- Richard A. Bachmann
- History; Science and Technology Studies (STS); Museum studies
- [email protected]
Richard A. Bachmann is a Ph.D. candidate in the History Department where he focuses on the history of science and technology. His dissertation project looks at how the auto assembly line became a crucial production site of mental health-related knowledge in the postwar US. In a related mini-exhibition project, Richard seeks to translate some of the insights from his dissertation into a piece of immersive public scholarship which allows visitors to explore the postwar history of automated labor and its psychological effects. Richard has taught two history courses and two STS courses at U-M, as well as several courses in American studies at Leipzig University, Germany, where he completed a BA and MA. A proud recipient of the U-M Graduate Teacher Certificate and the Rackham DEI Certificate, Richard is honored that his dedication to teaching and mentorship has been recognized by both the History Department and Rackham through Outstanding GSI Awards. He is an avid runner and cyclist who loves to kick around the ball for Woodbridge FC in his free time.
- Addie Block
- Anthropology
- [email protected]
Addie Block (she/they) is a 6th-year PhD Candidate in Linguistic Anthropology at the University of Michigan. Their dissertation research examines the social consequences of language policy change in Morocco after the Indigenous language, Tamazight, became officialized in 2011. After completing a graduate certificate in Community Action and Research, Addie is an Engaged Learning Consultant with the Ginsberg Center. Addie has served as Graduate Student Instructor for five semesters at UM, including an upper-level writing course, and was the GSI Mentor for the Anthropology department. They also have extensive experience teaching Arabic as an instructional aide at the University of Maryland, Indiana University, and the University of Texas. In their free time, Addie enjoys reading across genres, playing with their cats, and dabbling in fiber arts.
- Eda Bozkur
- Architecture
- [email protected]
- Eda Bozkurt is a Ph.D. candidate in Architecture at Taubman College, focusing on state-led urban renewal in Turkey and its impact on marginalized communities. Her dissertation explores the intersection of neoliberal policies and architectural practices, examining the social and political effects of urban transformation.
- Eda is dedicated to equity-focused teaching and community engagement. She has served as a Graduate Student Instructor at U-M and currently works as a Graduate Student Instructional Consultant with the Center for Research on Learning and Teaching (CRLT) and as an Engaged Learning Graduate Consultant at the Ginsberg Center, promoting social justice and community empowerment. Her commitment to service includes roles on various university committees, such as the MLK Symposium Organizing Committee and the DEI 2.0 Research Committee. She has also completed the U-M Graduate Teacher Certificate and the DEI Certificate Program, reflecting her dedication to high-quality teaching and mentorship.
- Beyond academia, Eda is a competitive ballroom dancer with the University of Michigan Ballroom Dance Team and enjoys relaxing with her dog, Masi.
- Sean M. Costello
- Philosophy
- [email protected]
Sean M. Costello is a Ph.D. candidate in the Philosophy Department. His research interests lie in understanding, through the lens of the history of philosophy, how the world metaphysically is and how it is that we, as living beings, navigate and psychologically experience it. He is writing a dissertation on 'The Unity of Consciousness in Descartes, More, and Clarke' under Professor Tad Schmaltz. At the University of Michigan, Sean has served as a GSI for four semesters and has, additionally, been the primary instructor for two courses – one on the philosophy of the self and the other on love and loss. Pedagogically, he is interested in equity-focused course design as well as in developing a practice of cultivating students' sense of wonder in the classroom. In his free time, Sean enjoys modernist poetry and slowly strolling through art museums.
- Jada Childs
- Psychology
- [email protected]
Jada Childs is a doctoral candidate and graduate researcher in the Developmental Psychology program at the University of Michigan. Her research centers around BIPOC emerging adults' health and academic experiences. Her focuses include imposter phenomenon, racial socialization, neighborhood trauma, socioeconomic status, and academic motivation. Jada's work aims to discover the ways that intersectional identity mechanisms (race, class, gender) and experiences of trauma converge to impact marginalized students' mental health and sense of belonging in academic spaces. She takes a trauma-informed and healing-centered approach to investigate ways to mitigate the unique challenges faced by these students. Jada believes in promoting holistic approaches to pedagogy that focus on cultivating an environment of safety, wellness, and academic success.
