Social Justice Institute Leadership

The scholarship and professional experience of the Faculty Leadership and Leadership Team of the Social Justice Institute represent a range of expertise—from research methodologies and pedagogical approaches to community connections—that, during collaborative work, lead to enlightened understanding of societal inequities.

The institute's holistic, systems-based approach both advances disciplinary work and elevates the conversation by unveiling and connecting broader, underlying issues.


Director

Leadership Team

The scholarship and professional experience of our Leadership Team represent a range of expertise—from research methodologies and pedagogical approaches to community connections—that, during collaborative work, lead to enlightened understanding of societal inequities.
 

Arki

Shemariah Arki, EdD 
Founder + Program Director, Ellipsis Institute for Womxn of Color in the Academy
Assistant Professor, Africana Studies
Director, Center for Pan African Culture, Kent State University

"It is my honor to serve in the legacy of Dr. Rhonda Y. Williams, SJI founder, as we continue to serve and amplify the voices of the lived experience of those who are the most marginalized, at CWRU, the University Circle community and Northeast Ohio."

headshot of Mark Chupp

Mark Chupp, Phd 
Education Coordinator, Social Justice Institute
Associate Professor, Jack, Joseph and Morton School of Applied Sciences
Founding Director, Community Innovation Network, Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences
Chair, Concentration in Community Practice for Social Change, Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences

Janice

Janice Eatman-Williams
Director, Wrap-Around Strategy and School-Based Outreach, FOCUS Group (Office of Student Affairs)

"The Social Justice Institute affords an opportunity to our campus and community to sit at the feet of those who created the history and the movement."

Ann Ghazy headshot

Ann Ghazy
Administrator, Schubert Center for Child Studies

"I am deeply committed to the principles of justice, particularly in advocating for human and children's rights. I believe that justice should extend to all members of our society, especially those who are often overlooked or marginalized. In this pursuit, I am passionate about recognizing the rights of the Palestinian people, ending the occupation of Palestine, and dismantling the oppressive apartheid system they are subjected to. I wholeheartedly support the mission of the Social Justice Institute, which shares my dedication to creating a more just world. Together, we can work towards eradicating all forms of oppression, promoting equity, and upholding the dignity of every individual. I stand firmly with the values of action, community involvement, education, empathetic relationships, equity, human dignity, inclusiveness, and intergenerational dialogue that the Institute embodies."
 
Hill

Jessie Hill, JD
Associate Dean for Research and Faculty Development, School of Law
Judge Ben C. Green Professor of Law, School of Law

"One thing I particularly value about SJI is the opportunity to work collaboratively not just with faculty colleagues from across the university, but also with staff colleagues, graduate students, and undergraduate students."

Headshot of Shanina Knighton

Shanina C. Knighton, PhD, RN, CIC
Assistant Professor, KL2 Scholar, Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing

"I value the Social Justice Institute as it embodies the core principles and mutual mission with my colleagues from different disciplines to shape a society that is equitable, fair, and just. I have been connected to SJI in multiple ways from supporting programs that I have done to attending amazing programs and training that have helped me to strengthen my work and push for human rights."

Kollins

Lisa Kollins
Founder/Executive Director, The Superhero Project

"The Social Justice Institute bridges the divide between campus and community in many important ways.  By being a fearless champion for equity, the Institute, its leadership and research, and its public programs are a valuable resource for Cleveland."

Headshot of Dana Prince

Dana Prince, PhD 
Assistant Professor, Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences

"I came [to CWRU] looking for the radicals; I found them within the Social Justice Institute."

Kamarea Valentine headshot

Kamarea Valentine, CWRU '25
B.A. Candidate, Psychology and Cognitive Science
Vice President, Black Student Union
Co-Founder, Western Reserve Abolitionist Project 

"The Social Justice Institute’s dedication to communalist-based work serves to dismantle the oppressive institutions that cloak the efforts of liberationists throughout the nation. It is one of the many institutions that work to uplift and prioritize the voices of the community to aspire for a better day. ."


Staff

The Social Justice Institute is supported by a dedicated research administrative staff that shares in the vision for a more just world.