Leadership
Brenna Friday (she/her)
President
bfriday@wayne.edu
Brenna is currently a dual major Ph.D. candidate pursuing degrees in Biological Sciences and Urban Sustainability. Her work centers around understanding the impact of disturbance in aquatic ecosystems or urban communities. Eventually, she hopes to apply her interdisciplinary knowledge in a research position in the science-policy sphere.
Marc McFarlane (he/him)
Secretary & Undergraduate Student Liaison
marcmcfarlane@wayne.edu
Marc is a Senior Public Health Major, Minor in Health Psychology. His favorite thing/the thing he likes about SciPol is all the connections he can make with people regarding policy and policy development. He wants to get more people interested/active in policy, and help stress the importance of policies to those who may be apprehensive to get involved.
Victoria Kelley (she/her)
Medical Student Liaison
victoria.kelley@wayne.edu
Victoria is a third-year medical student at Wayne State University. She is passionate about building healthier communities through direct action and equitable health policy.
Edlira Sako (she/her)
Membership Coordinator
fj0762@wayne.edu
Edlira is currently a first year grad student enrolled in Masters of Counseling Psychology. Her interest is on mental health and advocacy.
Emma Fidler (she/they)
Vice-President emmafidler@wayne.edu
Emma is currently a first-year Ph.D. student pursuing their degree in Biological Sciences. They are passionate about increasing scientific literacy and getting students involved in science. She would eventually like to pursue a career in academia with a focus on preparing young scientists for scientific advocacy and communication.
Katherine Dwyer (she/her)
NSPN Liaison
fa3735@wayne.edu
Katie is currently a dual-graduate student working towards her Ph.D. in Biological Sciences and M.B.A. She enjoys engaging in scientific outreach and eventually would like to inform and affect policy within the science-policy interface.
Caitlin Johnson (she/her)
Communications Director
gw1741@wayne.edu
Caitlin is a graduate student in the Counseling Psychology program at Wayne State University. She loves Sci Pol because it gives her a way to actively impact her community in a positive way. She hopes to educate the public on the importance of mental health.
Makayla Osborne (she/they)
Creative Director
hq8563@wayne.edu
Makayla is a second year Fine Arts Major with a concentration in ceramics at Wayne State University. She believes Sci Pol does an amazing job at bringing like minded students together to discuss important issues. She want to help document the amazing work being done for the community.
Natalie Snider (she/her)
Treasurer
ga0350@wayne.edu
Natalie is a PhD candidate in the Cancer Biology Graduate Program in the Department of Oncology. Her research focuses on the molecular epidemiology of colorectal cancer health disparities in metropolitan Detroit. She plans to pursue a career in advancing cancer health policy through improving the precision and accessibility of genetic testing. Her favorite part of SciPol is the opportunity to improve science communications in and around Detroit.
Clara Zundel (she/her)
Post Doctoral Student Liaison
clara.zundel@wayne.edu
Clara is a Behavioral Neuroscientist. What she likes about Sci Pol is the opportunities we get to advocate for science-backed policies to local, state, and federal representatives. She is passionate about environmental justice, and she can't wait to learn more from our members about their own science, the policies they are passionate about, and how to make my science more communicable to the public!
Victoria Fasakin (she/her)
Event Coordinator
hk9748@wayne.edu
Victoria is a Neuroscience & Politics Science major. She enjoys Sci Pol Detroit because it provides a platform for discussing and shaping policies that have a direct impact on scientific research and its applications. It allows her to contribute to the advancement of science in society. Additionally, being part of a science policy club exposes her to diverse perspectives and fosters critical thinking, helping her develop a well-rounded understanding of the complex relationship between science, policy, and society.
