Meet Our Staff

Dasha Wood (she/her)

Director

Dasha Wood is a proud alum of Miami University having completed her Bachelor of Science in Middle Childhood Education and graduated in 2012. During her time at Miami, she joined the Illustrious Xi Rho Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. It was through her sorority that she found her passion for higher education. She then went on to receive her Master’s of Education in Student Affairs and Higher Education from Wright State University. While working in higher education, Dasha has always navigated toward positions working with students from underrepresented backgrounds. She is extremely passionate about working with students from all different cultures, backgrounds, and walks of life and assisting them through their collegiate journey. Dasha loves to travel and craft and is excited to be working with students at her alma mater. Love & Honor!

Dr. April Callis (she/her)

Associate Director, LGBTQ+ Initiatives

callisas@miamioh.edu | 513-529-6510

Dr. April Callis grew up in Raleigh, North Carolina. She received her BA from Sweet Briar College, her MA from the University of Kentucky, and her PhD from Purdue University. Before coming to Miami, she worked as the Assistant Director of the LGBTQ Center at UNC Chapel Hill. Prior to that, she spent several years teaching classes on gender, sexuality, and privilege at Northern Kentucky University. While at NKU, she also worked as a facilitator and educator for GLSEN, a national organization dedicated to providing safe K-12 experiences for LGBTQ+ students. During her career, April has published several peer-reviewed articles on topics ranging from bisexuality to queer theory to homophobia in fanfiction. She currently lives with her partner, Steve, and her two rescue huskies, Pandemonium and I-Chaya. Her hobbies include reading constantly, fostering dogs, and riding horses.

D. Ellis Rates (he/him)

Associate Director, Intercultural Initiatives

ratesde@miamioh.edu | 513-529-1510

D. Ellis Rates is a Miami alum of Miami University, Class of 2014. At Miami, he earned his bachelor's degree in Women, Gender, and Sexuality studies with a minor in Film. He earned his Master's from Walsh University in Counseling and Human Development with a focus in Student Affairs in Higher Education in 2020. From there, D. Ellis landed a role at Hiram College as the Director of Campus Involvement/Assistant Director of Diversity & Inclusion. D. Ellis returns to Miami to fulfill his dream role and bring his insight, experience, and fun-loving attitude to the CSDI. Try starting a conversation with D. Ellis about movies, TV shows, video games, Cleveland sports, cartoons, music, and/or random pop culture trivia!

Tina Coyne (she/her)

Assistant Director, LGBTQ+ Initiatives and Gender Equity

coynecm3@miamioh.edu | 513-529-6511

Tina Coyne is a sexualities scholar, organizational director, and former K-12 art educator from central Texas. She holds a B.A. in Studio Art from Texas State University and her M.A. in Sexuality Studies from San Francisco State University. Beyond her work in the classroom, Tina’s research approaches equitable representations in the arts, applying queer theory to question the myriad of ways in which sexuality, gender, race, class, (dis)ability and other political identity markers influence the individual, their mode of self-expression and the ways that institutions respond to or exclude their works. Locating the gaps in academia and the arts for sustaining critical analysis on queer and marginalized art productions, her thesis culminated in the founding of Queer Aesthetics, a radical new arts journal that stimulates discourse around queer art production and analysis. She was selected as the 2020 Grant A. Larson Scholar & Pepper Schwartz Honorary Scholar, respectively. Tina enjoys going hiking and camping with her partner and two pit bulls. She is smitten with long road trips, queer art, horror films, and her Olympus stylus.

Adelaide Johnson Ghartey (she/her)

Assistant Director, Intercultural Initiatives and Gender Equity

john1854@miamioh.edu | 513-529-6504

Adelaide Johnson-Ghartey is a proud two-time graduate of the University of Toledo. She began her collegiate experience as a first-generation college student who would only flourish and blossom over time. Her favorite experience as an undergraduate was joining the Oh So Fly! Alpha Pi Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated in April 2015. Adelaide believes that education is the key to success and out of poverty. She is passionate about working with first-generation college students and students who come from marginalized backgrounds. She earned her Master’s degree from the University of Toledo in Higher Education Administration. She enjoys spending time in the sunshine, cooking, watching TV, and mentoring young people. One of her favorite quotes is by her sorority sister, Zora Neale Hurston. “Those that don’t got it, can’t show it. Those that got it, can’t hide it.”

Cindy Fledderman (she/her)

Administrative Assistant

fleddecs@miamioh.edu | 513-529-6504

Cindy Fledderman came to Miami University in the fall of 2005. She has a Bachelor of Science degree from Ball State University and is a member of Alpha Sigma Alpha. Prior to Miami University, Cindy was a staff member for a scholarship program at Indiana University. In her spare time, Cindy enjoys spending time with her family and pups (a Cavapoo and a Schnausky) and long-time friends.

Lucy Trevino Alanis (she/her)

Graduate Assistant

trevinl@miamioh.edu | 513-529-6504

Lucy Trevino Alanis is currently enrolled in Miami's graduate school majoring in Student Affairs in Higher Education. Lucy has a dual graduate assistantship with the Center for Student Diversity and Inclusion and the Office of Student Wellness.