Black History Month: Conversation with Imani Barnes

What is your connection to the School of Education? I am the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Administrative Fellow for the Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (OEDI). In that role as the graduate project assistant for the office, I help with various initiatives within the office. I’m also a second-year PhD student with the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis, where I serve as a both a teaching assistant for Dr. Rachelle Winkle-Wagner and a member of her research team.

Where are you from? Milwaukee, Wisconsin....

...What will you do in your role as the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Administrative Fellow for the Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion? I know I’ll be helping with the Ed-GRS (Education Graduate Research Scholars) program, and with the new affinity spaces the office is holding — I’ll be serving as a liaison for both the Black student affinity space and for the Latinx student affinity space. This aligns with my research on creating spaces for students to feel welcome and supported. Generally speaking, I really enjoy serving others, whether that’s through an encouraging word, or by providing a listening ear or a resource. It brings me joy to see students’ needs met....