Former President (2022-2023): Katie Dwyer
Former Vice President (2022-2023): Brenna Friday
Former Secretary (2022-2023): Victoria Kelley
Former NSPN Liaison (2022-2023): Shreya Desai
Former Graduate Student Liaison (2022-2023): Maggie Sneideman
Advisors
Hilary Marusak, PhD
Advisor
hmarusak@med.wayne.edu
Dr. Marusak is an assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral neurosciences at Wayne State University. She directs the WSU THINK lab, which focuses on the impact of stress and trauma on brain development in children and adolescents, and childhood anxiety disorders and PTSD.
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Stacie Clayton, MBA
Advisor
stacie.clayton@wayne.edu
Stacie is the Director of Community Affairs for Wayne State University. In this role she serves as the primary contact for individuals, business, community organizations, and local municipalities that seek involvement with the University. Stacie promotes the urban mission of the University by strengthening, developing and sustaining mutually beneficial partnerships with stakeholders throughout the metropolitan Detroit area. This includes strategically extending Wayne State’s resources to the community so that Wayne State continues to have a significant impact on the cultural, economic and social life of southeastern Michigan. Stacie also works directly with the University’s leadership, schools and colleges to advance their work internally and externally.
Carrie Leach, PhD
Advisor
carrieleach@wayne.edu
Dr. Leach is an Assistant Professor (Research) at the Institute of Gerontology and Community Engagement Program Manager at the Center for Urban Responses to Environmental Stressors (CURES) at Wayne State University. Dr. Leach has considerable experience in inter-disciplinary research in a variety of settings with expertise in health communication, environmental health literacy, and community-based and aging services delivery and communication.
Dr. Theresa Hastert
Advisor
Dr. Hastert is an Associate Professor in the Department of Oncology within the Wayne State University School of Medicine, and a Scientific Member in the Population Studies and Disparities Research Program at the Karmanos Cancer Institute (KCI). Her research focuses on social, economic, and behavioral factors as predictors of cancer outcomes. Her recent work focuses on cancer survivorship, and on financial and employment outcomes and social needs experienced by cancer survivors, particularly those with the fewest resources. Dr. Hastert is the PI of a Mentored Research Scholar Grant through the American Cancer Society (ACS) examining the economic consequences of cancer and leads a project funded by the Michigan Health Endowment Fund to develop educational resources to connect people with cancer and their caregivers to help them navigate financial issues related to cancer. She completed her PhD in Epidemiology at the University of Washington and Master of Public Policy degree at UCLA, where she worked in the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research.
Dr. Lori Pile
Advisor
Dr. Pile is a professor in the department of Biological Sciences and associate dean of undergraduate affairs in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at Wayne State University. She is currently a co-PI and the co-Program Director of the National Institutes of Health funded Maximizing Access to Research (MARC) at Wayne State University undergraduate student training program. The goal of this scholar program is to build a strong cohort of research-oriented underrepresented minority students who identify as biomedical scientists and will enter Ph.D. or M.D./Ph.D. programs in the biomedical sciences. Dr. Pile is the co-developer and instructor in the undergraduate course Science Advocacy and Public Engagement, which is designed to promote student interaction and engagement with diverse audiences around a variety of science topics.
Rochelle Chapman
Advisor
Rochelle is the Community Engagement Coordinator for the Center for Urban Responses to Environmental Stressors (CURES). Her role is to create bi-directional relationships with community members. To educate and disseminate research in a relatable way to the community.She was added to the White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships Team weekly engagement meetings. For the past 19 years she has been involved in grassroots organizing and community outreach which includes free resources (food, clothing, school supplies, etc.) for residents.
Dr. Tricia Miranda-Hartsuff
Advisor
Dr. Patricia Yvonne Miranda-Hartsuff is a health equity policy scholar with over 18 years of experience with community-based participatory methods and expertise in the measurement of population-based health disparities. She has underscored the importance of the intersectionality of gender, race, class and immigration in evaluating health disparities, and has added the critical assessment of the implementation of health in all policies and sociopolitical context to the discourse on health inequity and as a lens to examine important conditions that affect vulnerable populations.
Dr. Miranda joined Wayne State University in August 2020 as tenured Associate Professor of Public Health.
