Assistant Director of the Center for Women & Gender Equity

Lariesha Lee (she/her/hers) is the Assistant Director educating, supporting, and empowering students to lead their authentic lives, helping the campus and community with gender justice and intersectionality. Lariesha coordinates programs in the Center such as NIARA,  GVSU's student-parent advocacy, the annual Girls of Color Summit, and Replenish, the on-campus food resource. 

Lariesha received her Associate of Arts degree from Grand Rapids Community College, transferred to Grand Valley State University, and completed both Bachelor of Social Work and Master of Social Work from Grand Valley State University. She has received extensive leadership, advocacy, and community organizational training from the Urban Core Collective's Transformational Leaders Program. She is a volunteer mentor at the Women's Resource Center. As a Mentor, she provides one-on-one counseling and encouragement while helping mentees reach their goals and overcome barriers using community resources. 

Lariesha is passionate about impacting the 49507 community, uplifting and alleviating oppression with purposeful work and thorough research to tell the authentic narratives of ALL identities. Her goal is to allow those she serves to lead her practice allowing them autonomy, empowerment,  and reclaiming their lives. She uses multicultural inclusive techniques outside Western mental health and healing norms. Lariesha's personal and professional interests are disparities in minority women and LGBTQ+ health and infant mortality,  gender justice, decolonization of systems, criminal justice reform, promotion of mental health in communities of color, and racial equity in all areas of daily life. 

Make an appointment with Lariesha HERE

Full-Time Position: Assistant Director 
Office Address: 1201 Kirkhof Center 
Phone: (616) 331-2841
Email: [email protected]

The Center for Women & Gender Equity Graduate Assistant (CWGE GA)

Alyssa Beil (she/her/hers) is a graduate student in the school of social work, passionate about social justice, advocacy, and community. Alyssa coordinates Replenish, the on-campus basic needs resource center, and assists with programming at the Center for Women and Gender Equity. 

Alyssa received her bachelor's degree in Communication and Public Advocacy from Ferris State University. She has a professional background in community organizing and food justice efforts at the food bank level. In her four years working in the food assistance sector, she supported food pantries throughout West Michigan, providing resources and training with a focus on an equitable, client-centered approach. 

As a social work student and graduate assistant, Alyssa strives to make a long-term impact by supporting clients from the beginning to end of their journey. She hopes to create a space that provides a welcoming, dignified approach to basic needs services and empowers students to be their best selves.

Food Justice Intern

Alicia Guerra (she/her) is a senior perusing a degree in Integrative Studies focused in Social Issues with a minor in Philosophy. She is the first Food Justice Intern at Grand Valley State University. The position was developed by her and administrators after working at Replenish for three years.As a freshman, Alicia always had a desire to help others. Working at Replenish allowed her to not only do that, but see the impact that access to basic needs had on students. She developed a passion for food justice. One of her biggest goals is to help solve food insecurity on campus. She loves assisting students and making an impact on others. In May, she was awarded “Outstanding Student” for her work at Replenish and the CWGE.After graduation, Alicia would like to continue working at GVSU or pursue a career in Nonprofit Administration.

Fun facts! 

• Alicia races cars at Northern Michigan Dragway
• Alicia has been to over 60 concerts and festivals
• Alicia has a cat named Dusty and a dog named Cheddar

Replenish Student Assistant

Austin(he/him/his) is a Education Senior and eager to assist students in need. 

SNAP Workshop Facilitator

Rowan Armour (they/them/theirs) will be facilating the SNAP workshops educating students how to apply and get assistance with food and other essential needs. Also, meeting with students who may need 1:1 assistance. Rowan is a senior at Grand Valley State University majoring in English with an emphasis on Language and Literature and minoring in writing. Rowan is involved across different areas of campus, including employment through RecWell, the Milton E. Ford LGBT+ Resource Center, and the Tutoring and Reading Center. They are passionate about the LGBTQ+ community, sex-education, activism, and community aid. Rowan is planning to attend graduate school to pursue working in higher education. 

Replenish Student Assistant

My name is Tessa Emerick (she/her/hers), and I am a student assistant at Replenish. After completing two years of dual enrollment through Mid Michigan College, I am now entering my second year at Grand Valley as a student in the Applied Food and Nutrition program. I hope to earn my Master Degree in Clinical Dietetics and to pursue a career in the field of nutrition.

During my first year at GVSU, I volunteered at a few events put on by Replenish. I fell in love with the atmosphere, the energy of the staff, and the missions Replenish works toward. It was because of these amazing experiences I had that I decided to look for employment within the center. Additionally, my passion for nutrition and increasing food availability fit perfectly with the goals of Replenish. I hope to display my passions of helping others and nutrition to contribute to the welcoming, supportive, and exciting environment at Replenish.

In my free time, I love being creative in any way, whether that be by painting, cooking, sewing, or playing flute and piano. I also enjoy working out, spending time with friends, and volunteering!

Replenish Student Assistant

Hello, I'm Denise. I am an undergrad student studying Environmental Sustainability Studies. In addition to my studies, I am President of the GVSU Plant Club and participate in some of the ensembles here on campus playing F-horn. When I'm not on campus you can find me hiking the ravines, riding my bike, or caring for my garden when I'm not around campus. 

Replenish Student Assistant

Ava Cybulski (she/her/hers) is a freshman in the Frederik Meijer Honors College here at Grand Valley. She is working towards a Biology Major and a Spanish Minor. As a new addition to the Replenish Basic Needs Center, she hopes to deliver endless support and positivity to her peers on and off campus! In her free time, Ava loves volunteering with friends and the service fraternity she is a part of, Alpha Phi Omega. Furthermore, she is also a lover of animals and the great outdoors! Finally, Ava hopes to pursue a career that can combine her passions of eco-justice and helping others to fight for the greater good!

Master's Level Dietetics Practicum

Lizzie Kalafut (she/her/hers) is a Graduate student in the Coordinated Clinical Dietetics Program. She is originally from the northwest suburbs of Chicago where her family and two goldendoodles live. Lizzie has a passion for helping her peers further understand nutrition and ways to stay active that work and feels good to them. Her career goal is to work for a professional sports team, along with opening a private practice in dietetic counseling with a focus on athletes and eating disorders.

On campus, Lizzie has been an RA for 3 years, works for Recreation and Wellness along with being a mentor for the Campus Links program. 

In her free time, she enjoys running, lifting, baking, riding horses, and playing with her Guinea pig lilac!