Full-time Staff

Executive Director

Emily Williams (she/her/hers) has worked with organizations and community stakeholders to further equity and inclusion in more than 20 countries, including a global treaty adopted by the United Nations. 

For more than a decade, Emily has worked professionally on local and global levels to create an equitable world by centering those who are most-marginalized. As Senior Program Officer at the Solidarity Center, Emily collaborated with global labor organizations to promote inclusive development, advocate for human rights, and gender equality. 

In 2014, she co-founded the Social Justice Initiative at the University of Illinois at Chicago where she built the center from the ground up. She also formed active networks and developed programs combining social justice practice with intellectual inquiry. This programming highlighted the interconnections of race, gender, class, and other systems as a critical foundation for work and action which advances social justice. 

She holds a Masters of Art in Women’s and Gender Studies from DePaul University and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Beloit College. She has worked in diverse settings to promote mental health and social well-being. As a volunteer with Girl Talk, Emily designed empowering programs with a trauma-informed approach for girls at the Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center. She also worked as a Case Manager for adults with mental illness and addiction in Milwaukee, WI. This early-career experience proved foundational to Emily’s dedication to creating a more socially-just world that is better for everyone.

In her free time, Emily enjoys checking out cool coffee shops, dancing to Chicago House Music and watching international films! 

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Center Manager

Rhiki Swinton (she/her/hers) is the center manager of the Arcus Center for Social Justice Leadership. With her background in psychology and higher education administration, Rhiki plans to challenge the way she, and the people who interact with her, view the higher education system in the hopes of creating a more inclusive and equitable education structure for all. Rhiki also plans to continue broadening her knowledge about student development theories and practices in order to be an effective student advocate and ally.

Rhiki has previously worked closely with students through her prior positions as a graduate assistant in the Student Activities and Involvement Office at Central Michigan University and an admission counselor for the Chicago Territory at Albion College. She is super excited to work in the Arcus Center and learn how to best serve Kalamazoo College students and the Kalamazoo community.

Rhiki earned her M.A. from Central Michigan University in higher education administration and a B.A. in psychology from Albion College. Additionally, Rhiki is really passionate about educational equity and race relations. She is also intentional about working to unlearn unjust and problematic behaviors, language, and practices. When she isn’t working, you can find Rhiki engaging in physical activities, shopping at Target, cramming food into her face and being a goofball.

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Executive Assistant

Julie Marron-Parker (she/her/hers) is the executive assistant at the Arcus Center for Social Justice Leadership. She joined the Center in 2017. She believes that as we age and grow so does the work that we choose to do; as evidenced by the winding career path that led her to the Arcus Center.

Julie is a long-time resident of Kalamazoo who cares deeply for her community and its members. She believes that each of us has a unique part to play in the push for a more just and liberated community and world. She has found her place at the Arcus Center and puts her heart and soul into the work. She particularly enjoys building relationships with people in the community and bringing radical art to the center.

She received her B.S. from Western Michigan University in 1986 and her massage therapy certificate in 2001. When not at work, Julie enjoys being a mom and “Mimi” to her grandchild, creating art, making jams and road trips with her youngest daughter. 

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Student Leadership Coordinator

Cat March (they/them/theirs) earned their Bachelor’s degree from Kenyon College and their Master’s degree from Western Michigan University (as of April, 2021). At Kenyon, they double-majored in Gender Studies and English (with a Creative Writing concentration). This path through higher education mirrored their love of storytelling as a method for pursuing social justice. Their passion for learning experiences outside the classroom, including involvement with Kenyon’s Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, helped them realize their affinity for engagement with higher education beyond the classroom. 

Cat’s desire to foster social justice leadership opportunities for students in higher education led them to Western’s Higher Education, Student Affairs (HESA) program. At Western, they worked with the Office of Student Engagement in Registered Student Organization Development. There, they assisted student leaders involved in clubs, extracurricular activities, and affinity groups. They eventually conducted a summer field experience with the Arcus Center and fell in love with the place! Cat is so excited to be here, and cannot wait to meet more social justice leaders at Kalamazoo College. This is their dream job!

In their downtime, Cat likes to write, read, draw, play video games (especially Animal Crossing), play Dungeons and Dragons (and other tabletop games), and enjoy nature!

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Student Staff

Student staff members are deeply involved in the work of the ACSJL, both in the creation and implementation of programs. They are responsible for a wide variety of duties, which require creativity, accountability, and leadership, and will be exposed to many leadership development opportunities.

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