Dr. Hastert is an Associate Professor in the Department of Oncology within the Wayne State University School of Medicine, and a Scientific Member in the Population Studies and Disparities Research Program at the Karmanos Cancer Institute (KCI). Her research focuses on social, economic, and behavioral factors as predictors of cancer outcomes. Her recent work focuses on cancer survivorship, and on financial and employment outcomes and social needs experienced by cancer survivors, particularly those with the fewest resources. Dr. Hastert is the PI of a Mentored Research Scholar Grant through the American Cancer Society (ACS) examining the economic consequences of cancer and leads a project funded by the Michigan Health Endowment Fund to develop educational resources to connect people with cancer and their caregivers to help them navigate financial issues related to cancer. She completed her PhD in Epidemiology at the University of Washington and Master of Public Policy degree at UCLA, where she worked in the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research.
Nicholas Schroeck
Advisor
Nick Schroeck is an environmental law expert whose work focuses on air pollution, water pollution, environmental justice, transportation, and citizen suit enforcement. Professor Schroeck joined the Detroit Mercy Law Faculty in 2018 as the Director of Clinical Programs and Associate Professor of Law. He was appointed Associate Dean of Experiential Education in 2019. He previously directed the Transnational Environmental Law Clinic and taught Environmental Law at Wayne State University Law School.
Dr. Thomas Fischer
Advisor
Dr. Fischer is an Associate Professor of Psychology and the founding Director of the Undergraduate Neuroscience Program at Wayne State. He coordinates community education outreach activities throughout the metro Detroit area and serves as a co-advisor for the WSU Chapter of Nu Rho Psi, the National Honor Society in Neuroscience. Dr Fischer is the current national President of Nu Rho Psi.
CURRENT MEMBERS
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Breanna Borg
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Katie Dwyer
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Ava Palopoli
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Lana Ruvolo Grasser
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Lyndsey Braman
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Alisa Kishta
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Clara Zundel
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Edlira Sako
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Edlira Sako
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Hilary Marusak
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Daed Daher
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Ayia almufti
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Savanah Rayyan
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Colleen Linn
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Julia Evanski
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Shreya Desai
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Jennifer Oprisiu
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Alicia Arkwright
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shelley Paulisin
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Jack Schroeder
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Prince Iroanya
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Emma Fidler
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Amanpreet Bhogal
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Mackenzie Connell
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Theresa Hastert
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Simi Olabode
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Marc McFarlane
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Nicole Gadon
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Alixandria Trombley
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Dalia Daher
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Quinten Beggs
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Lisa Todd
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Victoria Kelley
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Jaelen Mayberry
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Justin Hayes
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Christine Rainak
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Brenna Friday
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Maggie Sneideman
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Michael Muczynski
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Azeez Ayantayo
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Simi Olabode
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Lisa Maria Aldape
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Tavie Valdez
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Alexandra Yorks
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Anna Avant
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Zoe McLeroy
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Saniya Khan
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Natalie Snider
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Lisa Todd
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Victoria Fasakin
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Siddhi Nair
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Sean Minton
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Olivia Kodra
BENEFITS OF MEMBERSHIP
Membership is $25/year, which includes a free SciPol-Detroit t-shirt and benefits listed below. Membership dues are paid on Venmo to scipoldetroit@wayne.edu.
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We are also selling SciPol-Detroit stickers and sweatshirts to raise money for a science-advocacy trip to Capitol Hill. Click here to access our order form.
PARTICIPATE IN LANSING & DC TRIPS, SMALL GROUP LAWMAKER MEETINGS
PRIORITY ACCESS TO EVENTS, NETWORKING, CAREER DEVELOPMENT, & LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
NAME LISTED ON WEBSITE & FREE T-SHIRT!
THANK YOU
We are very grateful for the generous support of:
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Wayne State University Office of Government and Community Affairs
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Wayne State University College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
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Wayne State University Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences
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Research!America Microgrant
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Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) Science for Public Good Fund
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