Meet Our Staff
Our staff are passionate about supporting your success at the University of Illinois.
Professional Staff
Kellie Rae Blanden, M.S.Ed. (she/her)
Director | PSYC 345 Instructor
Sang S. Lee, Ph.D. (she/her)
Associate Director of Social Justice Leadership | Program Areas: I-Connect, I-Journey, Social Justice Leadership Interns
Michelle Naese, Ed.M. (she/her)
Assistant Director of Allyship and Solidarity | Program Areas: Equity & Leadership Certificate (EILC), Friday Forum x Conversation Cafe, Racial Justice Allies & Advocate Training
Joe Manning, M.S. (he/him)
Assistant Director of Civic Engagement | Program Areas: Civic Engagement, Illinois Votes, Service Learning, Volunteering
Chris McConkey, M.S.W. (she/her)
Office Manager
Graduate Student Staff
Erica Nack, M.S. (she/her)
I-Connect Program Assistant
Lizette Herrera (she/her)
I-Connect Support Staff
Yichen Wang (she/they)
I-Connect Support Staff
Student Interns
Grace Dimoke Ndjeka (she/her)
Social Justice Leadership Intern
Katherine Garcia (she/her)
Social Justice Leadership Intern
Reyna Morton (she/her)
Social Justice Leadership Intern
Tlanextli Sanchez (she/her)
Social Justice Leadership Intern
Tesh Saravanan (he/him)
Social Justice Leadership Intern
Sonali Sharma (she/her)
Social Justice Leadership Intern
Elise Skidmore (she/her)
Social Justice Leadership Intern
Kennedi Thomas (she/her)
Social Justice Leadership Intern
Vacant
Civic Intern
Vacant
Civic Intern
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Civic Intern
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Civic Intern
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Civic Intern