Jada has been a GSI for the department of psychology teaching both Psychology 111 "Introduction to Psychology" and Psychology 250 "Developmental Psychology". Jada loves being active and enjoys hiking, biking, traveling, and amusement parks.
- Leah Crosby
- Stamps School of Art and Design
- [email protected]
Leah Crosby (they/them) is an MFA Student at the Stamps School of Art and Design. Their creative research repurposes familiar information delivery systems and alternative text models to tell stories about caregiving relationships. Leah spent four years working for a nonprofit as a full time arts instructor in public spaces where they designed and implemented creative movement programs in over 17 program sites including schools, community centers, and memory care units at hospitals. They served as Instructor of Record for two courses during their undergraduate education at Ohio University's Honors Tutorial College and they were the GSI for Integrative Project, a senior capstone course at the Stamps School of Art and Design. Leah likes to go on long bike rides. Their longest was from Split, Croatia to Venice, Italy.
- Rachel Eggleston
- Combined Program in Education & Psychology (CPEP)
- [email protected]
Rachel Eggleston is a Ph.D. candidate in the Combined Program in Education & Psychology (CPEP). Rachel studies language and reading development in children with varying language experiences and reading abilities. She is particularly interested in examining the underlying neurocognitive mechanisms that support literacy. At Michigan, Rachel has taught in the Psychology Department as a graduate student instructor and in the School of Education as the instructor of record. Rachel is a Rackham Predoctoral Fellow and a recipient of the Rackham Outstanding Graduate Student Instructor award. Before graduate school, Rachel taught high school science in Providence, RI and Washington, DC. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Neuroscience from Dartmouth College and a Master’s degree in Urban Education Policy from Brown University. Rachel enjoys baking, crocheting, and Olympic weightlifting in her free time.
- Leesi George-Komi
- Movement Science
- [email protected]
Leesi George-Komi is a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Movement Science in the School of Kinesiology. His research focuses on the intersections of physical activity, motor skills, mental health, and health disparities among minority youth, particularly exploring how sports participation moderates the relationship between adverse childhood experiences and mental health outcomes. Leesi has served as a Graduate Student Instructor at both the University of Michigan and the University of Georgia, teaching and managing a diverse range of courses from ultimate frisbee and volleyball to traditional kinesiology subjects. Regardless of the course or setting, he is dedicated to fostering inclusive learning environments and is passionate about leveraging his research to promote equitable academic and health outcomes for young people. Outside of academia, Leesi enjoys biking, playing basketball, and volunteering in his community.
- Gillian Gray
- Philosophy
- [email protected]
Gillian Gray is a Ph.D. Candidate in the Philosophy Department. Her research interests are in social metaphysics and ethics; in particular, she is interested in exploring how individuals form social identities and examining the moral wrongs that can arise when individuals’ identities do not receive uptake from others. She has been a GSI in the University of Michigan’s Philosophy Department for five semesters, including one semester as instructor-of-record. She also spent a year as a GSM in the Philosophy Department. As an instructor, Gillian loves challenging students to question their previous assumptions about the world. She is also committed to making philosophy–a subject often seen as abstract and theoretical–relevant to students' lives. In her free time, Gillian enjoys cooking and baking, reading mystery novels, and playing board games.
- Daisy Haas
- Chemistry
- [email protected]
Daisy Haas is a Ph.D. student in the Chemistry Department, researching chemistry education. Daisy’s interests lie in the intersection of writing, reasoning, and justice in the chemistry classroom. Daisy deeply believes in creating curriculum, activities, and classroom experiences that are inclusive of all identities and create a culture of care. They serve as a GSI for an upper-level biochemistry writing course and a GSM for introductory organic chemistry laboratories at the University of Michigan. Daisy earned a BS in Molecular Biology and Biochemistry and a minor in Rhetoric and Writing at Chapman University. In her free time, Daisy enjoys cooking, reading, biking, walking, and playing with their cat, Ivy.
