Lamia Bagasrawala
Lamia Bagasrawala is a third-year doctoral student in the School Psychology program within the College of Education. She has been actively involved in efforts to promote inclusivity within her program and the broader college community through leadership and communitybuilding initiatives. In Spring 2024, she co-facilitated a series of community reflection sessions for international graduate students in the College of Education. These sessions provided a space for arts-based dialogue on topics such as community and connection, wellbeing and resilience, self-care, and solidarity. Lamia also serves as the graduate assistant for the School Psychology program, where she worked with the program’s DEI committee cochair and program director to organize a DEI symposium.
In 2023, she and her colleagues were awarded the College of Education’s Equity Fellows Grant to fund this event. Following the grant’s approval, Lamia took a lead role in planning, including coordinating catering,speakers, and logistics. The symposium aligned with the College's 2030 strategic plan(Imagin)ED, aiming to inspire students and faculty to engage critically with DEI efforts within the program and in the wider community. In addition to her work in the School Psychology program, Lamia has been an active member of the APIDA/A community on campus. She served as an Executive Board Member for the Asian Pacific American Graduate Alliance (APAGA) during the 2023-24 academic year. Passionate about advancing social justice, Lamia is eager to collaborate with fellow graduate students in the College of Education and the Associate Dean’s Office to conceptualize, develop, and lead the Culturally Relevant Pedagogy Community of Practice in Spring 2025.
Darice Brooks
Darice is a 4th year doctoral candidate in the department of kinesiology studying cognitive and motor neuroscience with a specific focus on motor behavior. Her research interest lies within providing accessible and inclusive physical activity opportunities for youth with autism spectrum disorder. Additionally, she is the coadvisor for the Multicultural Undergraduate Kinesiology Association, a group exclusively for students of color in the kinesiology department.
She is also a co-lead for the Early Success Scholars summer program through the College of Education. This program brings in incoming students of color to experience life at MSU and have a preview of what the department of kinesiology is like. She is thankful for Dr. Hauck, Dr. Pfeiffer, Dr. Flennaugh, and Kelley Johnson for the opportunities they have given her to be a mentor for students like her.
Gustavo Dobrovolski Pereira
Gustavo is a second-year MBA student concentrating in Supply Chain and Marketing and president of the MBA Association at Broad College of Business, Michigan State University. Gustavo leads efforts to create a welcoming and inclusive environment for all members of the community. His initiatives include collaborating with affinity groups to celebrate diverse cultures and groups, organizing events that foster mutual respect and understanding, and ensuring that students from all backgrounds feel represented and supported.
Recognizing the unique needs of student parents, Gustavo also included initiatives to welcome families to events, also introduced a parenting newsletter to share resources and ideas, exemplifying his dedication to inclusivity across various aspects of student life. Gustavo’s leadership reflects his commitment to building a community where everyone feels valued and empowered to thrive.
Elizabeth Pugliese
Elizabeth Pugliese is a fifth-year Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Chemistry, where her research focuses on the synthesis of new organometallic f-element complexes for applications in quantum information science. Specifically, under the guidance of Professor Selvan Demir, she is investigating the activation of bismuth with the rare earth metals, as these complexes show promise in the advancement of data storage technologies through single-molecule magnet design. In addition to her academic pursuits, Elizabeth is deeply passionate about contributing to efforts that promote diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).
As the president of the American Chemical Society (ACS) Women in Chemistry (WiC) organization, she has organized a variety of events aimed at raising awareness and fostering an inclusive environment, such as the IUPAC Global Women’s Breakfast, a screening of the documentary Picture a Scientist, which is a documentary shedding light on gender inequality in science, and aided in hosting Professor Paul Walton, a world-renowned advocate for gender equality in STEM. She is excited to continue this work with WiC by establishing a DEI seminar series, launching a media club that will serve as a platform for open discussions around DEI in science, and collaborating with other student organizations to raise awareness about gender harassment and equity in the chemistry department. Elizabeth looks forward to continuing her efforts to create positive change and promote diversity within the chemistry department and beyond.
Alexandra Vazquez
Alexandra Vazquez is currently a sixth-year graduate student in the clinical psychology doctoral program. Alexandra is very passionate about engaging in work that promotes diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). Through her role as a co-chair of the clinical science area’s diversity committee, she has collaborated with a local shelter for unhoused families (facilitating staff training on mental health and running an annual holiday drive) and spearheaded several initiatives within her program to promote DEI. For instance, this semester, they successfully proposed the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Excellence Recognition Award for clinical students at the master's and doctoral levels and are currently planning a DEI-focused brown bag series for the fall.
In addition, she has been involved in the Alliances for Graduate Education and the Professoriate and have made efforts to actively mentor undergraduate and graduate students in statistics, clinical work, and research. Moreover, her research focused on youth resilience to adversity also emphasizes diversity, equity, and inclusion. she is hopeful that this line of research will ultimately inform policy reform and interventions that promotes resilience to adversity. Finally, as a clinician in the MSU psychological clinic, she has been able to provide interventions to diverse and under-resourced members of our community. Alexandra is committed to continuing to promote DEI throughout my academic pursuits.
Shashank Neralla
School of Packaging
Corinne (Zimmerman) Hobbs
Corinne (Zimmerman) Hobbs is a second year doctoral student in the Department of Kinesiology, studying the psychosocial aspects of sport and physical activity. Corinne is currently serving as the chairperson for the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) committee for the Kinesiology Graduate Student Organization (KGSO). During this time, she and her peers have been able to host podcast club a few times a semester, creating space fellow graduate students to engage with topics of DEI within the context of American higher education.
Additionally, KGSO students were able to view the an art exhibition at the Broad Art Museum centered on civil rights and gender equality in the context of sport. Corinne is incredibly proud of how her peers in the department have embraced these opportunities thoughtfully with the intent to connect these spaces to their own experiences as graduate students, classroom instructors, researchers, and practitioners.
Rachel Roca
Rachel Roca (she/they) is a third year PhD student in the department of Computational Mathematics, Science and Engineering (CMSE), where she researches topological data analysis, computing education, and quantitative justice while serving as the Co-Chair of the graduate student CMSE DEI Committee. Through their role as Co-Chair, Rachel facilitates the Peer Mentorship Program, founded a Computing x DEI seminar series, and more.
Rachel's teaching emphasizes DEI issues, and she has contributed to curriculum development leading to explicit content of ethics, justice, and data feminism into computing courses. Along with a wonderful group of collaborators, they also produce scholarship on social justice and inequities in the mathematics community. Rachel is honored to receive this award, and would like to especially thank Dr. Elizabeth Munch, Dr. Danny Caballero, Dr. Rachel Frisbie, and Emily Bolger for their steadfast support; she would not be here without them.
