Staff and partners

Program administration

Founder/director

Daphne W. Ntiri, Ph.D., distinguished service professor, Department of African American Studies

Professor Daphne W. Ntiri has demonstrated the ability to blend high-caliber scholarship with community participation and service, epitomizing the goals of engagement that are the hallmarks of the academy. Ntiri joined Wayne State University in 1987 and has secured grant funds totaling over $6.8 million from state, federal and several local and foundations to develop and sustain departmental community-affiliated units that address the needs of the underserved and educationally unprepared adults. Ntiri's teaching and research span the areas of African American studies, gender and adult education/literacy. Dr. Ntiri launched this program in 2009.

Assistant director

Alesia Williams, M.S. Ed/Instructional Design & M.B.A., international business/management

Ms. Williams has been with the program since 2009.

Other referral agencies

• Children's Center (foster care program)
• First Congregational Church
• MI Department of Corrections probation dept.
• Spectrum Human Services
• Third Circuit Court/Power Court