuing a degree in Sociology with a focus on modern activism. Allison has been with PJSA since the fall of 2019 and has focused her work on membership resource projects, such as expanding the resources offered to the members of PJSA. Allison hopes to obtain new skills that are pertinent to activism and excelling in the world of nonprofit business. [Team member: Fall 2019 – July 2020]
Dion Mensah was a second year graduate fellow pursuing a dual degree Masters of Public Administration and Masters of Arts in Latin American Studies at The Ohio State University. They graduated cum laude from Miami University in 2020 with a B.A. in Political Science and a B.A. Social Justice Studies with a minor in Spanish. Their current areas of interests include climate justice, globalization in Latin America, poverty and domestic social policy, and international socio-political relations. Their first role with PJSA (Fall 2019-July 2020) focused on expanding resources offered to PJSA members through helping with the speaker’s bureau and developing PJSA’s online YouTube platform. Dion rejoined the team in May 2021 to continue building member resources. They are also are a community organizer working on grassroots campaigns to resist state violence and redistribute material resources and aid to community members in the area. In their free time they enjoy reading, spending time with loved ones, visiting parks, and watching documentaries. [Team member: Summer 2021]
Brendan Newman was a junior at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. He is majoring in Public Health with a focus on infectious diseases and epidemiology with double minors in Bioinformatics and Business Management and Administration. He lives in West Bloomfield, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. Brendan is involved in Model United Nations and works at the Miami Recreation Center. After graduating in 2020, Brendan plans to pursue a PhD in Epidemiology and work at the Center for Disease Control and Prevention or the Department of Defense. Brendan was working as Co-Editor of the Peace Chronicle. [Team member: Spring 2017 – Fall 2018]
Jacob Ostacher was a Junior at American University, in the School of International Service. He is pursuing a B.A. in International Studies in the Peace, Global Security, and Conflict Resolution program. His main interest is in the use of local-level, bottom-up strategies to conflict resolution and how these tactics can be incorporated by international organizations and NGOs engaged in peacebuilding. In his free time, Jacob enjoys reading and cooking for friends. [Team member: Fall 2020]
Marc Papa was a Senior studying French and Education at Miami University, and he is from Parma, Ohio (outside Cleveland). Marc is interested in educational policies for K-12 schools especially regarding interculturality, sexuality, and gender. Marc has been a part of Miami’s Howe Center for Writing Excellence, serving as both a writing consultant and student coordinator while conducting research on consultant training and mentoring. After graduation, Marc aims to teach at schools abroad before continuing into higher education. Marc is working on updating information and layouts on the PJSA website. [Team member: Spring 2018 – Fall 2018]
Katelyn Scheive was a senior at Miami University double majoring in Psychology and Integrated Social Studies Education. She is a part of Catholic Campus Ministry Board, choir, Cru, Alpha Phi Omega (a service fraternity), a neuropsychology lab, Faith and Fitness, and Break Out of Miami (alternative spring break). Katelyn is also a Resident Assistant. In the future, she is interested in teaching history and psychology, studying psychology, history, and/or education further, and being involved in a non-profit promoting global education. Katelyn was part of the 2017 Conference organizing team supporting the on the ground work at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. [Team member: Fall 2017 – Summer 2019]
Erin Shelton was a senior from Kent, Ohio. She is majoring in Psychology and Social Justice Studies, with a minor in Community-Based Leadership. On campus, she is actively involved with PAVES (People Against Violence and Sexual Assault) and spends a lot of her time working at the B.E.S.T Library and on her honors thesis project. She also loves volunteering, recently working on a month-long psychology placement in Sri Lanka. After graduation, Erin hopes to become more involved with nonprofit organizations and activism. [Team member: Fall 2017 – Summer 2019]
Madeline Vanderink was a Senior at Miami University majoring in Finance, and minoring in Political Science. As a Political Science minor, she has learned a great deal about some of the conflicts and challenges to peace. Her hometown is Granville, a suburb of Columbus. In addition to PJSA, Madeline is involved in Miami’s chapter of Women in Business. She loves to travel and will be spent the spring semester studying abroad in Barcelona, Spain. Her career goal is to pursue a job in the financial services industry. [Team member: Fall 2016 and Fall 2017]
Tara Verghis was a senior at Miami University from Chennai, India and was majoring in Biology with a co-major in Environmental Science. She was a writing consultant at the Howe Center for Writing Excellence and a Research Assistant in the Social Roles psychology lab. She is passionate about the intersection of different fields including conservation, environmental justice, mental health and social justice. Tara was working on updating content and layouts on the PJSA website. [Team member: Spring 2018 – Fall 2018]
Kate Wisniewski was a junior at Miami University double majoring in Political Science and Crime, Law, and Social Justice with a minor in Spanish. Her hometown is Strongsville, Ohio. Kate is involved in Kappa Delta, 4 Paws for Ability, and works at the bookstore on campus. Kate has studied abroad in Fiji and has traveled to the Dominican Republic for a mission trip. Kate would like to work for the FBI or Homeland Security after graduating from Miami University in May 2019. Kate has worked on multiple projects for PJSA including the website and departmental directory design teams. Kate also helped as a liaison between the different schools involved and PJSA. [Team member: Fall 2016 – Fall 2017]