Mission, Vision, and Values
The Gayle R. Davis Center for Women and Gender Equity’s mission is to create meaningful learning about gender and to advocate for social justice through the education, engagement, and empowerment of students and the greater GVSU community.
We envision a world where gender justice is a reality and all forms of oppression are eradicated.
We value:
- Inclusivity
- Empowerment
- Collaboration
- Education
Meet the Team
Holly Jasinski, Director, MS, RYT
Holly (she/her/hers) is the Director of the Center for Women & Gender Equity, bringing over two decades of leadership in nonprofit management, social justice advocacy, and community engagement. Throughout her career, Holly has held prominent leadership roles—including more than ten years at Resilience: Advocates for Ending Violence—and has contributed to national and local initiatives in both Lansing and Chicago.
Holly holds a master’s degree in Human Development and Family Studies from Michigan State University, complemented by an expertise in talent development and organizational leadership from the Eli Broad College of Business. Her work is defined by a commitment to equity, inclusion, and systems change, and she is widely recognized for her ability to foster collaborative environments that drive meaningful social change.
A lifelong learner and compassionate changemaker, Holly also integrates wellness into her advocacy. As a registered yoga teacher, she specializes in addressing compassion fatigue and promotes radical self-care as a vital component of sustainable justice work. Her passion lies in illuminating the connections between secondary trauma, social justice, and holistic healing practices.
Email: [email protected]
Mimi Sperl, Assistant Director, LMSW-MACRO
Mimi (she/her/hers) is the Assistant Director of the Center for Women and Gender Equity. Mimi holds a master’s degree in social work from Boston College with advanced certificates in Financial Management of Non-Profit Organizations and Child Welfare Systems. She brings experience in higher education, community engagement, and domestic violence services to the CWGE team.
In her role as Assistant Director, Mimi oversees CWGE’s Replenish food pantry, NIARA, and the Girls of Color Summit. Other areas of professional interest include violence-prevention programming, disability advocacy, and fair hiring practices.
Mimi is a proud Midwesterner and excited to be back after 10 years in New England. On the weekends, you can catch her out hiking, training her dog, or nerding out about plants.
Email: [email protected]
Darrhonda Scott-Jones, Administrative Assistant, BSBA
Darrhonda (she/her/hers) received her B.S. in Business Administration from Ferris State University and has worked in the Center for Women and Gender Equity since 2004. In her role as the Administrative Assistant, she oversees all the daily functions of the Center for Women and Gender Equity and supervises the student staff. She also serves as the assistant to the director of the Center for Women and Gender Equity and works closely with the CWGE staff on various programs and projects. One of the things that Darrhonda loves most about her job is working with such an amazing staff and experiencing the compassion that they have for the work they all do for the students.
Email: [email protected]
Sophia Wolbers, Graduate Assistant
Sophia Wolbers (she/her/hers) is a graduate student in the school of social work, pursuing a Masters program in Social work. I am passionate about social justice and advocacy. I received my bachelors degree in Social Work with a minor in Criminal Justice from Grand Valley State University. I have a strong passion for organizing and planning various programs to help those in need, with a strong emphasis on student advocacy. As a social work student and graduate assistant, I will use my knowledge to help support and create growing projects that are inclusive for all, and helping those overcome food insecurity.
Outside of being a student, after interning there for my senior year of undergrad, I started working at the juvenile detention center in Ottawa County where I am a youth specialist working directly with the residents within the facility.
My role will consist of coordinating the on campus basic needs resource center Replenish, and assisting with the programming at the Center for Women and Gender Equity. I am excited to gain much from this experience and have opportunity to understand directly how student advocacy can help change a persons life, and understand how different programs and initiatives work to provide a wide variety of resources for those on campus and around the community.