Meet Our Team

Email: [email protected]

As OCEL's Outreach and Engagement Manager, Ms. Manley oversees the office’s day-to-day operations and programming. This includes implementation of the strategic plan, collaborating with campus and community partners, and general supervision of office staff. In addition, she is responsible for incorporating restorative practices within the office’s policies and procedures while also providing training, when necessary, in accordance with industry best practices.

A graduate of the University of Michigan-Dearborn, Ms. Manley completed a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science prior to graduating with a Master of Public Policy with a focus in Justice Reform in 2018. During her time as an undergraduate, Ms. Manley was recognized as a Campus Difference Maker. Prior to her role as Assistant Director, Ms. Manley worked as a Program Coordinator at OMI [OCEL], having first joined the office in 2011 as a VISTA (Volunteer in Service to America), serving for two years in that role. As one of four authors that resulted in successfully earning the campus Carnegie Community Engagement Classification in 2015, she truly has helped develop OCEL into what it is today.

Ms. Manley was elected to the board of the Youth Justice Fund in 2020. She is very active in her community with a variety of safety initiatives, the local block club, and community center. One of her passions is advancing Restorative Practices throughout the region- a passion in both her personal and professional life.

Email: [email protected]

Elspeth joined us in August 2022 and supports the programmatic and administrative needs of OCEL. Ms. Muzzin currently holds a Bachelor of Arts in Social Relations and Policy with a focus on Peace and Justice Studies. She also received her macro Master of Social Work degree from Wayne State University.

Currently pursuing licensure, Ms. Muzzin will eventually expand OCEL’s capacity to host and supervise social work students, deepening the office's field placement partnership with the UM-School of Social Work.

Racial justice and dialogue are some of Ms. Muzzin’s biggest passions. University of Michigan’s Summer Youth Dialogues and the International Baccalaureate Dialogues on Diversity were particularly formative for her. She has been a volunteer facilitator for Bridge Builders anti-racism camp in New Era, Michigan since 2019. Ms. Muzzin was a student participant in the program herself in 2013 and is eager to help the program grow and evolve.

As a proud third-generation Detroiter, you’ll find Ms. Muzzin at Eastern Market, Pure Barre, or Dyno Detroit. When she is not at the office, Ms. Muzzin loves to cook, read, and care for her numerous plants at home. Ms. Muzzin is excited to incorporate her deep beliefs in grassroots, abundance, and strengths-based mindsets into the amazing work that OCEL does.

Sydney joined the team in December of 2024, and she maintains a digital presence that represents OCEL and our campus partnerships through a variety of mediums (Reporter articles, social media, newsletters, etc.) Sydney plays a role in our community/civic engagement and interaction with members of the community. 

Sydney is currently a senior at the University of Michigan-Dearborn majoring in Journalism and Media Production and a minor in sociology. Sydney has been working as a digital storyteller for about four years through the Mardigian Library under Experience+. This work has allowed Sydney to dive deeper into her connection with the Dearborn Campus, and the community around it. It has also allowed her to grow in the art of storytelling and crafting narratives. 

Sydney has a passion for media and storytelling. She believes that they have a big impact on how people view the world. She helped coordinate a film program for the FREEP Film Festival in 2024 for a documentary called Chasing Chasing Amy. She also organized a student film festival for the Campus Video Network as President of the student organization in 2024. She has done work on multiple short projects and is currently producing and directing her own short documentary Uncovering: History of the Black Student Union. She is currently the Vice President of the Black Student Union, and a student assistant for the Center for Social Justice and Inclusion. As Sydney got older she often found that her interest in learning about societal topics crossed paths with film. During her time at university she makes a conscious effort to involve herself with things about film, along with important topics within society. 

When Sydney isn’t at work you can often find her reading comics, playing video games, or building lego sets. Sydney also recently got back into coloring recently as a tool for relaxation. Sydney is excited to bring her various skill sets to OCEL to produce amazing things for the office that can outlast her even after graduation.