- Brittany Hardy
- Classical Studies
- [email protected]
Brittany Hardy is a Ph.D. candidate in the department of Classical Studies. Her dissertation, supported by the Rackham Predoctoral Fellowship, is an interdisciplinary examination of women, gender, and the nonhuman in the poems of the ancient Greek poet Pindar. Brittany began teaching at the University of Michigan in 2018, and she has had the opportunity to teach language classes, first-year writing classes, and discussion sections of classical civilization courses. She is passionate about cultivating a strong sense of community responsibility in each of her classes. Principles of equity-focused teaching and eco-pedagogy guide her teaching, and she is especially interested in writing pedagogy. Brittany has been dedicated to improving her teaching practice by participating in CRLT workshops, working as a Sweetland Fellow, remaining versed in current research on the science of learning and teaching, and collaborating closely with other GSIs in her home department. Brittany enjoys riding her bike, spending time with her dog, cooking elaborate meals, and analyzing her two favorite sports: Big 10 Football and the Bachelor.
- Keanu Heydari
- History
- [email protected]
Keanu Heydari is a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of History. His research focuses on French and Iranian cultural, intellectual, and migration history. Heydari’s dissertation examines Iranian students, political dissidents, and intellectuals in Europe after the 1953 coup d’état in Iran. Heydari was born and raised in Los Angeles, California, and is an alumnus of the University of California, Los Angeles (B.A., History, French language minor, 2017). When he's not in the archives, he's often strategizing about pedagogy and thinking through research-based and critically reflexive teaching practices.
- Salman A. Hussain
- Interdepartmental Program in Anthropology and History
- [email protected]
Salman A. Hussain is a doctoral candidate in the Interdepartmental Program in Anthropology and History. His research on return migrations from the Arab Gulf to Pakistan focusses on class, masculinity, and belonging. As a GSI he has taught two semesters each at Anthropology, and History departments, and served as a Graduate Student Mentor (GSM) for the History Department. He has also taught two semesters as an instructor of record at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee’s Urban Studies program.
- Angie Kim
- Center for the Study in Higher and Postsecondary Education (CSHPE)
- [email protected]
Angie Kim is a Ph.D. candidate in the Center for the Study in Higher and Postsecondary Education (CSHPE) at U-M. Her research explores the role of relationalities and networks as mechanisms for organizational change in higher education, specifically in the context of pursuing racial equity. Prior to U-M, Angie worked as a student affairs professional at New York University in student life, social justice education, and residential life. At U-M, Angie taught undergraduate and graduate students as a GSI for Sociology/Organizational Studies and CSHPE departments. In her free time, Angie enjoys eating and cooking with friends and is an amateur potter.
- Katya Kornievskaia
- College of Pharmacy
- [email protected]
Katya Kornievskaia is a third year PharmD candidate in the College of Pharmacy. She earned a BS in Biochemistry from the University of Michigan in 2022. Her interests are in medical chemistry, drug development, and clinical trials. The focus of her PharmD Investigation research is interprofessional education and the impact of self- and peer-evaluation. Katya has worked as a GSI at the University of Michigan for three semesters, teaching an introductory chemistry lab twice (Chem 125/6) and a physiology discussion once (Physiol 201). In her free time, Katya loves going rock climbing. During the fall, you can usually find her driving 6 hours for a weekend trip to climb at the Red River Gorge in Kentucky.
- Irene Morse
- Political Science
- [email protected]
Irene Morse is a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Political Science. Her dissertation examines how immigrants' political norms change after moving from an authoritarian context to a more democratic one. Irene started working as a teacher in between undergrad and grad school, serving first as a math tutor at a high school near her hometown and then as an ESL and test prep instructor abroad. She then transitioned to working as a GSI at U-M, where she has taught in both the Political Science and Public Health departments. Irene's teaching practice centers on empowering students to take charge of their own learning process and fight limiting beliefs about who is intelligent/competent in the U-M classroom. In her free time, she enjoys spending time outdoors with her partner and their two dogs.
- Courtney Myers
- Neuroscience Graduate Program
- [email protected]
Courtney Myers is a Ph.D. candidate in the Neuroscience Graduate Program. Her research is focused on cholinergic signaling in the inferior colliculus and how this signaling influences state-dependent auditory processing. Courtney received her MS and BS in Chemical Biology and Neuroscience from the University of Michigan. During her undergraduate education she aided in literacy education in the Ann Arbor Public School system through America Reads Tutoring Corps and served as a peer-to-peer tutor at the Science Learning Center (SLC) and the Office of Academic and Multicultural Initiatives (OAMI) at the University of Michigan. As a graduate student, Courtney has been a lead GSI for neuroanatomy and laboratory-based cellular, molecular, and developmental biology courses. Courtney is passionate about science communication and uncovering hidden curricula in STEAM. In her free time, she enjoys tending to her ever-expanding plant collection and hiking with her dog, Kya.
