Director & Social Justice Project Specialist

Jessica Jennrich (she/her/hers) works at Grand Valley State University as the Director of the Center for Women and Gender Equity and as an adjunct faculty member in Education.  She is currently involved in a number of higher education and feminist organizations and is a reviewer for The Diversity and Higher Education Journal.  Jessica is a former grant partner and guest writer for the American Association for University Women policy magazine.  Jessica’s writing has been published in the Journal Progressive Policy and Practice, The National Women's Studies Journal, the Journal of the Motherhood Initiative for Research and Community Involvement, Paradigm Magazine, Demeter Press, Contemporary Philosophical Proposals for the University, and College Women’s and Gender Equity Gender Equity Centers. Jessica earned her bachelor’s degree at Bowling Green State University in English, her master’s degree from Eastern Michigan University in Women’s and Gender Studies, and her doctorate at the University of Missouri in Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis. 

Full-Time Position: Director & Social Justice Project Specialist
Office Address: 1201 Kirkhof Center 
Phone: (616) 331-2748
Email: [email protected]

To meet with Jessica, click above to send an email or call and request a private appointment. 

Assistant Director

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. 

Full-Time Position: Assistant Director 
Office Address: 1201 Kirkhof Center 
Phone: (616) 331-2748 
Email: [email protected]

To meet with Lariesha, click above to send an email or call and request an appointment.

Fostering Laker Success Independent Living Skills Coach (FLS Coach)

My name is Brandy Thompson and I am the Fostering Laker Success Independent Living Skills Coach (FLS Coach) at Grand Valley  State  University. 

I am a 2002 GVSU Alumni graduating with a BS in Biology.  Additionally, I earned a MA in College Counseling from Western Michigan University. 

For the past nine years I have served as an Academic/Transfer Advisor for TRIO Student Support Services at Lake Michigan College working  with first generation,  low income  and students with disabilities.  Within my advising role, I  had the opportunity mentor foster care youth. My students were great teachers of both challenges and resilience of aging out of the foster care system.
I  am so excited  to serve the Fostering Laker Success student body.  You will find in me a caring and compassionate advocate who seeks to collaborate with students in reaching academic and personal life goals.

Full-Time Position: Fostering Laker Success 
Office Address: 1201 Kirkhof Center 
Phone: (616) 331-2748
Email: [email protected]

To meet with Brandy, click above to send an email or call and request a private appointment

Administrative Assistant

Darrhonda 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.

Full-Time Position: Administrative Assistant
Office Address: 1201 Kirkhof Center 
Phone: (616) 331-2748
Email: [email protected]

To meet with Darrhonda, click above to send an email or call and request a private appointment.