Contact

Soma Chaudhuri
Co-Director of Global Research, Outreach, & Engagement (she/her)
chaudh30@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@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@msu.edu

Pat Arnold (they/them) is finishing their 7th year with GenCen and the Women’s and Gender Studies program as the Assistant Director of Academic Programs, academic advisor, and instructor. In this role, they advise undergraduate and graduate students in GenCen programs, teach and design WGS courses, support interns, and help create and lead 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.

Alaina Bur
Assistant Director of Global Research (she/her)
buralain@msu.edu

In her role, Alaina Bur works alongside Co-Director Soma Chaudhuri to support affiliate research on gender and sexuality through training, proposal development, grant administration, and strategic initiatives. She also cultivates and sustains GenCen's partnerships with international higher education institutions, particularly across Africa. Her work focuses on fostering equitable, interdisciplinary collaborations that connect GenCen affiliates with global partners to address pressing issues related to gender, sexuality, and social justice.

With more than a decade of experience conducting research in Africa, Dr. Bur has worked on multidisciplinary teams examining the social impacts of environmental policies and development initiatives. Her research explores how international organizations' pursuit of "empowerment" has transformed the roles of women and marginalized communities in the governance of forest and water resources in Kenya. She earned her PhD in Sociology, with a major in Environmental Science and Policy, from Michigan State University and is an alumna of GenCen's doctoral specialization in Gender, Justice, and Environmental Change.

Heidi Quintero
Office Coordinator, Communications Manager (she/her)
quinte21@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, coordinating special projects, programs, and events, and supporting GenCen’s student assistants. 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 community and creating opportunities for students in higher education. She enjoys working in student-centered spaces and bringing people together through programs, events, and shared experiences. At GenCen, she is excited to support global connections and help bring the center’s work and outreach into broader conversations around gender, sexuality, and social change.

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

Paige Mattison
Student Communications Assistant (She/Her)
mattis36@msu.edu

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
Student Research Intern (She/They)
Email

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)
Email

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.