GenCen Staff

Soma Chaudhuri
Co-Director of Global Research, Outreach, & Engagement (she/her)

chaudh30(at)msu.edu

Dr. Soma Chaudhuri is responsible for promoting gender-related research and outreach across the university and facilitating interdisciplinary global research and engagement among faculty teams. She also develops and supports strategic domestic and international partnership initiatives in the areas of gender and women’s studies and foster partnerships with similarly situated programs around the globe.

Dr. Chaudhuri is also an Associate Professor in the Department of Sociology. Her work spans areas on gender, development, violence, witch hunts, and social movements, with specific connections to violence against women. Her research has been funded by several grants including those from the National Science Foundation and Social Science Research Council. She earned a Ph.D. in Sociology from Vanderbilt University.

Aminda Smith
Co-Director of Academic Programs, Outreach, & Engagement (she/her) 

amsmith(at)msu.edu

In her role, Aminda Smith is responsible for developing and managing GenCen’s academic programs, leading international academic initiatives, and facilitating outreach and engagement across campus, and the larger local and global communities. She supports the creation of opportunities for students to receive education in women’s and gender studies, in classrooms and through immersive experiences such as internships and education abroad programs.

Aminda Smith is Associate Professor in the Department of History. Her research considers the history of radicalism and revolution, with a particular focus on the gendered social and cultural histories of Chinese Communism. Her work has ben supported by several grants, including from the Fulbright program and the American Council of Learned Societies. Aminda Smith earned her PhD from Princeton University.

Pat Arnold
Assistant Director of Academic Programs, Undergrad/Grad Advisor
(they/them)

arnoldp5(at)msu.edu

Pat Arnold (they/them) is finishing their 5th year with GenCen and the Women’s and Gender Studies program, and is now entering the role of Assistant Director of Academic Programs. In this role, they will continue to advise all undergraduate and graduate students in GenCen programs, teach and design core WGS courses, and support interns, but will also be helping lead the creation of new educational initiatives that promote global gender and LGBTQIA2S+ diversity and representation open to all students at MSU. From seeing the impact that GenCen’s experiential learning programs have had on previous generations of students – from our sexual politics in Amsterdam and gender and feminism in London summer programs, to the women and development in Malawi internship – Pat is excited to find new pathways for students to gain that global experience and translate it to their research, career goals, and advocacy efforts while at MSU and beyond. Entering this role also opens greater possibilities for collaboration across GenCen’s community of affiliates as well as with the Center’s new research team and their programs in the Global South. 

Alaina Bur
Assistant Director of Global Research (she/her)

buralain(at)msu.edu

Dr. Alaina Bur first became involved in GenCen’s community as a doctoral student pursuing a specialization in Gender, Justice, and Environmental Change (GJEC). Joining the team with a PhD in sociology, she brings over ten years of experience working on diverse research teams in Africa to evaluate the social impacts of environmental policies. Her own research investigates how international organizations’ goal of “empowerment” has reshaped women and marginalized communities’ role in managing local forest and water resources in Kenya. Dr. Bur will join GenCen’s co-director, Dr. Soma Chaudhuri, in the mission to expand the center’s capacity to provide research and outreach training as well as grant support for affiliates and global partner organizations. Dr. Bur will help lead the center in its goal to build a hub for research, outreach, and training on gender and sexuality with GenCen affiliates and partner organizations in sub-Saharan Africa. 

Heidi Quintero
Office Coordinator, Communications Manager (she/her)

quinte21(at)msu.edu

In her role, Heidi Quintero supports GenCen’s communications and daily operations by creating and distributing promotional materials, maintaining the center’s online presence, and coordinating special projects and programs. She brings over seven years of administrative experience at Michigan State University, having previously worked with WKAR Public Media and the Office of the Executive Vice President for Administration.

Heidi is passionate about building connection and engagement within the MSU community, particularly in student-centered spaces. She’s excited to collaborate with students, faculty, and staff while supporting GenCen’s communications, events, and outreach efforts.

She earned her B.A. in Psychology with minors in Youth & Society and Educational Studies from Michigan State University and will begin pursuing her M.A. in Higher, Adult, and Lifelong Education (HALE) at MSU in Spring 2026.

Paige Mattison
Communications Intern (she/her)

Paige Mattison is a junior at Michigan State University pursuing a dual major in Public Relations and Women’s Studies. She is particularly interested in discovering past feminist media and passionate about uncovering forgotten stories. Paige loves to read and listen to music, and she can often be found running with her dog or starting a new crochet project.

Lin Cabada

Research Intern (she/they)

Lin is a senior completing dual degrees in Political Science and Linguistics with minors in Asian Pacific American (APA) Studies and Women’s and Gender Studies. In addition to their role as a Research and Academic Programs Intern with GenCen, they are also returning for their third and final year as a Program Assistant with the APA Studies Program. Outside of the classroom, Lin serves as the Treasurer of their professional foreign service sorority, Delta Phi Epsilon and as the Co-President of the Academic Scholars Program Advisory Council in the Honors College. This semester, she will be preparing to study abroad in Ahmedabad as part of a program with GenCen, applying to graduate schools, and finishing her senior thesis in Linguistics. 

Anya Heany
Academic Programs Intern (she/her)

Anya Heany is a third-year student double majoring in Humanities: Pre-law and Women and Gender studies, with a minor in philosophy. Anya is also a member of the Honors College, vice president of Spartans Empower Body Acceptance (SEBA), and an active member of Planned Parenthood Group Association. She is especially passionate about issues related to women’s health and reproductive justice. In her role at GenCen, Anya hopes to broaden her knowledge and perspective on issues such as these in order to become a better advocate. In her free time, Anya enjoys reading, taking MSU’s pilates classes, and spending time with friends and family.