Taylor Culinski, of Swartz Creek, is a current junior at UM-Flint, set to graduate in 2024. She is pursuing an Honors Psychology degree with a minor and certificate in Early Childhood Trauma and Education. She plans to obtain a Ph.D. in either Child Development or Developmental Psychology for a future as a professor and researcher. Taylor is currently the Psychology Club president where she places an emphasis on furthering student knowledge of careers in psychology and preparing students for graduate school. She is actively involved in Christian Challenge, a campus ministry in Ann Arbor, where she serves on the worship team. Taylor’s current research interest stems from her family’s experiences with the opioid epidemic and the impact it has on families. More specifically, Taylor is investigating the interaction between children with disabilities, including those prenatally exposed to various substances, and the mental and physical health implications of kinship caregivers rearing children with disabilities. She seeks to discover what resources and services can best support and are most needed among the kinship families in the local Flint and Genesee County communities. 

My name is Dennis Dedyne.  I am from Bridgeport, MI. I am a junior at U-M Flint with an anticipated graduation date of 2025.  I am majoring in Anthropology.  My main interest is in prehistoric archaeology, which I soon plan to begin studying through graduate school at U-M Ann Arbor.  I would love to one day excavate archaeological sites, teach and consult with other colleagues in my field of study.  

I am proud to be a part of UIREEJ at U-M Flint researching the Flint Water Crisis to bring awareness to the overall public by collecting and presenting data analysis of various samples gathered. I am also a part of UROP at U-M Flint working with my faculty sponsor, Dr. Nathaniel Miller on developing a mobile application to track symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease in patients.

In my spare time, I love to meditate, read and play online chess. 

Swayamleen Kaur is an International Student from India pursuing a degree in Psychology and Neuroscience. She loves writing, reading and composing music and has an avid interest in Natural Sciences. She is currently part of the Indian Student Association, holding the position of Head of Marketing, Psychology Club, Book Review Club and many others. Her research at UIREEJ focuses on creating safer places for People with ADHD, ASD, etc. She is a young learner who loves absorbing new knowledge and wondering about the greater intricacies in the fabric of society.  Swayamleen has a deep interest in writing poems and will challenge you on the spot for an acoustic poem, making her an easy-going, fun loving first-year student here at UM-Flint.

My name is Logan LaPeen, and I am in my Sophomore year in the Social Studies Teacher Certificate Program! I serve as the Director of Foreign Outreach for Student Government, aiming to connect and bring external resources and relationships to the University of Michigan-Flint. Being an intern for the Urban Institute for Racial, Economic, and Environmental Justice is an honor as I can work further on my passion for preserving, protecting, and saving our environment here in Flint. 

Anthony Nosike is a biochemistry major and sophomore at the University of Michigan-Flint. He is interested in high-performance pre-medical studies, evolving the education systems, and applied research and learning with an emphasis on chemistry and black education.

I’m a sophomore majoring in public health and will soon be applying for the joint BS/MPH program. Additionally, I am a student member of the Environmental Justice Subcommittee and Pre-law society, Vice President of the Public Health Student Organization and President of the Sustainability Club. My research project has a strong emphasis on environmental health because I generally desire specializing in environmental health education and policy advising. This is largely due to my hometown, Detroit, MI. Environmental injustice has always been what I consider a, “neglected crisis” especially among minority communities and it’s my passion to address this problem as much as I can.

Student organizations: Campus activities board (CAB), Public Health Organization

Clubs: Cheer club

Class standing: Junior year 

Research topic: How does mental Illness affect college success?

Why? I think mental Illness is not talked about enough. Sure, we have places where we can go, but not many people know where to go and feel comfortable. This goes for individuals who suffer from disabilities that can be more visual than others. We all need to feel part of a community and not alone.  

Interests: Astronomy, Crafts, and Baking

Hello, my name is Manny Wright and I am a senior at UM-Flint studying anthropology with a political science minor. I am from California and love to play volleyball, exercise, and read in my spare time. On campus, I have served in a number of student positions. Currently, I am a Peer Educator for the Center for Gender and Sexuality as well as a Front Desk Assistant for Housing and residential life. I enjoy talking and learning about LGBTQIA+ history, the intersection of queerness and race/ethnicity, and pop culture, which helped inform my research topic on HIV/AIDS awareness. 

My name is Shelby Young. I am from Lapeer, Michigan and currently live in Auburn Hills, Michigan. My interests include baking, knitting, and gaming, if I am not sleeping of course! I am a member of the National Student Nurses Association (NSNA). I am currently a senior in the accelerated second degree nursing program. My research topic involves the mental health of nurses and healthcare workers as it pertains to suicide, the current interventions, and the ways in which we might better support our healthcare workers to foster a more supportive environment for our mental health. I came to this topic when doing some background investigation and I came across a shocking article that mentioned the suicide rate of nurses was equal to that of combat veterans pre-pandemic. I was shocked and interested in finding additional information that is more up-to-date. My focus will be a smaller scale study within local communities.