Our Team
Dr. Michael D. Kaplowitz
Michael D. Kaplowitz is a professor of environmental law, resource economics, and sustainable development. Kaplowitz holds a BS in Industrial Economics from Union College (NY) and a JD from Duke University. After practicing law in New York City, Kaplowitz returned to school and received an MA in Latin American Studies, Environmental Policy, and International Economics from Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) and a PhD in Resource Development and Resource Economics from Michigan State University (MSU).
Kaplowitz currently serves MSU as one of its two Faculty Athletics Representatives (FAR) to the Big Ten and NCAA. As FAR, Kaplowitz’s responsibilities center on looking out for and enhancing the welfare of student-athletes as well as the academic integrity of the athletics program. Additionally, Kaplowitz is engaged in CSUS undergraduate education and teaches multiple sections of the department’s CSUS 200-Introduction to Community Sustainability. Kaplowitz is also working on international development and sustainability efforts in Ghana and Nepal with his graduate students and colleagues.
In addition, since 2018, Kaplowitz has been a co-facilitator for MSU Dialogues, specifically dialogues on race for MSU faculty and staff. Intergroup dialogues (dialogues) use co-facilitators and specially-designed curricula to foster sustained discourse between participants with different social identities to advance improved intergroup relationships, develop critical consciousness, and increase capabilities for promoting social justice.
Kaplowitz served as department chair from 2011-2016. He is thrilled to be able to work with some amazing people on the URD Project.
Our Partners
Erika Crews, MA
Erika (she/her) is the Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) and an academic advisor in the Honors College at Michigan State University (MSU). She holds a master’s in student affairs administration from MSU and a bachelor’s in communication from the University of Michigan-Flint. Areas of interest include first-year student transition and engagement, comprehensive and collaborative approaches to academic advising, and synergizing institutional DEIB priorities with one’s justice-oriented commitment. In addition to her work in the Honors College, Erika supports equity and justice education within and beyond the campus community through workshops addressing engagement across difference and barriers we must overcome to do so for community members 16-60+.
Dr. Yuqing Liu
Yuqing Liu is a postdoc research associate in the urban-rural dialogue project at the Department of Community Sustainability. She received her Ph.D. on Measurement and Quantitative Methods from the College of Education at Michigan State University. Her research interests include program evaluation of the intergroup dialogue, social network analysis, group dynamics, intergroup and interpersonal relationships, and behavioral change.
Dr. Charles “charlie” Liu
Charlie received his Ph.D. from the Higher, Adult, and Lifelong Education (HALE) program at the College of Education, at Michigan State University. His dissertation focuses on bridging the urban and rural divide among undergraduate students through intergroup dialogue (IGD). He strives to integrate holistic advising and IGD into his research on institutional practices and policies that affect student success initiatives. Charlie works full time as Associate Director, University Advising, Michigan State University.
Jacob Dembski
Jacob is a sophomore at Michigan State in the department of Chemistry seeking to go to pharmacy school in the future. URD project has been his first research with an emphasis leading dialogue as well as data research and management.
Kaylah Higbee
Kaylah is pursuing a degree in Human Biology at Michigan State University, with plans to specialize in radiology. She is passionate about general data management and co-facilitating intergroup dialogue sessions to advance social equity.
Faith Rodriguez
Faith is pursuing a degree in Environmental Studies and Sustainability at Michigan State University. Her interests focus on how social dynamics relate to sustainability, particularly in the urban-rural dialogue. She is learning to clean and analyze data, with a goal of improving herself and helping others.