Staff directory

Kyra Shahid, PhD, affectionately known as Dr. Kyra, is director of Trotter/MESA—Trotter Multicultural Center and the Office of Multi-Ethnic Student Affairs. She is responsible for providing strategic leadership for the center, ensuring that our efforts advance our mission.

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Jamie Carter is a program manager in the Office of Multi-Ethnic Student Affairs. Jamie’s interest and commitment to advocacy for anti-racist equity work sparked several years ago through her personal journey as a Black woman in higher education.

Amin Saleh is a program manager at the Office of Multi-Ethnic Student Affairs. When he was five years old, Amin immigrated with his family to the United States from Venezuela. Since then, his home has been Miami, Florida where he earned a bachelor's degree in communication arts with a minor in computer science from Florida International University (FIU).

Monica Gross is the administrative coordinator for Trotter Multicultural Center and Multi-Ethnic Student Affairs.

Tomilade Akinyelu is a sophomore pursuing a dual degree in communications and media (LSA) and acting (SMTD). From being a member of the African Students’ Association to her work as a diversity peer educator, Tomilade loves anything that brings cultural awareness. This includes being a front desk assistant at MESA. Outside of MESA, Tomilade enjoys reading, writing, dance, music, and learning more about Jesus.

Bader Atoui is a Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience student on the pre-dental track. He hopes to pursue a DDS and focus on patient care that helps people feel confident, comfortable, and genuinely supported. Outside of class, Bader loves staying involved on campus through student organizations and community events, and you’ll usually catch him playing soccer or spending time with friends.

Alyssa Caldito is a senior studying Community and Global Public Health with minors in Asian/Pacific Islander American Studies and Community Action and Social Change. She identifies as a first-generation Filipino American, and has previously served as Cultural Chair and President of the Filipino American Student Association at U-M. Off-campus, Alyssa has previously worked with the American Citizens for Justice, the Filipino Young Leaders Progam (FYLPRO), and the ReConnect/ReCollect Project.

José Dasilva is a front desk assistant for the Office of Multi-Ethnic Student Affairs, and he is a Sophomore pursuing Business Administration with a concentration in Strategy. Jose identifies as Angolan and Colombian-American, and on campus, he is involved in the club ultimate frisbee team and is co-president of BlackGen Capital. Apart from academics and extracurriculars, Jose spends his time eating with friends, playing Settlers of Catan, and missing his hometown of Philadelphia.

Celine Fawaz (she/her) is a second year political science student on the pre-law track. Celine hopes to use her law degree to pursue higher office and give a voice to minorities nationwide. She absolutely loves reading and iced lattes. Outside of school, Celine enjoys going to the mosque and spending time with her pet bunny Mr. Whiskers!
 

Briana Gonzalez (she/her) is from Miami, FL, she is a senior majoring in BCN, creative writing and English. Her diverse educational background fuels her passion for a career in law, particularly in corporate and health management law. She is committed to championing the growth of small, underrepresented companies and advocating for universal access to high-quality healthcare services. At MESA she has helped coordinate welcome programs, as well serves as serves as VP for La Casa, and is currently one of the student coordinators for Latine Heritage Month.

Nahdia Levy (she/her/hers) is the student coordinator for SIBS—Support for Incoming Black Students—at MESA. She is a junior from Chicago, Illinois, pursuing a degree on the pre-law track. After graduation, she plans to attend law school to eventually work in corporate law to help diversify the people that have an impact on corporations of all sizes. As a first-gen student, she is passionate about mentorship, community development in low-income areas, and the matriculation of Black students from these areas.

Valeria Morales is a sophomore LSA student pursuing a dual degree in Political Science and Communication and Media Studies. Valeria is a passionate people person who hopes to use her degrees to pursue a career in broadcast journalism. Outside of MESA, you might find her working on Hopelessly Yellow's Podcast: Golden Hour or WOLV TV: Newsfeed. She loves coffee, music, her family, her friends, and could talk to a wall for three hours if you let her!

Lucas Navia (he/him/él) is a second-year pre-medical track student pursuing a BS in sociology of health and medicine and Latin American/Caribbean studies, and a minor in music. He hopes to pursue an MD/PhD and do research on disease prevention in Andean communities. In his free time, Lucas enjoys soccer, traveling, and learning more about other cultures.

Jo-Ana Rivera is a graduate student in the master's program for higher education with a concentration in diversity and social justice. Jo-Ana received her bachelor's degree in English from Rutgers University. Previously, she was a middle school teacher. As a first-generation Latina, Jo-Ana hopes to continue to support liberatory educational spaces for minoritized students. In her free time, Jo-Ana enjoys going to the gym, cooking and going to the movies.

Daisy Ruiz (she/her/hers) is a junior majoring in communication and media. Daisy identifies as Mexican/Latina. In addition to being part of the Latine Heritage Month planning team, Daisy is the lead director of La Casa and program coordinator for Musica Para La Gente (MPG). Outside of her academic and leadership roles, Daisy enjoys playing tennis, thrifting, and spending time with her friends!
 

Amany Sayed is a second year LSA student double majoring in Philosophy and English on a pre-law track. She is Lebanese American but calls Dearborn home. Her writing is published in The Michigan Daily, Writer to Writer, Hopelessly Yellow, and the U-M Arts Initiative website. When not writing, Amany enjoys reading, sketching, and playing violin. She has served on MESA’s Arab Heritage Month committee for two years now, and is currently one of the student Co-Coordinators.