Sasha Karoline Kindred
Degree: Bachelor of Science in health and human services (human services concentration); minor in women’s and gender studies; community-based leadership and development certificate
Awards, honors and distinction: William J Branstrom Prize (W23), Honors Scholar (W24), Dean’s List (F22–W24)
Academic achievements and internships: Kindred is a first-generation student who earned an associate degree and her high school diploma at the age of 16. Undergraduate research has been a defining element of her educational experience. In Summer 2024, she participated in the Summer Undergraduate Research Experience program with her faculty mentor, Assistant Professor of Health and Human Services Finn Bell, on the Ypsi Farmers & Gardeners Oral History Project. The objective of this community-engaged archive is to enable socially and economically marginalized farmers and gardeners who live in and/or sell food in Ypsilanti to share their stories, wisdom and traditional agricultural practices with the public. Kindred’s contributions included a literature review on best interviewing and project design procedures in oral history fieldwork focused on decolonial and anticolonial frameworks and trauma-informed approaches, as well as co-authoring internal and external grant proposals. Most notably, Kindred co-presented information about the project at the Society for the Study of Social Problems Annual Meeting in Montreal, Canada.
Kindred has had the opportunity to participate in many internships and field-based learning experiences. Her most notable internship experience has been as a sustainable well-being intern for UM-Dearborn’s Planet Blue Ambassador program, a position she pursued due to her interest in exploring the connection between mental health and caring for the environment.
In addition to her impressive slate of activities and academic achievements, Kindred also worked on two course redesigns, one of which will assist the Mardigian Library staff design website architecture for a StoryMap archive. She also participated in UM-Dearborn’s Inside-Out Prison Exchange program at Macomb Correctional Facility.
Extracurricular and community projects: President of Women in Learning and Leadership (WILL+); Public Health Society; Pride; Engaged Scholars; Wolverine Mentor Collective
Kindred served as president of the voter registration student organization, Turn Up Turnout, in 2023-24. She has been active with Take Back the Night, a campuswide “Voter Registration Blitz” and a Black maternal health event. In addition, she has served as a volunteer coordinator for a campus community garden plot that provides fresh produce to the Student Food Pantry.
Future plans: Following graduation, Kindred hopes to find a job related to community health work while pursuing a Master of Social Work. Eventually, she would like to complete a PhD in social work or a similar field.