- Lindy Ortiz
- Philosophy
- [email protected]
Lindy Lane Ortiz is a Ph.D. candidate in Philosophy at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, focusing on feminist/political epistemology, Sexual Ethics, Social and Political Philosophy, and Philosophy of Race. She coordinates the Ann Arbor Ethics Bowl and COMPASS, a diversity workshop for aspiring philosophy graduate students. With a Philosophy and Political Science background, Lindy is passionate about social justice, teaching, and making philosophy accessible. In her free time, she also enjoys hanging out with their beagles, Ben and Sam.
- Melissa Valerie
- English & Education
- [email protected]
Melissa Valerie is a Ph.D. student in the Joint Program in English and Education (JPEE). Her research interests include reading and writing pedagogies, developmental education, and teaching and learning in community colleges. At U-M, she has served as an Instructor of Record in the English Department Writing Program (EDWP). Before coming to the University of Michigan, Melissa taught first-year composition, developmental reading and writing, and adult literacy courses at City University of New York (CUNY). As an instructor, Melissa values a learner-centered approach to teaching and enjoys designing collaborative learning activities that help students engage more deeply with course materials. In her free time, Melissa enjoys reading, exploring museums, and taking long walks.
- Moniek van Rheenen
- Anthropology
- [email protected]
Moniek van Rheenen is a Ph.D. candidate in Linguistic Anthropology. Her dissertation research examines child language socialization and parenting trends in Indonesia, especially concerning the intersections of religious, gendered, ethnic, and national identities, in addition to the roles of technology and mass media. At the University of Michigan, Moniek has served as a GSI in the Anthropology department, teaching classes on language, culture, and childbirth, and is currently a GSI for the Masters in International and Regional Studies at the International Institute. She has taken many workshops through CRLT, leads the GSI working group for Anthropology, and facilitates a mentorship program between graduate and undergraduate students. As an instructor, Moniek enjoys helping students connect their lived experiences to the material and takes pleasure in designing creative classroom activities. In her free time, she enjoys knitting, cycling, and walking along the river with her rescue dog, Hazel.
- Veronica Cook Williamson
- Germanic Languages and Literatures
- [email protected]
Veronica Cook Williamson is a Ph.D. candidate in Germanic Languages and Literatures and is also completing the Museum Studies Certificate. Her dissertation focuses on themes of migration in contemporary (post-2000) German culture and specifically the role of participation and collectivity as they figure in tension between activist initiatives and institutional cultures. Veronica has taught for four semesters at the University of Michigan, three of which were language courses where she was the instructor-of-record and one of which was a literature course where she led weekly discussion sections. She has also spent a year as her department’s Graduate Student Mentor (GSM).
- Mei Yuan
- Urban and Regional Planning
- [email protected]
Meixin Yuan (‘Mei’) is a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Urban and Regional Planning. Her research focuses on using urban analytics methods and information technologies to understand urban dynamics and promote healthy and equitable cities through planning practices. Mei served as a Graduate Student Instructor for three Geographical Information Systems (GIS) courses and co-instructed a Master’s Capstone course. She also facilitated the Taubman College Pathways Program in 2023, which is dedicated to encouraging students from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds to pursue urban planning and architecture graduate studies through workshops and peer mentoring programs. Having acquired a bachelor’s degree in landscape architecture in China, Mei is passionate about supporting international students who serve as GSIs in navigating the challenges of teaching students from diverse disciplines and backgrounds. In her free time, Mei loves painting, crafting, and cooking.
- Hilary Zedlitz
- Political Science
- [email protected]
Hilary Zedlitz is a Ph.D. Candidate in political science focusing on American politics. Her research interests include political psychology, religion and politics, and survey measurement. At U-M, she has served as both a GSI and Instructor of Record in the department of Political Science for courses ranging from Introduction to Comparative Politics to Religion and Politics in the United States. Hilary received her B.A. in political science & Middle East Studies at the University of Arkansas in 2016. Before coming to the University of Michigan, Hilary served as an academic advisor for first-year students at her alma mater, and as an Assistant Port Chaplain in the ports of Everett, Tacoma, and Seattle, WA. In her free time, Hilary enjoys playing board games & listening to podcasts.
